• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.361-377
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• 2020

In the present research work, the effectiveness and the efficiency of a retrofitting approach using a layer of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) jacket for damaged substandard exterior beam-column joints (BCJs) is experimentally investigated. The main objective of this study is to rehabilitate the already damaged BCJs to meet the serviceability requirements without compromising safety. According to the proposed strengthening technique, a chipped surface, lightly brushed with a dry condition was selected for making a successful bond between normal concrete substrate surface (NCSS) and UHPFRC. Then a fresh UHPFRC jacket with a thickness of 30 mm was cast around the damaged specimens. The entire test matrix was comprised of three 1/3 scale damaged exterior BCJs with a different column axial load (CAL). These specimens were repaired with UHPFRC and retested under monotonic loading. Based on the experimental results, repaired specimens showed an excellent performance in terms of their load-displacement response, maximum strength, displacement ductility, initial stiffness, secant stiffness and energy dissipation capacity when compared with the corresponding values registered when these specimens were tested in their virgin state. This rehabilitative intervention not only restored the strength, stiffness, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of severely damaged specimens but also improved their performance.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.160-166
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• 2013

There is an indispensable need for force calibration for quantitative nanoscale force measurement using atomic force microscopy. Calibrating the normal force is relatively straightforward, whereas doing so for the lateral force is often complicated because of the difficulty in determining the optical lever sensitivity. In particular, the lateral force calibration of a colloidal probe in a liquid environment often has a larger uncertainty as a result of the effects of the epoxy, the location of the colloidal particle on the cantilever, and a decrease in the quality factor. In this work, the lateral force of a colloidal probe using a reference cantilever with a known spring constant was calibrated in a liquid environment. By obtaining the spring constant and the lateral sensitivity at the equator of a spherical colloidal particle, the damage to the bottom surface of the colloidal particle could be eliminated. Further, it was shown that the effect of the contact stiffness on the determination of the lateral spring constant of the cantilever could be minimized. It was concluded that this method can be effectively used for the lateral force calibration of a colloidal probe in a liquid environment.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.343-361
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• 2007

This article presents a numerical tool for dimensioning two-threaded fasteners connecting prismatic parts subjected to fatigue tension loads that are coplanar with the screw axis. A simplified numerical model is developed from unidirectional finite elements, modeling the connected parts and screws with bent elements and the elastic contact layer between the parts with springs. An algorithm updating the contact stiffness matrix, calculating forces and displacements at each node of the structure and thus normal stresses in the screws in both static and fatigue is further developed using C language. An experimental study is also conducted in parallel with the numerical approach to validate the developed model assumptions, the numerical model and the 3D finite element results. Since stiffness values for the compressive zones in the parts are analytically difficult to determine, a statistical software method is used, from which a tuning factor is derived for identifying these stiffness values. The method is also applied to set out the influence of each parameter on the fatigue behaviour of each screw. Finally, the developed model will be used to establish a new, sophisticated, fast and accurate tool for dimensioning bolted mechanical structures.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.3-10
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• 2018

Steel fiber reinforced concrete can improve the resistance to cracking by adding steel fibers when mixing concrete. It can reduce the temperature and shrinkage cracks, and its flexural performance can be improved by increasing the effective moment of inertia. In this study, the deck-plate was used to replace the concrete form and reinforcing bars, and the steel fiber reinforced concrete was used to control the shrinkage and temperature cracks, and improve the flexural performance of the slab. Total 9 slab specimens were tested for analyzing the structural performance and serviceability. As a results, flexural capacity of the slab with deck-plate was evaluated to be superior to that of the normal reinforced concrete slab specimens with the same tensile reinforcement. The steel fiber reinforced concrete was found to have about 8% flexural capacity increase depending on the steel fiber content $15.7kg/m^3$. Also, in terms of flexural stiffness, the specimens using steel fiber reinforced concrete for the same parameters were evaluated to have a stiffness increase of about 30% compared with the case of using ordinary concrete. Especially, it was found that the stiffness of the test results was significantly higher than the analytical result because the increase of the tensile strength of the steel fiber reinforced concrete is not reflected in the current structural code.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2021

Ground motions recorded in near-fault sites, where the rupture propagates toward the site, are significantly different from those observed in far-fault regions. In this research, finite element modeling is used to investigate the effect of pile cap stiffness on the seismic response of soil-pile-structure systems under near-fault ground motions. The Von Wolffersdorff hypoplastic model with the intergranular strain concept is applied for modeling of granular soil (sand) and the behavior of structure is considered to be non-linear. Eight fault-normal near-field ground motion records, recorded on rock, are applied to the model. The numerical method developed is verified by comparing the results with an experimental test (shaking table test) for a soil-pile-structure system. The results, obtained from finite element modeling under near-fault ground motions, show that when the value of cap stiffness increases, the drift ratio of the structure decreases, whereas the pile relative displacement increases. Also, the residual deformations in the piles are due to the non-linear behavior of soil around the piles.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.54-60
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• 2022

ASME BPVC provides stress evaluation rules for Class 2 and 3 nuclear piping. However, such rules are difficult to be applied to reinforced wall-thinned pipes during service. To resolve this issue, a new method for stress evaluation of reinforced wall-thinned pipes is proposed in this work, based on the equivalent stiffness concept. By converting a reinforced wall-thinned pipe to an equivalent straight pipe having the same stiffness, stress evaluation can be proceeded using the current ASME BPVC rules. The proposed method is applied to pipes with 4 different normal pipe size and the effects of reinforcement and wall-thinning dimensions on evaluated stresses are discussed.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 2000

The influence of the plastic flow rules on the elasto-plastic behaviour of a discrete joint element was investigated by performing the numerical direct shear tests under both constant normal displacement and normal displacement conditions. The finite interface elements obeying Plesha’s joint constitutive law was used to allow the relative motion of the rock blocks on the joint surface. Realistic results were obtained in the tests adopting the non-associated flow rule, while the associated flow rule overestimated the joint dilation. To overcome the computational drawbacks coming from the non-symmetric element stiffness matrix in the conventional non-associated plasticity, the symmetric formulation of the tangential stiffness matrix for a non-associated joint element was proposed. The symmetric elasto-plastic matrix it derived by assuming an imaginary equivalent joint with associated flow rule which shows the same plastic response as that of original Joint with non-associated flow rule. The validity of the formulation was confirmed through the numerical direct shear tests under constant normal stress condition.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.221-226
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• 2005

A new calibration method for exact measurement of friction force in atomic force microscope (AFM) is presented. A new conversion factor involves a contact factor affected by tip, cantilever and contact stiffness. Especially the effect of contact stiffness on the conversion factor between lateral force and lateral signal is considered. Conventional conversion factor and a new modified conversion factor were experimentally compared. Results showed that a new calibration method could minimize the effect of normal load on friction force and improve the conventional method. A new method could be applied to the specimens with different physical properties.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.57-64
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• 1994

The purpose of this paper is to find minimum surface shape of pneumatic structure using the finite element method. The pneumatic membrane structure is a kind of large deformation problem and very flexible composite material, which mean geomatric nonlinearity. It is not to resist for compression and resultant moment. As the displacement due to internal pressure is getting bigger, it should be considered the direction of forces. It becomes non-linear problem with the non-conservative force. The follower-force depends on the deformation and the direction of force is normal to each element. The solution process is obtained the new stiffness matrix (load correction matrix) depending on deformation through each iterated step. However, the stiffness matrix have not the symmetry and influence on the time of covergence. So in this paper Newton-Rhapson method for solving non-linear problem and for using symmetic matrix, the load direction is changed in each iterated step using the transformation matrix.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.47-53
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• 2011

Firstly, FEM model for the body frame of a fuel cell vehicle was built up and design optimization results based on different schemes were exhibited. One scheme was to minimize weight while maintaining the normal mode frequencies and the other was to increase the frequencies without weight change. Next, for a rear frame model, shape parameter study on collapse characteristics such as peak resistance load and absorbed energy was carried out. Also, the stiffness of frame mounting brackets was predicted using inertance calculation and the durability of those mounting brackets for vehicle system loads was evaluated. Finally, for a representative mounting model, the influence on durability due to thickness change was analyzed.