• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.151-161
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• 2013

An active power factor correction (PFC) circuit is presented which employs a newly proposed input voltage sensor-less control technique operated in continuous conduction mode (CCM) and critical conduction mode (CRM). The conventional PFC circuit with input voltage sensor-less control technique degrades the power factor (PF) under the light load condition due to DCM operation. In the proposed PFC circuit, the switching frequency is basically 70KHz in CCM operation. In light load condition, however, the PFC circuit operates in CRM and the switching frequency is increased up to 200KHz. So CCM/CRM operation of the PFC circuit alleviates the decreasing of the PF in light load condition. The proposed PFC controller IC has been implemented in a $0.35{\mu}m$ BCDMOS process and a 240W PFC prototype is built. Experimental results shows the PF of the proposed PFC circuit is improved up to 10% from the one employing the conventional CCM/DCM dual mode control technique. Also, the PF is improved up to 4% in the light load condition of the IEC 61000-3-2 Class D specifications.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.343-348
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• 2012

A 11b 100KS/s Algorithmic ADC for Digital PFC controller is proposed. The proposed Algorithmic ADC structure for 11bit resolution is based on a cyclic architecture to reduce chip area and power consumption. The prototype Algorithmic ADC implemented with a 0.18um 1Poly-3Metal CMOS process shows a SNDR 66.7dB and ENOB 10.78bits. And the current consumption is about 780uA at 100KS/s and 5V. The occupied active die area is $0.27mm^2$.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.337-351
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• 2023

In this paper, the shear behavior of soft filling in rectangular-hollow concrete specimens was simulated using the 2D particle flow code (PFC2D). The laboratory-measured properties were used to calibrate some PFC2D micro-properties for modeling the behavior of geo-materials. The dimensions of prepared and modeled samples were 100 mm×100 mm. Some disc type narrow bands were removed from the central part of the model and different lengths of bridge areas (i.e., the distance between internal tips of two joints) with lengths of 30 mm, 50 mm, and 70 mm were produced. Then, the middle of the rectangular hollow was filled with cement material. Three filling sizes with dimensions of 5 mm×5 mm, 10 mm×5 mm, and 15 mm×5 mm were provided for different modeled samples. The parallel bond model was used to calibrate and re-produce these modeled specimens. Therefore, totally, 9 different types of samples were designed for the shear tests in PFC2D. The shear load was gradually applied to the model under a constant loading condition of 3 MPa (σc/3). The loading was continued till shear failure occur in the modeled concrete specimens. It has been shown that both tensile and shear cracks may occur in the fillings. The shear cracks mainly initiated from the crack (joint) tips and coalesced with another one. The shear displacements and shear strengths were both increased as the filling dimensions increased (for the case of a bridge area with a particular fixed length).

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.455-466
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• 2020

This paper presents analysis of the interaction between tunnel and Qanat with a particular interest for the optimization of Qanat shape using the discrete element code, PFC2D, and the results will be compared with the FEM results of PLAXIS2D. For these concerns, using software PFC2D based on Discrete Element Method (DEM), a model with dimension of 100m ^⁎ 100 m was prepared. A circular tunnel with dimension of 9 m was situated 20 m below the ground surface. Also one Qanat was situated perpendicularly above the tunnel roof. Distance between Qanat center and ground surface was 8 m. Five different shapes for Qanat were selected i.e., square, semi-circular, vertical ellipse, circular and horizontal ellipse. Confining pressure of 5 MPa was applied to the model. The vertical displacement of balls situated in ground surface was picked up to measure the ground subsidence. Also two measuring circles were situated at the tunnel roof and at the Qanat roof to check the vertical displacements. The properties of the alluvial soil of Tehran city are: γ_dry=19 (KN/㎥), E= 750 (kg/㎠), ν=0.35, c=0.3(kg/㎠), φ=34°. In order to validate the DEM results, a comparison between the numerical results (obtained in this study) and analytical and field monitoring have been done. The PFC2D results are compared with the FEM results. The results shows that when Qanat has rectangular shape, the tensile stress concentration at the Qanat corners has maximum value while it has minimum value for vertical ellipse shape. The ground subsidence for Qanat rectangular shape has maximum value while it has minimum value for ellipse shape of Qanat. The vertical displacements at the tunnel roof for Qanat rectangular shape has maximum value while it has minimum value for ellipse shape of Qanat. Historical shape of Qante approved the finding of this research.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-68
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• 2004

In this study, scaled model tests were performed on blasting demolition of reinforced concrete structures and the experimental results were analyzed in comparison with the results of numerical analysis. The tests were designed to induce a progressive collapse, and physical properties of the scaled model were determined using scale factors obtained ken dimension analysis. The scaled model structure was made of a mixture of plaster, sand and water at the ratio determined to yield the best scaled-down strength. Lead wire was used as a substitute for reinforcing bars. The scaled length was at the ratio of 1/10. Selecting the material and scaled factors was aimed at obtaining appropriately scaled-down strength. PFC2D (Particle Flow Code 2-Dimension) employing DEM (Distinct Element Method) was used for the numerical analysis. Blasting demolition of scaled 3-D plain concrete laymen structure was filmed and compared to results of numerical simulation. Despite the limits of 2-D simulation the resulting demolition behaviors were similar to each other. Based on the above experimental results in combination with bending test results of RC beam, numerical analysis was carried out to determine the blasting sequence and delay times. Scaled model test of RC structure resulted in remarkably similar collapse with the numerical results up to 900㎳ (mili-second).

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2005

An explosion modeling technique was developed by using the spherical discrete element code, $PFC^{3D}$, which can be used to model the dynamic stress wave propagation phenomenon. The modeling technique is simply based on an idea that the explosion pressure should be applied to a $PFC^{3D}$ particle assembly not in the form of an external force (body force), but in the form of a contact force (surface force). A test blast was conducted for a RC column, whose dimension was $600\times300\times1800$ in millimeters. The initial velocities of the surface movements were measured to be in the range of $14\~18\;m/s$ with the initiation times of $1.5\~2.0m$. Then the blasting procedure was simulated by using the modeling technique. The particle assembly representing the concrete was made of cement mortar and coarse aggregates, whose mirco-properties were obtained from the calibration processes. As a result, the modeling technique developed in this study made it possible for the burden to move with the velocity of $17\~24\;m/s$, which are slightly higher values compared to those of the test blast.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.320-334
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• 2020

This study presents an application of hydro-mechanical coupled Particle Flow Code 3D (PFC3D) to simulation of fluid injection induced fault slip experiment conducted in Mont Terri Switzerland as a part of a task in an international research project DECOVALEX-2019. We also aimed as identifying the current limitations of the modelling method and issues for further development. A fluid flow algorithm was developed and implemented in a 3D pore-pipe network model in a 3D bonded particle assembly using PFC3D v5, and was applied to Mont Terri Step 2 minor fault activation experiment. The simulated results showed that the injected fluid migrates through the permeable fault zone and induces fault deformation, demonstrating a full hydro-mechanical coupled behavior. The simulated results were, however, partially matching with the field measurement. The simulated pressure build-up at the monitoring location showed linear and progressive increase, whereas the field measurement showed an abrupt increase associated with the fault slip We conclude that such difference between the modelling and the field test is due to the structure of the fault in the model which was represented as a combination of damage zone and core fractures. The modelled fault is likely larger in size than the real fault in Mont Terri site. Therefore, the modelled fault allows several path ways of fluid flow from the injection location to the pressure monitoring location, leading to smooth pressure build-up at the monitoring location while the injection pressure increases, and an early start of pressure decay even before the injection pressure reaches the maximum. We also conclude that the clay filling in the real fault could have acted as a fluid barrier which may have resulted in formation of fluid over-pressurization locally in the fault. Unlike the pressure result, the simulated fault deformations were matching with the field measurements. A better way of modelling a heterogeneous clay-filled fault structure with a narrow zone should be studied further to improve the applicability of the modelling method to fluid injection induced fault activation.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.357-366
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• 2021

Shear behavior dependent on the shape and roughness of rock joints can greatly influence the stability of the ground and rock structures. The efficient design of rock structures requires understanding of the shear behavior due to joints and accurate calculation of the shear strength. This work reports numerical shear tests using PFC2D on No. 1 (JCR-1), with smooth joints, and No. 7 (JRC-7) and No. 9 (JRC-9), with relatively rough joints, for the 10 shapes of standard joint profiles proposed by Barton and Choubey (1977). The aim was to investigate the shear behavior of rock joints with respect to their roughness. The results show the maximum shear stress to be about 3.2 to 5.0 times greater in the rougher JRC-7 and JRC-9 joints than in smoother JRC-1. The maximum shear displacement was approximately 4.1 to 5.8 times greater at the first normal stress than at the second. The rougher joints showed friction angles of the rock joints that were approximately 1.8 to 3.9 times greater than that in the smooth joint. Overall, increasing the rock joint roughness increased the maximum shear stress and friction angle.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.505-516
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• 2018

In this paper, the effects of particle size and model scale of concrete has been investigated on the failure mechanism of PFC2D numerical models under uniaxial compressive test. For this purpose, rectangular models with same particle sizes and different model dimensions, i.e., $3mm{\times}6mm$, $6mm{\times}12mm$, $12mm{\times}24mm$, $25mm{\times}50mm$ and $54mm{\times}108mm$, were prepared. Also rectangular models with dimension of $54mm{\times}108mm$ and different particle sizes, i.e., 0.27 mm, 0.47 mm, 0.67 mm, 0.87 mm, 1.07 mm, 1.87 mm and 2.27 mm were simulated using PFC2D and tested under uniaxial compressive test. Concurrent with uniaxial test, direct shear test was performed on the numerical models. Dimension of the models were $75{\times}100mm$. Two narrow bands of particles with dimension of $37.5mm{\times}20mm$ were removed from upper and lower of the model to supply the shear test condition. The particle sizes in the models were 0.47 mm, 0.57 mm, 0.67 mm and 0.77 mm. The result shows that failure pattern was affected by model scale and particle size. The uniaxial compressive strength and shear strength were increased by increasing the model scale and particle size.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.659-670
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• 2024

The mechanical behaviour of layered concrete samples containing an internal crack was numerically studied by modelling the geo-mechanical specimens in the particle flow code in two dimensions (PFC2D). The numerical modelling software was calibrated with the experimental results of the Brazilian tensile strengths gained from the laboratory disc-type specimens. Then, the samples with the bedding layers and internal notch were numerically simulated with PFC2D under uniaxial compressive loading. In each specimen, the layers' thickness was 10 mm but the layer's inclination angle was changed to 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120° and 150°. Of course, the layers'interfaces are considered to have very low strengths. The internal notch was kept at 3 cm in length however, its inclination angle was changed to 0°, 40°, 60° and 90°. Therefore, a total, of 24 numerical models were made to study the failure mechanism of the layered concrete samples. Considering these results, it has been concluded that the inclination angles of both internal crack and bedding layers affect the failure mechanism and uniaxial compressive strength of the concrete.