• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.681-695
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• 2018

This pioneer study investigates the size effect on the compressive and tensile strengths of fiber-reinforced self-compacting concrete (FR-SCC) with different specimens, before and after exposure to elevated temperatures. 432 self-compacting concrete (SCC) specimens with two concrete grades (50 and 80MPa) and three steel fiber ratios (0%, 0.5% and 1%) were prepared and tested. Moreover, based on the experimental results, new formulations were proposed to predict the residual strengths for different specimens. A parametric study was also carried out to investigate the accuracy of proposed formulations. Residual strength results showed that the cylinder specimen with dimensions of $100{\times}200mm$ was the most affected, while the cube with a size of 100 mm maintained a constant difference with the standard cylinder ($150{\times}300mm$). Temperature effect on the cube specimen (150 mm) was the least in comparison to other specimen sizes and types. In general, provision of steel fibers in SCC mixtures resulted in a reduction in temperature effect on the variance of a conversion factor. Parametric study results confirm that the proposed numerical models are safe to be used for all types of SCC specimens.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.127-139
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• 2019

Bridges, offshore oil platforms and other infrastructures usually require at some point in their service life rehabilitation for reasons such as aging and corrosion. This study explores the application of adhesively bonded CFRP patches in repair of corroded circular hollow sectional (CHS) steel beams. An experimental program involving three-point bending tests was conducted on intact, corroded, and repaired CHS beams. Meso-scale finite element (FE) models of the tested beams were developed and validated by the experimental results. A parametric study using the validated FE models was performed to examine the effects of different CFRP patch parameters, including patch dimensions, number of plies and stacking sequence, on efficiency of the repair system. Results indicates that the corrosion reduced elastic stiffness and flexural strength of the undamaged beam by 8.9 and 15.1%, respectively, and composite repair recovered 10.7 and 18.9% of those, respectively, compared to undamaged beam. These findings demonstrated the ability of CFRP patch repair to restore full bending capacity of the corroded CHS steel beam. The parametric study revealed that strength and stiffness of the repaired CHS beam can be enhanced by changing the fiber orientations of wet composite patch without increasing the quantity of repair materials.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.3
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• pp.305-314
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• 2021

In order to reduce enormous cost of real-scale underwater explosion experiments on ships, the mechanical response of the ships have been analyzed by combining scaled-down experiments and Hopkinson's scaling law. However, the Hopkinson's scaling law is applicable only if all variables vary in an identical ratio; for example, thickness of ship, size of explosive, and distance between the explosive and the ship should vary with same ratio. Unfortunately, it is infeasible to meet such uniform scaling requirement because of environmental conditions and limitations in manufacturing scaled model systems. For the facile application of the scaling analysis, we propose a generalized scaling law that is applicable for non-uniform scaling cases in which different parts of the experiments are scaled in different ratios compared to the real-scale experiments. In order to establish such a generalized scaling law, we conducted a parametric study based on numerical simulations, and validated it with experiments and simulations. This study confirms that the initial peak value of response variables in a real-scale experiment can be predicted even when we perform a scaled experiment composed of different scaling ratios for each experimental variable.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.132-142
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• 2022

We investigate the performance of multi-body wave energy converters (WECs). This investigation considers multiple scattering of water waves by the buoys of a WEC under the generalized mode approach. Predominantly, the effect of a WEC's configuration on its energy extraction is studied in this research. First, single-row terminator and single-column attenuator arrays of vertical cylinders have been studied. The performance of these attenuator arrays shows that the wall effect induced by the periodic buoys influences the wave propagation and energy extraction in these WECs. Further studies show that a single-row terminator array of vertical cylinders performs better than the corresponding single-column attenuator array. Subsequently, multi-row terminator arrays of vertical cylinders are investigated by conducting a parametric study. This parametric study shows that the hydrodynamic property of three resonance phenomena makes energy extraction efficiency drop down, and the magnitude of energy extracted oscillates between the resonance points in these WECs. Finally, a 4×8 terminator array of vertical cylinders is studied to determine the effect of various d_x (x-directional distance between adjacent rows) within this WEC on its performance. In particular, this study enforces at least two equal d_x values within the 4×8 terminator array of vertical cylinders. It shows that a small value of this d_x leads to better energy extraction efficiency in some of these various d_x arrays than that of a corresponding regular array with the same d_x.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.117-129
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• 2022

The downward discharge of the molten fuel to the lower structure of the fuel assembly could increase of the pressure drop and degrade of coolability of the assembly. To analyze the phenomena, experiments for the generation of the debris bed were conducted as LOF-DT series. Based on the debris bed in the LOF-DT, pressure drop experiment was conducted with intact and blocked component. Parametric study on the pressure drop was conducted by CFD. The LOF-DT experiments were conducted for the position and porosity of the debris bed. 85% of the debris were sedimented in the lower reflector, and 15% were in the nose piece, approximately. Porosity of the debris bed were about 0.7 and 0.85 in the lower reflector and nose piece, respectively. Pressure drop increased significantly with debris bed, especially in the lower reflector. More than 120 time of the pressure drop increased in the lower reflector, while only 10% increased in the nose piece. According to the parametric study, mass of the debris was the most important for pressure drop. The lower discharge phenomena could have a significant effect to the total pressure drop of the fuel assembly, approximately 10.8 times for the base case.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2022

This paper presents results of numerical studies completed on unreinforced and doubler plate reinforced Elliptical Hollow Section (EHS) T-joints subjected to axial compressive loading on the brace member. Non-linear finite element (FE) models were developed using the finite element code, ABAQUS. Available test data in literature was used to validate the FE models. Subsequently, a parametric study was carried out to investigate the effects of various geometrical parameters of main members and reinforcement plates on the ultimate capacity of reinforced EHS T-joints. The parametric study found that the reinforcing plate significantly increases the ultimate capacity of EHS T-joints up to twice the capacity of the corresponding unreinforced joint. The thickness and length of the reinforcing plate have a positive effect on the ultimate capacity of Type 1 joints. This study, however, found that the capacity of Type 1 orientation is not dependent on the brace-to-chord diameter ratio. As for type 2 orientations, the thickness and length of the reinforcement have a minimal effect on the ultimate capacity. A new design method is introduced to predict the capacity of the reinforced EHS T-joints Type 1 and 2 based on the multiple linear regression analyses.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.503-518
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• 2023

In tall constructions, the outriggers are regarded as a structural part capable of effectively resisting lateral loads. This study analyses the efficacy of hybrid outrigger system in high rise RCC building for various structural parameters identified. For variations in α, which is defined as the ratio of the relative flexural stiffness of the core to the axial rigidity of the column, static and dynamic analyses of hybrid outrigger system having a virtual and a conventional outrigger at two distinct levels were conducted in the present study. An investigation on the optimal outrigger position was performed by taking the results from absolute maximum inter storey drift ratio (ISD_max), roof acceleration (acc_roof), roof displacement (disp_roof), and base bending moment under both wind and seismic loads on analytical models having 40, 60 and 80 storeys. An ideal performance index parameter was introduced and was utilized to obtain the optimal position of the hybrid outrigger system considering the combined response of ISD_max, acc_roof, disp_roof and, criteria required for the structure under wind and seismic loads. According to the behavioural study, increasing the column area and outrigger arm length will maximise the performance of the hybrid outrigger system. The analysis results are summarized in a flowchart which provides the optimal positions obtained for each dependent parameter and based on ideal performance index which can be used to make initial suggestions for installing a hybrid outrigger system.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.561-570
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• 2023

In this paper, the structural performance of RC and HPFRCC slabs exposed to a TNT explosion were numerically investigated. A finite element model was established using the MM-ALE method in the LS-DYNA program to simulate a near-ground TNT explosion at a scaled distance of 1.08 m/kg³. The K&C model was calibrated to exactly reflect the material properties of HPFRCCs that were developed in KICT and KNU. Numerical and experimental results were compared for the damage distribution and failure shape of the slabs. Based on the verified numerical model, a parametric study was carried out to demonstrate the effects of compressive strength and thickness of the slab on the blast resistance. In particular, the spallation failure on the back side of the slab is greatly dependent on the thickness. Finally, additional numerical simulations were conducted to explore the variation in blast pressure characteristics according to the scaled distance and explosive shape. It was confirmed that the pressure induced by cubic TNT was more destructive to the slab than cylindrical and spherical TNT in a nearfield explosion.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.899-912
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• 2022

To study the seismic performance of the all-steel buckling-restrained brace (BRB) using the novel soft steel LY315 for core member, a total of three identical BRBs were designed and a series of experimental and numerical studies were conducted. First, monotonic and cyclic loading tests were carried out to obtain the mechanical properties of LY315 steel. In addition, the parameters of the Chaboche model were calibrated based on the test results and then verified using ABAQUS. Second, three BRB specimens were tested under cyclic loads to investigate the seismic performance. The failure modes of all the specimens were identified and discussed. The test results indicate that the BRBs exhibit excellent energy dissipation capacity, good ductility, and excellent low-cycle fatigue performance. Then, a finite element (FE) model was established and verified with the test results. Furthermore, a parametric study was performed to further investigate the effects of gap size, restraining ratio, slenderness ratio of the yielding segment, and material properties of the core member on the load capacity and energy dissipation capacity of BRBs.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.209-222
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• 2022

Finite element analyses using coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian technique are performed to investigate the effect of soil conditions on plugging of open-ended piles in sands. Results from numerical simulations are compared against the data from field load tests on three open-ended piles and show very good agreement. A parametric study focusing on determination of the coefficient of lateral earth pressure (K) in soil plug after pile driving are then performed for various soil densities, end-bearing conditions, and layering conditions. Results from the parametric study suggest that the K value in the soil plug - and hence the degree of soil plugging - increases with increasing soil densities. The analysis results further show that the K value within the soil plug can reach about 63 to 71% of the coefficient of passive earth pressure after pile driving. For layered soil profiles, the greater K values are achieved after pile driving when the denser soil layer is present near the pile base regardless of number of soil layers. This study provides comprehensive numerical and experimental data that can be used to develop advanced theory for analysis and design of open-ended pipe piles, especially for estimation of inner shaft resistance after pile driving.