• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.179-189
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• 2017

Concrete shear walls are one of the major structural lateral resisting systems in buildings. In some cases, due to the change in the occupancy of the structure or functional requirements like architectural and even mechanical ones, openings need to be provided and installed in structural walls after their construction. Providing these openings may significantly influence the structural behavior of the constructed wall. This paper considers the results of a nonlinear finite element analysis of shear walls with opening strengthened by carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips with different configurations. Details of bond-slip constitutive model of link elements to simulate the connections of FRP strips to concrete surface is presented. The proposed model in this research has been validated using experimental results available in the literature. The results indicated that the proposed configuration of CFRP strips significantly improved the lateral resistance and deformation capacity of the shear walls with opening.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2021

Fiber-reinforced polymer reinforcement or polyurea reinforcement techniques are applied to strengthen unreinforced masonry walls (UMWs). The out-of-plane reinforcing effect of sprayed glass fiber-reinforced polyurea (GFRPU), which is a composite elastomer made of polyurea and milled glass fibers on UMW, is experimentally verified. The out-of-plane strengths and ductile behaviors based on various coating shapes are compared in this study. An empirical formula to describe the degree of reinforcement on the out-of-plane strength of the UMW is derived based on the experimental results. It is reported that the peak load-carrying capacity, ductility, and energy absorption capacity gradually improve with an increase in the strengthening degree or area. Compared with the existing masonry wall reinforcement method, the GFRPU technique is a construction method that can help improve the safety performance along with ease of construction and economic efficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.178-184
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• 2012

This paper presents a transformable track mechanism for wall climbing robots. The proposed mechanism allows a wall climbing robot to go over obstacles by transforming the track shape, and also increases contact area between track and wall surface for safe attachment. The track mechanism is realized using a timing belt track with one driving actuator. The inner frame of the track consists of serially connected 5R-joints and 1P-joint, and all joints of the inner frame are passively operated by springs, so the mechanism does not require any actuators and complex control algorithms to change its shape. Static analysis is carried out to determine design parameters which enable $90^{\circ}$ wall-to-wall transition and driving over projected obstacles on wall surfaces. A Prototype is manufactured using the transformable track on which polymer magnets are installed for adhesion force. The size of the prototype is $628mm{\times}200mm{\times}150mm$ ($Length{\times}Width{\times}Height$) and weight is 4kgf. Experiments are performed to verify its climbing capability focusing on $90^{\circ}$ wall to wall transition and driving over projected obstacle.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.198-203
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• 2004

Composite films were prepared by casting the solution of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and single wall nanotube (SWNT) in DMF subsequent to sonication. The SWNTs in the films are well dispersed as ropes with 20-30 nm thickness. Moreover, AFM surface image of the composite film displays an interwoven fibrous structure of nanotubes which may give rise to conductive passways and lead to high conductivity. The polarized Raman spectroscopy is an ideal characterization technique for identification and the orientation study of SWNT. The well-defined G-peak intensity at 1580 $cm^{-1}$shows a dependency on the draw ratio under cross-Nicol. The degree of nanotube orientation in the drawn film was measurable from the sine curve obtained by rotating the drawn film on the plane of cross-Nicol of polarized Raman microscope. The threshold loading of SWNT for electrical conductivity in PAN is found to be lower than 1 wt% in the composite film. The electrical conductivity of the SWNT/PAN composite film decreased with increasing of draw ratio due to the collapse of the interwoven fibrous network of the nanotubes with uniaxial orientation.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2010

In this study, we evaluated the effect of fibrin, a natural material, on the local inflammatory reaction of PLGA in vivo. PLGA degradation products can decrease the pH in the surrounding tissue, causing local inflammatory reaction. To solve this problem, fibrin/PLGA scaffolds were implanted in 5-week-old Wister rats. To evaluate the influence of fibrin content on inflammatory cytokine expression induced by PLGA, RT-PCR analysis was used. Fibrous wall thickness and macrophage infiltration were evaluated by H&E and ED-1 immunohistochemical staining, respectively. In this study, we showed that fibrin/PLGA scaffolds reduced inflammatory reaction as compared to PLGA scaffold. We concluded that fibrin could reduce inflammatory response of PLGA.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.241-250
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• 2007

In case of retrofitting a concrete structure subjected to blast load by using retrofit materials such as FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer), appropriate ductility as well as raising stiffness must be obtained. But the previous approximate and simplified models, which have been generally used in the design and analysis of structures subjected to blast load, cannot accurately consider effects on retrofit materials. Problems on the accuracy and reliability of analysis results have also been pointed out. In addition, as the response of concrete and reinforcement on dynamic load is different from that on static load, it is not appropriate to use material properties defined in the previous static or quasi-static conditions to in calculating the response on the blast load. In this study, therefore, an accurate HFPB (high fidelity physics based) finite element analysis technique, which includes material models considering strength increase, and strain rate effect on blast load with very fast loading velocity, has been suggested using LS-DYNA, an explicit analysis program. Through the suggested analysis technique, the behavior on the blast load of retrofitted concrete walls using CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced polymer) and GFRP (glass fiber-reinforced polymer) have been analyzed, and the retrofit capacity analysis has also been carried out by comparing with the analysis results of a wall without retrofit. As a result of the analysis, the retrofit capacity showing an approximate $26{\sim}28%$ reduction of maximum deflection, according to the retrofit, was confirmed, and it is judged ate suggested analysis technique can be effectively applicable in evaluating effectiveness of retrofit materials and techniques.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.757-774
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• 2016

Soils are usually weak in tension therefore different materials such as geosynthetics are used to address this inadequacy. Worldwide annual consumption of geosynthetics is close to $1000million\;m^2$, and the value of these materials is probably close to US$1500 million. Since the total cost of the construction is at least four or five times the cost of the geosynthetic itself, the impact of these materials on civil engineering construction is very large indeed. Nevertheless, there are several significant problems associated with geosynthetics, such as creep, low modulus of elasticity, and susceptibility to aggressive environment. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) was introduced over two decades ago in the field of structural engineering that can also be used in geotechnical engineering. CFRP has all the benefits associated with geosynthetics and it boasts higher strength, higher modulus, no significant creep and reliability in aggressive environments. In this paper, the performance of a CFRP reinforced retaining wall is investigated using the finite element method. Since the characterization of behavior of soils and interfaces are vital for reliable prediction from the numerical model, soil and interface properties are obtained from comprehensive laboratory tests. Based on the laboratory results for CFRP, backfill soil, and interface data, the finite element model is used to study the behavior of a CFRP reinforced wall. The finite element model was verified based on the results of filed measurements for a reference wall. Then the reference wall simulated by CFRP reinforcements and the results. The results of this investigations showed that the safety factor of CFRP reinforced wall is more and its deformations is less than those for a retaining wall reinforced with ordinary geosynthetics while their construction costs are in similar range.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.151-155
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• 2012

In the present study, we synthesized mesoporous silica hollow spheres with different wall thickness using polystyrene (PS) spheres as a structure template, tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silica source, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template. Particle size and dispersion of PS spheres were strongly depended on the concentration of surfactant in the aqueous solutions. The size of PS spheres was increased with decreasing concentration of surfactants. Dispersion of PS particle was improved when the surfactant concentration was lower than 0.5 g of surfactant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2021

Interventional radiology and minimally invasive surgery both require a precisely shaped microcatheter. Microcatheters are manufactured using polymer extrusion processes with a die and puller. The manufacturing parameters and die geometry greatly influence the profile of the extrudate and designing dies using a trial-and-error process is expensive and requires a lot of time. Therefore, predicting the profile of the extrudate is important for manufacturing microcatheters. This study investigates the effects of die design and geometry on the profile of the extrudate. The profiles of the extrudate are predicted using ANSYS Polyflow with respect to the different die geometries. The outer and inner diameters and wall thickness of the predicted extrudate are compared to those of a target extrudate. The die swell of melt polymer and the effect of the pulling are both examined. Optimized die designs are suggested for manufacturing the target extrudate.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.174-180
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• 2010

The effect of carbon nanotube surface treatment on the interface and thermal conductivity of carbon nanotube-based poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) composites was investigated. Coagulation and atomic-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was applied to modify the surface of multi-wall carbon nano-tube. The composite of ATRP method used carbon nanotube showed the higher transparency and thermal conductivities than that of the coagulation method used. In comparison to the thermal conductivity of pure PMMA, 0.21 W/mK, the ATRP carbon nanotube used PMMA/MWNT composite showed a thermal conductivity of 0.38 W/mK. The interface between carbon nanotube and PMMA was observed by scanning electron microscope and uniform dispersion of carbon nanotube was observed without any void in the PMMA matrix. It may be beneficial to transport the phonon without any scattering and it may result in a higher thermal conductivity.