• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.203-223
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• 2014

The extensive use of prestressed reinforced concrete (PSC) highway bridges in marine environment drastically increases the sensitivity to both fatigue-and corrosion-induced damage of their critical structural components during their service lives. Within this scenario, an integrated method that is capable of evaluating the fatigue reliability, identifying a condition-based maintenance, and predicting the remaining service life of its critical components is therefore needed. To accomplish this goal, a procedure for fatigue reliability prediction of PSC highway bridges is proposed in the present study. Vehicle-bridge coupling vibration analysis is performed for obtaining the equivalent moment ranges of critical section of bridges under typical fatigue truck models. Three-dimensional nonlinear mathematical models of fatigue trucks are simplified as an eleven-degree-of-freedom system. Road surface roughness is simulated as zero-mean stationary Gaussian random processes using the trigonometric series method. The time-dependent stress-concentration factors of reinforcing bars and prestressing tendons are accounted for more accurate stress ranges determination. The limit state functions are constructed according to the Miner's linear damage rule, the time-dependent S-N curves of prestressing tendons and the site-specific stress cycle prediction. The effectiveness of the methodology framework is demonstrated to a T-type simple supported multi-girder bridge for fatigue reliability evaluation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.107-136
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• 2006

The present paper proposes a semi-empirical analytical expression that is capable of determining the shear strength of reinforced concrete beams with longitudinal bars, in the presence of reinforcing fibers and transverse stirrups. The expression is based on an evaluation of the strength contribution of beam and arch actions and it makes it possible to take their interaction with the fibers into account. For the strength contribution of stirrups, the effective stress reached at beam failure was considered by introducing an effectiveness function. This function shows the share of beam action strength contribution on the global strength of the beam calculated including the effect of fibers. The expression is calibrated on the basis of experimental data available in literature referring to fibrous reinforced concrete beams with steel fibers and recently obtained by the authors. It can also include the following variables in the strength previsions: - geometrical ratio of longitudinal bars in tension; - shear span to depth ratio; - strength of materials and fiber characteristics; - size effects. Finally, some of the more recent analytical expressions that are capable of predicting the shear strength of fibrous concrete beams, also in the presence of stirrups, are mentioned and a comparison is made with experimental data and with the results obtained by the authors.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.117-127
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• 1995

The objective of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of rotating orthotropic axes model in analyzing reinforced concrete planar members under cyclic as well as monotonic loading. The structural members to be addressed are moderately reinforced beams, columns, beam-column joints, and shear walls, whose failure occurs due to compressive crushing after extensive crack propagation, The rotating orthotropic axes model which is usually used for monotonic loading is developed for cyclic loading. With the existing cyclic material models of reinforcing steel and bond-slip, this material model is used for the finite element analysis. For monotonic loading, the analytical results of the rotating orthotropic axes model are compared with reinforced concrete beams which have brittle failure. For Shear wall members under cyclic loading, the analyses are compared with the experiments for the ultimate load capacity, nonlinear deformation, and pinching effect due to crack opening and closing.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2007.09a
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• pp.514-527
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• 2007

Earth reinforcement techniques are used worldwide and offer proven solutions to a wide range of geotechnical engineering problems. Here in this paper, recent developments of three major reinforced soil retaining wall methods in Japan were introduced in order to show how the current situation of this technique in Japan is. And the statistical data for the volume of the use was also shown, such as the total volume of the use, the scales of the structures, layout of the earth reinforcement, fill materials, and foundation conditions. Some of the case histories were also introduced with photographs and figures. And then, as one of recent research activity by the author, the study on the application of X-ray CT for the problem of earth reinforcement method combined with other method such as piling and soil improvement was introduced. In this study, a series of model test for several reinforced ground with geogrids was conducted using a newly developed test apparatus. Then, the behavior in the soil box was scanned after settlement using X-ray CT scanner. Based on these test results, the reinforcing effect by the geogrids and the soil arching effect over the pile heads was discussed precisely and those are done in 3-D with nondestructive condition. Finally, the effectiveness of the use of X-ray CT scanner in geotechnical engineering was promised.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.1374-1380
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• 2006

Purpose. This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercise using biofeedback and electrical stimulation after normal delivery. Methods. The subjects of this study were 49 (experimental group: 25, control group: 24) postpartum women who passed 6 weeks after normal delivery without complication of pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. The experimental group was applied to the pelvic muscle enforcement program by biofeedback and electrical stimulation for 30 minutes per session, twice a week for 6 weeks, after then self-exercise of pelvic floor muscle was done 50-60 repetition per session, 3 times a day for 6 weeks. Maximum pressure of pelvic floor muscle contraction (MPPFMC), average pressure of pelvic floor muscle contraction (APPFMC), duration time of pelvic floor muscle contraction (DTPFMC) and the subjective lower urinary symptoms were measured by digital perineometer and Bristol Female Urinary Symptom Questionnaire and compared between two groups prior to trial, at the end of treatment and 6 weeks after treatment. Results. The results of this study indicated that MPPFMC, APPFMC, DTPFMC were significantly increased and subjective lower urinary symptoms were significantly decreased after treatment in the experimental group than in the control group. Conclusions. This study suggested that the pelvic floor muscle exercise using biofeedback and electrical stimulation might be a safer and more effective program for reinforcing pelvic floor muscle after normal delivery.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.307-315
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• 2014

This paper aims to empirically examine how shipping companies can effectively acquire knowledge from their strategic alliance partners. This paper adopts cooperative network embeddedness mechanism, such as network density and tie closeness, as a channel through which to acquire more knowledge for shipping participants within a strategic alliance network. This study also examines the moderating role of competition between alliance partners in reinforcing the effectiveness of the cooperative relationships on the knowledge acquisition. Based on the literature, hypotheses to predict the aforementioned associations between cooperative network embeddedness and knowledge acquisition and the moderating role of competition in facilitating that association are established. A quantitative research method using survey data conducted in the Korean shipping industry was employed in order to empirically test the presented hypotheses. The results show that if players in a shipping alliance network are embedded in a dense network and have close relationships with their alliance partners, this helps to facilitate a greater degree of knowledge acquisition from the partners; and the impact of network density on the knowledge acquisition would be intensified with the higher level of competition between shipping companies.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.44-51
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• 2009

In order to verify the effect of Surface Coating Anode and Solar Battery anode system, accelerated tests in the presence or absence of some chloride content and cracks were carried out. The potential-decay, protection potential and corrosion current density of reinforcing steel in concrete specimen were measured to evaluate the effectiveness of the system. From the test results, the application of the system led to the satisfaction on NACE's criterion in all mixtures of concrete. Additionally it was found that protection potential and corrosion current density were satisfied due to the application of Surface Coating Anode and Solar Battery anode system.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.83-98
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to review the characteristics of a web-based question-answer service and to analyze the information needs and use behavior of the service for a more efficient question-answer service plan. On the basis of the findings, this study makes suggestions for the question-answer service in respect of reinforcing the effectiveness of information itself and the efficiency of question-answer services. The speciality. accuracy. and specificity including the variety of themes should be improved for more effective information. Also. interactivity. readiness. and convenience should be improved for a more efficient service.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.113-121
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• 2013

Recently, it has been studied for the application of nano-materials in the concrete. Applied a small amount of nano-materials can achieve the goal of high strength, high performance and high durability. The small addition of nano clay improves strength, thermal stability, and durability of concrete because of the excellent dispersion. The present study has investigated the effectiveness, when varying with the contents of nano clay, influencing the pull-out behavior of macro synthetic fibers in nano materials cement mortar. Pullout tests conducted in accordance with the Japan Concrete Institute (JCI) SF-8 standard for fiber-reinforced concrete test methods were used to evaluate the pullout performance of the different nano clay. Nano clay was added to the 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 % of cement weight. The experimental results demonstrated that the addition of nano clay led to improve the pull-out properties as of the load-displacement curve in the precracked and debonded zone. Also, the compressive strength, flexural strength and pullout performance and of Mix No. 1 and No. 2 increased up to the point when nano clay used increased by 2 and 3 % contents, respectively, but decreased when the exceeded 3 and 4 %, respectively. It was proved by verifying increase of the scratching phenomenon in macro synthetic fiber surface through the microstructure analysis on the surface of macro synthetic fiber.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2000

In this paper, optimum design problem of R.C. continuous beam is considered and GUI system is developed for using at the practical design. Objective function lot formulation of optimum design problem is made up of the costs of concrete, reinforcing steel and formwork. Design variables are width, effective depth of the beam and steel ratio and design constraints are considered on the strength, serviceability, durability and geometrical conditions. The optimum design problem is solved by using sequential linear programming(SLP), sequential convex programming(SCP) and compared their effectiveness. Also this paper shows the application at practical design work according to the development of GUI system using visual basic.