• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.85-102
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• 1999

With the advent of computer, the finite element method has become a most powerful numerical method for structural analysis. However, bridge designers are reluctant to use it in their designs because of its complex nature and its being time consuming in the preparation of the input data and analyzing the results. This paper describes the development of a computer based finite element model using the idea of eccentric beam elements for the analysis of slab-on-girder bridges. The proposed method is supported by a laboratory test using a reinforced concrete bridge model. Other bridge analytical schemes are also introduced and compared with the proposed method. The main aim of the comparison is to prove the effectiveness of the shell and eccentric beam modelling in the studies of lateral load distribution of slab-on-girder bridges. It is concluded that the proposed finite element method gives a closer to real idealization and its developed computer program, SHECAN, is also very simple to use. It is highly recommended to use it as an analytical tool for the design of slab-on-girder bridges.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

The finite element analysis (FEA) is a numerical technique to find solutions of field problems. A field problem is approximated by differential equations or integral expressions. In a finite element, the field quantity is allowed to have a simple spatial variation in terms of linear or polynomial functions. This paper represents a review and an accuracy-study of the finite element method comparing the FEA results with the exact solution. The exact solutions were calculated by solid mechanics and FEA using matrix stiffness method. For this study, simple bar and cantilever models were considered to evaluate four types of basic elements - constant strain triangle (CST), linear strain triangle (LST), bi-linear-rectangle(Q4),and quadratic-rectangle(Q8). The bar model was subjected to uniaxial loading whereas in case of the cantilever model moment loading was used. In the uniaxial loading case, all basic element results of the displacement and stress in x-direction agreed well with the exact solutions. In the moment loading case, the displacement in y-direction using LST and Q8 elements were acceptable compared to the exact solution, but CST and Q4 elements had to be improved by the mesh refinement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.446-451
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• 2007

An Improved finite element model updating method to address the numerical difficulty associated with ill-conditioning and rank-deficiency. These difficulties frequently occur in model updating problems, when the identification of a larger number of physical parameters is attempted than that warranted by the information content of the experimental data. Based on the standard Bounded Variables Least-squares (BVLS) method, which incorporates the usual upper/lower-bound constraints, the proposed method is equipped with new constraints based on the correlation coefficients between the sensitivity vectors of updating parameters. The effectiveness of the proposed method is investigated through the numerical simulation of a simple framed structure by comparing the results of the proposed method with those obtained via pure BVLS and the regularization method. The comparison indicated that the proposed method and the regularization method yield approximate solutions with similar accuracy.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.226-232
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• 2003

Difficulties in the finite element modeling of human spine are evaded by using a stiffness matrix element whose properties can be characterized from experimentally measured stiffness of functional spinal units. Relative easiness is in that inter-vertebral discs, ligaments, and soft tissues connecting vertebrae do not need to be modeled as they are. The remarkable coupling effect between distinct degrees of freedom induced by the geometric complexity can be accommodated without much effort. An idealized block model with simple geometry for vertebra is employed to assess the feasibility of this method. Analyses are performed in both levels of motion segment and spinal column, and the result is compared with that from detail model. As far as the global behavior of spine is concerned, the simplification is found not to aggravate inaccuracy only if sufficient experimental data is provided and interpreted properly.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.107-115
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• 2008

In this paper, we have proposed a wear growth prediction method on the surface of rubber pad of track assembly installed in high-speed battle tank i.e. the automatic model updating code interfacing with commercial finite element simulation software. Also, simple and resonable geometrical, material finite element model was established to be easily updated based on the empirical threshold value of contact pressure on the contact surface. From the iterative model update and analysis results, we discovered a weak point on rubber pad surface and suggested a new design concept for improving the wear performance of track assembly.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.574-581
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• 2001

Transient linear elastodynamic problems are numerically analyzed in a time-domain by the Finite Element Method, for which the variational formulation based upon the equations of motion in convolution integral is newly derived. This formulation is implicit and does not include the time derivative terms so that the computation procedure is simple and less assumptions are required comparing to the conventional time-domain dynamic numerical algorithms, being able to get the improved numerical accuracy and stability. That formulation is expanded using the semi-discrete approximation to obtain the finite element equations. In the temporal approximation, the time axis is divided equally and constant and linear time variations are assumed in those intervals. It is found that unconditionally stable numerical results are obtained in case of the constant time variation. Some numerical examples are given to show the versatility of the presented formulation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.836-843
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• 2008

An efficient domain/boundary decomposition method is applied for heat transfer problems with non-linear thermal radiation boundaries. The whole domain of solids or structures is considered as set of subdomains, an interface, and radiation interfaces. In a variational formulation, simple penalty functions are introduced to connect an interface or radiation interfaces with neighboring subdomains that satisfy continuity conditions. As a result, non-linear finite element computations due to the thermal radiation boundaries can be localized within a few subdomains or radiation interfaces. Therefore, by setting up suitable solution algorithms for the governing finite element equations, the computational efficiency can be improved considerably. Through a set of numerical examples, these distinguishing characteristics of the present method are investigated in detail.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers B
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.174-181
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• 1999

To obtain more accurate result in the finite element analysis for electric machinery, it is important to have a mesh being of good quality. This paper describes a new technique of mesh generation for the finite element method. When the list of points defining the region of analysis is given, an appropriate distribution of interior points is generated first. Secondly the points are connected to from the trianlges. Finally the connectivity data are used to reposition the interior points using Laplacian smoothing and mesh relaxation technique. In this paper, a mesh searching technique of Lawson which modifies the start mesh is proposed in addition to the above three steps. This algorithm is simple and produces the meshes being of good quality with high speed in comparison with the existing one.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.353-361
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• 2022

Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) has been developed by applying stress analysis to determine the stress intensity factor (SIF, K). The finite element method (FEM) is widely used as a standard tool for evaluating the SIF for various crack configurations. The prediction accuracy can be achieved by applying an adaptive Delaunay triangulation combined with a FEM. The solution can be solved using either direct or iterative solvers. This work adopts the element-by-element preconditioned conjugate gradient (EBE-PCG) iterative solver into an adaptive FEM to solve the solution to heal problem size constraints that exist when direct solution techniques are applied. It can avoid the formation of a global stiffness matrix of a finite element model. Several numerical experiments reveal that the present method is simple, fast, and efficient compared to conventional sparse direct solvers. The optimum convergence criterion for two-dimensional LEFM analysis is studied. In this paper, four sample problems of a two-edge cracked plate, a center cracked plate, a single-edge cracked plate, and a compact tension specimen is used to evaluate the accuracy of the prediction of the SIF values. Finally, the efficiency of the present iterative solver is summarized by comparing the computational time for all cases.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.143-162
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• 2011

Advanced material models for concrete are not widely available in general purpose finite element codes. Parameters to define them complicate the implementation because they are case sensitive. In addition to this, their validity under severe shear condition has not been verified. In this article, simple engineering plasticity material models available in a commercial finite element code are used to demonstrate that complicated shear behavior can be calculated with reasonable accuracy. For this purpose dynamic response of a squat shear wall that had been tested on a shaking table as part of an experimental program conducted in Japan is analyzed. Both the finite element and material aspects of the modeling are examined. A corrective artifice for general engineering plasticity models to account for shear effects in concrete is developed. The results of modifications in modeling the concrete in compression are evaluated and compared with experimental response quantities.