• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2020

In seismic design of a pylon supporting transmission lines in an overhead electricity transmission system, an estimation of the fundamental periods of the pylon in two orthogonal vertical planes is necessary to compute the seismic forces required for sizing pylon members and checking pylon deflections. In current practice, the fundamental periods of a pylon in two orthogonal vertical planes are typically obtained from eigenvalue analyses of a model consisting of the pylon of interest as well as some adjacent pylons and the transmission lines supported by these pylons. Such an approach is onerous and numerically inconvenient. This research focused on development of a simplified method to determine the fundamental periods of pylons. The simplified method is rooted in Rayleigh's quotient and is based on a single-pylon model. The force vectors that can be used to generate the shape vectors required in Rayleigh's quotient are presented in detail. Taking three pylons selected from representative overhead electricity transmission systems having different design parameters as examples, the fundamental periods of the chosen pylons predicted from the simplified method were compared with those from the rigorous eigenvalue analyses. Result comparisons show that the simplified method provides reasonable predictions and it can be used as a convenient surrogate for the tedious approach currently adopted.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2007.10a
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• pp.173-176
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• 2007

The characteristics of the tool system give many effects into the costs and qualities for the finished components. This study proposes a new method for manufacturing of high manufacturing productivity, production process reduction and low cost through back pressure forming. The Lock-up hub is manufactured through many processes, such as upsetting($1^{st}$ Forming), piercing, direct extrusion($2^{nd}$ Forming), final sizing process($3^{rd}$ Forming). In this study, process design for closed-die forging of a Lock-up hub used for a component of automobile transmission was made using three-dimensional finite element simulations, and the strain distributions and velocity distributions are investigated through the post processor. The rigid-plastic finite-element method for back pressure forging has been used in order to reduce development time and die cost. Using the FEM simulation, we found the optimum value of back pressure. The prototypes of Lock-up hub parts were forged into the net-shape. In the experiment, lead precision of tooth are measured by the CCMM(Contact Coordinate Measuring Machine). The dimensional accuracy of forged part was improved up to the 40% when back press was applied.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.665-682
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• 2006

A vibration-based nondestructive damage evaluation technique for a curved thin beam is introduced. The proposed method is capable of detecting, locating, and sizing structural damage simultaneously by using a few of the lower natural frequencies and their corresponding mode shapes before and after a small damage event. The proposed approach utilizes modal flexibilities reconstructed from measured modal parameters. A rigorous system of equations governing damage and curvature of modal flexibility is derived in the context of elasticity. To solve the resulting system of governing equations, an efficient pseudo-inverse technique is introduced. The direct inspection of the resulting solutions provides the location and severity of damage in a curved thin beam. This study confirms that there is a strong linear relationship between the curvature of modal flexibility and flexural damage in the selected class of structures. Several numerical case studies are provided to justify the performance of the proposed approach. The proposed method introduces a way to avoid the singularity and mode selection problems from earlier attempts.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.451-476
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• 2015

Membrane distillation (MD), which can utilize low-grade thermal energy, has been extensively studied for desalination. By incorporating solar thermal energy, the solar membrane distillation desalination system (SMDDS) is a potential technology for resolving the energy and water resource problems. Small-scale SMDDS (s-SMDDS) is an attractive and viable option for the production of fresh water for small communities in remote arid areas. The minimum-cost design and operation of s-SMDDS are determined by a systematic method, which involves a pseudo steady state approach for equipment sizing and the dynamic optimization using overall system mathematical models. The s-SMDDS employing three MD configurations, including the air gap (AGMD), direct contact (DCMD) and vacuum (VMD) types, are optimized. The membrane area of each system is $11.5m^2$. The AGMD system operated for 500 kg/day water production rate gives the lowest unit cost of $5.92/m^3$. The performance ratio and recovery ratio are 0.85 and 4.07%, respectively. For the commercial membrane employed in this study, the increase of membrane mass transfer coefficient up to two times is beneficial for cost reduction and the reduction of membrane heat transfer coefficient only affects the cost of the DCMD system.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.5
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• pp.519-528
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• 2021

One of the most efficient designs of solar trackers for photovoltaic panels is the single-axis tracker, which holds the panels along a torque tube that is driven by a motor at the central section. These trackers have evolved to become extremely slender structures due to mechanical optimization against static load and the need of cost reduction in a very competitive market. Owing to the corresponding decrease in mechanical resistance, some of these trackers have suffered aeroelastic instability even at moderate wind speeds, leading to catastrophic failures. In the present work, an analytical and experimental approach has been developed to study that phenomenon. The analytical study has led to identify the dimensionless parameters that govern the motion of the panel-tracker structure. Also, systematic wind tunnel experiments have been carried out on a 3D aeroelastic scale model. The tests have been successful in reproducing the aeroelastic phenomena arising in real-scale cases and have allowed the identification and a close characterization of the phenomenon. The main results have been the determination of the critical velocity for torsional galloping as a function of tilt angle and a calculation methodology for the optimal sizing of solar tracker shafts.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.221-231
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• 2023

Biopolymer stabilization is a sustainable alternative to traditional techniques that cause a lesser negative impact on the environment during production and application. The study aims to minimize the biopolymer dosages by sizing the bio-additives to the nanoscale. This study combines the advantages of bio and nanomaterials in geotechnical engineering applications and attempts to investigate the behaviour of a low viscous biopolymer, nano sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (nCMC), to treat organic soil. Soil is treated with 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1.00% of nano-bio additive, and its effect on the plastic behaviour, compaction characteristics, strength, hydraulic conductivity (HC) and compressible nature are investigated. The strength increased by 1.68 times after 90 days of curing at a dosage of 0.5% nCMC through the formation of gel threads connecting the soil particles that stiffened the matrix. The viscosity of 1% nCMC increased exponentially, deterring fluid flow through the voids and reduced the HC by 0.85 times after curing for 90 days. Also, beyond the optimum dosage of 0.50%, the nCMC forms a film around the soil particles that inhibits the inter-particle cohesion causing a reduction in strength. Experimental results show that nCMC can effectively substitute conventional additives to stabilize the soil.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.99-113
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• 2012

Steel Catenary Risers (SCR) are the simplest and often the most economic solution compared to other riser types such as flexible pipe, riser towers, top tensioned risers, etc. The top of a SCR is connected to the host platform riser porch. The other end of the SCR connects to flowlines from subsea wells. The riser touchdown point (TDP), which is the location along the riser where contact with the sea floor first occurs, exhibits complex behaviors and often results in compression and fatigue related issues. Heave dynamic responses of semisubmersibles in extreme and operating sea states are crucial for feasibility of SCR application. Recent full field measurement results of a deep draft semisubmersible in Hurricane Gustav displayed the considerable discrepancies in heave responses characteristics between the measured and the simulated results. The adequacy and accuracy of the simulated results from recognized commercial software should be examined. This finding raised the awareness of shortcomings of current commercial software and potential risk in mega investment loss and environmental pollutions due to SCR failures. One main objective of this paper is to attempt to assess the importance and necessity of accounting for viscous effects during design and analysis by employing indicator of viscous parameter. Since viscous effects increase with nearly third power of significant wave height, thus newly increased metocean criteria per API in central Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and even more severe environmental conditions in Western Australia (WA) call for fundamental enhancements of the existing analysis tools to ensure reliable and robust design. Furthermore, another aim of this paper is to address the impacts of metocean criteria and design philosophy on semisubmersible hull sizing in WA and GoM.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.409-421
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• 2020

In the optimized structure sizing, the optimization methods are inserted in this context in order to obtain satisfactory solutions, which can provide more economical structures, besides allowing the consideration of the factors related to the environmental impacts in the structural design. This work proposes a mathematical model for the optimization of steel-concrete composite beams aiming to minimize the monetary cost and the environmental impact, using the Harmonic Search optimization method. Discrete variables were the dimensions of the steel profiles and the thickness of the collaborating slab of the composite steel-concrete beam. The proposed model was implemented in Fortran programming language and based on improvements in the structure of the optimization method proposed by Medeiros and Kripka (2017). To prove the effectiveness and applicability of the model, as well as the Harmonic Search method, analyzes were performed with different configurations of steel-concrete composite beams, in order to provide guidelines that make the use of these systems more streamlined. In general, the Harmonic Search optimization method has proved to be efficient in the search for the optimized solutions, as well as important considerations on the optimization of the monetary and environmental costs of steel-concrete composite beams were obtained from the developed examples.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.70-78
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• 2018

This research was carried out to develop an integrated folding wing made from carbon composite materials. Design requirements were reviewed and composite wing sizing was conducted using design optimization with commercial software. Three composite manufacturing processes including hot-press, pultrusion, and autoclave were evaluated and the most suitable processes for the integrated wing fabrication were selected, with consideration given to performance and cost. The determined manufacturing process was verified by two design development tests for selecting the design concept. Stiffness and strength of the composite wing were estimated through structural analyses. The test loads were calculated and static tests about design limit load and design ultimate load were performed using both wings. As a result, the evaluation criterions of the tests were satisfied and structural safety was verified through the series of structural analyses and testing.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2008

Net shape forging technologies give many effects into the costs and qualities for the finished products. So, the studies to reduce the additional machining amount are very important in forging industry. Specially, there are two main topics in cold forging industry, such as, tool life and precision forging. In this study, new forging technique was proposed to eliminate the machining process for fixing up the length and improve the lead accuracy of gear. The luck-up hub is manufactured through many processes, such as upsetting, piercing and direct extrusion. The gear is formed in direct extrusion process; however, lead accuracy of the gear is over allowance limit. Therefore, the additional sizing process must be added. In this study, process design for closed-die forging of a lock-up hub used for a component of automobile transmission was made using three-dimensional finite element simulations, and the strain distributions and velocity distributions are investigated through the post processor. The rigid-plastic finite-element method for back pressure forging has been used in order to reduce development time and die cost. Using the FEM simulation, we found the optimum value of back pressure. The prototypes of lock-up hub parts were forged into the net-shape. In the experiment, lead precision of tooth are measured by the CCMM(Contact Coordinate Measuring Machine). The dimensional accuracy of forged part was improved up to the 40% when back press was applied.