• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.765-784
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• 2015

Connections are usually designed either as pinned usually associated with simple construction or rigid normally is associated with continuous construction. However, the actual behaviour falls in between these two extreme cases. The use of partial strength or semi-rigid connections has been encouraged by Euro-code 3 and studies on semi-continuous construction have shown substantial savings in steel weight of the overall construction. Composite connections are proposed in this paper as partial or full strength connections. Standardized connection tables are developed based on checking on all possible failure modes as suggested by "component method" for beam-to-column composite connection on major axis. Four experimental tests were carried out to validate the proposed standardised connection table. The test results showed good agreement between experimental and theoretical values with the ratio in the range between 1.06 to 1.50. All tested specimens of the composite connections showed ductile type of failure with the formation of cracks occurred on concrete slab at maximum load. No failure occurred on the Trapezoidal Web Profiled Steel Section as beam and on the British Section as column.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.469-480
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• 2020

This is the first research on the smart control and vibration analysis of a Graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) Reinforced Composite (GPLRC) porous cylindrical shell covered with piezoelectric layers as sensor and actuator (PLSA) in the framework of numerical based Generalized Differential Quadrature Method (GDQM). The stresses and strains are obtained using the First-order Shear Deformable Theory (FSDT). Rule of the mixture is employed to obtain varying mass density and Poisson's ratio, while the module of elasticity is computed by modified Halpin-Tsai model. The external voltage is applied to sensor layer and a Proportional-Derivative (PD) controller is used for sensor output control. Governing equations and boundary conditions of the GPLRC cylindrical shell are obtained by implementing Hamilton's principle. The results show that PD controller, length to radius ratio (L/R), applied voltage, porosity and weight fraction of GPL have significant influence on the frequency characteristics of a porous GPLRC cylindrical shell. Another important consequence is that at the lower value of the applied voltage, the influence of the smart controller on the frequency of the micro composite shell is much more significant in comparison with the higher ones.

• Composites Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.155-161
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• 2015

A composite structure was fabricated with embedded impact detection capabilities for applications in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). By embedding sensor functionality in the composite, the structure can successfully perform impact localization in real time. Smart resin, composed of $Pb(Ni_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-Pb(Zr,\;Ti)O_2$ (PNN-PZT) powder and epoxy resin with 1:30 wt%, was used instead of conventional epoxy resin in order to activate the sensor function in the composite structure. The embedded impact sensor in the composite was fabricated using Hand Lay-up and Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding(VARTM) methods to inject the smart resin into the glass-fiber fabric. The electrodes were fabricated using silver paste on both the upper and bottom sides of the specimen, then poling treatment was conducted to activate the sensor function using a high voltage amplifier at 4 kV/mm for 30 min at room temperature. The composite's piezoelectric sensitivity was measured to be 35.13 mV/N by comparing the impact force signals from an impact hammer with the corresponding output voltage from the sensor. Because impact sensor functionality was successfully embedded in the composite structure, various applications of this technique in the SHM industry are anticipated. In particular, impact localization on large-scale composite structures with complex geometries is feasible using this composite embedded impact sensor.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.387-393
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• 2022

This paper presents the vibration analysis of cracked ceramic-reinforced aluminum composite beams by using a method based on changes in modal strain energy. The crack is considered to be straight. The effective properties of composite materials of the beams are estimated through Mori-Tanaka micromechanical model. Comparison study and numerical simulations with various parameters; ceramic volume fraction, reinforcement aspect ratio, ratio of the reinforcement Young's modulus to the matrix Young's modulus and ratio of the reinforcement density to the matrix density are taken into investigation. Results demonstrate the pronounced effects of these parameters on intact and cracked ceramic aluminum beams.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2016

Intricate deflection requires many conventional actuators (motors, pistons etc.), which can be financially and spatially wasteful. Novel smart soft composite (SSC) actuators have been suggested, but fabrication complexity restricts their widespread use as general-purpose actuators. In this study, a hybrid manufacturing process comprising 3-D printing and casting was developed for automated fabrication of SSC actuators with $200{\mu}m$ precision, using a 3-D printer (3DISON, ROKIT), a simple polymer mixer, and a compressor controller. A method to improve precision is suggested, and the design compensates for deposition and backlash errors (maximum, $170{\mu}m$). A suitable flow rate and tool path are suggested for the polymer casting process. The equipment and process costs proposed here are lower than those of existing 3D printers for a multi-material deposition system and the technique has $200{\mu}m$ precision, which is suitable for fabrication of SSC actuators.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.567-585
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• 2014

The piezoelectric transverse $d_{15}$ shear sensing mechanism is firstly assessed experimentally for a cantilever smart sandwich plate made of a piezoceramic axially poled patched core and glass fiber reinforced polymer composite faces. Different electrical connections are tested for the assessment of the sensor performance under a varying amplitude harmonic (at 24 Hz) force. Also, the dynamic response of the smart sandwich composite structure is monitored using different acquisition devices. The obtained experimentally sensed voltages are compared to those resulting from the benchmark three-dimensional piezoelectric coupled finite element simulations using a commercial code where realistic features, like equipotential conditions on the patches' electrodes and mechanical updating of the clamp, are considered. Numerically, it is found that the stiffness of the clamp, which is much softer than the ideal one, has an enormous influence on the sensed voltage of its adjacent patch; therefore, sensing with the patch on the free side would be more advantageous for a cantilever configuration. Apart from confirming the latter result, the plate benchmark experimental assessment showed that the parallel connection of its two oppositely poled patches has a moderate performance but better than the clamp side patch acting as an individual sensor.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.83-87
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• 2018

An object in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is affected by many environmental conditions unlike earth's surface such as, Atomic oxygen (AO), Ultraviolet Radiation (UV), thermal cycling, High Vacuum and Micrometeoroids and Orbital Debris (MMOD) impacts. The effect of all these parameters have to be carefully considered when designing a space structure, as it could be very critical for a space mission. Polybenzimidazole (PBI) is a high performance thermoplastic polymer that could be a suitable material for space missions because of its excellent resistance to these environmental factors. A thin coating of PBI polymer on the carbon epoxy composite laminate (referred as CFRP) was found to improve the energy absorption capability of the laminate in event of a hypervelocity impact. However, the overall efficiency of the shield also depends on other factors like placement and orientation of the laminates, standoff distances and the number of shielding layers. This paper studies the effectiveness of using a PBI coating on the front bumper in a multi-shock shield design for enhanced hypervelocity impact resistance. A thin PBI coating of 43 micron was observed to improve the shielding efficiency of the CFRP laminate by 22.06% when exposed to LEO environment conditions in a simulation chamber. To study the effectiveness of PBI coating in a hypervelocity impact situation, experiments were conducted on the CFRP and the PBI coated CFRP laminates with projectile velocities between 2.2 to 3.2 km/s. It was observed that the mass loss of the CFRP laminates decreased 7% when coated by a thin layer of PBI. However, the study of mass loss and damage area on a witness plate showed CFRP case to have better shielding efficiency than PBI coated CFRP laminate case. Therefore, it is recommended that PBI coating on the front bumper is not so effective in improving the overall hypervelocity impact resistance of the space structure.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.545-555
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• 2018

This study aimed to investigate the flexural behavior of precast concrete (PC) wall - steel shoe composite assemblies with various dry connection details at mid-span. Flexural tests were performed for five scenarios. Test parameters included the width of test specimens, arrangement of steel shoe connectors, and use of structural adhesive or waterproof tape at the mid-span joint. The test results showed that the PC wall - steel shoe composite assemblies joined at mid-span showed flexural damage patterns combined with rotational deformation, and the structural performance was satisfactory regardless of the arrangement of steel shoe connectors. Considering the two deformation components (flexural deformation by bending and rotational deformation due to joint opening), a theoretical model was proposed to analyze flexural strength and joint opening, and the simple model gave good predictions with acceptable accuracy.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.11-19
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• 2011

A localization development of Composite rotor blade for Smart Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(SUAV) has been conducted. Overall localization development encompassed selection of domestic composite material having similar properties to that of original one at its best, coupon tests for data base of new material properties, re-calculation of blade sectional properties, and validation of structural/dynamic design requirements such as isolation of rotor natural frequency from excitation, static and fatigue strength, aeroelastic stability. The results of all these activities are described. This paper briefly discusses the improved manufacturing process for the localization of SUAV blade.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.114-117
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• 2001

A higher order zig-zag plate theory is developed to refine accurately predict fully coupled of the mechanical, thermal, and electric behaviors. Both the displacement and temperature fields through the thickness are constructed by superimposing linear zig-zag field to the smooth globally cubic varying field. Smooth parabolic distribution through the thickness is assumed in the transverse deflection in order to consider transverse normal deformation. Linear zig-zag form is adopted in the electric field. The layer-dependent degrees of freedom of displacement and temperature fields are expressed in terms of reference primary degrees of freedom by applying interface continuity conditions as well as bounding surface conditions of transverse shear stresses and transverse heat flux The numerical examples of coupled and uncoupled analysis are demonstrated the accuracy and efficiency of the present theory. The present theory is suitable for the predictions of fully coupled behaviors of thick smart composite plate under mechanical, thermal, and electric loadings.