• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.177-185
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• 2020

The building energy performance indicator, called Energy Performance Index (EPI), has been used for the past decades in South Korea. It has a list of design variables assigned with weighting factors (a, b). Unfortunately, the current EPI method is not performance-based but very close to a prescriptive rating. With this in mind, this study aims to propose a new performance-based EPI method. For this purpose, a global sensitivity analysis method, Sobol, is employed. The Sobol method is suitable for complex nonlinear models and can decompose all the output variance due to every input. The Sobol sensitivity index of each variable is defined as 0 to 1 (0 to 100%), and the sum of all sensitivity indices is equal to 1 (100%). In this study, an office building was modeled using EnergyPlus and then the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) was conducted to generate a surrogate model to EnergyPlus. The sensitivity index was suggested to replace weight (a) in the existing EPI. In addition, the discrete weight (b) in the existing EPI was replaced by a set of continuous regression functions. Due to the introduction of the sensitivity index and the continuous regression functions, the new proposed approach can provide far more accurate outcome than the existing EPI (R²: 0.83 vs. R²: 0.01 for cooling, R²: 0.66 vs. R²: 0.01 for total energy). The new proposed approach proves to be more rational, objective and performance-based than the existing EPI method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.5
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• pp.549-561
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• 2018

Sobol method is applied as a powerful variance decomposition technique in the field of global sensitivity analysis (GSA). The paper is devoted to increase convergence speed of the extracted Sobol indices using a new proposed sampling technique called genetic based Latine hypercube sampling (GBLHS). This technique is indeed an improved version of restricted Latine hypercube sampling (LHS) and the optimization algorithm is inspired from genetic algorithm in a new approach. The new approach is based on the optimization of minimax value of LHS arrays using manipulation of array indices as chromosomes in genetic algorithm. The improved Sobol method is implemented to perform factor prioritization and fixing of an uncertain comprehensive high speed rotor-bearing system. The finite element method is employed for rotor-bearing modeling by considering Eshleman-Eubanks assumption and interaction of axial force on the rotor whirling behavior. The performance of the GBLHS technique are compared with the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS), LHS and Optimized LHS (Minimax. criteria). Comparison of the GBLHS with other techniques demonstrates its capability for increasing convergence speed of the sensitivity indices and improving computational time of the GSA.

• International journal of steel structures
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1684-1698
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• 2018

Fragility functions are determined for braced steel moment frames (SMFs) with plans such as square-, T-, L-, U-, trapezoidal-, and semicircular-shaped, subjected to blast. The frames are designed for gravity and seismic loads, but not necessarily for the blast loads. The blast load is computed for a wide range of scenarios involving different parameters, viz. charge weight, standoff distance, and blast location relative to plan of the structure followed by nonlinear dynamic analysis of the frames. The members failing in rotation lead to partial collapse due to plastic mechanism formation. The probabilities of partial collapse of the SMFs, with and without bracing system, due to the blast loading are computed to plot fragility curves. The charge weight and standoff distance are taken as Gaussian random input variables. The extent of propagation of the uncertainties in the input parameters onto the response quantities and fragility of the SMFs is assessed by computing Sobol sensitivity indices. The probabilistic analysis is conducted using Monte Carlo simulations. The frames have least failure probability for blasts occurring in front of their corners or convex face. Further, the unbraced frames are observed to have higher fragility as compared to counterpart braced frames for far-off detonations.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.715-731
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• 2021

Uncertainties are calculated for pressurized water reactor (PWR) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) characteristics. The deterministic code STREAM is currently being used as an SNF analysis tool to obtain isotopic inventory, radioactivity, decay heat, neutron and gamma source strengths. The SNF analysis capability of STREAM was recently validated. However, the uncertainty analysis is yet to be conducted. To estimate the uncertainty due to nuclear data, STREAM is used to perturb nuclear cross section (XS) and resonance integral (RI) libraries produced by NJOY99. The perturbation of XS and RI involves the stochastic sampling of ENDF/B-VII.1 covariance data. To estimate the uncertainty due to modeling parameters (fuel design and irradiation history), surrogate models are built based on polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) and variance-based sensitivity indices (i.e., Sobol' indices) are employed to perform global sensitivity analysis (GSA). The calculation results indicate that uncertainty of SNF due to modeling parameters are also very important and as a result can contribute significantly to the difference of uncertainties due to nuclear data and modeling parameters. In addition, the surrogate model offers a computationally efficient approach with significantly reduced computation time, to accurately evaluate uncertainties of SNF integral characteristics.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.4
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• pp.429-441
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• 2022

A probabilistic assessment of the seismic-excited buildings with a multiple-tuned-mass-damper (MTMD) system is carried out in the presence of uncertainties of the structural model, MTMD system, and the stochastic model of the seismic excitations. A free search optimization procedure of the individual mass, stiffness and, damping parameters of the MTMD system based on the snap-drift cuckoo search (SDCS) optimization algorithm is proposed for the optimal design of the MTMD system. Considering a 10-story structure in three cases equipped with single tuned mass damper (STMS), 5-TMD and 10-TMD, sensitivity analyses are carried out using Sobol' indices based on the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method. Considering different seismic performance levels, the reliability analyses are done using MCS and kriging-based MCS methods. The results show the maximum structural responses are more affected by changes in the PGA and the stiffness coefficients of the structural floors and TMDs. The results indicate the kriging-based MCS method can estimate the accurate amount of failure probability by spending less time than the MCS. The results also show the MTMD gives a significant reduction in the structural failure probability. The effect of the MTMD on the reduction of the failure probability is remarkable in the performance levels of life safety and collapse prevention. The maximum drift of floors may be reduced for the nominal structural system by increasing the TMDs, however, the complexity of the MTMD model and increasing its corresponding uncertainty sources can be caused a slight increase in the failure probability of the structure.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.429-444
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• 2023

The comprehension and structural modeling of masonry constructions is fundamental to safeguard the integrity of built cultural assets and intervene through adequate actions, especially in earthquake-prone regions. Despite the availability of several modeling strategies and modern computing power, modeling masonry remains a great challenge because of still demanding computational efforts, constraints in performing destructive or semi-destructive in-situ tests, and material uncertainties. This paper investigates the shear behavior of masonry walls by applying a plane-stress FE continuum model with the Modified Masonry-like Material (MMLM). Epistemic uncertainty affecting input parameters of the MMLM is considered in a probabilistic framework. After appointing a suitable probability density function to input quantities according to prior engineering knowledge, uncertainties are propagated to outputs relying on gPCE-based surrogate models to considerably speed up the forward problem-solving. The sensitivity of the response to input parameters is evaluated through the computation of Sobol' indices pointing out the parameters more worthy to be further investigated, when dealing with the seismic assessment of masonry buildings. Finally, masonry mechanical properties are calibrated in a probabilistic setting with the Bayesian approach to the inverse problem based on the available measurements obtained from the experimental load-displacement curves provided by shear compression in-situ tests.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.809-819
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• 2020

In this study, the twist angle and wing planform shapes were selected as design variables and optimized to secure the stability of the flying-wing type UAV. Flying-wing aircraft has no separated fuselage and tails, which has advantages in aerodynamic characteristics and stealth performance, but it is difficult to secure the flight stability. In this paper, the sweep back angle and twist angle were optimized to obtain the lateral stability, the static margin and wing planform shapes were optimized to improve the longitudinal stability of the flying-wing, then effect of the twist angle was confirmed by comparing the stability of the shape with the winglet and the shape with the twist angle. In the optimization formulation, focusing on improving stability, constraints were established, objective functions and design variables were set, then design variable sensitivity analysis was performed using the Sobol method. AVL was used for aerodynamic analysis and stability analysis, and SQP was used for optimization. The CFD analysis of the optimized shape and the simulation of the dynamic stability proved that the twist angle can be applied to the improvement of the lateral stability as well as the stealth performance in the flying-wing instead of the winglet.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.287-295
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• 2020

Group method of data handling (GMDH) is considered one of the earliest deep learning methods. Deep learning gained additional interest in today's applications due to its capability to handle complex and high dimensional problems. In this study, multi-layer GMDH networks are used to perform uncertainty quantification (UQ) and sensitivity analysis (SA) of nuclear reactor simulations. GMDH is utilized as a surrogate/metamodel to replace high fidelity computer models with cheap-to-evaluate surrogate models, which facilitate UQ and SA tasks (e.g. variance decomposition, uncertainty propagation, etc.). GMDH performance is validated through two UQ applications in reactor simulations: (1) low dimensional input space (two-phase flow in a reactor channel), and (2) high dimensional space (8-group homogenized cross-sections). In both applications, GMDH networks show very good performance with small mean absolute and squared errors as well as high accuracy in capturing the target variance. GMDH is utilized afterward to perform UQ tasks such as variance decomposition through Sobol indices, and GMDH-based uncertainty propagation with large number of samples. GMDH performance is also compared to other surrogates including Gaussian processes and polynomial chaos expansions. The comparison shows that GMDH has competitive performance with the other methods for the low dimensional problem, and reliable performance for the high dimensional problem.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.333-343
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• 2023

Various seismic isolation and reduction devices have been applied to suppress the longitudinal vibration of continuous girder bridges. As representative devices, lead rubber bearing (LRB) and fluid viscous damper (FVD) might suffer from deterioration during the long-term service. This study aims to evaluate the impact of device deterioration on the seismic responses of continuous girder bridges and investigate the seismic behavior of deteriorated LRBs and FVDs. Seismic performance of a simplified bridge model was investigated, and the influence of device deterioration was evaluated by the coefficient of variation method. The contribution of LRB and FVD was assessed by the Sobol global sensitivity analysis method. Finally, the seismic behaviors of deteriorated LRBs and FVDs were discussed. The result shows that (i) the girder-pier relative displacement is the most sensitive to the changes in the deterioration level, (ii) the deterioration of FVD has a greater effect on the structural responses than that of LRB, (iii) FVD plays a major role in energy dissipation with a low degradation level while LRB is more essential in dissipating energy when suffering from high degradation level, (iv) the deteriorated devices are more likely to reach the ultimate state and thus be damaged.