• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2008

To evaluate aortic wall stiffness without influence of different background blood pressure, a new technique was developed and verified. At eight swine descending aortae, volume-pressure measurement was performed using custom-made system. Based on averaged pressure-volume curve, aortic distensibility index was formulated to evaluate aortic wall stiffness regardless of variable blood pressure and aortic size. The variability of aortic distensibility index by pressure change was compared with other parameters for wall stiffness evaluation. Subsequently, the aortic distensibility index was calculated at 100 contrast-enhanced EBCT data sets of normal volunteers in regular health screening program. The measured aortic distensibility index was compared with age, coronary calcium score, and aortic calcium score. Between 50 and 360 mmHg of blood pressure, the coefficient of variance of aortic distensibility index was 22.00% as comparing with 88.99% of classical compliance. Based on age, aortic distensibility index showed correlation coefficient of 0.55, whereas classical compliance showed 0.26. The correlation coefficient with modified aortic calcification was 0.43. Linear regression study revealed statistical significance of correlation coefficients. The aortic distensibility index, the method to evaluate aortic wall stiffness free from variable blood pressure and aortic size, was developed and verified with significant practical feasibility.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.82-89
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• 2010

Ankle-foot orthosis with an artificial pneumatic muscle which is intended for the assistance of plantarfelxion torque was developed. In this study, power pattern of the device in the various pneumatics and the effectiveness of the system were investigated. The pneumatic power was provided by ankle-foot orthosis controlled by user‘s physiological signal, that is, muscular stiffness in soleus muscle. This pneumatic power can assist plantarflexion torque of ankle joint. The subjects performed maximal voluntary isokinetic plantarflexion motion on a biodexdynamometer in different pneumatics, and they completed three conditions: 1) without wearing the orthosis, 2) wearing the orthosis with artificial muscles turned off, 3) wearing the orthosis activated under muscular stiffness control. Through these experiments, we confirmed the effectiveness of the orthosis and muscular stiffness control using the analyzing isokinetic plantarflexion torque. The experimental results showed that isokinetic torques of plantarflexion motion of the ankle joints gradually increased in incremental pneumatic. The effectiveness of the orthosis was -7.26% and the effectiveness of the muscular stiffness control was 17.83% in normalized isokinetic plantarflexion torque. Subjects generated the less isokinetic torques of the ankle joints in wearing the orthosis with artificial muscles turned off, but isokinetic torques were appropriately reinforced in condition of wearing the orthosis activated under muscular stiffness control(17.83%) compared to wearing the orthosis(-7.26%). Therefore, we respect that developed powered orthosis is applied in the elderly that has weak muscular power as the rehabilitation equipment.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 2008

Resilient materials are generally used for the floating floors to reduce the floor impact sound. Dynamic stiffness of resilient material, which has the most to do with the floor impact sound reduction. The resilient materials available in Korea include EPS(styrofoam), recycled urethane types, EVA(ethylene vinylacetate) foam rubber, foam PE(polyethylene). glass fiber & rock wool, recycled tire, foam polypropylene. compressed polyester, and other synthetic materials. In this study, we tested dynamic stiffness of resilient material and floor impact sound reduction characteristic to a lot of kinds of resilient materials. It was found that dynamic stiffness of multi-layered damping material could be estimated if know value of each layer that compose whole structure. And the test showed that the amount of the heavy-weight impact sound reduction appeared by being influenced from this dynamic stiffness of resilient material. The dynamic stiffness looked like between other resilient materials, a similar to the amount of the heavy-weight impact sound reduction was shown.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1144-1151
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• 2012

A damage in structure alters its dynamic characteristics. The change is characterized by changes in the modal parameter, i.e., modal frequencies, modal damping value and mode shape associated with each modal frequency. Changes also occur in some of the structural parameters; namely, the mass, damping, stiffness matrices of the structure. In this paper, evaluation of changes in stiffness matrix of a structure is presented as a method not only for identifying the presence of the damage but also locating the damage. It is shown that changed stiffness matrix can be accurately estimated a sensitivity coefficient matrix derived from modifying mode shapes, First, with 4 story shear structure models, the effect of presence of damage in a structure on its stiffness matrix is studied. By using these analytical model, the effectiveness of using change of stiffness matrix in detecting and locating damages is demonstrated. To validate the predicted changing stiffness and its location, the obtained results are compared to the reanalysis result which shows good agreement.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2009.05b
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• pp.641-646
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• 2009

Concrete tracks are superior to ballast tracks in the aspect of durability, maintenance and safety. However, deteriorated stiffness of railroad bed and settlement of soft ground induced by trapped or seepage water lead to problems in safety of train operation. In this research, characteristic stiffness of concrete tracks, which is determined from FRACTAL (Flexural-Rigidity Assessment of Concrete Tracks by Antisymmetric Lamb Waves) technique, was employed as an index of track displacement. The characteristic stiffness is defined using Poisson's ratio, moment of inertia and stiffness ratio of subgrade to slab. To verify validity and reliability of the proposed characteristic stiffness, experimental and theoretical researches were performed. Feasibility of the characteristic stiffness based on FRACTAL technique was proved at a real concrete track for Korean high-speed trains. Validity of the FRACTAL technique was also verified by comparing the results of impulse-response tests performed at the same measurement array and the results of SASW tests and DC resistivity survey performed at a shoulder nearby the track.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.197-204
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• 2001

The purpose of this paper is to develope the evaluation technique to find proper elastic constants that characterize the material nonlinearity of structural membrane. The stress-strain curves of membrane material show strong nonlinearity. But generally the analysis is carried out under the assumption on material linear and geometrical nonlinear method. Because, it is very difficult to evaluate proper tangential stiffness. This paper use multi-step-linear approximation method taking the concept of effective stress for the evaluation of stiffness of membrane material, and then compare the results between linear and nonlinear analysis. Also. it shows better results than linear method

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.51-54
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• 2005

Reinforced Concrete structures have been commonly regarded as fire-resisting constructions. In the case of high-strength concrete, however, the behavior of a concrete member under fire and after fire has characteristics in different way with normal strength concrete members because of spalling. The resonable evaluation about the residual strength and stiffness of members as well as material properties has to be conducted before reusing the fire-damaged structures or retrofitting or strengthening them. Therefore, the guideline is needed for evaluation the residual strength and stiffness. In this study, the fire test is conducted with parameters like concrete strength, fire time and cover thickness, etc. The loads-deflection curves are used for comparison and analysis with the parameters.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.627-634
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• 2014

Machine tool vibration is well known for reducing machining accuracy. Because vibration response of a linear structure generally depends on its transfer function if the magnitude of excitation were kept constant, this study introduces a RET(Random Excitation Test) based on FRF method to evaluate stiffness of a prototype HDMTL(Heavy-Duty Multi-Tasking Lathe) for large crankshaft of marine engine. Firstly, two force loops of the lathe and corresponding structural loops were identified:1) workpiece - spindle - head stock - main bed, 2) workpiece - tool post - carriage bed. Secondly, compliances of each structural loop were measured respectively using RET with a hydraulic exciter and then converted into stiffness. Finally, the measured stiffness was compared with that obtained previously by FEM analysis. As the result, both measured and computed stiffness were closely in agreement with each other. And the prototype HDMTL has evidently sufficient rigidity above ordinary heavy-duty lathes.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.34-40
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• 2004

Very Large Floating Structure(VLFS) is regarded as one of promising candidates for the future utilization of ocean space. VLFS has the merits of small environmental effect. short construction term, easiness for extension and removal. It is well known that hydroelastic response is one of major design concerns of such a huge structure. Most of studies on the hydroelastic analysis of VLFS assumed uniform mass and bending stiffness. In case of a floating hotel where noticeable change of mass and stiffness at the hotel part is expected. it is necessary to investigate the effect of nonuniform mass and bending stiffness on the hydroelastic response. A model test of a pontoon type VLFS with nonuniform bending stiffness carried out for performance evaluation of a floating marina-hotel-convention center is described in this paper. Through investigation of model test results and comparison with numerical analysis using eigenfunction method, effect of the variation of bending stiffness is discussed.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.63-70
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• 2008

Slim floor construction is becoming used throughout many countries. It combines the advantages of flat slab construction with significant inherent resistance to fire. The slim floor system with web openings leads to the reduction of its self-weight. Although the system has enough strength and stiffness, it is necessary to evaluate and improve the effects of dynamic vibration to be able to annoy the residents. Thus, this study evaluates the serviceability of vibration effects based on the dynamic test of five slim composite beams. Based on the experimental results, the initial stiffness and natural frequency of all specimens exhibit the similar trend regardless of the opening and the shape of cross section. The decrease in natural frequency is deeply related to the reduction in the stiffness of specimens and thus, it can be concluded that the damage of slim composite floor can be detected by the measurement of natural frequency instead of the load-carrying capacity and the stiffness.