• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.745-762
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• 2011

Damage detection methodologies based on the direct examination of the nonlinear-nonstationary characteristics of the structure dynamic response may play an important role in online structural health monitoring applications. Different signal processing based damage detection methodologies have been proposed based on the uncovering of spikes in the high frequency component of the structural response obtained via Discrete Wavelet transforms, Hilbert-Huang transforms or high pass filtering. The performance of these approaches in systems subjected to different types of excitation is evaluated in this paper. It is found that in the case of random excitations, like earthquake accelerations, the effectiveness of such methodologies is limited. An alternative damage detection approach using the Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) is also evaluated to overcome this limitation. Using the CWT has the advantage that the central frequencies at which it operates can be defined by the user while the frequency bands of the detail functions obtained via DWT are predetermined by the sampling period of the signal.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.617-630
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• 2010

Different types of moment resisting connections are commonly used to transfer the induced seismic moments between frame elements in an earthquake resisting structure. The local connection behavior may drastically affect the global seismic response of the structure. In this study, the finite element and experimental seismic investigations are implemented on two frequently used connection type to evaluate the local behavior and to reveal the failure modes. An alternative connection type is then proposed to eliminate the unfavorable brittle fracture modes resulted from probable poor welding quality. This will develop a reliable predefined ductile plastic mechanism forming away from the critical locations. Employing this technique, the structural reliability of the moment resisting connections shall be improved by achieving a controllable energy dissipation source in form of yielding of the cover plates.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.56-60
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• 2002

After many casualties with conventional bulk carriers in recent years, double hull bulk carrier was proposed ta enhance the structural safety of side shell and transverse bulkhead. In this paper, two alternative structural designs of double hull bulk camel were executed based an the Lloyd's rule, and the results were examined in comparison with the existing single hull bulk carrier in the viewpoints of the increase of weight and construction cost. The relative construction concept was used to certify the economical validity of double hull bulk carrier.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.597-606
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• 2019

Damage detection based on dynamic characteristics of a structure is one of important roles in structural damage identification. It is difficult to detect local structural damage using traditional dynamic experimental methods due to a limited number of sensors used in an experiment. In this work, a non-contact test stand of fan blades is established, and a full-field noncontact test method, combined with three-dimensional digital image correlation, Bayesian operational modal analysis, and damage indices, is used to detect local damage of a fan blade under ambient excitation without use of baseline information before structural damage. The methodology is applied to detect invisible local damage on the fan blade. Such a method has a seemingly high potential as an alternative to detect local damage of blades with complex high-precision surfaces under extreme working conditions because it is a noncontact test method and can be used under ambient excitation without human participation.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.137-143
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• 2023

The use of Engineered Wood Systems (EWS), especially mass-timber, as a structural alternative or complement to steel and concrete is gaining interest and acceptance across different sectors of architecture, engineering, and construction, including in high-rise buildings. Focussing on the Australian context, this study examines the levels of adoption and barriers to using timber as a primary structural material in multi-storey buildings. Data collected from semi-structured interviews with stakeholders at the forefront of adoption in structural design, construction, and property development indicates that timber in multi-storey projects in Australia still faces industry-wide challenges. Designers' awareness and attitudes towards timber adoption are generally positive and suitable for flagship projects, including tall buildings, but for enduring and widespread impact, long-term investment in education within and outside the range of stakeholders already committed to promoting timber adoption is needed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2024

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars have now been widely adopted as an alternative to traditional steel reinforcements in infrastructure and civil industries worldwide due variety of merits. This paper presents a numerical methodology to investigate FRP bar-reinforced beam-column joint behavior under quasi-static loading. The proposed numerical model is validated with test results considering load-deflection behavior, damage pattern at beam-column joint, and strain variation in reinforcements, wherein the results are in agreement. The numerical model is subsequently employed for parametric investigation to enhance the end-span beam-column joint performance using different joint reinforcement systems. To reduce the manufacturing issue of bend in the FRP bar, the headed FRP bar is employed in a beam-column joint, and performance was investigated at different column axial loads. Headed bar-reinforced beam-column joints show better performance as compared to beam-column joints having an L-bar in terms of concrete damage, load-carrying capacity, and joint shear strength. The applicability and efficiency of FRP bars at different story heights have also been investigated with varying column axial loads.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1471-1477
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• 2017

Objective: Since athletic performance is a most importance trait in horses, most research focused on physiological and physical studies of horse athletic abilities. In contrast, the molecular analysis as well as the regulatory pathway studies remain insufficient for evaluation and prediction of horse athletic abilities. In our previous study, we identified AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) gene which was expressed as alternative spliced isoforms in skeletal muscle during exercise. In the present study, we validated two AXL alternative splicing transcripts (named as AXLa for long form and AXLb for short form) in equine skeletal muscle to gain insight(s) into the role of each alternative transcript during exercise. Methods: We validated two isoforms of AXL transcripts in horse tissues by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and then cloned the transcripts to confirm the alternative locus and its sequences. Additionally, we examined the expression patterns of AXLa and AXLb transcripts in horse tissues by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Both of AXLa and AXLb transcripts were expressed in horse skeletal muscle and the expression levels were significantly increased after exercise. The sequencing analysis showed that there was an alternative splicing event at exon 11 between AXLa and AXLb transcripts. 3-dimentional (3D) prediction of the alternative protein structures revealed that the structural distance of the connective region between fibronectin type 3 (FN3) and immunoglobin (Ig) domain was different between two alternative isoforms. Conclusion: It is assumed that the expression patterns of AXLa and AXLb transcripts would be involved in regulation of exercise-induced stress in horse muscle possibly through an $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway. Further study is necessary to uncover biological function(s) and significance of the alternative splicing isoforms in race horse skeletal muscle.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.285-295
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• 2018

In this study, the effect of local site conditions (site class and site amplifications) and structural variability are investigated on fragility functions of typical building structures. The study area is chosen as Eastern Turkey. The fragility functions are developed using site-specific uniform hazard spectrum (UHS). The site-specific UHS is obtained based on simulated ground motions. The implementation of ground motion simulation into seismic hazard assessment has the advantage of investigating detailed local site effects. The typical residential buildings in Erzincan are represented by equivalent single degree of freedom systems (ESDOFs). Predictive equations are accomplished for structural seismic demands of ESDOFs to derive fragility functions in a straightforward manner. To study the sensitivity of fragility curves to site class, two sites on soft and stiff soil are taken into account. Two alternative site amplification functions known as generic and theoretical site amplifications are examined for these two sites. The reinforced concrete frames located on soft soil display larger fragilities than those on stiff soil. Theoretical site amplification mostly leads to larger fragilities than generic site amplification more evidently for reinforced concrete buildings. Additionally, structural variability of ESDOFs is generally observed to increase the fragility especially for rigid structural models.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.41-57
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• 2018

Concentrated Solar Photovoltaic (CPV) is a promising alternative to conventional solar structures. These solar tracking structures need to be optimized to be competitive against other types of energy production. In particular, the selection of the structural parameters needs to be optimized with regards to the dynamic wind response. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the main structural parameters, as selected in the preliminary design phase, on the wind response and then on the weight of the steel support structure. A parametric study has been performed where parameters influencing dynamic wind response are varied. The study is performed using a semi-deterministic time-domain wind analysis method. Unsteady aerodynamic model is applied for the shape of the CPV structure collector at different configurations in conjunction with a consistent mass-spring-damper model with the corresponding degrees of freedom to describe the dynamic response of the system. It is shown that, unlike the static response analysis, the variation of the peak wind response with many structural parameters is highly nonlinear because of the dynamic wind action. A steel structural optimization process reveals that close attention to structural and site wind parameters could lead to optimal design of CPV steel support structure.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.3 no.3 s.9
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• pp.85-93
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• 2003

Steel, concrete and their combination materials are the most 6commonly used materials for civil engineering structural systems such as buildings, bridge structures and other structures. Recently, however, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, a relatively new composite material made of fibers and polymer resins, have been gradually used in structural systems as an alternative structural material. This paper describes a comparison of design strength equations for steel column and FRP composite column based on design philosophies. The safety factors used in allowable stress design (ASD) are relatively higher in FRP structural design than steel structural design. Column critical stress equations of FRP composites column from an experimental study can be represented by Euler elastic buckling equation at the long-range of slenderness, and an exponential form at the short-range of slenderness as defined in Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) of steel column. The column strength of steel and FRP composite columns in large slenderness is independent of material strength, this result verified the elastic buckling equation as derived by Eq. (15) and Eq. (5).