• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.4
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• pp.527-535
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• 2015

With results from previous Korean studies on forest thinning, we conducted a meta-analysis on the effect of thinning on diameter at breast height (DBH) growth and carbon (C) stocks (tree, litter layer, coarse woody debris (CWD), and soils) in Korean forests. Thinning increased the DBH growth and the C stocks in soils by 39.2% and 12.8%, respectively, while it decreased the C stocks in tree by 30.9%. In contrast, thinning had no significant effect on the C stocks in litter layer and CWD. The DBH growth and the C stocks in tree showed significant correlations with thinning intensity and recovery time. The C stocks in litter layer correlated with recovery time while those in CWD and soils did not show significant correlation neither with thinning intensity nor with recovery time. Regression models of the DBH growth and the C stocks in tree were developed to quantify the effect of thinning intensity and recovery time. An integration of the regression model of the tree C stock into forest carbon models is expected to be essential to quantify the effect of thinning on the C stocks in litter layer, CWD, and soils. We also suggested expansion of study species, long-term and frequent monitoring, and investigation on understory vegetation in order to elucidate changes in Korean forests following thinning practices.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.109-132
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• 2023

The objective of this study was to reveal the impact of thinning and pruning regimes on the physical and mechanical properties of clonal teak wood planted in Java. In this study, a 15-year-old clonal teak plantation was carried out and the obtained data were evaluated with analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that different thinning intensities had a significant impact on the alteration of heartwood volume development (F = 25.63; p < 0.0001). Meanwhile, the impact of different thinning treatments in several physical properties depends on the pruning treatment levels [moisture content (F= 12.18, p < 0.0001); tangential shrinkage (F = 15.60, p < 0.0001); T/R ratio (F = 7.17, p < 0.0001); and volumetric shrinkage (F = 10.81, p < 0.0001)]. However, different thinning intensities had no significant impact on wood basic density alteration (F = 0.72, p = 0.486), while pruning intensities affect the differences between radial (F = 3.52, p = 0.030) and volumetric shrinkage (F = 3.13, p = 0.044). In mechanical properties, thinning intensity levels did not promote any significant differences [modulus of elasticity (F = 1.41, p = 0.248); modulus of rupture (F = 0.94, p = 0.392); compressive strength parallel to grain (F = 0.21, p = 0.813); and compressive strength perpendicular to the grain (F = 0.41, p = 0.669)]. Meanwhile, different pruning treatments and combination treatments were not significantly altered all mechanical properties. These results indicated that the thinning and pruning regimes can enhance the mechanical properties without having a serious alteration in the physical properties of clonal teak wood.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.1244-1249
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• 2024

A combination of flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) tests and corresponding computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tests were performed to determine the hydrodynamic parameters that could help predict the highly susceptible location to FAC in the elbow section. The accelerated FAC tests were performed on a specimen containing elbow sections fabricated using commercial 2-inch carbon steel pipe. The tests were conducted at flow rates of 9 m/s under the following conditions: water temperature of 150 ℃, dissolved oxygen <5 ppb, and pH 7. Thickness reduction of the specimen pipe due to FAC was measured using ultrasonic testing. CFD was conducted on the FAC test specimen, and the turbulence intensity, and shear stress were analyzed. Notably, the location of the maximum hydrodynamic parameters, that is, the wall shear stress and turbulent intensity, is also the same location with maximum FAC rate. Therefore, the shear stress and turbulence intensity can be used as hydrodynamic parameters that help predict the FAC-induced wall-thinning rate. The results provide a method to identify locations susceptible to FAC and can be useful for determining inspection priority in piping systems.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.30 no.7 s.250
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• pp.707-714
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• 2006

A numerical analysis study has performed in terms of fluid dynamics to identify the wall thinning generated in the main feedwater isolation valve body of a nuclear power plant. To review the relations between flow characteristics and the wall thinning induced by flow accelerated corrosion (FAC), numerical analysis using FLUENT code and ultrasonic tests (UT) were performed. The local velocities according to the analysis results were compared with the distribution of the measured wall thickness by ultrasonic tests. The comparison results show that the local velocity in the x-direction had no correlation with the wall thinning but the local velocity in the y-direction and turbulence intensity had a great influence on that. These results provide a good match to those of the previous studies - locations colliding vertically against components undergo severe wall thinning. These results may be utilized to the design modification and the wall thinning management for main feedwater isolation valves for preventing the wall thinning degradation.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.282-288
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• 2005

This study was carried out to estimate aboveground carbon contents associated with four years of thinning treatment of Quercus acuta stands in Wando Arboretum, Jeonnam. Stand thinning was conducted over four years using stand table projection for each thinning treatment. Ten sample trees were cut in the surveyed area. Estimation of aboveground biomass was made using the equation model $W=aD+bD^2$ where W is oven dry weight and D is DBH in cm. The total aboveground biomass for each intensity treatment area was : control (148.4 ton/ha), light (105.6 ton/ha), moderate (68.7 ton/ha) and heavy (39.1 ton/ha). Aboveground carbon storage for Quercus acuta stands was found by multiplying dry weigh t (ton/ha) by 0.5. Carbon storage and increment after four years was: control (74.2 tonC/ha), light (52.8 tonC/ha), moderate (34.3 tonC/ha) and heavy thinning intensity area (38.2tonC/ha).

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.3
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• pp.422-430
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate growth changes of DBH, height, crown width, volume, stem biomass, and dead trees after thinning treatments with different thinning intensity for Korean white pine (Pinus koraiensis) plantation. First thinning was applied with 29~69% intensity based on number of trees in 19-yearold plantation, and trees were measured three times: right after thinning (19-year-old), 5 years later (24-yearold), 12 years later (29-year-old). In the case of DBH growth, average DBH growth of heavily thinned plots was 19.6~19.9% higher 5 years later, and 13.3~24.7% higher 12 years later, compared to that of unthinned plots. Initial diameter growth rate was higher than late growth rate. The proportion of large pole candidates ($DBH{\geq}25cm$) was 31% in heavily thinned plot while only 2% was shown in unthinned plot. No difference was shown in height growth depending on plots, and average crown width growth in heavily thinned plots was 30.6~33.3% higher, 5 years later, and 35.0~40.0% higher, 12 years later, compared to that of unthinned plots. Average volume growth of individual trees in heavily thinned plots was 39.8~46.8% higher, 5 years later, and 23.0~52.0% higher, 12 years later, compared to unthinned plots. The maximum volume and biomass per unit area were shown in unthinned plot; the volume and biomass 5 and 12 years later after thinning were $133m^3/ha$ (51 kg/ha) and $344m^3/ha$ (132 kg/ha), respectivily. The significant difference appeared in crown width, volume, and biomass depending on thinning intensity. No dead trees occurred in heavily thinned plots for 12 years after thinning, while mortality rate in unthinned plots was 27.9~37.8%. As a result of analyzing annual increment using cores to determine the timing of second thinning, it suggested that second thinning be suitable around 10 years after first thinning.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2012

This study conducted infrared (IR) thermography tests using pipe and plate specimens with artificial wall-thinning defects to find an optimal condition for IR thermography test on the wall-thinned nuclear piping components. In the experiment halogen lamp was used to heat the specimens. The distance between the specimen and the lamp and the intensity of halogen lamp were regarded as experimental parameter. When the distance was set to 1~2 m and the lamp intensity was above 60 % of full power, a single scanning of IR thermography detected all artificial wall-thinning defects, whose minimum dimension was $2{\Theta}=90^{\circ}$, d/t=0.5, and $L/D_o=0.25$, within the pipe of 500 mm in length. Regardless of the distance between the specimen and the lamp, the image of wall-thinning defect in IR thermography became distinctive as the intensity of halogen lamp increased. The detectability of IR thermography was similar for both plate and pipe specimens, but the optimal test condition for IR thermography depended on the type of specimen.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.1
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• pp.132-138
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• 2016

The objectives of this study were to infer the parameters of forest stand growth functions of STEMS for Cryptomeria japonica stands of Jeju Hannam Experimental Forest, Korea Forest Research Institute, and to investigate the effects of thinning regimes on the patterns of stand growth and carbon absorption. The forest stand growth functions for the potential diameter growth, modifier, crown ratio and mortality are the major ones composing the independent-tree/distance-free forest stand growth simulator, STEMS. The parameters were inferred using the sets of growth data obtained from stem analyses of 39 trees, chosen from 13 sample plots of the forest stands. The effects of thinning regimes on the patterns of stand growth and carbon absorption were investigated by simulating the stand growth patterns of the case study stand with 3 different thinning regimes: no-thinning, early thinning with low intensity and late thinning with high intensity using the simulator. According to the results of the analyses, the different thinning regimes cause significant effects on the growth patterns of average DBH, average height, diameter distribution and stand volume as well as the amount of carbon absorptions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.3
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• pp.303-321
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• 2023

To develop the Forest Work Load Index (FWLI) for estimating the work intensity of forest workers, a study focused on forest tending was conducted. To estimate the FWLI, we used the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS) and the Work Load Index (WLI). The OWAS is a prominent method used for analyzing musculoskeletal load in work tasks, and WLI is a prominent method used for analyzing the work intensity of workers. The PRI values analyzed for each forest tending project were 185.3 (Thinning), 150.6 (Pruning), 181.1 (Thinning for Forest Fire Prevention), and 197.0 (Thinning for Young Trees). The WLI values, calculated on the basis of the measured heart rates, were 59.5% (Thinning), 53.5% (Pruning), 56.2% (Thinning for Forest Fire Prevention), and 62.3% (Thinning for Young Trees). The FWLI was calculated using the analyzed PRI and WLI values. The FWLI values for the forest tending project were 110.2 (Thinning), 80.7 (Pruning), 102.1 (Thinning for Forest Fire Prevention), and 123.0 (Thinning for Young Trees). The FWLI developed in this study can be used to quantitatively compare the workloads of forest workers. In the future, the analyzed FWLI can be used as a basis for improving forest workers' postures and comparing workloads across different forest projects.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2016

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of thinning intensity on the changes of vegetation structure in Japanese Evergreen Oak(Quercus acuta Thunb.) stands in Wando-arboretum. The flora were composed of 24 families, 33 genera, and 36species in thinned sites. The dominant layer of control site showed higher number of plant species than that of treatment sites. On the while, the sub-dominant layer, shrub layer, and herbaceous layer treatment sites showed higher number of plant species than control site. According to the analysis of importance value, Q. acuta in the dominant layer, Q. acuta and Camellia japonica in sub-dominant layer, and Camellia japonica in shrub layer showed the highest importance values, respectively. The importance value of Trachelospermum asiaticum was the highest in the herbaceous layer. According to the results, species diversity was higher in descending order of heavy thinning, light thinning, and control. This result could be explained by increased light transmissions from higher thinning intensity than in other treatments. In this context, the results of this study may be useful for selecting appropriate tending methods in terms of forest management and biodiversity conservation.