• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.241-257
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• 2003

The first seismically isolated structure in Taiwan was completed in early 1999. Seven new bridges of the Second National Freeway located at Bai-Ho area, a region which is considered to be of high seismic risk, have been designed and constructed with lead-rubber seismic isolation bearings. Since this is the first application of seismic isolation method to the practical construction in Taiwan, field tests were conducted for one of the seven bridges to evaluate the assumptions and uncertainties in the design and construction. The test program is composed of ambient vibration tests, forced vibration tests, and free vibration tests. For the free vibration tests, a special test setup composed of four 1000 kN hydraulic jacks and a quick-release mechanism was designed to perform the function of push-and-quick release. Valuable results have been obtained based on the correlation between measured and analytical data so that the analytical model can be calibrated. Based on the analytical correlation, it is concluded that the dynamic characteristics and free vibration behavior of the isolated bridge can be well captured when the nonlinear properties of the bearings are properly considered in the modeling.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.275-294
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• 2003

In this study, 24 high-strength concrete dapped-end beams were tested to study the effects of the amount of main dapped-end reinforcement, the nominal shear span-to-depth ratio, and the concrete strength on the shear strength of dapped-end beams. Test results indicate that the shear strength of dapped ends increases with the increase in the amount of main dapped-end reinforcement and the concrete strength. The shear strength of dapped-end beam increases with the decrease of nominal shear span-to-depth ratio. A simplified method for determining the shear strength of reinforced concrete dapped ends is also proposed in this paper. The shear strengths predicted by the proposed method and the approach of PCI Design Handbook are compared with test results. The comparison shows that the proposed method can more accurately predict the shear strength of reinforced concrete dapped-end beams than the approach of PCI Design Handbook.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.689-702
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• 2020

The current study deals with the size-dependent free vibration analysis of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced polymer nanocomposite plates resting on Pasternak elastic foundation containing different boundary conditions. Based on a four variable refined shear deformation plate theory, which considers shear deformation effect, in conjunction with the Eringen nonlocal elasticity theory, which contains size-dependency inside nanostructures, the equations of motion are established through Hamilton's principle. Moreover, the effective material properties are estimated via the Halpin-Tsai model as well as the rule of mixture. Galerkin's mathematical formulation is utilized to solve the equations of motion for the vibrational problem with different boundary conditions. Parametrical examples demonstrate the influences of nonlocal parameter, total number of layers, weight fraction and geometry of GNPs, elastic foundation parameter, and boundary conditions on the frequency characteristic of the GNPs reinforced nanoplates in detail.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.711-727
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• 2020

In the present research, the free vibration analysis of functionally graded (FG) nanocomposite deep spherical shells reinforced by graphene platelets (GPLs) on elastic foundation is performed. The elastic foundation is assumed to be Winkler-Past ernak-type. It is also assumed that graphaene platelets are randomly oriented and uniformly dispersed in each layer of the nanocomposite shell. Volume fraction of the graphene platelets as nanofillers may be different in the layers. The modified HalpinTsai model is used to approximate the effective mechanical properties of the multilayer nanocomposite. With the aid of the first order shear deformation shell theory and implementing Hamilton's principle, motion equations are derived. Afterwards, the generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM) is utilized to study the free vibration characteristics of FG-GPLRC spherical shell. To assess the validity and accuracy of the presented method, the results are compared with the available researches. Finally, the natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes are provided for different boundary conditions, GPLs volume fraction, types of functionally graded, elastic foundation coefficients, opening angles of shell, and thickness-to-radius ratio.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.73 no.6
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• pp.685-698
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• 2020

The dynamic stability of a functionally graded polymer microbeam reinforced by graphene oxides subjected to a periodic axial force is investigated. The microbeam is assumed to rest on an elastic substrate and is subjected to various immovable boundary restraints. The weight fraction of graphene oxides nanofillers is graded across the beam thickness. The effective Young's modulus of the functionally graded graphene oxides reinforced composite (FG-GORC) was determined using modified Halpin-Tsai model, with the mixture rule used to evaluate the effective Poisson's ratio and the mass density. An improved third order shear deformation theory (TSDT) is used in conjunction with the Chebyshev polynomial-based Ritz method to derive the Mathieu-Hill equations for dynamic stability of the FG-GORC microbeam, in which the scale effect is taken into account based on modified couple stress theory. Then, the Mathieu-Hill equation was solved using Bolotin's method to predict the principle unstable regions of the FG-GORC microbeams. The numerical results show the effects of the small scale, the graphene oxides nanofillers as well as the elastic substrate on the dynamic stability behaviors of the FG-GORC microbeams.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2011

This research considers a system containing a manufacturing firm who generates waste material during manufacturing process, and a disposal firm who collects and disposes the waste material. Identification of the optimal number of pick ups and the amount of waste to be disposed at certain period of time in terms of cost minimization is studied. Two types of waste accumulation rates, constant and linearly increasing, are discussed and mathematical models are developed. It can be shown that the results for these two different types of waste accumulation differ in a wide range because of the difference in the way of how waste is accumulated, which disturbs the storage cost. An integrated model is also developed and discussed in which both the manufacturing firm and the disposal firm benefit from the coordination between the two parties. It is shown that the optimal policy adopted by the integrated approach can provide a strong and consistent cost-minimizing effect for both the manufacturing firm and the disposal firm over the existing approach. Finally, all the models are verified by a numerical example and the results are compared.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.694-699
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• 2002

In autobody assembly, thin-wall, tubular connections have been used for the frame structure. Recent interest in light materials, such as aluminum or magnesium alloys, has been rapidly growing for weight reduction and fuel efficiency. Due to higher thermal expansion coefficient, low stiffness/strength, and low softening temperature of aluminum and magnesium alloys, control of welding-induced distortion in these connections becomes a critical issue. In this study, the material sensitivity to welding distortion was investigated using a T-tubular connection of three types materials; low carbon steel (A500 Gr. A), aluminum alloy (5456-H116) and magnesium alloy (AZ91C-T6). An uncoupled thermal and mechanical finite element analysis scheme using the ABAQUS software program was developed to model and simulate the welding process, welding procedure and material behaviors. The predicted angular distortions were correlated to the cumulative plastic strains. A unique relationship between distortion and plastic strains exists for all three materials studied. The amount of distortion is proportional to the magnitude and distribution of the cumulative plastic strains in the weldment. The magnesium alloy has the highest distortion sensitivity, followed by the other two materials with the steel connection having the least distortion. Results from studies of thin-aluminum plates show that welding distortion can be minimized by reducing the cumulative plastic strains by preventing heat diffusion into the base metal using a strong heat sink placed directly beneath the weld. A rapid cooling method is recommended to reduce welding distortion of magnesium tubular connections.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.132-146
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• 2007

Constructing an effective production control policy is the most important issue in wafer fabrication factories. Most of researches focus on the input regulations of wafer fabrication. Although many of these policies have been proven to be effective for wafer fabrication manufacturing, in practical, there is a need to help operators decide which lots should be pulled in the right time and to develop a systematic way to alleviate the long queues at the bottleneck workstation. The purpose of this study is to construct a photolithography workstation dispatching rule (PADR). This dispatching rule considers several characteristics of wafer fabrication and influential factors. Then utilize the weights and threshold values to design a hierarchical priority rule. A simulation model is also constructed to demonstrate the effect of the PADR dispatching rule. The PADR performs better in throughput, yield rate, and mean cycle time than FIFO (First-In-First-Out) and SPT (Shortest Process Time).

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.94-102
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• 2008

When facing the global severe competition, the enterprises all try their best to upgrade the quality, reduce the costs to reach the goal of customer satisfaction. Motorola was the earliest firm creating the term Six Sigma (6 ${\sigma}$); GE was the enterprise successfully fulfilling Six Sigma. The success of these two firms revealed the prominent effects and became the world-class model enterprises. The main purpose of promoting Six Sigma activity was to reduce the possible defects in the business process to the least through designing and monitoring business process in order to reach the goals such as the best quality and efficiency, the lowest costs, the shortest circular process time, maximum profits and customer satisfaction. This research used the Six Sigma technique to improve the business process of ceramics manufacturing plant and find out the major factors of slower core task time by the analytical process of Process Mapping, Pareto Chart, Simu18 simulation software and figures and proposed the improvement measures. Through the confirmation of the case companies, it successfully reduced the core process time and the organizational costs and increased the capacity.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.761-783
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• 2006

The enlargement of interest in base isolators as an earthquake-proof design strategy has dramatically accelerated experimental studies of elastomeric bearings worldwide. In this paper, a new base isolator concept that is a hybrid system of rubber bearings is proposed. Uniaxial, biaxial, and triaxial shaking table tests are also performed to study the seismic behavior of a 0.4-scale three-story isolated steel structure in the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering in Taiwan. Experimental results demonstrate that structures with a hybrid system of rubber bearings composed of stirruped rubber bearings and laminated rubber bearings can actually decrease the seismic responses of the superstructure. It has been proved through the shaking table tests that the proposed hybrid system of rubber bearings is a very promising tool to enhance the seismic resistance of structures. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the proposed analytical model in this paper can predict the mechanical behavior of the hybrid system of rubber bearings and seismic responses of the base-isolated structures.