• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.75-87
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• 2021

Because the hydraulic/mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soil is more complicated than that of saturated soil, one of the most important issues in modelling unsaturated soil is to properly couple its stress-strain relationship with its water retention characteristics. Based on the results of a series of tests, the stress-strain relationship and the changes in suction and saturation of unsaturated completely decomposed granite (CDG, also called Masado) vary substantially under different loading/hydraulic conditions. To precisely model the hydraulic/mechanical behaviour of unsaturated Masado, in this study, the superloading concept was firstly introduced into an existing saturated/unsaturated constitutive model to consider the structural influences. Then a water retention curve (WRC) model considering the volumetric change in the soil, in which the skeleton and scanning curves of the water retention characteristics were assumed to shift in parallel in accordance with the change in the void ratio, was proposed. The proposed WRC model was incorporated into the constitutive model, and the validity of the newly proposed model was verified using the results of tests conducted on unsaturated Masado, including water retention, oedometer and triaxial tests. The accuracy of the proposed model in describing the stress-strain relationship and the variations in suction and saturation of unsaturated Masado is satisfactory.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.3717-3722
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• 2021

In this study, the recovery rates of the dissolution method for radioactivity analysis of expandable polystyrene (EPS) with a liquid scintillation counter (LSC) using tetrahydrofuran (THF), toluene, and acetone as solvents were estimated. The detection efficiency calibration curve for each solvent was derived. Two methods-the volumetric ratio method and the quenching agent method-were used to prepare quench source sets, and calibration curves were derived by linking the data from the two quench source sets. The R² value of the calibration curve for THF was found to be 0.984. The relationship between the mass of dissolved EPS and the quench level was estimated: the quench level increased as the mass of dissolved EPS increased. Premix and postmix dissolution methods were tested. The recovery rates using THF with the premix method were 84.9 ± 0.9% and 96.5 ± 1.5% for ³H and ¹⁴C, respectively. Furthermore, the stability of the recovery rate over time when using THF was evaluated. The dissolution method with the premixed solution exhibited a more stable recovery rate over time. The dissolution methods were found to be applicable for analysis using LSC, and THF was found to be the most suitable solvent for the proposed method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.91 no.1
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• pp.87-102
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• 2024

In recent years, the focus on vibration analysis of multilayer smart structures has attracted considerable attention in many engineering applications. In this work, vibration analysis of a three-layer microporous beam with a core amplified by a composite material reinforced with graphene platelets and two piezoelectric thin films is discussed. It is assumed that piezoelectric layers with a thickness of 0.01 core are very thin and the properties of the matrix and reinforcement vary in the thickness directions. The governing equations of motion are obtained using an energy approach and the method of numerical differential quadrature to solve them. The results of this work are compared to other research and there is good agreement between them. The influences of the volumetric weight fraction of graphene wafers, different graphene platelets distributions, porosity distribution, mass scale parameters and thin ratio of graphene platelets take into account the natural dimensionless frequencies of the micro-beam. The results of this study show that the symmetric distribution of graphene platelets based on the symmetric porosity distribution has a great influence on the natural frequencies without basic dimension of the micro-beam, while the shape ratios of graphene platelets do not have a significant influence on natural frequency changes.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.491-497
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• 2013

The objective of the present study is to establish a straightforward mixture proportioning procedure for structural lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC), and evaluate the selection range of the targeted dry density of concrete against the designed concrete compressive strength. In developing this procedure, mathematical models were formulated based on a nonlinear regression analysis over 347 data sets and two boundary conditions of the absolute volume and dry density of concrete. The proposed procedure demonstrated the appropriate water-to-cement ratio and dry density of concrete to achieve the designed strength decrease with the increase in volumetric ratio of coarse aggregates. This trend was more significant in all-LWAC than in sand-LWAC. Overall, the selection range of the dry density of LWAC exists within a certain range according to the designed strength, which can be obtained using the proposed procedure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2020

Expansive soils are renowned for their swelling-shrinkage property and these volumetric changes resultantly cause huge damage to civil infrastructures. Likewise, subgrades consisting of expansive soils instigate serviceability failures in pavements across various regions of Pakistan and worldwide. This study presents the use of polypropylene fibers to improve the engineering properties of a local swelling soil. The moisture-density relationship, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and elastic modulus (E₅₀), California bearing ratio (CBR) and one-dimensional consolidation behavior of the soil treated with 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8% fibers have been investigated in this study. It is found that the maximum dry density of reinforced soil slightly decreased by 2.8% due to replacement of heavier soil particles by light-weight fibers and the optimum moisture content remained almost unaffected due to non-absorbent nature of the fibers. A significant improvement has been observed in UCS (an increase of 279%), E₅₀ (an increase of 113.6%) and CBR value (an increase of 94.4% under unsoaked and an increase of 55.6% under soaked conditions) of the soil reinforced with 0.4% fibers, thereby providing a better quality subgrade for the construction of pavements on such soils. Free swell and swell pressure of the soil also significantly reduced (94.4% and 87.9%, respectively) with the addition of 0.8% fibers and eventually converting the medium swelling soil to a low swelling class. Similarly, the compression and rebound indices also reduced by 69.9% and 88%, respectively with fiber inclusion of 0.8%. From the experimental evaluations, it emerges that polypropylene fiber has great potential as a low cost and sustainable stabilizing material for widespread swelling soils.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.23-30
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• 2010

The research presents moisture content measuring and calibration method of road pavement, especially asphalt concrete pavement for performance evaluation or remaining life prediction using Time Domain Reflectometry(TDR) sensor, CS616 made by campbell INC. Before calibration test of CS616, accomplished a sensor verification tests. Verification test items were covering depth and interference effect of two CS616 sensors, temperature effects between $5^{\circ}C\sim25^{\circ}C$ and compaction ratio effects. Covering depth and interference effects between two CS616 sensors were just small and the effects of temperature and compaction ratio effected a Volumetric Moisture Contents at $\pm6%$ under disregard appeared with the fact that was possible. Also, obtained the calibration equation of the subgrade and subbase course, $R^2$ showed above of all 0.9.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1299-1305
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• 2014

For evaluating the effect of various artificial planting soil properties on the Euonymus fortunei 'Emelad'n Gold' growth, a container green wall system experiment was conducted in a wall of greenhouse at Konkuk University, Glocal campus. The experimental artificial planting grounds were prepared with different organic soil conditioner ratios (Control, $A_4O_1$, $A_2O_1$ and $A_1O_1$) and with drought tolerance and an ornamental value Euonymus fortunei 'Emelad'n Gold' was planted. The soil and plant characteristics were investigated from April to Jun 2010. The volumetric soil moisture contents were significantly increasing order as the amount of organic soil conditioner level increased in order to $A_1O_1$ > $A_2O_1$ > $A_4O_1$ > Control. At 4 treatment, soil chemical properties were inversely related to organic soil container ratios increase. The differences of root collar caliper, number of branch, and survival rate between the organic soil conditioner ratio were not significantly affected by organic soil conditioner. But, plant height, internode length, leaf length and leaf width were significantly shorter on plants planted $A_1O_1$ than plants planted other treatments. Therefore, Euonymus fortunei 'Emelad'n Gold' had good growth response regardless of organic soil conditioner ratio and the plant is expected to be a highly valuable shrub for the green wall system if it should be considered in integration with stormwater retention or as a soil conditioner for increasing soil water contents in artificial planting soil.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.62-75
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• 2000

Most of biological treatment to remove contaminants in municipal wastewater have been conducted by activated sludge process. But, the process have several probIems such as enormous site needed for construction of treatment facilities, unstable treatment due to limited ability to control load fluctuation, frequent sludge bulking and appearance of lots of surplus sludge. In this study, the experiments were performed through submerging biofilm of PEPP media in existing aeration tank with raw water from municipal wastewater treatment plant and then submerging PVDC and PEPP media, different from shape and chemical peculiarity in anoxic reactor. Throughout the experience, nutrient removal efficiency according to HRT, nitrogen phosphorous removal efficiency, behavior of nitrogen and dewatering efficiency have been compared and analysed with those of activated sludge process. As the results, BOD removal efficiency according to BOD volumetric load and F/M ratio was not found any differency in two processes, but was decreased below 90% as going along the condition of high load in activated sludge process. Kinetic coefficient was $K_{max}=1.162day^{-1}$, $K_s=53.77mg/L$, $Y=0.166mgVSS/mgBOD_{rem}$. and $K_d=0.019day^{-1}$. It was found that the removal efficiency, even though in aerobic condition, in biofilm process equipped anoxic reactor was higher than the one in activated sludge process within the range of 70~80%, and became better as HRT increased. Phosphorous removal efficiency was not found any differency in two processes. In biofilm process, treament efficiency even in conditions of high load was not decreased, because the biomass concentration could be maintained in high condition compared with activated sludge process. As HRT increased, suspended and attached biomass was increased and the other hand, F/M ratio was decreased as biomass' increasing. Biomass thickness was increased. from $10.43{\mu}m$ to $10.55{\mu}m$ as HRT increased and density of biomass within $40.79{\sim}41.16mg/cm^2$. The results also present that the dewatering efficiency of sludge generated in biofilm process was higher than in activated sludge process, and became better as HRT increased.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.15-27
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• 2013

A vacuum pressure method has been developed to solve many problems in the conventional surcharge method such as embankments, and its application has increased in the country. Recently, to control target settlements in the field, there have been many studies on the comparison of settlements between vacuum pressure method and surcharge load method in the same conditions. In this study, the settlement characteristics of soil subjected to vacuum pressure and surcharge pressure are discussed. The results indicate that if vacuum pressure is applied to the improvement of soft ground, there will be inward lateral displacement and the vacuum pressure will induce generally less settlement than a surcharge load of the same magnitude. The range of settlement reduction ratio is 0.54~0.67 based on Hooke's law, 0.91 based on field cases, 0.81 based on laboratory oedometer tests, 0.75 based on the theory of elasticity and coefficient of volumetric compressibility and 0.77~0.93 in its recent applications to the thick soft ground.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.61-80
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• 2013

Quantification of viable forms of microbial community (bacteria and fungi) using culture-dependent methods was done in order to characterize the indoor air quality (IAQ). Role of those factors, which may influence the concentration of viable counts of bacteria and fungi, like ventilation, occupancy, outdoor concentration and environmental parameters (temperature and relative humidity) were also determined. Volumetric-infiltration sampling technique was employed to collect air samples both inside and outside the schools. As regard of measurements of airborne viable culturable microflora of schools during one academic year, the level of TVMCs in school buildings was ranged between 803-5368 cfu/$m^3$. Viable counts of bacteria (VBCs) were constituted 63.7% of the mean total viable microbial counts where as viable counts of fungi (VFCs) formed 36.3% of the total. Mean a total viable microbial count (TVMCs) in three schools was 2491 cfu/$m^3$. Outdoor level of TVMCs was varied from 736-5855 cfu/$m^3$. Maximum and minimum VBCs were 3678-286 cfu/m3 respectively. Culturable fungal counts were ranged from 268-2089 cfu/$m^3$ in three schools. Significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) was indicated that indoor concentration of viable community reliant upon outdoor concentration. Temperature seemed to have a large effect (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) on the concentration of viable culturable microbial community rather than relative humidity. Consistent with the analysis and findings, the concentration of viable cultural counts of bacteria and fungi found indoors, were of several orders of magnitude, depending upon the potential of local, spatial and temporal factors, IO ratio appeared as a crucial indicator to identify the source of microbial contaminants.