• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.3 no.3_4
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• pp.365-381
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• 2012

Recent earthquakes have damaged some bridges located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico; these bridges have been retrofitted or rebuilt. Based on the fact that the Pacific Coast is a highly active seismic zone where most of the strong earthquakes in the country occur, one fertile and important area of research is the study of the vulnerability of both new and existent bridges located in this area that can be subjected to strong earthquakes. This work is focused on estimating the contribution of some parameters identified to have major influence on the seismic vulnerability of reinforced concrete bridges. Ten models of typical reinforced concrete (RC) bridges, and two existing bridges located close to the Pacific Coast of Mexico are considered. The group of structures selected for the study is based on two span bridges, two pier heights and two substructure types. The bridges were designed according to recent codes in Mexico. For the vulnerability study, the capacity of the structure was evaluated based on the FEMA recommendations. On the other hand, the demand was evaluated using a group of more than one hundred accelerograms recorded close to the subduction zone of Mexico. The results show that the two existent bridges analyzed show similar trends of behavior of the group of bridge models studied. In spite of the contribution that traditional variables (height and substructure type) had to the bridge seismic response, the bridge length was also found to be one of the parameters that most contributed to the seismic vulnerability of these RC medium-length bridges.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.319-327
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• 2019

This paper describes an experimental study of steel beam-column connections with or without expanded beam flanges with different geometries. The objectives of this study are to elucidate the cyclic behavior of these connections, identify the location of the plastic hinge zone, and provide useful test data for future numerical simulations. Five connection specimens are designed and tested under cyclic load. The test setup consists of a beam and a column connected together by a connection with or without expanded beam flanges. A constant axial force is applied to the column and a time varying point load is applied to the free end of the beam, inducing shear and moment in the connection. Because the only effect to be studied in the present work is the expanded beam flange, the sizes of the beam and column as well as the magnitude of the axial force in the column are kept constant. However, the length, width and shape of the expanded beam flanges are varied. The responses of these connections in terms of their hysteretic behavior, failure modes, stiffness degradation and strain variations are experimentally obtained and discussed. The test results show that while the influence of the expanded beam flanges on hysteretic behavior, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity of the connection is relatively minor, the size of the expanded beam flanges does affect the location of the plastic hinge zone and strain variations in these beam-column joints. Furthermore, in terms of ductility, moment and rotational capacities, all five connections behave well. No weld fracture or premature failure occurs before the formation of a plastic hinge in the beam.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.518-524
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• 1997

Experimental studies on combustion phenomena within a porous ceramic burner are reported. Main interest of the present work is to investigate fundamental flame behaviors and their effects on the burner operation. Due to high thermal capacity of the porous ceramic materials, the response of flame to burning condition changes is slow and thus to have a stabilized flame is quite difficult and takes much time. It is found that the temperature profile obtained at downstream of the flame zone is not much sensitive to the movement of flame and the speed of flame movement is less than 0.1 mm/sec for the conditions tested. With the premixed LPG/air flame imbedded within the porous ceramic burner, stable combustion regions and unstable combustion regions leading to blowoff or flashback phenomena are observed and mapped on flow velocity versus equivalence ratio diagram. For the development of burner operation technique which is more practical and safe, intermittent burning technique, where the fuel or/and air is supplied to the burner intermittently, is proposed as one of the flame control methods for the porous ceramic burner and tested in this study. Through the experiment, it is realized that the proposed method is acceptable in respect to burner performance and give much flexibility in the operation of porous ceramic burner.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.705-733
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• 2012

In this work, an experimental examination was carried out to study interfacial stresses developed at the junction zones between carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) fabrics (~1 mm thickness) and tensile concrete portion in CFRP retrofitted RC beams. In this respect, initially six similar RC beams of $150{\times}150{\times}1000mm$ dimensions were prepared. Three of which were strengthened with CFRP fabrics at the tensile side of the beams. Furthermore, a notch was cut at the center of the bottom surface for all of the studied beams. The notch was 15 mm deep and ran across the full width of tension side of the beams. The mentioned interfacial stresses could be calculated from strains measured using strain gauges mounted on the interface zone of the tensile concrete and the CFRP sheet. Based on the results obtained, it is shown that interfacial stresses developed between CFRP fabrics and RC beam had a noticeable effect on debonding failure mode of the latter. The load carrying capacity of CFRP strengthened RC specimens increased ~75% compared to that of the control RC beams. This was attributed to the enhancement of flexural mode of the former. Finally, finite element analysis was also utilized to verify the measured experimental results.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.99-112
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• 2019

Rainfall infiltration through the unsaturated zone is influenced by a range of factors including topography, geology, soil, rainfall intensity, temperature and vegetation; the actual infiltration varies largely in time and space. The infiltration capacity of soil is a critical factor in identifying groundwater recharge and leakage of surface water. It may differ depending on soil types and geological features of a particular basin or territory as well as on the usage of the land. This study was conducted in forest and farmland region of the mid-mountain area (EL. 50~300 m) of Jeju Island to test soil infiltration capacity of the area where rainfall contributes to groundwater. Results were analyzed using the four soil group classification methods presented by Jeong et al. (1995) and NAS (2007) to discover that the method offered by NAS (2007) is more reliable in the mid-mountain area of Jeju Island. The study compares and reviews the existing classification methods using the results of infiltration capacity tests executed on different soil groups throughout the whole region of the Jeju mid-mountain area. It is expected that this work will serve as a guideline for evaluating surface water recharge and hydraulic characteristics of Jeju Island.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.63-72
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to review the material handling system of the Airborne Infection Isolation Hospitals which is the one of the key elements of infection control and to improve the basic data for the planning and design of those facilities. Methods: Research was conducted by literature reviews and case studies for the material handling system of domestic and foreign Isolation hospitals. Results: The result of this study can be summarized into three points. First, a general isolation unit and a high level isolated unit need to be distinguished in terms of efficiency and safety. In particular, it is desirable that a high level isolated unit have to completely separate clean and soiled circulations, and soiled corridor should be installed by those means. By doing this, the medical staff can observe patient rooms and supply clean materials directly in the clean zone without wearing PPE, so that safety and work efficiency can be improved at the same time. Second, for the safe disposal of wastes, it is desirable to install a dedicated sterilizer per ward and sterilize it at least in the ward. In addition, It is desirable to install a central waste treatment room and a dedicated soiled corridor in consideration of the inadequate handling capacity and emergency situation. Third, the characteristics of material flow chart in the negative pressured isolation hospitals and the corresponding material handling system have been presented. Implications: Infection control is very important in safety, but it is necessary to respond to the symptoms of the patient.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.565-572
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• 2002

In order to control the root-zone temperature of greenhouse crops in the hydroponics at hot and cold season, heat pump system for cooling and heating was built and tested in this work. The system was air-to-water type and vapour compression type. The heating and cooling mode was selected by the four way valve. Capacity of the compressor was 3.75㎾ and heat transfer area of the evaporator and the condenser were 3.05㎡ and 0.6㎡, respectively. According to the performance test, it could supply heat of 42,360 to 64,372kJ/h depending on the water circulation rate of 600 to 1,500ℓ/h, respectively, when indoor air temperature was 10∼20$\^{C}$. COP of heat pump system was 3.0 to 4.0 in the heating mode. But, COP of the cooling mode was 1.3 to 2.1 at indoor temperature of 20∼35$\^{C}$. The feasibility test in the greenhouse the developed heating and cooling system was installed, showed that the heating cost of the developed system was only about 13% of that of the conventional heating system. The heating cost of the developed system was 367won/day(electric consumption 9.7㎾h/day), while that of the conventional system was 2,803won/day(oil consumption 7.7ℓ/day) at the same heating mode.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.667-685
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• 2018

In eccentrically braced steel frames (EBFs), the links are fuse members which enter inelastic phase before other structure members and dissipate the seismic energy. Based on the force-based seismic design method, damages and plastic deformations are limited to the links, and the main structure members are required tremendous sizes to ensure elastic with limited or no damage. Force-based seismic design method is very common and is found in most design codes, it is unable to determine the inelastic response of the structure and the damages of the members. Nowadays, methods of seismic design are emphasizing more on performance-based seismic design concept to have a more realistic assessment of the inelastic response of the structure. Links use ordinary steel Q345 (the nominal yielding strength $f_y{\geq}345MPa$) while other members use high strength steel (Q460 $f_y{\geq}460MPa$ or Q690 $f_y{\geq}690MPa$) in eccentrically braced frames with high strength steel combination (HSS-EBFs). The application of high strength steels brings out many advantages, including higher safety ensured by higher strength in elastic state, better economy which results from the smaller member size and structural weight as well as the corresponding welding work, and most importantly, the application of high strength steel in seismic fortification zone, which is helpful to popularize the extensive use of high strength steel. In order to comparison seismic behavior between HSS-EBFs and ordinary EBFs, on the basis of experimental study, four structures with 5, 10, 15 and 20 stories were designed by PBSD method for HSS-EBFs and ordinary EBFs. Nonlinear static and dynamic analysis is applied to all designs. The loading capacity, lateral stiffness, ductility and story drifts and failure mode under rare earthquake of the designs are compared. Analyses results indicated that HSS-EBFs have similar loading capacity with ordinary EBFs while the lateral stiffness and ductility of HSS-EBFs is lower than that of EBFs. HSS-EBFs and ordinary EBFs designed by PBSD method have the similar failure mode and story drift distribution under rare earthquake, the steel weight of HSS-EBFs is 10%-15% lower than ordinary EBFs resulting in good economic efficiency.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.545-552
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• 2017

Ground subsidence can result in the formation of sinkholes, potholes, settlement of structures, and road subsidence. Road subsidence is described as the sudden collapse of the road surface into subsurface cavities caused by the loss of bearing capacity in the ground, such as the dissolution of limestone by fluid flow in the surface causing the formation of voids leading to subsidence at the surface. Road subsidence occurs about 665 times annually, and this incidence has been increasing until 2013. Damaged underground facilities, management negligence, and lowering of the ground water table have been the causes of road subsidence in Seoul. Seoul metropolitan government announced special management counter plans to relieve the anxieties and make the roads safe for passing. Construction sites, such as excavation works, need to be managed properly because they have strong potential to induce road subsidence. The aim of this study was to identify the main causes of road subsidence and suggest management plans. First, life cycle cost analysis revealed the daytime construction to be more appropriate than nighttime. In addition, by analyzing the limitations of using sand as a backfill material, it is proposed to use a flowable backfill material instead of sand. Finally, to reduce the blind spots, which is a problem in surveying the road pavement conditions of local governments, the road to be managed is divided into several zones, and a specialized agency is selected for each zone and a method of surveying the blind spots through collaboration is suggested.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.169-178
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• 1980

Ammonium nitrate explosion technique was applied to seek a convenient method for the establishment of orchard on the undulating to rolling land or hill side of Pogog clay loam soil (Fine Aquic Fragiudalfs : Planosols) having high bulk density and low permeability. Explosions were made by three ammonium nitrate explosives placed in the bottom of 90cm deep auger hole with every 2m interval (Explosion I) and 4m interval (Explosion II) respectively. The effect of the explosion on physical properties of the soil was investigated and compared with the effect induced by manual digging, excavation of $1m{\times}1m$ in diameter and depth (Manual digging I) and trenching of $1m{\times}1m{\times}25m$ in width, depth, and length (Manual digging II) respectively. The results investigated after 7 months from the treatments are summarized as follows : 1. The explosion or manual digging reduced bulk density and hardness, whereas the treatments increased porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and available moisture-holding capacity of the soil. 2. The explosion of 4 m interval improved physical properties of the soil to optimum level up to 70cm of the distance from the explosion core in the range of depth 0-60cm, while in the case of depth from 60 to 100cm the optimum level was achieved only within 50cm radius. 3. When exploded in 2 m interval, the effect in the 0-60cm depth was overlapped between two explosion cores. The effect in the depth between 60 and 100cm, however, was found to be independent of the explosion intervals. 4. The manual digging was only costly and laborious but effective only within the work-up zone. 5. For the soils having bulk density higher than $1.4g/cm^3$ after the treatments, the field capacity determined 72 hours after a heavy rain was lower than the laboratory estimate at the suction of 1/3 atm. 6. The top growth of apple tree for the first year revealed that the explosion seemed better treatment than the manual digging, even though the difference was insignificant.