• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.10 no.4_5
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• pp.411-426
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• 2012

The Canton Tower (formerly named Guangzhou New TV Tower) of 610 m high has been instrumented with a long-term structural health monitoring (SHM) system consisting of over 700 sensors of sixteen types. Under the auspices of the Asian-Pacific Network of Centers for Research in Smart Structures Technology (ANCRiSST), an SHM benchmark problem for high-rise structures has been developed by taking the instrumented Canton Tower as a host structure. This benchmark problem aims to provide an international platform for direct comparison of various SHM-related methodologies and algorithms with the use of real-world monitoring data from a large-scale structure, and to narrow the gap that currently exists between the research and the practice of SHM. This paper first briefs the SHM system deployed on the Canton Tower, and the development of an elaborate three-dimensional (3D) full-scale finite element model (FEM) and the validation of the model using the measured modal data of the structure. In succession comes the formulation of an equivalent reduced-order FEM which is developed specifically for the benchmark study. The reduced-order FEM, which comprises 37 beam elements and a total of 185 degrees-of-freedom (DOFs), has been elaborately tuned to coincide well with the full-scale FEM in terms of both modal frequencies and mode shapes. The field measurement data (including those obtained from 20 accelerometers, one anemometer and one temperature sensor) from the Canton Tower, which are available for the benchmark study, are subsequently presented together with a description of the sensor deployment locations and the sensor specifications.

• Multiscale and Multiphysics Mechanics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.143-156
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• 2016

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures require advanced analysis techniques for better estimation of their seismic responses, especially in the case of exhibiting complex three-dimensional coupling of torsional and flexural behaviors. This study focuses on validating a numerical approach for evaluating the seismic response of a three-dimensional unsymmetrical RC structure through the participation in the SMART 2013 international benchmark program. The benchmark program provides material properties, detailed drawings of the RC structure, and input ground motions for the seismic response evaluation. In this study, nonlinear constitutive models of concrete and rebar were formed and local tests were conducted to verify the constitutive models in finite element analysis. Elastic calibration of the finite element model of the SMART 2013 RC structure was performed by comparing numerical and experimental results in modal and linear time history analyses. Using the calibrated model, nonlinear earthquake analysis and seismic fragility analysis were performed to estimate the behavior and vulnerability of the RC structure with various ground motions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.1024-1036
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• 2018

In this paper, McCARD code was verified using various models listed in the NUREG/CR-6361 benchmark guide, which provides specifications for single pin-cells, single assemblies, and the whole core classified depending on the nuclear properties and structural characteristics. McCARD code was verified by comparing its results with those of SCALE code for single pin-cell and single assembly benchmark problems. The difference in the multiplication factor obtained through the two codes did not exceed 90 pcm. The benchmark guide treats a total of 173 whole core experiments. The experiments are categorized as simple lattices, separator plates, reflecting walls, reflecting walls and separator plates, burnable absorber fuel rods, water holes, poison rods, and borated moderator. As a result of numerical simulation using McCARD, the mean value of the multiplication factors is 1.00223 and the standard deviation of the multiplication factors is 285 pcm. The difference between the multiplication factors and the experimental value is in the range of -665 pcm to + 1609 pcm. In addition, statistics of results for experiments categorized by reactor shape, additional structure, burnable poison, etc., are detailed in the main text.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.1
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• pp.17-38
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• 2018

In this paper, we compare and assess the performance of the standard 3- and 6-node MITC shell elements (Lee and Bathe 2004) with the recently developed MITC triangular elements (Lee et al. 2014, Jeon et al. 2014, Jun et al. 2018) which were based on the partitions of unity approximation, bubble node, or both. The convergence behavior of the shell elements are measured in well-known benchmark tests; four plane stress tests (mesh distortion test, cantilever beam, Cook's skew beam, and MacNeal beam), two plate tests (Morley's skew plate and circular plate), and six shell tests (curved beam, twisted beam, pinched cylinder, hemispherical shells with or without hole, and Scordelis-Lo roof). To precisely compare and evaluate the solution accuracy of the shell elements, different triangular mesh patterns and distorted element mesh are adopted in the benchmark problems. All shell finite elements considered pass the basic tests; namely, the isotropy, the patch, and the zero energy mode tests.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.448-455
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• 2020

The H.B. Robinson Unit 2 (HBR-2) pressure vessel dosimetry benchmark is an in- and ex-Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) neutron dosimetry benchmark based on experimental data from the HBR-2 reactor, a 2300-MW PWR designed by Westinghouse and put in operation in March 1971, openly available through the SINBAD Database at OECD/NEA data Bank. The goals of the present work were to carry out three-dimensional (3D) fixed source transport calculations in both Cartesian (X,Y,Z) and cylindrical (R,θ,Z) geometries by using the TORT-3.2 discrete ordinates code on very detailed 3D HBR-2 geometrical models and to test the latest broad-group coupled (47 neutron groups + 20 photon groups) working cross section libraries in FIDO-ANISN format with same structure as BUGLE-96, such as BUGJEFF311.BOLIB, BUGENDF70.BOLIB and BUGLE-B7. The results obtained with all the cited libraries were satisfactory and are here reported and compared.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.421-428
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• 2004

Various type of welded joints of the ship structure have been examined numerically and experimentally under bending and tensional cyclic constant-amplitude loading. Cyclic loading on structures can produce failures not readily predicted by conventional static analysis. The aim of a benchmark study is achieved with a generalization of the reference stress concept. Also different methods and procedures exist for the computation of the welded structure hot-spot stress a welded joints. These are either based on the extrapolation of stresses at certain reference points on the plate surface (or edge) close to the weld toe-as known from experimental investigations- or on the linearization of stresses in the through-thickness direction. In the present paper, the different methods are reviewed and applied to four different details in order to compare the methods with each other and to illustrate the differences.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.10 no.4_5
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• pp.485-499
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• 2012

Mode shape expansion is useful in structural dynamic studies such as vibration based structural health monitoring; however most existing expansion methods can not consider the modelling errors in the finite element model and the measurement uncertainty in the modal properties identified from vibration data. This paper presents a reliable approach for expanding mode shapes with consideration of both the errors in analytical model and noise in measured modal data. The proposed approach takes the perturbed force as an unknown vector that contains the discrepancies in structural parameters between the analytical model and tested structure. A regularisation algorithm based on the Tikhonov solution incorporating the L-curve criterion is adopted to reduce the influence of measurement uncertainties and to produce smooth and optimised expansion estimates in the least squares sense. The Canton Tower benchmark problem established by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University is then utilised to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed expansion approach to the actual structure. The results from the benchmark problem studies show that the proposed approach can provide reliable predictions of mode shape expansion using only limited information on the operational modal data identified from the recorded ambient vibration measurements.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.10 no.4_5
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• pp.427-442
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• 2012

An effective approach for updating finite element model is presented which can provide reliable estimates for structural updating parameters from identified operational modal data. On the basis of the dynamic perturbation method, an exact relationship between the perturbation of structural parameters such as stiffness change and the modal properties of the tested structure is developed. An iterative solution procedure is then provided to solve for the structural updating parameters that characterise the modifications of structural parameters at element level, giving optimised solutions in the least squares sense without requiring an optimisation method. A regularization algorithm based on the Tikhonov solution incorporating the generalised cross-validation method is employed to reduce the influence of measurement errors in vibration modal data and then to produce stable and reasonable solutions for the structural updating parameters. The Canton Tower benchmark problem established by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University is employed to demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed model updating technique. The results from the benchmark problem studies show that the proposed technique can successfully adjust the reduced finite element model of the structure using only limited number of frequencies identified from the recorded ambient vibration measurements.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.371-394
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• 2012

Accurate finite element (FE) models are needed in many applications of Civil Engineering such as health monitoring, damage detection, structural control, structural evaluation and assessment. Model accuracy depends on both the model structure (the form of the equations) and the model parameters (the coefficients of the equations), and can be generally improved through that process of experimental reconciliation known as model updating. However, modelling errors, including (i) errors in the model structure and (ii) errors in parameters excluded from adjustment, may bias the solution, leading to an updated model which replicates measurements but lacks physical meaning. In this paper, an application of ambient-vibration-based model updating to a large-scale benchmark prototype of a building structure is reported in which both types of error are met. The error in the model structure, originating from unmodelled secondary structural elements unexpectedly working as resonant appendages, is faced through a reduction of the experimental modal model. The error in the model parameters, due to the inevitable constraints imposed on parameters to avoid ill-conditioning and under-determinacy, is faced through a multi-model parameterization approach consisting in the generation and solution of a multitude of models, each characterized by a different set of updating parameters. Results show that modelling errors may significantly impair updating even in the case of seemingly simple systems and that multi-model reasoning, supported by physical insight, may effectively improve the accuracy and robustness of calibration.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.433-449
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• 2021

In this study, a newly enhanced Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) model which incorporates mooring lines was used to simulate a floating structure. The model has two parts: a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model and a mooring model. The open-source CFD OpenFOAM® v1712 toolbox was used in the present study, and the convergence criteria and relaxation method were added to the computational procedure used for the OpenFOAM multiphase flow solver, interDyMFoam. A newly enhanced, tightly coupled solver, CoupledinterDyMFoam, was used to decrease the artificial added mass effect, and the results were validated through a series of benchmark cases. The mooring model, based on the finite element method, was established in MATLAB® and was validated against a benchmark analytical elastic catenary solution and numerical results. Finally, a model which simulates a floating structure with mooring lines was successfully constructed by connecting the mooring model to CoupledinterDyMFoam.