• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.195-202
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• 2002

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, involves the destabilization of the normal balance between the degradation and the synthesis of articular cartilage and subchondral bone within a joint. As articular cartilage degrades over time, its smooth surface roughens and bone-against-bone contact ensues, producing the inflammation response symptomatic of this 'wear and tear' disease. Although a variety of genetic, developmental, metabolic, and traumatic factors may initiate the development of osteoarthritis, its symptoms (joint pain, stiffness, and curtailed function) typically evolve slowly, and patients experience periods of relative calm alternation with episodes of inflammation and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by chronic synovitis and cartilage destruction, affect 1% of the total population. Cartilage is a specialized connective tissue in which the chondrocytes occupy only 5% of the volume. Cartilage is particularly rich in extracellular matrix, with matrix making up 90% of the dry weight of the tissue chondrocytes have cell processes that extend a short distance into the matrix, but do not touch other cells thus in cartilage, cell-matrix interactions are essential for the maintenance of the extracellular matrix. In this study, subtractive hybridization method was utilized to detect genes differentially expressed in chondrocytes treated with methylprednisolone. We have isolated 57 genes that expressed differentially in the chondreocytes by methylprednisolone. 13 clones of them were analyzed with sequencing and their homologies were searched. 8 cDNAS included KIAA 0368, upregulated during skeletal muscle growth 5 (usmg 5), ribosomal protein S 18 (RPS 18), skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor, radial spoke protein 3 (RSP 3), ribosomal protein QM, ribosomal protein L37a (RPL37A), cytochrome coxidase subunit VIII (COX8).

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.40-71
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• 1986

By developing a computer program for the systematic design of worm gears, the design formulae and tables of AGMA, JGMA, BS and DIN are analized and compared. The computer program can be used on micro-computers. According to the input data of the reduction ratio, the center distance. the driving torque and the material as design parameters, the program calculate the most efficient worm gear dimension. The variation of the design parameters and other empirical coefficients in case of resulting an inadequate design gear dimension can be easily modified throuth the way of interactive method between the user and the monitoring system of computer. A proposal of the standardization of worm gears was made in which a standard module according to the DIN 323 standard series number was applied. For the more exact and effective calculation of the stress concentration and the deformation of gear teeth, a computer program using the boundary element method is also developed. Even the strength of the special gear shape such as Niemann's "Cavex" gear can be calculated in a short CPU-time. The most effort of this study has been layed on the developing a computer program for the correction of a tooth profile and face width which is most important design factor for an exact and wide teeth contacts under loads, especially by great and wide gears. For this purpose were investigated the tooth stiffness, the mesh interferences and the kinematics and the dynamics of gear mesh. The deflection and the deformation of the gear shaft due to the loads acting on gear and shaft were aslo considered. Some examples have shown the sufficient good status of teeth contact in which the correction of the tooth profile and face width were accomplished due to the calculated results.d results.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.126-134
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• 2007

Although there has been substantial research on the squeal noise for the automotive brake system, robust design issues with respect to control factors equivalent to design variables in optimization, noise factors due to system uncertainties, and signal factors designed to accommodate a user-adjustable setting still need to be addressed. For the purpose, the robust design applied to the disk brake system has been investigated by DOE (Design of Experiments) based Taguchi analysis with dynamic characteristics. The specific goal of this methodology is to identify a design with linear signal-response relationship, and variability minimization. The finite element models of the disk brake assembly have been constructed, and the squeal noise problems have been solved by complex eigenvalue analysis. As the practical robust design to reduce the brake squeal noise, material properties of pad, disk, and backplate, thickness and geometry of pad are selected as control factors, material properties of pad and disk, and the contact stiffness have been considered as noise factors, and friction coefficient between pad and disk is chosen as a signal factor. Through the DOE based robust design, the signal-to-noise ratio and the sensitivity for each orthogonal array experiment have been analyzed. Also, it has been proved that the proposed robust design is effective and adequate to reduce the brake squeal noise.

• Advances in biomechanics and applications
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.169-185
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• 2014

Computational multibody models of the elbow can provide a versatile tool to study joint mechanics, cartilage loading, ligament function and the effects of joint trauma and orthopaedic repair. An efficiently developed computational model can assist surgeons and other investigators in the design and evaluation of treatments for elbow injuries, and contribute to improvements in patient care. The purpose of this study was to develop an anatomically correct elbow joint model and validate the model against experimental data. The elbow model was constrained by multiple bundles of non-linear ligaments, three-dimensional deformable contacts between articulating geometries, and applied external loads. The developed anatomical computational models of the joint can then be incorporated into neuro-musculoskeletal models within a multibody framework. In the approach presented here, volume images of two cadaver elbows were generated by computed tomography (CT) and one elbow by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to construct the three-dimensional bone geometries for the model. The ligaments and triceps tendon were represented with non-linear spring-damper elements as a function of stiffness, ligament length and ligament zero-load length. Articular cartilage was represented as uniform thickness solids that allowed prediction of compliant contact forces. As a final step, the subject specific model was validated by comparing predicted kinematics and triceps tendon forces to experimentally obtained data of the identically loaded cadaver elbow. The maximum root mean square (RMS) error between the predicted and measured kinematics during the complete testing cycle was 4.9 mm medial-lateral translational of the radius relative to the humerus (for Specimen 2 in this study) and 5.30 internal-external rotation of the radius relative to the humerus (for Specimen 3 in this study). The maximum RMS error for triceps tendon force was 7.6 N (for Specimen 3).

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2020

In this paper, we present an experimental investigation of the leakage and endurance performances of mechanical face seals in a 75-tonf turbopump for the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II first-stage engine. A mechanical face seal is used between the fuel pump and turbine to prevent mixing of the fuel and turbine gas. However, excessive leakage occurs through the carbon attached to the mechanical face seal bellows. To reduce this leakage, we redesign the mechanical face seal such that the contact area between the fuel and carbon is reduced, height of the carbon nose is reduced, and stiffness of the bellows is increased. Then, we conduct static and dynamic leakage tests and endurance tests to compare the performances of the original and modified mechanical face seals. The investigation of the leakage of the old and new mechanical face seals confirms that the leakage performance is significantly improved, by 80%, in the new design in comparison with the old design. The endurance tests demonstrate that the average wear rate of carbon in the new mechanical face seal is 0.1094 ㎛/s. The service lifetime is predicted to be 4,200 s, which is 28 times greater than the requirement. Finally, we present a new mechanical face seal in a 75-tonf turbopump, and perform a validation test in the real-propellant test facility at the NARO Space Center. Based on the test results, we can confirm that the modified mechanical face seal works well under real operating conditions.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.212-223
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• 1992

The distinct element method(DEM) si well suited to the kinematic analysis of blocky rock masses. Two distinctive problems, a rock avalache and tunnel in jointed rock masses, are chosen to apply the DEM which is based on perfectly rigid behaviour of blocks. Investigated for both problems are the effects of the input parameters such as contact stiffnesses, friction coefficient and damping property. Using various types of models of the avalanche and tunne, an extensive parametric study is done to gain experiences in the method, and then to alleviate difficulties in determining parameter values suitable for a given problem. The coefficient of frictio has significant effects on all aspects of avalanche motion(travel distance, velocity and travel time), while the stiffnesses affect the rebounding and jumping motions after collision. The motion predicted by the models having single and mutiple blocks agrees well to the observations reported on the actual avalache. For the tunnel problem, the behaviour of the key block in an example tunnel is compared by testing values of the input parameters. The stability of the tunnel is dependent primarily on the friction coefficient, while the stiffness and damping properties influence the block velocity. The kinematic stability of a tunnel for underground unclear waste repository is analyzed using the joint geometry data(orientation, spacing and persistence) occurred in a tailrace tunnel. Allowing a small deviation to the mean orientation results in different modes of failure of the rock blocks around the tunnel. Of all parameters tested, the most important to the stability of the tunnel in blocky rock masses are the geometry of the blocks generated by mapping the joint and tunnel surfaces in 3-dimensions and also the friction coefficient of the joints particularly for the stability of the side walls.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.95-104
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• 2016

Flexural strength of concrete ground slab reinforced with steel fiber is evaluated using the equivalent flexural strength ratio of steel fiber reinforced concrete based on the yield line theory. Recently, the European standard specifies that the tensile performance of the steel fiber reinforced concrete be evaluated directly from the residual flexural strength after the cracking of concrete. Thus, in the study, an experiment was carried out to evaluate the conventional equivalent flexural strength ratio and the residual flexural strength of the steel fiber reinforced concrete. Then the design flexural strength was investigated according to the location of a point load, based on the ratio of the radius of contact area of the load to the radius of relative stiffness. Design flexural capacity obtained from ACI 360R-10 was smaller than that from TR 34 (2003 & 2013). In addition, TR 34 (2013), which evaluates the design flexural capacity based on the residual flexural strength, showed slightly smaller value than TR 34 (2003).

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.999-1010
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• 2003

Uninterrupted power supply has become indispensable during the maintenance task of active electric power lines as a result of today's highly information-oriented society and increasing demand of electric utilities. This maintenance task has the risk of electric shock and the danger of falling from high place. Therefore it is necessary to realize an autonomous robot system using electro-hydraulic manipulators because hydraulic manipulators have the advantage of electric insulation and power/mass density. Meanwhile an electro-hydraulic manipulator using hydraulic actuators has many nonlinear elements, and its parameter fluctuations are greater than those of an electrically driven manipulator. So it is relatively difficult to realize not only stable contact work but also accurate force control for the autonomous assembly tasks using hydraulic manipulators. In this paper, the robust force control of a 6-link electro-hydraulic manipulator system used in the real maintenance task of active electric lines is examined in detail. A nominal model for the system is obtained from experimental frequency responses of the system, and the deviation of the manipulator system from the nominal model is derived by a multiplicative uncertainty. Robust disturbance observers for force control are designed using this information in an H$\_$$\infty$/ framework, and implemented on the two different setups. Experimental results show that highly robust force tracking by a 6-link electro-hydraulic manipulator could be achieved even if the stiffness of environment and the shape of wall change.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

This paper summarizes the results of the fatigue test of four composite bridge decks in extreme temperatures (-30$^{\circ}C$ and 50$^{\circ}C$ ). The work was performed as part of a research program to evaluate and install multiple FRP bridge deck systems in Dayton, Ohio. A two-span continuous concrete deck was also built on three steel girders for the benchmark tests. Simulated wheel loads were applied simultaneously at two points by two servo-controlled hydraulic actuators specially designed and fabricated to perform under extreme temperatures. Each deck was initially subjected to one million wheel load cycles at low temperature and another one million cycles at high temperature. The results presented in this paper correspond to the fatigue response of each deck for four million load cycles at low temperature and another four million cycles at high temperature. Thus, the deck was subjected to a total of ten million cycles. Quasi-static load-deflection and load-strain responses were determined at predetermined fatigue cycle levels. Except for the progressive reduction in stiffness, no significant distress was observed in any of the composite deck prototypes during ten million load cycles. The effects of extreme temperatures and accumulated load cycles on the load-deflection and load-strain response of FRP composite and FRP-concrete hybrid bridge decks are discussed based on the experimental results.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.155-162
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• 1990

In analysis of deformation in which the stiffness is greatly different between the adjacent materials, the desired results have been obtained by using the interface element method compared with those secured by the conventional method of the concept of continua. However the interface element method was originally developed for the behavior of rocks. This study deals with the deformation analysis of foundation with sand drain by the introduction of interface element. The physical conditions of interface element are devided into three categories by Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion ie. sliding, separation, and contact. Finally the accuracy of the program proposed in this paper is proved highly accurate by performing the comparison of the theoretical values and numerical results of a model element with simplified boundary conditions.