• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.477-493
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• 2003

Masonry is not a simple material, the influence of mortar joints as a plane of weakness is a significant feature and this makes the numerical modelling of masonry very difficult especially when dynamic (seismic) analysis is involved. In order to develop a simple numerical model for masonry under earthquake load, an analytical model based on Distinct Element Method (DEM) is being developed. At the first stage, the model is applied to simulate the in-plane shear behaviour of an unreinforced masonry wall with and without opening where the testing results are available for comparison. In DEM, a solid is represented as an assembly of discrete blocks. Joints are modelled as interface between distinct bodies. It is a dynamic process and specially designed to model the behaviour of discontinuities. The numerical solutions obtained from the distinct element analysis are validated by comparing the results with those obtained from existing experiments and finite element modelling.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.711-737
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• 2015

Steel Plate Shear Walls (SPSWs) have been accepted widely as an effective lateral load resisting system. For seismic performance evaluation of a multi-story building with SPSWs, detailed finite element models or a strip model can be used to represent the SPSW components. However, such models often require significant effort for tall or medium height buildings. In order to simplify the analysis process, discrete elements for the framing members can be used. This paper presents development of a simplified equivalent braced model to study the behavior of the SPSWs. The proposed model is expected to facilitate a simplification to the structural modeling of large buildings with SPSWs in order to evaluate the seismic performance using regular structural analysis tools. It is observed that the proposed model can capture the global behavior of the structures quite accurately and potentially aid in the performance-based seismic design of SPSW buildings.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.469-475
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• 2004

The transient analysis of delaminated smart composite laminates is studied using an improved layerwise laminate theory. The theory is capable of capturing interlaminar shear stresses that are critical to delamination. The presence of discrete delamination is modeled through the use of Heaviside unit step functions. Stress free boundary conditions are enforced at all fee surfaces. Continuity in displacement field and transverse shear stresses are enforced at each ply level. In modeling piezoelectric composite plates, a coupled piezoelectric-mechanical formulation is used in the development of the constitutive equations. Numerical analysis is conducted to investigate the effect of nonlinearity in the transient vibration of bimodular behavior caused by the contact impact of delaminated interfaces. Composite plates with delamination, subject to external loads and voltage history from surface bonded sensors, are investigated and the results are compared with corresponding experimental results and plates without delamination.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.639-655
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• 2017

The binary mixture consists of two types of granular media with different physical attributes and sizes, which can be characterized by the percentage of large granules by weight (P) and the particle size ratio (${\alpha}$). Researchers determine that two thresholds ($P_S$ and $P_L$) exist for the peak shear strength of binary mixtures, i.e., at $P{\leq}P_S$, the peak shear strength is controlled by the small granules; at $P{\leq}P_L$, the peak shear strength is controlled by the large granules; at $P_S{\leq}P{\leq}P_L$, the peak shear strength is governed by both the large and small granules. However, the thresholds of binary mixtures with different ${\alpha}$ values, and the explanation related to the inner details of binary mixtures to account for why these thresholds exist, require further confirmation. This paper considers the mechanical behavior of binary mixtures with DEM analysis. The thresholds of binary mixtures are found to be strongly related to their coordination numbers $Z_L$ for all values of ${\alpha}$, where $Z_L$ denotes the partial coordination number only between the large particles. The arrangement structure of the large particles is examined when P approaches the thresholds, and a similar arrangement structure of large particles is formed in both 2D and 3D particle systems.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.443-456
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• 2021

Structural design of the vertical displacements and shear strains in the earth fill (EF) dams has great importance in the structural engineering problems. Moreover, far fault earthquakes have significant seismic effects on seismic damage performance of EF dams like the near fault earthquakes. For this reason, three dimensional (3D) earthquake damage performance of Oroville dam is assessed considering different far-fault ground motions in this study. Oroville Dam was built in United States of America-California and its height is 234.7 m (770 ft.). 3D model of Oroville dam is modelled using FLAC3D software based on finite difference approach. In order to represent interaction condition between discrete surfaces, special interface elements are used between dam body and foundation. Non-reflecting seismic boundary conditions (free field and quiet) are defined to the main surfaces of the dam for the nonlinear seismic analyses. 6 different far-fault ground motions are taken into account for the full reservoir condition of Oroville dam. According to nonlinear seismic analysis results, the effects of far-fault ground motions on the nonlinear seismic settlement and shear strain behaviour of Oroville EF dam are determined and evaluated in detail. It is clearly seen that far-fault earthquakes have very significant seismic effects on the settlement-shear strain behaviour of EF dams and these earthquakes create vital important seismic damages on the swelling behaviour of dam body surface. Moreover, it is proposed that far-fault ground motions should not be ignored while modelling EF dams.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2009

Undrained shear strength is estimated from laboratory tests generally, but the very soft or fluid material is generally incompatible with the test setup. In-situ methods require test to be accomplished at discrete time intervals, which does not provide a method to predict strength increment as a function of time for an ongoing project. Therefore, correlation between slump test value and undrained shear strength was derived through the regression analysis of slump test and laboratory vane shear test results. For the reliability of derived correlation equation statistical analysis using the t-distribution was performed and the comparison between the results of in-situ test and laboratory experiments demonstrated the applicability of the derived correlation.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.59-68
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• 2007

The comparative study using the lab-scale experiment and the discrete element analysis is attempted to analyze the cross-anisotropic elasticity of granular soils. The lab-scale experiment consists of the small stress-controlled triaxial cyclic tests and the bender element tests. In the discrete element analysis the simulations of lab-scale cyclic tests are conducted in the various directions. Good agreement between the experimental data and the simulation on the elastic properties in the axial and shear directions confirms the usefulness of the discrete element method. The comparative analysis of the difference in the experimental data and the simulation of radial cyclic tests shows that the discrete element method can successfully be used to check the reasonable magnitude of each measurement in the experiments.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.359-372
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• 2015

Rock masses include various rock discontinuities such as faults, joints, and bedding planes. These discontinuities appear as complex structures in geometry. In this study, growth patterns of fractures between two stepping shear fracture tips are numerically modeled using PFC2D (Particle Flow Code). The numerical model showed not only incipient growth of fractures at the tips of preexisting fractures but also subsequent growth of the new fractures. It is observed from all of the experiments that the incipient fractures are tensile cracks developed at $30{\sim}57^{\circ}$ to the preexisting fractures and the subsequent growth of these fractures were at low angles to the preexisting fractures this study.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1403-1419
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• 2015

When precast concrete infill panels are connected to steel frames at discrete locations, interaction at the structural interface is neither complete nor absent. The contribution of precast concrete infill panels to the lateral stiffness and strength of steel frames can be significant depending on the quality, quantity and location of the discrete interface connections. This paper presents preliminary experimental and finite element results of an investigation into the composite behaviour of a square steel frame with a precast concrete infill panel subject to lateral loading. The panel is connected at the corners to the ends of the top and bottom beams. The Frame-to-Panel-Connection, FPC4 between steel beam and concrete panel consists of two parts. A T-section with five achor bars welded to the top of the flange is cast in at the panel corner at a forty five degree angle. The triangularly shaped web of the T-section is reinforced against local buckling with a stiffener plate. The second part consists of a triangular gusset plate which is welded to the beam flange. Two bolts acting in shear connect the gusset plate to the web of the T-section. This way the connection can act in tension or compression. Experimental pull-out tests on individual connections allowed their load deflection characteristics to be established. A full scale experiment was performed on a one-storey one-bay 3 by 3 m infilled frame structure which was horizontally loaded at the top. With the characteristics of the frame-to-panel connections obtained from the experiments on individual connections, finite element analyses were performed on the infilled frame structures taking geometric and material non-linear behaviour of the structural components into account. The finite element model yields reasonably accurate results. This allows the model to be used for further parametric studies.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.314-323
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• 2010

Recently, granular soils having a large particle size are frequently used as a filling material in the construction of foundation, harbor, dam, and so on. The shear behavior of this granular soil plays a key role in the stability of structures. For example, soil particle crushing occurring at the interface between structure and soil and/or within soil mass can cause the disturbance of ground characteristics and consequently induce an issues in respect of stability of structures. In order to investigate the shear behavior according to an existence and nonexistence of particle crushing, numerical analyses were conducted by using the DEM(Discrete Element Method)-based software program PFC(Particle Flow Code). Using the crushing model and non-crushing model which were created in this study, numerical analyses of ring shear test were conducted and their results were analyzed and compared. In general, landslide and slope stability are accompanied by a large displacement and consequently not only a peak strength but also a residual strength are very important in the analysis of landslide and slope stability. However the direct shear test which has been commonly used in the determination of shear strength parameters has a limitation on displacement therefore the residual strength parameters can not be obtained. The characteristics of residual shear behavior were investigated through the numerical analyses in this study.