• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.65-79
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• 2023

This paper presents a development of empirical evaluations, which can be used to evaluate the damage of fiber-reinforced concrete composites (FRC) wall subjected to close-in blast loads. For this development, a combined application of numerical simulation and machine learning approaches are employed. First, finite element modeling of FRC wall under blast loading is developed and verified using experimental data. Numerical analyses are then carried out to investigate the dynamic behavior of the FRC wall under blast loading. In addition, a data set of 384 samples on the damage of FRC wall due to blast loads is then produced in order to develop machine learning models. Second, three robust machine learning models of Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) are employed to propose empirical evaluations for predicting the damage of FRC wall. The proposed empirical evaluations are very useful for practical evaluation and design of FRC wall subjected to blast loads.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.325-336
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• 2018

The physical infrastructure of the power systems, including the high-voltage transmission towers and lines as well as the poles and wires for power distribution at a lower voltage level, is critical for the resilience of the community since the failures or nonfunctioning of these structures could introduce large area power outages under the extreme weather events. In the current engineering practices, single circuit lattice steel towers linked by transmission lines are widely used to form power transmission systems. After years of service and continues interactions with natural and built environment, progressive damages accumulate at various structural details and could gradually change the structural performance. This study is to evaluate the typical existing transmission tower-line system subjected to synoptic winds (atmospheric boundary layer winds). Effects from the possible corrosion penetration on the structural members of the transmission towers and the aerodynamic damping force on the conductors are evaluated. However, corrosion in connections is not included. Meanwhile, corrosion on the structural members is assumed to be evenly distributed. Wind loads are calculated based on the codes used for synoptic winds and the wind tunnel experiments were carried out to obtain the drag coefficients for different panels of the transmission towers as well as for the transmission lines. Sensitivity analysis is carried out based upon the incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) to evaluate the structural capacity of the transmission tower-line system for different corrosion and loading conditions. Meanwhile, extreme value analysis is also performed to further estimate the short-term extreme response of the transmission tower-line system.

• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2015

In the Nordic grid, a trend observed the recent years is the increase in grid frequency variations, which means the frequency is outside the normal range (49.9-50.1 Hz) more often. Variations in the grid frequency leads to changes in the speed of rotation of all the turbines connected to the grid, since the speed of rotation is closely related to the grid frequency for synchronous generators. When the speed of rotation changes, this implies that the net torque acting on the rotating masses are changed, and the material of the turbine runners must withstand these changes in torque. Frequency variations thus leads to torque oscillations in the turbine, which become dynamical loads that the runner must be able to withstand. Several new Francis runners have recently experienced cracks in the runner blades due to fatigue, obviously due to the runner design not taking into account the actual loads on the runner. In this paper, the torque oscillations and dynamic loads due to the variations in grid frequency are simulated in a 1D MATLAB program, and measured grid frequency is used as input to the simulation program. The maximum increase and decrease in the grid frequency over a 440 seconds interval have been investigated, in addition to an extreme event where the frequency decreased far below the normal range within a few seconds. The dynamic loading originating from grid frequency variations is qualitatively found by a constructed variable $T_{stress}$, and for the simulations presented here the variations in $T_{stress}$ are found to be around 3 % of the mean value, which is a relatively small dynamic load. The important thing to remember is that these dynamic loads come in addition to all other dynamic loads, like rotor-stator interaction and draft tube surges, and should be included in the design process, if not found to be negligible.

• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.8-13
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• 2010

Satellite structure should be designed to accommodate and support safely the payload and equipments necessary for its own missions and to secure satellite and payloads from severe launch environments. The launch environments imposed on satellites are quasi-static accelerations, aerodynamic loads, acoustic loads and shock loads. Especially when optical payload is accommodated, satellite structure usually adopts the optical bench consisting of composite material not only to support and secure but also to guarantee good pointing stability against extreme thermal environments. This paper deals with optical bench and support structure which shall be designed to minimize the loads transferred to optical payloads from satellite.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1421-1433
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• 2014

In this study, appropriate probability distribution and parameter estimation method were selected to perform snowfall frequency analysis. Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) and Probability Weighted Moment Method (PWMM) appeared to be the best fit for snowfall frequency analysis in Korea. Snowfall frequency analysis applying GEV and PWMM were performed for 69 stations in Korea. Peak snowfall corresponding to recurrence intervals were estimated based on frequency analysis while snow loads were calculated using the estimated peak snowfall and specific weight of snow. Design snow load map was developed using 100-year recurrence interval snow load of 69 stations through Kriging of ArcGIS. The 2009 Korean Building Code and Commentary for design snow load was assessed by comparing the design snow loads which calculated in this study. As reflected in the results, most regions are required to increase the design snow loads. Thus, design snow loads and the map were developed from based on the results. The developed design snow load map is expected to be useful in the design of building structures against heavy snow loading throughout Korea most especially in ungaged areas.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2014

Reliability analysis of jacket type offshore wind turbine (OWT) support structure under extreme ocean environmental loads was performed. Limit state function (LSF) of OWF support structure is defined by using structural dynamic response at mud-line. Then, the dynamic response is expressed as the static response multiplied by dynamic response factor (DRF). Probabilistic distribution of DRF is found from response time history under design significant wave load. Band limited beta distribution is used for internal friction angle of ground soil. Wind load is obtained in the form of thrust force from commercial code called GH_Bladed and then, applied to tower hub as random load. In a numerical example, the response surface method (RSM) is used to express LSF of jacket type support structure for 5MW OWF. Reliability index is found using first order reliability method (FORM).

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.419-426
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• 2017

Recently, the transportation of dangerous explosive goods is increasing, which makes vehicle blasting accidents a potential threat for the safety of bridge structures. In addition, blasting accidents happen more easily when earthquake occurs. Excessive dynamic response of bridges under extreme loads may cause local member damage, serviceability issues, or even failure of the whole structure. In this paper, a new explosion-proof and aseismic system is proposed including cable support damping bearing and steel-fiber reinforced concrete based on the existing researches. Then, considering one 40m-span simply supported concrete T-bridge as the prototype, through scale model test and numerical simulation, the dynamic response of the bridge under three conditions including only earthquake, only blast load and the combination of the two extreme loads is obtained and the applicability of this explosion-proof and aseismic system is explored. Results of the study show that this explosion-proof and aseismic system has good adaptability to seism and blast load at different level. The reducing vibration isolation efficiency of cable support damping bearing is pretty high. Increasing cables does not affect the good shock-absorption performance of the original bearing. The new system is good at shock absorption and displacement limitation. It works well in reducing the vertical dynamic response of beam body, and could limit the relative displacement between main girder and capping beam in different orientation so as to solve the problem of beam falling. The study also shows that the enhancement of steel fibers in concrete could significantly improve the blast resistance of main beam. Results of this paper can be used in the process of antiknock design, and provide strong theoretical basis for comprehensive protection and support of girder bridges.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.70 no.4
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• pp.479-497
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• 2019

In the current code design, the use of a uniform internal pressure coefficient of cooling towers as internal suction cannot reflect the 3D characteristics of flow field inside the tower body with different ventilation rate of shutters. Moreover, extreme weather such as heavy rain also has a direct impact on aerodynamic force on the internal surface and changes the turbulence effect of pulsating wind. In this study, the world's tallest cooling tower under construction, which stands 210m, is taken as the research object. The algorithm for two-way coupling between wind and rain is adopted. Simulation of wind field and raindrops is performed iteratively using continuous phase and discrete phase models, respectively, under the general principles of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Firstly, the rule of influence of 9 combinations of wind speed and rainfall intensity on the volume of wind-driven rain, additional action force of raindrops and equivalent internal pressure coefficient of the tower body is analyzed. The combination of wind velocity and rainfall intensity that is most unfavorable to the cooling tower in terms of distribution of internal pressure coefficient is identified. On this basis, the wind/rain loads, distribution of aerodynamic force and working mechanism of internal pressures of the cooling tower under the most unfavorable working condition are compared between the four ventilation rates of shutters (0%, 15%, 30% and 100%). The results show that the amount of raindrops captured by the internal surface of the tower decreases as the wind velocity increases, and increases along with the rainfall intensity and ventilation rate of the shutters. The maximum value of rain-induced pressure coefficient is 0.013. The research findings lay the basis for determining the precise values of internal surface loads of cooling tower under extreme weather conditions.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.163-173
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• 2018

The design wind pressure for low-rise buildings in the ASCE 7-10 is defined by procedures that are categorized into the Main Wind Force-Resisting System (MWFRS) and the Components and Cladding (C&C). Some of these procedures were originally developed based on steel portal frames of industrial buildings, while the residential structures are a completely different structural system, most of which are designed as low-rise light-frame wood constructions. The purpose of this study is to discuss the rationality (or irrationality) of the extension of the wind loads calculated by the ASCE 7-10 to the light-frame wood residential buildings that represent the most vulnerable structures under extreme wind conditions. To serve this purpose, the same approach as used in the development of Chapter 28 of the ASCE 7-10 that envelops peak responses is adopted in the present study. Database-assisted design (DAD) methodology is used by applying the dynamic wind loads from Louisiana State University (LSU) database on a typical residential building model to assess the applicability of the standard by comparing the induced responses. Rather than the postulated critical member demands on the industrial building such as the bending moments at the knee, the maximum values at the critical points for wood frame buildings under wind loads are used as indicators for the comparison. Then, the critical members are identified through these indicators in terms of the displacement or the uplift force at connections and roof envelope. As a result, some situations for each of the ASCE 7 procedures yielding unconservative wind loads on the typical low-rise residential building are identified.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.469-488
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• 2015

Thermal loads, especially thermal gradients, have a considerable effect on the behaviors of large-scale bridges throughout their lifecycles. Bridge design specifications provide minimal guidance regarding thermal gradients for simple bridge girders and do not consider transversal thermal gradients in wide girder cross-sections. This paper investigates the three-dimensional thermal gradients of arch bridge girders by integrating long-term field monitoring data recorded by a structural health monitoring system, with emphasis on the vertical and transversal thermal gradients of wide concrete-steel composite girders. Based on field monitoring data for one year, the time-dependent characteristics of temperature and three-dimensional thermal gradients in girder cross-sections are explored. A statistical analysis of thermal gradients is conducted, and the probability density functions of transversal and vertical thermal gradients are estimated. The extreme thermal gradients are predicted with a specific return period by employing an extreme value analysis, and the profiles of the vertical thermal gradient are established for bridge design. The transversal and vertical thermal gradients are developed to help engineers understand the thermal behaviors of concrete-steel composite girders during their service periods.