• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.663-673
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• 2018

In this study, the effect of particle size on the cracks propagation and coalescence or cracking pattern of the edge notched disc specimens are investigated. Firstly, calibration of PFC3D was performed using Brazilian experimental test output. Then micro parameters were used to build edge notched disc specimen. The horizontal wall of the assembly is let to move downward with a standard low speed of 0.016 m/s. The numerical results show that the tensile cracks are dominant failure pattern for the modeled discs. These tensile cracks initiate from the pre-existing notch tip and propagate parallel to the loading direction then interact with the upper boundary of the modeled specimen. As the size of the balls (ball diameter) decrease the number of tensile cracks increase. The tensile fracture toughness of the samples also decreases as the particle size increases. Understanding the crack propagation and crack coalescence phenomena in brittle materials such as concretes and rocks is of paramount importance in the stability analyses for engineering structures such as rock slopes, underground structures and tunneling.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.1805-1815
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• 2019

While nickel-based alloys have been widely used for power plants due to corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties, during the last couple of decades, failures of nuclear components increased gradually. One of main degradation mechanisms was primary water stress corrosion cracking at dissimilar metal welds of piping and reactor head penetrations. In this context, precise estimation of welding effects became an important issue for ensuring reliability of them. The present study deals with a series of finite element analyses and crack growth rate evaluation of Alloys 690/152. Firstly, variation of residual stresses and equivalent plastic strains was simulated taking into account welding of a cylindrical block. Subsequently, extraction and pre-cracking of compact tension (CT) specimens were considered from different locations of the block. Finally, crack growth curves of the alloys and heat affected zone were developed based on analyses results combined with experimental data in references. Characteristics of crack growth behaviors were also discussed in relation to mechanical and fracture parameters.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.361-372
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• 2019

In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to the research and development of high-strength steel plates, with particular emphasis on the enhancement of the seismic resistance of buildings and bridges. Many efforts have also been undertaken to improve the properties of high-strength bolts and weld materials. However, there are still different opinions on steel joints that combine high-strength bolts and fillet welds. Therefore, it is necessary to verify the design specifications and guidelines, especially for newly developed 1,400-MPa high-strength bolts, 570-MPa steel plates, and weld materials. This paper presents the results of literature reviews and experimental investigations. Test parameters include bolt strengths, weld orientations, and their combinations. The results show that advances in steel materials have increased the plastic deformation capacities of steel welds. That allows combination joints to gain their maximum strength before the welds have fracture failures. When in combination with longitudinal welds, high-strength bolts slip, come in contact with cover plates, and develop greater bearing strength before the joints reach their maximum strength. However, in the case of combinations with transverse welds, changes in crack angles cause the welds to provide additional strength. The combination joints can therefore develop strength greater than estimated by adding the strength of bolted joints in proportion to those of welded joints. Consequently, using the slip resistance as the available strength of high-strength bolts is recommended. That ensures a margin of safety in the strength design of combination joints.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.543-564
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• 2021

In this study free vibration analysis of a cracked Goland composite wing is investigated. The wing is modelled as a cantilevered beam based on Euler- Bernoulli equations. Also, composite material is modelled based on lamina fiber-reinforced. Edge crack is modelled by additional boundary conditions and local flexibility matrix in crack location, Castigliano's theorem and energy release rate formulation. Governing differential equations are extracted by Hamilton's principle. Using the separation of variables method, general solution in the normalized form for bending and torsion deflection is achieved then expressions for the cross-sectional rotation, the bending moment, the shear force and the torsional moment for the cantilevered beam are obtained. The cracked beam is modelled by separation of beam into two interconnected intact beams. Free vibration analysis of the beam is performed by applying boundary conditions at the fixed end, the free end, continuity conditions in the crack location of the beam and dynamic stiffness matrix determinant. Also, the effects of various parameters such as length and location of crack and fiber angle on natural frequencies and mode shapes are studied. Modal analysis results illustrate that natural frequencies and mode shapes are affected by depth and location of edge crack and coupling parameter.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-91
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• 2022

This paper aims to show how to use several Machine Learning (ML) methods to estimate the TBM penetration rate systematically (TBM-PR). To this end, 1125 datasets including uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), punch slope index (PSI), distance between the planes of weakness (DPW), orientation of discontinuities (alpha angle-α), rock fracture class (RFC), and actual/measured TBM-PRs were established. To evaluate the ML methods' ability to perform, the 5-fold cross-validation was taken into consideration. Eventually, comparing the ML outcomes and the TBM monitoring data indicated that the ML methods have a very good potential ability in the prediction of TBM-PR. However, the long short-term memory model with a correlation coefficient of 0.9932 and a route mean square error of 2.68E-6 outperformed the remaining six ML algorithms. The backward selection method showed that PSI and RFC were more and less significant parameters on the TBM-PR compared to the others.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.553-568
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• 2022

This paper explored the viability of utilising titanium alloy bolts in the construction industry through an experimental programme, where a total of sixty-six titanium alloy (Ti/6Al/4V) bolts were tested under axial tension, pure shear and combined tension and shear. In addition, a series of Charpy V-notch specimens machined from titanium alloy bolts, conventional high-strength steel bolts, austenitic and duplex stainless steel bolts were tested for impact toughness comparisons. The obtained experimental results demonstrated that the axial tensile and pure shear capacities of titanium alloy bolts can be reasonably estimated by the current design standards for steel structures (Eurocode 3, AS 4100 and AISC 360). However, under the combined tension and shear loading conditions, significant underestimation by Eurocode 3 and unsafe predictions through AS 4100 and AISC 360 indicate that proper modifications are necessary to facilitate the safe and economic use of titanium alloy bolts. In addition, numerical models were developed to calibrate the fracture parameters of the tested titanium alloy bolts. Furthermore, a design-based selection process of titanium alloy bolts in the structural applications was proposed, in which the ultimate strength, ductility performance and corrosion resistance (including galvanic corrosion) of titanium alloy bolts was mainly considered.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.255-263
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• 2021

P91 steel has been a highly researched material because of its applicability for high-temperature applications. Considerable efforts have been made to produce experimental creep data and develop models for creep life prediction. As creep tests are expensive and difficult to conduct, it is vital to develop authenticated empirical methods from experimental results that can be utilized for better understanding of creep behavior and can be incorporated into computational models for reliable prediction of creep life. In this research, a series of creep rupture tests are performed on the P91 specimens within a stress range of 155 MPa to 200 MPa and temperature range of 640 ℃ (913 K) to 675 ℃ (948 K). The microstructure, hardness, and fracture surfaces of the specimens are investigated. To analyze the results of the creep rupture tests at a macro level, a parameter called creep work density is derived. Then, the relationships between various creep parameters such as strain, strain rate, time to rupture, creep damage tolerance factor, and creep work density are investigated, and various empirical equations are obtained.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.339-351
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• 2022

A mortar-filled rectangular hollow structural section (RHS) can increase a structural section property as well as a compressive buckling capacity of a RHS member. In this study, the tensile performance of newly developed mortar-filled RHS members was experimentally evaluated with various connection details. The major test parameters were the type of end connections, the thickness of cap plates and shear plates, the use of stud bolts, and penetrating bars. The test results showed that the welded T-end connection experienced a brittle weld fracture at the welded connection, whereas the tensile performance of the T-end connection was improved by additional stud bolts inserted into the mortar within the RHS tube. For the end connection using shear plates and penetrating stud bolts, ductile behavior of the RHS tube was achieved after yielding. The penetrating bars increased load carrying capacity of the RHS. Based on the analysis of the load transfer mechanism, the current design code and test results were compared to evaluate the tensile capacity of the RHS tube according to the connection details. Design considerations for the connections of the mortar-filled RHS tubes were also recommended.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.225-240
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• 2022

Local responses of steel plate-concrete composite (SC) walls under impact loads are typically evaluated using design equations available in the AISC N690s1-15. These equations enable design of impact-resistant SC walls, but some essential parts such as the effects of wall size and shear reinforcement ratio have not been addressed. Also, since they were developed for design basis events, improved equations are required for accurate prediction of the impact behaviors of SC walls for beyond design basis impact evaluation. This paper presents a numerical study to construct a robust numerical model of SC walls subjected to impact loads to reasonably predict the SC-wall impact behavior, to evaluate the findings observed from the impact tests including the effects of the key design parameters, and to assess the actual responses of full-scale SC walls. The numerical calculations are validated using intermediate-scale impact tests performed previously. The influences of the fracture energy of concrete and the conservative aspects of the current design equations are discussed carefully. Recommendations are made for design practice.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.233-244
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• 2023

With the increasing amount of resources required by the society development, mining operations go deeper, which raises the requirements of studying the effects of temperature on the physical and mechanical properties of coal and adjacent rock. For now, these effects are yet to be fully revealed. In this paper, a mechanical-electromagnetic radiation (EMR) test system was established to understand the mechanical deterioration characteristics of coal by the effect of thermal treatment and its deformation and fracture characteristics under thermo-mechanical coupling conditions. The mechanical properties of high-temperature-treated coal were analyzed and recorded, based on which, reasons of coal mechanical deterioration as well as the damage parameters were obtained. Changes of the EMR time series under unconstrained conditions were further analyzed before characteristics of EMR signals under different damage conditions were obtained. The evolution process of thermal damage and deformation of coal was then analyzed through the frequency spectrum of EMR. In the end, based on the time-frequency variation characteristics of EMR, a method of determining combustion zones within the underground gasification area and combustion zones' stability level was proposed.