• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.475-483
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• 2023

In this paper, a new energy-efficient semi-active hybrid bulk damper is developed that is cost-effective for use in structural applications. In this work, the possibility of active and semi-active component configurations combined with suitable control algorithms, especially vibration control methods, is explored. The equations of motion for a container bridge equipped with an MDOF Mass Tuned Damper (M-TMD) system are established, and the combination of excitation, adhesion, and control effects are performed by a proprietary package and commercial custom submodel software. Systematic methods for the synthesis of structural components and active systems have been used in many applications because of the main interest in designing efficient devices and high-performance structural systems. A rational strategy can be established by properly controlling the master injection frequency parameter. Simulation results show that the multiscale model approach is achieved and meets accuracy with high computational efficiency. The M-TMD system can significantly improve the overall response of constrained structures by modestly reducing the critical stress amplitude of the frame. This design can be believed to build affordable, safe, environmentally friendly, resilient, sustainable infrastructure and transportation.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.115-124
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• 2022

Welding is a significant part of the construction industry. Since most high-rise building construction structures rely on a robust metal frame welded together, welding defect can damage welded structures and is critical to safety and quality. Despite its importance and heavy usage in construction, the labor shortage of welders has been a continuous challenge to the construction industry. To deal with the labor shortage, the ultimate goal of this study is to design and develop an automated robotic welding system composed of a welding machine, unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), robotic arm, and visual sensors. This paper proposes and focuses on automated weaving using the robotic arm. For automated welding operation, a microcontroller is used to control the switch and is added to a welding torch by physically modifying the hardware. Varying weave patterns are mathematically programmed. The automated weaving is tested using a brush pen and a ballpoint pen to clearly see the patterns and detect any changes in vertical forces by the arm during weaving. The results show that the weave patterns have sufficiently high consistency and precision to be used in the actual welding. Lastly, actual welding was performed, and the results are presented.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.393-404
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• 2023

This paper presents the application of hybrid-simulation-based adapter elements for the non-linear two-scale analysis of reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills under seismic-like demands. The approach provides communication and distribution of the computations carried out by two or more remote or locally distributed numerical models connected through the OpenFresco Framework. The modeling consists of a global analysis formed by macro-elements to represent frames and walls, and to reduce global degrees of freedom, portions of the structure that require advanced analysis are substituted by experimental elements and dimensional couplings acting as interfaces with their respective sub-assemblies. The local sub-assemblies are modeled by solid finite elements where the non-linear behavior of concrete matrix and masonry infill adopt a continuum damage representation and the reinforcement steel a discrete one, the conditions at interfaces between concrete and masonry are considered through a contact model. The methodology is illustrated through the analysis of a frame-wall system subjected to lateral loads comparing the results of using macro-elements, finite element model and experimental observations. Finally, to further assess and validate the methodology proposed, the paper presents the pushover analysis of two more complex structures applying both modeling scales to obtain their corresponding capacity curves.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.453-462
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• 2023

Designing pile foundations subjected to the uplift forces such as buildings, oil platforms, and anchors is becoming increasingly concerned. In this paper, the conceptual design of a new type of driven piles called expanding pile is presented and assessed. Some grooves have been created in the shaft of the novel pile, and some moveable arms have been designed at the pile tip. At first, static analyses using the finite element method were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the innovative pile on the axial bearing capacity. Then its effect on seismic behavior of moment frame is considered. Results show that the expanding arms were provided an ideal anchorage system because of the soil's noticeable locking-up effect increasing uplift bearing capacity. For example at the end of the static tensile loading procedure, displacement decrement up to 55 percent is observed. In addition, comparing the uplift bearing capacity of the usual and new pile with different lengths in sand and clay layers shows noticeable effect and sharp increase up to about two times especially in longer piles. Besides, a sensible reduction in the seismic response and the stresses in the beam-column connection between 23-36 percent are achieved that ensures better seismic behavior of the structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.3
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• pp.273-282
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• 2023

Concrete construction, one of the oldest building practices, is commonly used in all parts of the world. Concrete is the primary building material for both residential and commercial constructions. The challenge of protecting the buildings, hence nation, against the attack of terrorism has raised the importance to explore the understanding of building materials against the explosion. In this research, a security check-post (reinforced concrete frame filled with plain cement concrete) has been chosen to study the behavior of structural elements under blast loading. Eight nitroglycerines-based dynamite blasts with varying amounts of explosive charge, up to 17 kg weight has been carried out at various scale distances. Pressure and acceleration time history records are measured using blast measuring instruments. Security check post after being exposed by explosive loading are photographed to view cracking/failure patterns on the structural elements. It is noted that with the increase of quantity of explosive, the dimensions of spalling and crack patterns increase on the front panels. Simple empirical analyses are conducted using ConWep and other design manuals such as UFC 3-340-02 (2008) and AASTP-1 (2010) for the purpose of comparison of blast parameters with the experimental records. The results of experimental workings are also compared with earlier researchers to check the compatibility of developed equations. It is believed that the current study presents the simple and preliminary procedure for calculating the air blast and ground shock parameters on the structures exposed to blast explosion.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.91-101
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• 2009

The factors of uncertainty such as work delay could cause many problems, for example, increase of construction cost and terms of work, and the deterioration of quality. Because of these, the uncertainty risk is regarded as an important management factor to obtain the success of construction project. So, the systematic management plan about the uncertainty factors is needed because it plays an important role in the completion of entire project. And also analysis of some factors which can cause the work delay can be one way of improving construction project's certainty and making it competitive. In this reason, we have to make an effort to set a priority based on analysis of quantitatively numerical value about work delay factors to manage them effectively. Thus, this study aims to suggest the basic data for the effective management and prevention of work delay in steel-frame work which is progressive actively now, along with increasing of demand of high-rise buildings by analyzing each reasons of work delay factors and also by suggesting important management factors that are coded according to each construction work using FMEA method which could give a data about the importance of work delay factors through quantitatively numerical value.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.120-130
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• 2021

Recently, the government is reinforcing safety management at construction sites to prevent safety accidents in construction works, and the safety management plan of workers is an important situation. Meanwhile, modular construction is expected to be gradually expanded to middle and high-rise buildings, but active measures to ensure worker safety are insufficient. This study is a preliminary study of the development of a checklist for preventive worker safety management. The purpose of this study is to derive a checklist classification system for the safety management of workers in the field of modular construction by preceding studies, case analysis, and expert advisory opinions. The classification system consists of large categories of factory manufacturing, transportation, and on-site construction, and the sub-system consists of six sub-classes: foundation work, frame work, modular frame installation work, finishing work, and facility work. Among them, the sub-classification of modular frame installation work consists of 12 unit works, centering on module lifting and assembly module work, which are the main construction processes. And the classification system reflects the three main management factors and contents for defined safety management. It is expected that the research results of this study can contribute to efficient safety management at the modular construction site.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.97-101
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• 2020

Using passive electric field sensor which operates in non-contact mode, we can measure the electric potential induced from the change of electric charges on a sensor caused by the movement of human body or hands. In this study, we propose a new method, which utilizes PLN induced to the sensor around the moving object, to detect one's hand movement and extract gesture frames from the detected signals. Signals from the EPS sensors include a large amount of power line noise usually existing in the places such as rooms or buildings. Using the fact that the PLN is shielded in part by human access to the sensor, signals caused by motion or hand movement are detected. PLN consists mainly of signals with frequency of 60 Hz and its harmonics. In our proposed method, signals only 120 Hz component in frequency domain are chosen selectively and exclusively utilized for detection of hand movement. We use FFT to measure a spectral-separated frequency signal. The signals obtained from sensors in this way are continued to be compared with the threshold preset in advance. Once motion signals are detected passing throng the threshold, we determine the motion frame based on period between the first threshold passing time and the last one. The motion detection rate of our proposed method was about 90% while the correct frame extraction rate was about 85%. The method like our method, which use PLN signal in order to extract useful data about motion movement from non-contact mode EPS sensors, has been rarely reported or published in recent. This research results can be expected to be useful especially in circumstance of having surrounding PLN.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.6 s.73
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• pp.737-745
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• 2004

In general, most of the beam-to-column connections for steel structures are regarded as either rigid connections or pin connections. Recently, the concept of a semi-rigid connection was introduced for a correct analysis of steel structures. Several experimental and theoretical researches have been performed regarding the structural behaviors of frames and buildings with semi-rigid connections. The results are not well known, and structural frame/building has not been designed to introduce the concept of semi-rigid connections between a beam and column until this time. To resolve this, this research depends on design specifications prepared by other advanced countries for the design of buildings with semi-rigid connections. Such a specification, however, should incorporate domestic characteristics of steel material properties and load conditions. This paper deals with structural capacities and deformable behaviors for a split-T tensile connection with F10T high-strength bolts to investigate the structural characteristics of semi-rigid frames. The experimental parameters include the thickness of T-flanges, painted or not, preloaded or not, and load pushover pattern. A total of 20 specimens were fabricated and tested with a 300-ton UTM. The structural capacities and behavior for split-T tensile connections were evaluated on each research parameter.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.440-447
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• 2020

Masonry structures are used as bearing walls in small buildings, but they are generally considered non-bearing walls. They are used as partition walls that divide the interior spaces of the frame structures of buildings. In addition, wetting techniques that use mortar as an adhesive between blocks or bricks in construction are vulnerable to climatic conditions, especially cracks in mortar, which can cause conduction collapse of the walls in seismic loading. The purpose of this research was to propose a dry concrete block construction method that complements the weak axial shear stiffness and improves the weakness of the wet construction method as well as to investigate its structural behavior. In this study, the material properties of concrete blocks were examined, and the seismic performance of the proposed dry assembly structure was verified by structural behavior tests on horizontal cyclic loads. First, in these study results, concrete blocks can be applied to the dry block construction method instead of wet construction methods because they secure more than C-type blocks in KS regulations. Second, the structural performance of the wall against a horizontal cyclic load indicates that the resisting force of the assembly block wall is increased by increasing the horizontal length of the wall, forming several diagonal cracks. Finally, the proposed dry block wall structure requires a seismic performance assessment considering that the ratio of the shape of the wall by height and length is considered a major influence variable on the structural behavior under a horizontal load.