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Dynamic assessment of a FRP suspension footbridge through field testing and finite element modelling

  • Votsis, Renos A.;Stratford, Tim J.;Chryssanthopoulos, Marios K.;Tantele, Elia A.
    • Steel and Composite Structures
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.205-215
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    • 2017
  • The use of advanced fibre composite materials in bridge engineering offers alternative solutions to structural problems compared to traditional construction materials. Advanced composite or fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) materials have high strength to weight ratios, which can be especially beneficial where dead load or material handling considerations govern a design. However, the reduced weight and stiffness of FRP footbridges results in generally poorer dynamic performance, and vibration serviceability is likely to govern their design to avoid the footbridge being "too lively". This study investigates the dynamic behaviour of the 51.3 m span Wilcott FRP suspension footbridge. The assessment is performed through a combination of field testing and finite element analysis, and the measured performance of the bridge is being used to calibrate the model through an updating procedure. The resulting updated model allowed detailed interpretation of the results. It showed that non-structural members such as the parapets can influence the dynamic behaviour of slender, lightweight footbridges, and consequently their contribution must be included during the dynamic assessment of a structure. The test data showed that the FRP footbridge is prone to pedestrian induced vibrations, although the measured response levels were lower than limits specified in relevant standards.

Settlement prediction for footings based on stress history from VS measurements

  • Cho, Hyung Ik;Kim, Han Saem;Sun, Chang-Guk;Kim, Dong Soo
    • Geomechanics and Engineering
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    • v.20 no.5
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    • pp.371-384
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    • 2020
  • A settlement prediction method based on shear wave velocity measurements and soil nonlinearity was recently developed and verified by means of centrifuge tests. However, the method was only applicable to heavily overconsolidated soil deposits under enlarged yield surfaces. In this study, the settlement evaluation method was refined to consider the stress history of the sublayer, based on an overconsolidation ratio evaluation technique, and thereby incorporate irrecoverable plastic deformation in the settlement calculation. A relationship between the small-strain shear modulus and overconsolidation ratio, which can be determined from laboratory tests, was adopted to describe the stress history of the subsurface. Based on the overconsolidation ratio determined, the value of an empirical coefficient that reflects the effect of plastic deformation over the elastic region is determined by comparing the overconsolidation ratio with the stress increment transmitted by the surface design load. The refined method that incorporate this empirical coefficient was successfully validated by means of centrifuge tests, even under normally consolidated loading conditions.

Study on the High Voltage Pulse Profile Characteristics of a Turbulently Heated Theta Pinch (난류가열 쎄타핀치의 고전압 펄스 발생에 관한 연구)

  • 강형보;정운관;육종철
    • The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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    • v.33 no.11
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    • pp.456-463
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    • 1984
  • The fast-rising high-voltage pulse generation circuit system of a theta pinch is both theoretically and experimentally investigated. The idealized model of this circuit system is a hybrid circuit system composed of three parts: a lumped circuit part being consisted of a capacitor bank and a spark switch connected in series, another lumped circuit part being consisted of the Blumlein transmission line, whose end load is the pinch coil. the voltage difference between two ends of the pinch coil is formulated by analyzing this hybrid circuit system by means of the law of the signal propagation in the transmission line and Kirchhoff's laws. The expedient numerical method for computer calculation is developed to generate the pulse profile of the voltage difference across the pinch coil. The period of the experimentally measured main pulse is a fourth of the theoretical one neglecting the resistance of the pinch coil. We attribute this discrepancy to the modelling in the theoretical calculation that hte resistance and inductance of the spark switch and capacitor bank are assumed to be constant through discharge. Therefore, we can see that the rise time of the imploding magnetic-field pulse is mainly dependent on the spark switch and capacitor bank.

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In-Situ Performance Analysis of Centrifugal Chiller According to Varying Conditions of Chilled and Cooling Water (현장에서 운전중인 터보냉동기의 냉수와 냉각수 조건 변화에 따른 성능 해석)

  • Kim, Yeong-Il;Jang, Yeong-Su;Sin, Yeong-Gi;Baek, Yeong-Jin
    • Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.482-490
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    • 2002
  • This paper presents modelling and analyzing method of centrifugal chiller which has a rated capacity of 200 RT(703 kW) through on-site performance test. Field performance data of a chiller installed in a research building of KIST have been collected. Simple models were developed for predicting the heat exchanger and system performances by regression of chiller operation data during 5 days in August. The models proposed here account for the effect of variations of cooling capacity, temperatures and flew rates of secondary fluids. The proposed models can predict the actual performance data from June to September within $\pm$ 5% error. The COP of centrifugal chiller are estimated under the standard rating conditions and reduced mass flow rates of chilled and cooling water.

Modelling of timber joints made with steel dowels and locally reinforced by DVW discs

  • Guan, Zhongwei;Rodd, Peter
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.391-404
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    • 2003
  • Local reinforcement in dowel type timber joints is essential to improve ductility, to increase load carrying capacity and to reduce the risk of brittle failure, especially in the case of using solid dowel. In many types of reinforcing materials available today, DVW (densified veneer wood) has been demonstrated to be the most advantages in terms of compatibility, embedding performance and ductility. Preliminary studies show that using appropriately sized DVW discs bonded into the timber interfaces may be an effective way to reinforce the connection. In this paper, non-linear 3-dimensional finite element models, incorporating orthotropic and non-linear material behaviour, have been developed to simulate structural performance of the timber joints locally reinforced by DVW discs. Different contact algorithms were applied to simulate contact conditions in the joints. The models were validated by the corresponding structural tests. Correlation between the experimental results and the finite element simulations is reasonably good. Using validated finite element models, parametric studies were undertaken to investigate effects of the DVW disc sizes and the end distances on shear stresses and normal stresses in a possible failure plane in the joint.

Mesoscale modelling of concrete for static and dynamic response analysis -Part 1: model development and implementation

  • Tu, Zhenguo;Lu, Yong
    • Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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    • v.37 no.2
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    • pp.197-213
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    • 2011
  • Concrete is a heterogeneous material exhibiting quasi-brittle behaviour. While homogenization of concrete is commonly accepted in general engineering applications, a detailed description of the material heterogeneity using a mesoscale model becomes desirable and even necessary for problems where drastic spatial and time variation of the stress and strain is involved, for example in the analysis of local damages under impact, shock or blast load. A mesoscale model can also assist in an investigation into the underlying mechanisms affecting the bulk material behaviour under various stress conditions. Extending from existing mesoscale model studies, where use is often made of specialized codes with limited capability in the material description and numerical solutions, this paper presents a mesoscale computational model developed under a general-purpose finite element environment. The aim is to facilitate the utilization of sophisticated material descriptions (e.g., pressure and rate dependency) and advanced numerical solvers to suit a broad range of applications, including high impulsive dynamic analysis. The whole procedure encompasses a module for the generation of concrete mesoscale structure; a process for the generation of the FE mesh, considering two alternative schemes for the interface transition zone (ITZ); and the nonlinear analysis of the mesoscale FE model with an explicit time integration approach. The development of the model and various associated computational considerations are discussed in this paper (Part 1). Further numerical studies using the mesoscale model for both quasi-static and dynamic loadings will be presented in the companion paper (Part 2).

Robustness Design For Tall Timber Buildings

  • Voulpiotis, Konstantinos;Frangi, Andrea
    • International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.245-253
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    • 2020
  • With the ever-increasing height of timber buildings, the complexity of timber as a structural material gives rise to behaviors not previously studied by engineers. An urgent call is needed regarding their performance in damage scenarios: activating alternative load paths in tall timber buildings is not the same as in tall buildings made with steel and concrete. In this paper we propose a robustness framework covering all building materials, whose application in timber may lead to new conceptual designs for the next generation of tall timber buildings. Qualitatively, the importance of building scale and the distinction between localized and systematic exposures are discussed, and how existing supertall structures can be an example for future generations of tall timber buildings. Quantitatively, the robustness index is introduced alongside a method to calculate the performance of a given building regarding robustness, in order to find the most cost-effective structural solutions for improved robustness. A three-level application recommendation is made, depending on the importance of the building in question. Primarily, the paper highlights the importance of conceptual design to achieve structural robustness and encourages the practicing engineering community to use the proposed framework to quantitatively come up with the new generation of tall timber buildings.

A Study on Verification for the Design of Bio Safety Level 3 Laboratory by using Multi-zone Simulation (멀티죤 시뮬레이션을 이용한 생물안전 3등급(BSL3)시설의 설계 검증에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Hyun-Woo;Choi, Sang-Gon;Hong, Jin-Kwan
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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    • v.21 no.12
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    • pp.671-677
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    • 2009
  • In Korea, since the implementation of the LMO Law, the interest of biosafety level 3(BL3) lab. is increasing. In this study, using CONTAM which is applying multizone modelling, the multizone simulation for design verification of BL3 lab. is performed. In BL3 lab., because required air change rate is greater than general estimated air-conditioning load and it is difficult to maintain room pressure difference efficiently, to maintain pressure difference between laboratory rooms is important through sealing condition of doors and proper airflow control of laboratory rooms. In this study, about BL3 lab,(M. tuberculosis research lab.), the multizone simulation for four kind of biohazard scenarios is carried out in the case of unexpected spread of contaminants in the laboratory room, anteroom, corridor and inside of BSC. Multizone simulation results show that these approach methods are used as a tool for the design and verification of BL3 lab.

SiC Based Single Chip Programmable AC to DC Power Converter

  • Pratap, Rajendra;Agarwal, Vineeta;Ravindra, Kumar Singh
    • JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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    • v.14 no.6
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    • pp.697-705
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    • 2014
  • A single chip Programmable AC to DC Power Converter, consisting of wide band gap SiC MOSFET and SiC diodes, has been proposed which converts high frequency ac voltage to a conditioned dc output voltage at user defined given power level. The converter has high conversion efficiency because of negligible reverse recovery current in SiC diode and SiC MOSFET. High frequency operation reduces the need of bigger size inductor. Lead inductors are enough to maintain current continuity. A complete electrical analysis, die area estimation and thermal analysis of the converter has been presented. It has been found that settling time and peak overshoot voltage across the device has reduced significantly when SiC devices are used with respect to Si devices. Reduction in peak overshoot also increases the converter efficiency. The total package substrate dimension of the converter circuit is only $5mm{\times}5mm$. Thermal analysis performed in the paper shows that these devices would be very useful for use as miniaturized power converters for load currents of up to 5-7 amp, keeping the package thermal conductivity limitation in mind. The converter is ideal for voltage requirements for sub-5 V level power supplies for high temperatures and space electronics systems.

Experimental and Numerical Assessment of the Service Behaviour of an Innovative Long-Span Precast Roof Element

  • Lago, Bruno Dal
    • International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.261-273
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    • 2017
  • The control of the deformative behaviour of pre-stressed concrete roof elements for a satisfactory service performance is a main issue of their structural design. Slender light-weight wing-shaped roof elements, typical of the European heritage, are particularly sensitive to this problem. The paper presents the results of deformation measurements during storage and of both torsional-flexural and purely flexural load tests carried out on a full-scale 40.5 m long innovative wing-shaped roof element. An element-based simplified integral procedure that de-couples the evolution of the deflection profile with the progressive shortening of the beam is adopted to catch the experimental visco-elastic behaviour of the element and the predictions are compared with normative close-form solutions. A linear 3D fem model is developed to investigate the torsional-flexural behaviour of the member. A mechanical non-linear beam model is used to predict the purely flexural behaviour of the roof member in the pre- and post-cracking phases and to validate the loss prediction of the adopted procedure. Both experimental and numerical results highlight that the adopted analysis method is viable and sound for an accurate simulation of the service behaviour of precast roof elements.