• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.2A
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• pp.85-95
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• 2012

This paper presents an investigation on the ultimate behavior of steel cable-stayed bridges using nonlinear finite element analysis method. Cable-stayed bridges exhibit various geometric nonlinearities as well as material nonlinearities, so rational nonlinear finite element analysis should be performed for investigation of the ultimate behavior. In this study, ultimate behavior of steel cable-stayed bridges was studied using rational ultimate analysis method. Nonlinear equivalent truss element and nonlinear frame element were used for modeling the cable, girder and mast. Moreover, refined plastic hinge method was adopted for considering the material nonlinearity of steel members. In this study, the 2-step analysis method was used. Before live load analysis, initial shape analysis was performed in order to consider the dead load condition. For investigation of the ultimate behavior of steel cable-stayed bridges, analysis models which span length is 920.0 m were used. Radiating type and fan type were considered as the cable-arrangement types. With various quantitative evidences such as load-displacement curves, deformed shapes, locations of the yield point or region, bending moment distribution and so on, the ultimate behavior of steel cable-stayed bridges was investigated and described in this paper.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.531-536
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• 2004

In fracture treatment with external fixators, the inter-fragmentary movements at the fracture site affect the fracture healing process, and these movements are highly related to the stiffness of external fixation systems. Therefore, in order to provide the optimal fracture healing at the fracture site, it is essential to understand the relationship between the stiffness and the system configurations in external fixation system. In this study we investigated the influences of system configuration parameters on the stiffness in the finite element analysis of an external fixation system of a long bone. The system alignment, the geometric and the material non-linearity of the pin, the joint stiffness and the callus formation were considered in the finite element model. In the first, the system stiffness of the developed finite element model was compared with the experiment data for model validation. The consideration of the joint stiffness and nonlinearity of the model improved the system stiffness results. The joint stiffness, the non-alignment of the system decreased the system stiffness while the callus formation increased the system stiffness. The present results provided the biomechanical basis of rational guidelines for design improvements of external fixators and pre-op. planning to maximize the system stiffness in fracture surgery.