• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.2107-2119
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• 2022

Accurate remaining useful life (RUL) prediction for critical components of nuclear power equipment is an important way to realize aging management of nuclear power equipment. The electric gate valve is one of the most safety-critical and widely distributed mechanical equipment in nuclear power installations. However, the electric gate valve's extended service in nuclear installations causes aging and degradation induced by crack propagation and leakages. Hence, it is necessary to develop a robust RUL prediction method to evaluate its operating state. Although the particle filter(PF) algorithm and its variants can deal with this nonlinear problem effectively, they suffer from severe particle degeneracy and depletion, which leads to its sub-optimal performance. In this study, we combined the whale algorithm with regularized particle filtering(RPF) to rationalize the particle distribution before resampling, so as to solve the problem of particle degradation, and for valve RUL prediction. The valve's crack propagation is studied using the RPF approach, which takes the Paris Law as a condition function. The crack growth is observed and updated using the root-mean-square (RMS) signal collected from the acoustic emission sensor. At the same time, the proposed method is compared with other optimization algorithms, such as particle swarm optimization algorithm, and verified by the realistic valve aging experimental data. The conclusion shows that the proposed method can effectively predict and analyze the typical valve degradation patterns.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.389-396
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• 2022

This paper aims to identify the causes and mechanisms of contraction-expansion noise in refrigerators and proposes noise reduction methods. Contraction-expansion noise generated in refrigerators is mainly due to stick-slip phenomenon occurring on the contact surface between inner parts. Friction experiments were conducted to identify the factors causing the stick-slip phenomenon. Furthermore, the vibration level of the internal components was measured to determine the characteristics and location of the contraction-expansion noise. Based on the experimental results, experiments have been conducted to verify the noise characteristics for each factor. From this, it was confirmed that the friction experiment and the refrigerator contraction-expansion noise generation location and frequency were the same. The vibration level also increased as the vertical force was increased due to load loading. Also, it was confirmed that the contraction-expansion noise was reduced when the surface roughness was increased. Therefore, it was concluded that increasing the surface roughness of the contact surface in the same way as the results of the friction experiment was the method of reducing contraction-expansion noise.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.396-407
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• 2021

PURPOSE. Zirconia has exceptional biocompatibility and good mechanical properties in clinical situations. However, finite element analysis (FEA) studies on the biomechanical stability of two-piece zirconia implant systems are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of the two-piece zirconia and titanium implants using FEA. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Two groups of finite element (FE) models, the zirconia (Zircon) and titanium (Titan) models, were generated for the exam. Oblique (175 N) and vertical (175 N) loads were applied to the FE model generated for FEA simulation, and the stress levels and distributions were investigated. RESULTS. In oblique loading, von Mises stress values were the highest in the abutment of the Zircon model. The von Mises stress values of the Titan model for the abutment screw and implant fixture were slightly higher than those of the Zircon model. Minimum principal stress in the cortical bone was higher in the Titan model than Zircon model under oblique and vertical loading. Under both vertical and oblique loads, stress concentrations in the implant components and bone occurred in the same area. Because the material itself has high stiffness and elastic modulus, the Zircon model exhibited a higher von Mises stress value in the abutments than the Titan model, but at a level lower than the fracture strength of the material. CONCLUSION. Owing to the good esthetics and stress controllability of the Zircon model, it can be considered for clinical use.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.661-671
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• 2022

Stayed cables are the key components for transmitting loads in cable-stayed bridges. Therefore, it is very important to evaluate the cable force condition to ensure bridge safety. An online condition assessment and anomaly localization method is proposed for cables based on the spatiotemporal correlation of grouped cable forces. First, an anomaly sensitive feature index is obtained based on the distribution characteristics of grouped cable forces. Second, an adaptive anomaly detection method based on the k-nearest neighbor rule is used to perform dissimilarity measurements on the extracted feature index, and such a method can effectively remove the interference of environment factors and vehicle loads on online condition assessment of the grouped cable forces. Furthermore, an online anomaly isolation and localization method for stay cables is established, and the complete decomposition contributions method is used to decompose the feature matrix of the grouped cable forces and build an anomaly isolation index. Finally, case studies were carried out to validate the proposed method using an in-service cable-stayed bridge equipped with a structural health monitoring system. The results show that the proposed approach is sensitive to the abnormal distribution of grouped cable forces and is robust to the influence of interference factors. In addition, the proposed approach can also localize the cables with abnormal cable forces online, which can be successfully applied to the field monitoring of cables for cable-stayed bridges.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.377-387
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• 2023

This paper presents accuracy of a method that directly estimates equivalent properties of a 1-3 piezocomposite for modeling it into the single phase homogeneous piezomaterial. This direct estimation method finds individual components of a material property matrix based on the piezoelectric constitutive equations, which represent mechanical and electrical behaviors and their couplings. Equivalent properties on a single 1-3 piezocomposite hydrophone are derived, and their accuracy depending on pairing of the constitutive equations is investigated by comparing them with finite element analysis for the whole domain. The accuracy is related to elastic characteristics of a matrix polymer, and the error is analyzed so that some guidelines for correct estimation are suggested. Fidelity of estimated properties and equivalent modeling is shown in a stave scale including hydrophones and surrounding acoustic structures as well, and reduced computational cost is verified.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.35-42
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• 2023

This study analyzed the current and temperature characteristics of major components of an induction motor during normal and abnormal operations as functions of the difference in the rated capacities of medium and large-sized motors widely used in industrial settings. The temperature rise equation of the induction motor winding was derived through locked-rotor operation experiments and linear regression analysis. When the ambient temperature is 40 ℃, the time to reach 155 ℃, the temperature limit of the insulation class (F class) of the winding of the induction motor, was confirmed to be 48 seconds for the 2.2 kW induction motor and 39 seconds for the 3.7 kW induction motor. This means that when the rated capacity is large or the installation environment is high temperature, the time to reach the temperature limit of the insulation class during locked-rotor operation is short, and the risk of insulation deterioration and fire is high. In addition, even if the EOCR (Electronic Over Current Relay) is installed, if the setting time is excessively set, the EOCR does not operate even if the normal and locked-rotor operation of the induction motor is repeated, and the temperature limit of the insulation grade of the winding of the induction motor is exceeded. The results of this study can be used for preventive measures such as the promotion of electrical and mechanical measures for the failure of induction motors and fire prevention in industrial sites, or the installation of fire alarm systems.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Applied Superconductivity and Cryogenics Conference
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• 2002.02a
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• pp.339-339
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• 2002

In the RABiTS approach to coated conductor development, successful (both economic and technological) depends on the refinement and optimization of each of three important components: the metal tape substrate, the buffer layer(s), and the HTS layer. Here we will report on the ORNL approach and progress in each of these areas. - Most applications will require metal tapes with low magnetic hysteresis, mechanical strength, and excellent crystalline texture. Some of these requirements are competing. We report on progress in obtaining a good combination of these characteristics on metal alloys of Ni-Cr and Ni-W. - The deposition of appropriate buffer layers is a crucial step. Recently, base research has shown that the presence of a stable sulfur superstructure present on the metal surface is needed for the nucleation and epitaxial growth of vapor-deposited seed buffer layers such as YSZ, CeO$_2$ and SrTiO$_3$. We report on the details and control of this superstructure for nickel tapes, as well as recent results for Cu and Ni-13%Cr. - Processes for deposition of the HTS coating must economically provide large values of the figure-of-merit for conductors, current x length. At ORNL, we have devoted efforts to a precursor/post-annealing approach to YBCO coatings, for which the deposition and reaction steps are separate. We describe motivation for and progress toward developing this approach. - Finally, we address some issues for the implementation of coated conductors in real applications, including the need for texture control and electrical stabilization of the HTS coating.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.44-56
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• 2023

Additive manufacturing (AM) or three-dimensional (3D) printing of metals has been drawing significant attention due to its reliability, usefulness, and low cost with rapid prototyping. Among the various AM technologies, fused deposition modeling (FDM) or fused filament fabrication is receiving much interest because of its simple manufacturing processing, low material waste, and cost-effective equipment. FDM technology uses metal-filled polymer filaments for 3D printing, followed by debinding and sintering to fabricate complex metal parts. An efficient binder is essential for producing polymer filaments and the thermal post-processing of printed objects. This study involved an in-depth investigation of and a fabrication route for a novel multi-component binder system with steel alloy powder (45 vol.%) ranging from filament fabrication and 3D printing to debinding and sintering. The binder system consisted of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a binder and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polylactic acid (PLA) as a carrier. The PVP binder held the metal components tightly by maintaining their stoichiometry, and the TPU and PLA in the ratio of 9:1 provided flexibility, stiffness, and strength to the filament for 3D printing. The efficacy of the binder system was examined by fabricating 3D-printed cubic structures. The results revealed that the thermal debinding and sintering processes effectively removed the binder/carrier from the cubic structures, resulting in isotropic shrinkage of approximately 15.8% in all directions. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) patterns displayed the microstructure behavior, phase transition, and elemental composition of the 3D cubic structure.

• Composites Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.30-36
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• 2009

In this paper, we propose the design method for the composite torque link of a landing gear for a helicopter. The composite torque link has to be light weighted and very stiff to keep the shock absorber in the landing gear of helicopter. The configuration and structural shape has to be designed in consideration of the RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) manufacturing process which is adopted to minimize the manufacturing cost. The mechanical properties are obtained through the coupon tests with the specimens made by the same manufacturing process for the composite structure. The optimal design process was performed through iterative modifications of the models which were verified by stress analysis using FEM. The composite torque link has lug-shaped parts and is very thick, so 3D Layered solid elements of ABAQUS were used to get the stress field including the stress components in thickness direction and non-linear static analysis using contact B.C. of rigid-deform condition was used to get the optimal design.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.31-42
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• 2023

The charge and magnetic characteristics of LM (Low-metallic) and NAO (Non-asbestos-organic) brake wear particles were analyzed. The ratio of charged particles from total particles is about 86% of the LM pad and about 92% of the NAO pad. Number of charge per particle from the NAO pad is also higher than that of the LM pad. The ratio of magnetic particles from total particles increases with the particle size. The ratio of magnetic particles from the LM pad is about 15% for the particles with the size of 1 ㎛, and about 74% for ones with 5 ㎛. The ratio from the NAO pad is about 5% for the particles with the size from 0.5 ㎛ to 2 ㎛, and about 80% for the particles with 5 ㎛. Through the analysis of the components of the two pads with SEM-EDS (Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy), it was found that the LM pad was occupied with more iron fraction than the NAO pad and that PM_2.5-10 was occupied with more iron fraction than PM_2.5. The particles smaller than 10 ㎛ (i.e. PM₁₀) from the LM pad contained about 83% of charged particles, about 43% of magnetic particles, and about 93% of charged or magnetic particles. PM₁₀ from the NAO pad contained about 88% of charged particles, about 15% of magnetic particles, and about 89% of charged or magnetic particles.