• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.99-117
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• 2015

The Stonecutters Bridge (SCB) in Hong Kong is the third-longest cable-stayed bridge in the world with a main span stretching 1,018 m between two 298 m high single-leg tapering composite towers. A Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System (WASHMS) is being implemented on SCB by the Highways Department of The Hong Kong SAR Government, and the SCB-WASHMS is composed of more than 1,300 sensors in 15 types. In order to establish a linkage between structural health monitoring and maintenance management, a Structural Health Rating System (SHRS) with relevant rating tools and indices is devised. On the basis of a 3D space frame finite element model (FEM) of SCB and model updating, this paper presents the development of an SHR-oriented 3D multi-scale FEM for the purpose of load-resistance analysis and damage evaluation in structural element level, including modeling, refinement and validation of the multi-scale FEM. The refined 3D structural segments at deck and towers are established in critical segment positions corresponding to maximum cable forces. The components in the critical segment region are modeled as a full 3D FEM and fitted into the 3D space frame FEM. The boundary conditions between beam and shell elements are performed conforming to equivalent stiffness, effective mass and compatibility of deformation. The 3D multi-scale FEM is verified by the in-situ measured dynamic characteristics and static response. A good agreement between the FEM and measurement results indicates that the 3D multi-scale FEM is precise and efficient for WASHMS and SHRS of SCB. In addition, stress distribution and concentration of the critical segments in the 3D multi-scale FEM under temperature loads, static wind loads and equivalent seismic loads are investigated. Stress concentration elements under equivalent seismic loads exist in the anchor zone in steel/concrete beam and the anchor plate edge in steel anchor box of the towers.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.823-837
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• 2023

This paper presents the seismic performance of seven beam-column joints with an eccentricity between beam depths under cyclic loadings. The failure modes of the panel zone were divided into two types. One was the shear force failure that appeared in the entire panel zone (SFEPZ), the other was the shear force failure that appeared in the partial panel zone (SFPPZ). Seven finite element models were established using multi-scale methods. Compared with the experimental specimens, the hysteretic loops exhibited a similar trend. The multi-scale models could accurately simulate the experimental results. Furthermore, the calculation formulas of yield and plastic shear capacity of unequal-depth joints with outer annular stiffener were proposed.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.251-259
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• 2018

In this paper, statistical volume element modeling method was developed for multi-scale progressive failure analysis of fiber reinforced composite materials. Big-size statistical volume elements (BSVEs) was considered to minimize the size effect in the micro-scale, by including as many fibers as possible. For that purpose, a mesh cutting method is suggested and adapted into the fiber model generator that creates finite element domain rapidly. The fiber defect model was also developed based on the experimental distribution of the fiber strength. The size effects from the local load sharing (LLS) are evaluated by increasing the fiber inclusion in the micro-scale model. Finally, continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model to the fiber direction was extracted from numerical analysis on BSVEs. And it was compared with strength prediction from typical representative volume element (RVE) model.

• Composites Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.66-71
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• 2014

This study carried out finite element vibration analysis of pole structures made of GFRP, which is based on the micro-mechanical approach for different fiber-volume fractions. The finite element (FE) models for composite structures using multi-scale approaches described in this paper is attractive not only because it shows excellent accuracy in analysis but also it shows the effect of the material combination. The FE model is used for studying free vibrations of laminated composite poles for various fiber-volume fractions. In particular, new results reported in this paper are focused on the significant effects of the fiber-volume fraction for various parameters, such as fiber angles, layup sequences, and length-thickness ratios. It may be concluded from this study that the combination effect of fiber and matrix, largely governing the dynamic characteristics of composite structures, should not be neglected and thus the optimal combination could be used to design such civil structures for better dynamic performance.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2006.07c
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• pp.1343-1344
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• 2006

There have been numerous accelerated aging laboratory tests for evaluating suitability of polymeric materials and devices. Aging test for materials and its full scale device has been conducted. Service experience plays a key role in the utility section of composite insulators. A meaningful and reliable accelerated aging test is needed for evaluating composite insulator. During the service these insulators are subjected to aging stress such as humidity, pollution, and electrical field, and erosion and tracking of the weathershed occurs. This paper presents the criteria of reliability evaluation and evaluation facilities for 22.9 kV suspension composite insulator. We adopt the criteria of reliability evaluation consist of two test methods. One is CEA tracking wheel test for examining the tracking and erosion performance of composite insulator. The other is multi-stress aging test for examining effects of environmental factors such as UV, temperature, humidity, etc on composite insulator.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2013

'Multi-scale mass-deployable cooperative robots' is a next generation robotics paradigm where a large number of robots that vary in size cooperate in a hierarchical fashion to collect information in various environments. While this paradigm can exhibit the effective solution for exploration of the wide area consisting of various types of terrain, its technical maturity is still in its infant state and many technical hurdles should be resolved to realize this paradigm. In this paper, we propose to develop new design and manufacturing methodologies for the multi-scale mass-deployable cooperative robots. In doing so, we present various fundamental technologies in four different research fields. (1) Adaptable design methods consist of compliant mechanisms and hierarchical structures which provide robots with a unified way to overcome various and irregular terrains. (2) Soft composite materials realize the compliancy in these structures. (3) Multi-scale integrative manufacturing techniques are convergence of traditional methods for producing various sized robots assembled by such materials. Finally, (4) the control and communication techniques for the massive swarm robot systems enable multiple functionally simple robots to accomplish the complex job by effective job distribution.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2021

This paper dealt with multi-scale natural frequency characteristics of wavy CNT (carbon nanotube) reinforced composites by applying the Mori-Tanaka method, rule of mixture, and Halpin-Tsai equation. By compelling benefit of an ad-hoc Eshelby tensor, the load-transfer characteristics of CNT with a waviness implanted in the polymer matrix was determined. The numerical results obtained are in good agreement with those reported by other investigators. Furthermore, the new results reported in this paper show the interactions between CNT weight, waviness ratios and layup sequences of laminated composites. Key observation points are discussed and significant considerations are given in practical designing of CNT reinforced composites.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2013

In this paper, a micro-mechanical failure prediction program is developed based on SIFT (Strain Invariant Failure Theory) by using the multi-scale modeling method for fiber-reinforced composite materials. And the failure analysis are performed for open-hole composite laminate specimen in order to verify the developed program. First of all, the critical strain invariants are obtained through the tensile tests for three types of specimens. Also, the matrices of strain amplification factors are determined through the finite element analysis for micro-mechanical model, RVE (Representative Volume Element). Finally, the microscopic failure analysis is performed for the open-hole composite laminate specimen model by applying a failure load obtained from tensile test, and the predicted failure indices are evaluated for verification of the developed program.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.499-511
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• 2019

In this paper, wave propagation of double-bonded Cooper-Naghdi micro sandwich cylindrical shells with porous core and carbon nanotube reinforced composite (CNTRC) face sheets are investigated subjected to multi-physical loadings with temperature dependent material properties. The governing equations of motion are derived by Hamilton's principle. Then, the influences of various parameters such as wave number, CNT volume fraction, temperature change, Skempton coefficient, material length scale parameter, porosity coefficient on the phase velocity of double-bonded micro sandwich shell are taken into account. It is seen that by increasing of Skempton coefficient, the phase velocity decreases for higher wave number and the results become approximately the constant. Also, by increasing of the material length scale parameter, the cut of frequency increases, because the stiffness of micro structure increases. The obtained results for this article can be used to detect, locate and quantify crack.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.645-664
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• 2021

There is a growing need of seismic retrofit of existing non-seismically designed structures in Korea after the 2016 Gyeongju and 2017 Pohang earthquakes, especially school buildings which experienced extensive damage during those two earthquakes. To this end, a steel multi-slit damper (MSD) was developed in this research which can be installed inside of partition walls of school buildings. Full-scale two-story RC frames were tested with and without the proposed dampers. The frames had structural details similar to school buildings constructed in the 1980s in Korea. The details of the experiments were described in detail, and the test results were validated using the analysis model. The developed seismic retrofit strategy was applied to a case study school building structure, and its seismic performance was evaluated before and after retrofit using the MSD. The results show that the developed retrofit strategy can improve the seismic performance of the structure to satisfy a given target performance level.