• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.339-351
• /
• 2022

Evaluating the current condition of existing structures is of primary importance for economic and safety reasons. This can be addressed by Structural System Identification (SSI). A reliable static SSI depends on well-designed sensor configuration and loading cases, as well as efficient parameter estimation algorithms. Static SSI by the Measurement Error-Minimizing Observability Method (MEMOM) is a model-based deterministic static SSI method that could estimate structural parameters from static responses. In the current state of the art, this method is only applicable when structures are subjected to one loading case. This might lead to lack of information in some local regions of the structure (such as the null curvatures zones). To address this issue, the SSI by MEMOM using multiple loading cases is proposed in this work. Observability equations obtained from different loading cases are concatenated simultaneously and an optimization procedure is introduced to obtain the estimations by minimizing the discrepancy between the predicted response and the measured one. In addition, a Genetic-Algorithm (GA)-based Optimal Sensor Placement (OSP) method is proposed to tackle the OSP problem under multiple static loading cases for the very first time. In this approach, the Fisher Information Matrix (FIM)'s determinant is used as the metric of the goodness of sensor configurations. The numerical examples of a 3-span continuous bridge and a 13-story frame, are analyzed to validate the applicability of the extended SSI by MEMOM and the GA-based OSP method.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
• /
• v.19 no.8
• /
• pp.1554-1567
• /
• 2005

When multiple robotics systems with several sub-chains grasp a common object, the inherent force redundancy provides a chance of utilizing internal loading. Analysis of grasping space based internal loading is proposed in this work since this method facilitates understanding the physical meaning of internal loadings in some applications, as compared to usual operational space based approach. Investigation of the internal loading for a triple manipulator has been few as ,compared to a dual manipulator. In this paper, types of the internal loading for dual and triple manipulator systems are investigated by using the reduced row echelon method to analyze the null space of those systems. No internal loading condition is derived and several load distribution schemes are compared through simulation. Furthermore, it is shown that the proposed scheme based on grasping space is applicable to analysis of special cases such as three-fingered and three-legged robots having a point contact with the grasped object or ground.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.203-211
• /
• 2017

This paper provides a numerical solution for multiple confocal elliptic dissimilar cylinders. In the problem, the inner elliptic notch is under the traction free condition. The medium is composed of many confocal elliptic dissimilar cylinders. The transfer matrix method is used to study the continuity condition for the stress and displacement along the interfaces. Two cases, or the infinite matrix case and the finite matrix case, are studied in this paper. In the former case, the remote tension is applied in y- direction. In the latter case, the normal loading is applied along the exterior elliptic contour. For two cases, several numerical results are provided.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 2010

Introduction. In this study, we applied the immediate loading to implant using temporary prosthesis, and compared the treatment results by each placement site, amongst pre-loading period. The study was intended to search for occurrence of complications and the amount of marginal bone resorption. Materials and Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 99 cases of implants from 29 patients who were treated at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from September 2003 to September 2008. We grouped all the cases by placement arches and pre-loading periods, and subdivided each group by placement site(anterior/posterior), type of prosthesis(full-mouth cross splinting/Partial multiple splinting, Single). Results. In the cases of anterior maxilla, the average amounts of marginal bone resorption showed $1.71{\pm}0.71mm$ in group 1, and $1.44{\pm}0.69mm$ in group 2, which means they revealed no statistically significant difference between group 1 and group 2(p=0.646). In the cases of posterior maxilla, the average amounts of marginal bone resorption showed $1.25{\pm}0.72mm$ in group 1, and $1.14{\pm}1.15mm$ in group 2, which means they were not statistically significant. In the cases of anterior mandible, there was no cases classified as group 4, but the average amounts of marginal bone resorption in group 3 showed $1.38{\pm}0.79mm$. In the cases of posterior mandible, Group 3 showed $1.39{\pm}0.64mm$, and group 4 showed $1.84{\pm}1.19mm$ as amounts of marginal bone resorption, which means they revealed no statistically significant difference between group 3 and group 4(P=0.210). The survival rate of group1 was 97.14%, 92.1% of group3, and 100% of group 2 and group4. According to each type of prosthesis, each average amount of marginal bone resorption revealed no statistically significant difference in maxi11a(p=0.575) in mandible(p=0.206). Conclusion. It is concluded that the marginal bone resorption and the rate of complications might not be affected by placement sites and pre-loading periods. The marginal bone resorption and the rate of complications might vary as different bone quality of placement site and implant system, diameter, length, etc. It is suggested that the proper placement of immediate loading implants decreases the whole treatment period and any inconvenience occurred to patients.

• International journal of steel structures
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.1784-1800
• /
• 2018

Tension-shear loading is a common loading condition in steel structures during the earthquake shaking. To study ductile fracture in structural steel under multiple stress states, experimental investigations on the different fracture mechanisms in Chinese Q235 steel were conducted. Different tension-shear loading conditions achieved by using six groups of inclined notch butterfly configurations covering pure shear, tension-shear and pure tension cases. Numerical simulations were carried out for all the specimens to determine the stress and strain fields within the critical sections. Two tension-shear fracture models were calibrated based on the hybrid experimental-numerical procedure. The equivalent fracture strain obtained from the round bar under tensile loading was used for evaluating these two models. The results indicated that the tension-shear criterion as a function of the shear fracture parameter had better performance in predicting the fracture initiation of structural steel under different loading conditions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.481-500
• /
• 2007

The dynamic instability of doubly curved panels, subjected to non-uniform tensile in-plane harmonic edge loading $P(t)=P_s+P_d\;{\cos}{\Omega}t$ is investigated. The present work deals with the problem of the occurrence of combination resonances in contrast to simple resonances in parametrically excited doubly curved panels. Analytical expressions for the instability regions are obtained at ${\Omega}={\omega}_m+{\omega}_n$, (${\Omega}$ is the excitation frequency and ${\omega}_m$ and ${\omega}_n$ are the natural frequencies of the system) by using the method of multiple scales. It is shown that, besides the principal instability region at ${\Omega}=2{\omega}_1$, where ${\omega}_1$ is the fundamental frequency, other cases of ${\Omega}={\omega}_m+{\omega}_n$, related to other modes, can be of major importance and yield a significantly enlarged instability region. The effects of edge loading, curvature, damping and the static load factor on dynamic instability behavior of simply supported doubly curved panels are studied. The results show that under localized edge loading, combination resonance zones are as important as simple resonance zones. The effects of damping show that there is a finite critical value of the dynamic load factor for each instability region below which the curved panels cannot become dynamically unstable. This example of simultaneous excitation of two modes, each oscillating steadily at its own natural frequency, may be of considerable interest in vibration testing of actual structures.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.663-678
• /
• 2020

Robust semi-active vibration control of wind turbines using tuned mass dampers (TMDs) is a promising technique. This study investigates a 1.5 megawatt wind turbine controlled by eight different types of tuned mass damper systems of equal mass: a passive TMD, a semi-active varying-spring TMD, a semi-active varying-damper TMD, a semi-active varying-damper-and-spring TMD, as well as these four damper systems paired with an additional smaller passive TMD near the mid-point of the tower. The mechanism and controllers for each of these TMD systems are explained, such as employing magnetorheological dampers for the varying-damper TMD cases. The turbine is modelled as a lumped-mass 3D finite element model. The uncontrolled and controlled turbines are subjected to loading and operational cases including service wind loads on operational turbines, seismic loading with service wind on operational turbines, and high-intensity storm wind loads on parked turbines. The displacement and acceleration responses of the tower at the first and second mode shape maxima were used as the performance indicators. Ultimately, it was found that while all the semi-active TMD systems outperformed the passive systems, it was the semi-active varying-damper-and-spring system that was found to be the most effective overall - capable of controlling vibrations about as effectively with only half the mass as a passive TMD. It was also shown that by reducing the mass of the TMD and adding a second smaller TMD below, the vibrations near the mid-point could be greatly reduced at the cost of slightly increased vibrations at the tower top.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.399-407
• /
• 2024

This study nondestructively examined the evolution of crack density in ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) upon cyclic loading. Uniaxial compression was repeatedly applied to the cylindrical specimens at levels corresponding to 32% and 53% of the maximum load-bearing capacity, each at a steady strain rate. At each stage, both P-wave and S-wave velocities were measured in the absence of the applied load. In particular, the continuous monitoring of P-wave velocity from the first loading prior to the second loading allowed real-time observation of the strengthening effect during loading and the recovery effect afterwards. Increasing the number of cycles resulted in the reduction of both elastic wave velocities and Young's modulus, along with a slight rise in Poisson's ratio in both tested cases. The computed crack density showed a monotonically increasing trend with repeated loading, more significant at 53% than at 32% loading. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the crack density along the height was achieved, validating the directional dependency of microcracking development. This study demonstrated the capability of the crack density to capture the evolution of microcracks in UHPC under cyclic loading condition, as an early-stage damage indicator.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.64 no.1
• /
• pp.45-58
• /
• 2017

This paper presents the application of topology optimization as a design tool for a steel railway bridge. The choice of a steel railway bridge is dictated by the particular situation that it is suitable for topology optimization design. On the one hand, the current manufacturing techniques for steel structures (additive manufacturing techniques not included) are highly appropriate for material optimization and weight reduction to improve the overall structural efficiency, improve production efficiency, and reduce costs. On the other hand, the design of a railway bridge, especially at higher speeds, is dominated by minimizing the deformations, this being the basic principle of compliance optimization. However, a classical strategy of topology optimization considers typically only one or a very limited number of load cases, while the design of a steel railway bridge is characterized by relatively concentrated convoy loads, which may be present or absent at any location of the structure. The paper demonstrates the applicability of considering multiple load configurations during topology optimization and proves that a different and better optimal layout is obtained than the one from the classical strategy.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.21-35
• /
• 2014

The latest developments in topology optimization are integrated with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for the conceptual design of building structures. The wind load on a building is simulated using CFD, and the structural response of the building is obtained from finite element analysis under the wind load obtained. Multiple wind directions are simulated within a single fluid domain by simply expanding the simulation domain. The bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO) algorithm with a scheme of material interpolation is extended for an automatic building topology optimization considering multiple wind loading cases. The proposed approach is demonstrated by a series of examples of optimum topology design of perimeter bracing systems of high-rise building structures.