• Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.400-408
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• 2020

Hydrodynamic study of Activated Sludge Process (ASP) is important to optimize the reactor performance and detect anomalies in the system. Residence time distribution (RTD) study has been performed using LiCl as tracer on a pilot scale aeration tank (AT) and ASP, treating the pulp and paper mill effluent. The hydraulic performance and treatment efficiency of the AT and ASP at different operating parameters like residence time, recycle rate was investigated. Flow anomalies were identified and based on the experimental data empirical models was suggested to interpret the hydrodynamics of the reactors using compartment modelling technique. The analysis of the RTD curves and the compartment models indicated increase in back-mixing ratio as the mean hydraulic retention time (MHRT) of the tank was increased. Bypassing stream was observed at lower MHRT. The fraction of dead zone in the tank increased by approximate 20-25% with increase in recycle rate. The fraction of the stagnant zone was found well below 5% for all performed experiments, which was under experimental error. The substrate removal of 91% for Chemical oxygen demand and 96% for Biochemical oxygen demand were observed for the ASP working at a hydraulic mean residence time 39 h MRT with a 20% recycling of activated sludge.

• 산업기술연구
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• 제23권A호
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• pp.109-118
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• 2003

This paper is results of numerical works of investigating effects of horizontal drain arrangements on vacuum consolidation. Extensive numerical analyses were carried out to find the appropriate arrangements of horizontal drain of vacuum consolidation. Commercially available program of CRISP, well known to be good to modelling the behavior of clay material, was used Cam-clay model, based on the Critical State of Soil Mechanics(CSSM), was used to simulate the geotechnical engineering behavior of clay. Model test results carried out previously in the laboratory were compared with numerically estimated results and it was found that results about consolidational settlement with times were in good agreements. Based on this confirmation, parametric numerical study was performed to investigate effects of horizontal drain arrangements on vacuum consolidation with changing the vertical and horizontal spacings between drains for the given soil properties and vacuum. The effect of distance of drain located in top layer from the surface of the ground on the settlement due to vacuum was also investigated. As a results of numerical analyses, appropriate arrangements of horizontal drain to maximize the consolidation settlement due to vacuum were found. The mechanism of vacuum consolidation about the vacuum pressures being transferred to the effective stresses around drains was also evaluated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.677-698
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• 2005

In engineering practice, tubular connections are usually assumed pinned or rigid. Recent research showed that tubular joints may exhibit non-rigid behavior under axial or bending loads. This paper is concerned with establishing a new classification for tubular joints and investigating the effect of joint rigidity on the global behavior of CHS (Circular Hollow Section) lattice girders. Parametric formulae for predicting tubular joint rigidities are proposed, which are based on the finite element analyses through systematic variation of the main geometric parameters. Comparison with test results proves the reliability of these formulae. By considering the deformation patterns of respective parts of Vierendeel lattice girders, the boundary between rigid and semirigid tubular connections is built in terms of joint bending rigidity. In order to include characteristics of joint rigidity in the global structural analysis, a type of semirigid element which can effectively reflect the interaction of two braces in K joints is introduced and validated. The numerical example of a Warren lattice girder with different joint models shows the great effect of tubular joint rigidities on the internal forces, deformation and secondary stresses.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.1369-1389
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• 2016

This paper investigates the flexural stiffness of simply supported steel-concrete composite I-beams under positive bending moment through combined experimental, numerical, and different standard methods. 14 composite beams are tested for experimental study and parameters including shear connection degree, transverse and longitudinal reinforcement ratios, loading way are also investigated. ABAQUS is employed to establish finite element (FE) models to simulate the flexural behavior of composite beams. The influences of a few key parameters, such as the shear connection degree, stud arrangement, stud diameter, beam length, loading way, on the flexural stiffness is also studied by parametric study. In addition, three widely used standard methods including GB, AISC, and British standards are used to estimate the flexural stiffness of the composite beams. The results are compared with the experimental and numerical results. The findings have provided comprehensive understanding of the flexural stiffness and the modelling of the composite beams. The results also indicate that GB 50017-2003 could provide better results in comparison to the other standards.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.73-92
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• 2012

The effect of element interaction and material nonlinearity on the ultimate capacity of stainless steel plated cross-sections is investigated in this paper. The focus of the research lies in cross-sections failing by local buckling; member instabilities, distortional buckling and interactions thereof with local buckling are not considered. The cross-sections investigated include rectangular hollow sections (RHS), I sections and parallel flange channels (PFC). Based on previous finite element investigations of structural stainless steel stub columns, parametric studies were conducted and the ultimate capacity of the aforementioned cross-sections with a range of element slendernesses and aspect ratios has been obtained. Various design methods, including the effective width approach, the direct strength method (DSM), the continuous strength method (CSM) and a design method based on regression analysis, which accounts for element interaction, were assessed on the basis of the numerical results, and the relative merits and weaknesses of each design approach have been highlighted. Element interaction has been shown to be significant for slender cross-sections, whilst the behaviour of stocky cross-sections is more strongly influenced by the material strain-hardening characteristics. A modification to the continuous strength method has been proposed to allow for the effect of element interaction, which leads to more reliable ultimate capacity predictions. Comparisons with available test data have also been made to demonstrate the enhanced accuracy of the proposed method and its suitability for the treatment of local buckling in stainless steel cross-sections.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.607-622
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• 2018

A non-linear finite element model (FEM) was constructed using a three-dimensional software (ATENA-3D) to investigate the effect of strengthening on the behavior of prestressed hollow-core (PHC) slabs with or without openings. The slabs were strengthened using near surface mounted (NSM)-carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. The constructed model was validated against experimental results that were previously reported by the authors. The validated FEM was then used to conduct an extensive parametric study to examine the influence of prestressing reinforcement ratio, compressive strength of concrete and strengthening reinforcement ratio on the behavior of such slabs. The FEM results showed good agreement with the experimental results where it captured the cracking, yielding, and ultimate loads as well as the mid-span deflection with a reasonable accuracy. Also, an overall enhancement in the structural performance of these slabs was achieved with an increase in prestressing reinforcement ratio, compressive strength of concrete, external reinforcement ratio. The presence of openings with different dimensions along the flexural or shear spans reduced significantly the capacity of the PHC slabs. However, strengthening these slabs with 2 and 4 (64 and $128mm^2$ that represent reinforcement ratios of 0.046 and 0.092%) CFRP strips was successful in restoring the original strength of the slab and enhancing post-cracking stiffness and load carrying capacity.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.637-647
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• 2018

Numerical approach using finite element method has been used to evaluate the behaviour of reinforced concrete frame structure subjected to fire. The structure is previously designed in accordance with Eurocode standards for the design of structures for earthquake resistance, for the ductility class M. Thermal and structural response are obtained using a commercially available software ANSYS. Temperature-dependent nonlinear thermal and mechanical properties are adopted according to Eurocode standards, with the application of constitutive model for the triaxial behaviour of concrete with a smeared crack approach. Discrete modelling of concrete and reinforcement has enabled monitoring of the behaviour at a global, as well as at a local level, providing information on the level of damage occurring during fire. Critical regions in frame structures are identified and assessed, based on temperatures, displacements, variations of internal forces magnitudes and achieved plastic deformations of main reinforcement bars. Parametric analyses are conducted for different fire scenarios and different types of concrete aggregate to determine their effect on global deformations of frame structures. According to analyses results, the three-dimensional finite element model can be used to evaluate the insulation and mechanical resistance criteria of reinforced concrete frame structures subjected to nominal fire curves.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제71권3호
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• pp.233-244
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• 2019

Steel jacketing technique is a retrofitting method often employed for static and seismic strengthening of existing reinforced concrete columns. When no continuity is given to angle chords as they cross the floor, the jacket is considered "indirectly loaded", which means that the load acting on the column is transferred partially to the external jacket through interface shear stresses. The evaluation of load transfer mechanism between core and jacket is not straightforward to be modeled, due to the absence of knowledge of a proper constitutive law of the concrete-to-steel interface and to the difficulties in taking into account the mechanical nonlinearities of materials. This paper presents an incremental analytical/numerical approach for evaluating the compressive response of RC columns strengthened with indirectly loaded jackets. The approach allows calculating shear stresses at the interface between core and jacket and predicting the axial capacity of retrofitted columns. A proper constitutive law is proposed for modelling the interaction between the steel and the concrete. Based on plasticity rules and the non-linear behaviour of materials, the column is divided into portions. After a detailed parametric analysis, comparisons are finally made by theoretical predictions and experimental results available in the literature, showing a good agreement.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.735-748
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• 2018

In this paper, the cyclic behavior of steel beam-concrete encased steel (CES) column joints was investigated experimentally and numerically. Three frame middle joint samples with varying concrete slab widths were constructed. Anti-symmetrical low-frequency cyclic load was applied at two beam ends to simulate the earthquake action. The failure modes, hysteretic behavior, ultimate load, stiffness degradation, load carrying capacity degradation, displacement ductility and strain response were investigated in details. The three composite joints exhibited excellent seismic performance in experimental tests, showing high load-carrying capacity, good ductility and superior energy dissipation ability. All three joint samples reached their ultimate loads due to shear failure. Numerical results from ABAQUS modelling agreed well with the test results. Finally, the effect of the concrete slab on ultimate load was analyzed through a parametric study on concrete strength, slab thickness, as well as slab width. Numerical simulation showed that slab width and thickness played an important role in the load-carrying capacity of such joints. As a comparison, the influence of concrete grade was not significant.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제70권4호
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• pp.431-443
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• 2019

The present paper illustrates a numerical investigation on the failure behaviour of ring-stiffened cylinder subjected to external hydrostatic pressure. The published test data of steel welded ring-stiffened cylinder are surveyed and collected. Eight test models are chosen for the verification of the modelling and FE analyses procedures. The imperfection as the consequences of the fabrication processes, such as initial geometric deformation and residual stresses due to welding and cold forming, which reduced the ultimate strength, are simulated. The results show that the collapse pressure and failure mode predicted by the nonlinear FE analyses agree acceptably with the experimental results. In addition, the failure mode parameter obtained from the characteristic pressure such as interframe buckling pressure known as local buckling pressure, overall buckling pressure, and yield pressure are also examined through the collected data and shows a good correlation. A parametric study is then conducted to confirm the failure progression as the basic parameters such as the shell radius, thickness, overall length of the compartment, and stiffener spacing are varied.