• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.689-699
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• 2017

An energy-based approach for determining earthquake safety of reinforced concrete frame structures is presented. The developed approach is based on comparison of plastic energy capacities of the structures with plastic energy demands obtained for selected earthquake records. Plastic energy capacities of the selected reinforced concrete frames are determined graphically by analyzing plastic hinge regions with the developed equations. Seven earthquake records are chosen to perform the nonlinear time history analyses. Earthquake plastic energy demands are determined from nonlinear time history analyses and hysteretic behavior of earthquakes is converted to monotonic behavior by using nonlinear moment-rotation relations of plastic hinges and plastic axial deformations in columns. Earthquake safety of selected reinforced concrete frames is assessed by using plastic energy capacity graphs and earthquake plastic energy demands. The plastic energy dissipation capacities of the frame structures are examined whether these capacities can withstand the plastic energy demands for selected earthquakes or not. The displacements correspond to the mean plastic energy demands are obtained quite close to the displacements determined by using the procedures given in different seismic design codes.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 1992

The plastic zone formed around a notch tip is important in analyzing the fracture toughness of structures and particularly weld cracks existed in the weld HAZ (heat affected zone) which produces local plastic deformation at the crack tip. Therefore, in order to analyze the fracture toughness in weld HAZ, it is necessary to investigate the new fracture toughness parameter $K_{c}$ $^{*}$ and critical plastic strain energy $W_{p}$ $^{c}$ according to the shape and size of the plastic zone. 1) If the temperature corresponding to $K_{c}$ $^{*}$=130kg-m $m^{-3}$ 2/ is determined, transition temperature $T_{tr}$ the magnitude of plastic zone size, and heat input change depending on the fracture toughness. The blunted amounts of the parent and weld HAZ show mild linear variation until .delta.=0.4mm and then increase very steeply there after. 2) The relation between the plastic strain energy( $W^{p}$ ) and transition temperature( $T_{*}$tr) in parent metal is more sensitive than that of weld HAZ. However, the plastic strain energy depends on the transition temperature, and thus the yield stress, .sigma.$_{ys}$ becomes an important parameter for plastic strain energy. 3) The critical plastic strain energy( $W_{p}$ $^{c}$ ) absorbed by the plastic zone at the notch tip indicated in case of parent metal: 60J/mm, in case of heat input(20KJ/cm): 75J/mm, in case of heat input(30KJ/cm); 50J/mmJ/mm.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3401-3408
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• 2023

In this study, we used the Monte Carlo N-Particle program to simulate the gamma-ray spectra obtained from plastic scintillators holes filled with bismuth nanoparticles. We confirmed that the incorporation of bismuth nanoparticles into a plastic scintillator enhances its performance for gamma-ray spectroscopy using the subtraction method. The subtracted energy spectra obtained from the bismuth-nanoparticle-incorporated and the original plastic scintillator exhibit a distinct energy peak that does not appear in the corresponding original spectra. We varied the diameter and depth of the bismuth-filled holes to determine the optimal hole design for gamma-ray spectroscopy using the subtraction method. We evaluated the energy resolutions of the energy peaks in the gamma-ray spectra to estimate the effects of the bismuth nanoparticles and determine their optimum volume in the plastic scintillator. In addition, we calculated the peak-to-total ratio of the energy spectrum to evaluate the energy measuring limit of the bismuth nanoparticle-containing plastic scintillator using the subtraction method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2017

A nonlinear static procedure considering work-energy principle and global failure mechanism to estimate base shears of reinforced concrete (RC) frame-type structures is presented. The relative energy equation comprising of elastic vibrational energy, plastic strain energy and seismic input energy is obtained. The input energy is modified with a factor depending on damping ratio and ductility, and the energy that contributes to damage is obtained. The plastic energy is decreased with a factor to consider the reduced hysteretic behavior of RC members. Given the pre-selected failure mechanism, the modified energy balance equality is written using various approximations for modification factors of input energy and plastic energy in scientific literature. External work done by the design lateral forces distributed to story levels in accordance with Turkish Seismic Design Code is calculated considering the target plastic drift. Equating the plastic energy obtained from energy balance to external work done by the equivalent inertia forces considering, a total of 16 energy-based base shears for each frame are derived considering different combinations of modification factors. Ductility related parameters of modification factors are determined from pushover analysis. Relative input energy of multi degree of freedom (MDOF) system is approximated by using the modal-energy-decomposition approach. Energy-based design base shears are compared with those obtained from nonlinear time history (NLTH) analysis using recorded accelerograms. It is found that some of the energy-based base shears are in reasonable agreement with the mean base shear obtained from NLTH analysis.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.195-204
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• 2018

Based on theories of rock mechanics, rock fragmentation, mechanics of elasto-plasticity, and energy dissipation etc., a method is presented for evaluating the rock fragmentation efficiency by using plastic energy dissipation ratio as an index. Using the presented method, the fragmentation efficiency of rocks with different strengths (corresponding to soft, intermediately hard and hard ones) under indentation is analyzed and compared. The theoretical and numerical simulation analyses are then combined with experimental results to systematically reveal the fragmentation mechanism of rocks under indentation of indenter. The results indicate that the fragmentation efficiency of rocks is higher when the plastic energy dissipation ratio is lower, and hence the drilling efficiency is higher. For the rocks with higher hardness and brittleness, the plastic energy dissipation ratio of the rocks at crush is lower. For rocks with lower hardness and brittleness (such as sandstone), most of the work done by the indenter to the rocks is transferred to the elastic and plastic energy of the rocks. However, most of such work is transferred to the elastic energy when the hardness and the brittleness of the rocks are higher. The plastic deformation is small and little energy is dissipated for brittle crush, and the elastic energy is mainly transferred to the kinetic energy of the rock fragment. The plastic energy ratio is proved to produce more accurate assessment on the fragmentation efficiency of rocks, and the presented method can provide a theoretical basis for the optimization of drill bit and selection of well drilling as well as for the selection of the rock fragmentation ways.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.611-624
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• 2002

In this paper, a complete solution is presented for dynamic plastic response of a rigid, perfectly plastic hinged-free beam, of which one end is simply supported or hinged and the other end free, subjected to a transverse strike by a travelling mass at an arbitrary location along its span. The governing differential equations are expressed in non-dimensional forms and solved numerically to obtain the instantaneous deflection of the beam and the plastic dissipated energy in the beam. The dynamic behavior for a hinged-free beam is more complicated than that of a free-free beam. It transpires that the mass ratio and impact position have significant influence on the final deformation. In the aspect of energy dissipation, unlike simply supported or clamped beams for which the plastic deformation consumes almost the total input energy, a considerable portion of the input energy would be transferred as rigid-body motion of hinged-free beam, and the energy dissipated in its plastic deformation is greatly reduced.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.450-454
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• 2021

Currently, gamma nuclide analysis is mainly used using inorganic scintillators or semiconductor detectors. These detectors have high resolution but there are less economical, limited in size, and low process ability than plastic scintillators. Therefore, quantum dot-based plastic scintillator was developed using the advantages of the quantum dot nanomaterial and the conventional plastic scintillator. In this study, efficient plastic scintillator was fabricated by adding CdS/ZnS based on the most widely used Cd-based nanomaterial in a polystyrene matrix. In addition, the performance of the commercial plastic scintillator was compared and it was analyzed through radiological measurement experiments. The detection efficiency of fabricated plastic scintillator was higher than commercial plastic scintillator, EJ-200. It is believed that this fabricated plastic scintillator can be used as a radioactivity analyzer in the medical and nuclear facility fields.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.521-536
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• 2017

Reinforced concrete core-wall structures with buckling-restrained brace outriggers are interesting systems which have the ability to absorb and dissipate energy during strong earthquakes. Outriggers can change the energy demand in a tall building. In this paper, the energy demand was studied by using the nonlinear time history analysis for the mentioned systems. First, the structures were designed according to the prescriptive codes. In the dynamic analysis, three approaches for the core-wall were investigated: single plastic hinge (SPH), three plastic hinge (TPH) and extended plastic hinge (EPH). For SPH approach, only one plastic hinge is allowed at the core-wall base. For TPH approach, three plastic hinges are allowed, one at the base and two others at the upper levels. For EPH approach, the plasticity can extend anywhere in the wall. The kinetic, elastic strain, inelastic and damping energy demand subjected to forward directivity near-fault and ordinary far-fault earthquakes were studied. In SPH approach for all near-fault and far-fault events, on average, more than 65 percent of inelastic energy is absorbed by buckling-restrained braces in outrigger. While in TPH and EPH approaches, outrigger contribution to inelastic energy demand is reduced. The contribution of outrigger to inelastic energy absorption for the TPH and EPH approaches does not differ significantly. The values are approximately 25 and 30 percent, respectively.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.331-348
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• 2010

Ample research effort has been oriented into developing damage indices with the aim of estimating in a reasonable manner the consequences, in terms of structural damage and deterioration, of severe plastic cycling. Although several studies have been devoted to calibrate damage indices for steel and reinforced concrete members; currently, there is a challenge to study and calibrate the use of such indices for the practical evaluation of complex structures. The aim of this paper is to introduce an energy-based damage index for multi-degree-of-freedom steel buildings that accounts explicitly for the effects of cumulative plastic deformation demands. The model has been developed by complementing the results obtained from experimental testing of steel members with those derived from analytical studies regarding the distribution of plastic demands on several steel frames designed according to the Mexico City Building Code. It is concluded that the approach discussed herein is a promising tool for practical structural evaluation of framed structures subjected to large energy demands.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2013

The changes of plastic plateau in the stress-strain curves of annealed polypropylene (PP) films during stretching under room temperature were followed and the corresponding melting properties and microstructure were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that during stretching the plastic plateau disappeared progressively with the increase of drawing ratio. At the same time, the endotherm plateau in DSC curves also disappeared progressively. The presence of the plastic plateau was attributed to the stretching of unstable crystalline part which was formed by tie chains around initial row-nucleated lamellae structure during annealing. During stretching, the unstable part was stretched and converted to bridges connecting separated lamellae. There was direct relationship between the disappearance of plastic plateau and pore formation.