• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.25 no.2_spc
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• pp.55-69
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• 2020

Permeability-analyzing methods commonly involve small-scale drilling, such as pumping or slug test, but it is difficult to identify overall distribution of permeability of the entire target sites due to high cost and time requirement. Spectral induced polarization (SIP) method is known to be capable of providing distributions of both the porosity and the pore size, the two major parameters determining permeability of the porous medium. The relationship between SIP variables and permeability has been studied to identify the hydrological characteristics of target sites. Kozeny-Carman formula has been improved through many experiments to better predict fluid permeability with electrical properties. In this work, the permeability prediction techniques based on SIP data were presented in accordance with the hydrogeological and electrical characteristics of a porous medium. Following the summary of the techniques, various models and related laboratory experiments were analyzed and examined. In addition, the field applicability of the prediction model was evaluated by field case analysis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.1029-1040
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• 2021

For the structural integrity evaluation of pressurized water reactor (PWR) steam generator (SG) tubes subjected to transient hydraulic loading, determination of the tube-to-tube gap velocity and static pressure distributions along the tubes is prerequisite. This paper addresses both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and analytical approaches for predicting the tube-to-tube gap velocity and static pressure distributions during blowdown following a feedwater line break (FWLB) accident at a PWR SG. First of all, a comparative study on CFD calculations of the transient velocity and pressure distributions in the SG secondary sides for two different models having 30 or no tubes is performed. The result shows that the velocities of sub-cooled water flowing between any adjacent two tubes of a tubed SG model during blowdown can be roughly estimated by applying the specified SG secondary side porosity to those of the no-tubed SG model. Secondly, simplified analytical approximate solutions for the steady two-dimensional SG secondary flow velocity and pressure distributions under a given discharge flowrate are derived using a line sink model. The simplified analytical solutions are validated by comparing them to the CFD calculations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.305-330
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• 2022

This article aims to investigate the static deflection and stress analysis of bi-directional functionally graded porous plate (BDFGPP) modeled by unified higher order kinematic theories to include the shear stress effects, which not be considered before. Different shear functions are described according to higher order models that satisfy the zero-shear influence at the top and bottom surfaces, and hence refrain from the need of shear correction factor. The material properties are graded through two spatial directions (i.e., thickness and length directions) according to the power law distribution. The porosities and voids inside the material constituent are described by different cosine functions. Hamilton's principle is implemented to derive the governing equilibrium equation of bi-directional FG porous plate structures. An efficient numerical differential integral quadrature method (DIQM) is exploited to solve the coupled variable coefficients partial differential equations of equilibrium. Problem validation and verification have been proven with previous prestigious work. Numerical results are illustrated to present the significant impacts of kinematic shear relations, gradation indices through thickness and length, porosity type, and boundary conditions on the static deflection and stress distribution of BDFGP plate. The proposed model is efficient in design and analysis of many applications used in nuclear, mechanical, aerospace, naval, dental, and medical fields.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.363-375
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• 2024

Within the optimization field, addressing the intricate posed by fluidic pressure loads on functionally graded structures with frequency-related designs is a kind of complex design challenges. This paper thus introduces an innovative density-based topology optimization strategy for frequency-constraint functionally graded structures incorporating Darcy's law and a drainage term. It ensures consistent treatment of design-dependent fluidic pressure loads to frequency-related structures that dynamically adjust their direction and location throughout the design evolution. The porosity of each finite element, coupled with its drainage term, is intricately linked to its density variable through a Heaviside function, ensuring a seamless transition between solid and void phases. A design-specific pressure field is established by employing Darcy's law, and the associated partial differential equation is solved using finite element analysis. Subsequently, this pressure field is utilized to ascertain consistent nodal loads, enabling an efficient evaluation of load sensitivities through the adjoint-variable method. Moreover, this novel approach incorporates load-dependent structures, frequency constraints, functionally graded material models, and polygonal meshes, expanding its applicability and flexibility to a broader range of engineering scenarios. The proposed methodology's effectiveness and robustness are demonstrated through numerical examples, including fluidic pressure-loaded frequency-constraint structures undergoing small deformations, where compliance is minimized for structures optimized within specified resource constraints.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2010

This study was conducted to develop a reservoir modelling workflow to reproduce the heterogeneous distribution of effective permeability that impacts on the performance of SAGD (Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage), the in-situ bitumen recovery technique in the Athabasca Oil Sands. Lithologic facies distribution is the main cause of the heterogeneity in bitumen reservoirs in the study area. The target formation consists of sand with mudstone facies in a fluvial-to-estuary channel system, where the mudstone interrupts fluid flow and reduces effective permeability. In this study, the lithologic facies is classified into three classes having different characteristics of effective permeability, depending on the shapes of mudstones. The reservoir modelling workflow of this study consists of two main modules; facies modelling and permeability modelling. The facies modelling provides an identification of the three lithologic facies, using a stochastic approach, which mainly control the effective permeability. The permeability modelling populates mudstone volume fraction first, then transforms it into effective permeability. A series of flow simulations applied to mini-models of the lithologic facies obtains the transformation functions of the mudstone volume fraction into the effective permeability. Seismic data contribute to the facies modelling via providing prior probability of facies, which is incorporated in the facies models by geostatistical techniques. In particular, this study employs a probabilistic neural network utilising multiple seismic attributes in facies prediction that improves the prior probability of facies. The result of using the improved prior probability in facies modelling is compared to the conventional method using a single seismic attribute to demonstrate the improvement in the facies discrimination. Using P-wave velocity in combination with density in the multiple seismic attributes is the essence of the improved facies discrimination. This paper also discusses sand matrix porosity that makes P-wave velocity differ between the different facies in the study area, where the sand matrix porosity is uniquely evaluated using log-derived porosity, P-wave velocity and photographically-predicted mudstone volume.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 1990

In this study the migration experiment using packed column with crushed tuff was conducted as a basic research to develop migration model of radionuclides through geologic media. The main emphasis was put on evaluating the validity of migration models. For this, two models were introduced: one is the model which is based on the assumption of instantaneous equilibrium reaction and the other the model based on kinetic process such as intraparticle diffusion. The coefficient of hydrodynamic dispersion in packed column was determined using iodine as nonsorbing tracer. The hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient, D$_{L}$ was shown to be 0.11$\times$10$^{-2}$ $\textrm{cm}^2$/min under the condition of the column porosity of 0.483 and the average water velocity of 0.915$\times$10$^{-2}$ cm/min. The distribution coefficient, Kd of Cs-137 on crushed tuff was 11.3 cc/g at the concentration of 2$\times$10$^{-6}$ M and the temperature of 2$0^{\circ}C$. The breakthrough curve of Cs-137 through packed column was shown to have an asymmetric curve in which long trailing tail appears at the end part of the curve. The results obtained from the comparison of introduced models with experimental data indicated that the mass transfer model with intraparticle diffusion as rate-controlling step simulated the behaviors of Cs-137 migration more adequately, when compared with the bulk reaction model in which the assumption of instantaneous equilibrium reaction was maded. Consequently, the intraparticle diffusion was found to be an important factor in the migration of Cs-137 through packed column.n.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.115-120
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• 2018

This study examined the cast quality of small-sized induction motor rotors during the die casting process. Numerical analyses with 3-dimensional half models were performed to investigate the filling patterns of aluminum molten metals into a mold after high-speed injections. The following were obtained from numerical analyses and experimental results. First, molten metals started to fill the lower end ring, then moved horizontally to fill the core slot and upper end ring, and finally stopped to fill the rotor core slot. Second, circulation of molten metals occurred at the lower end ring, resulting considerable porosity at the section of lower end ring from the experimental results. Third, further work for obtaining sound quality of rotor core cast is required to develop a new shape of the rotor core cast or improve the die casting conditions.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.2C
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• pp.69-77
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• 2012

In general, geothermal energy pile and horizontal ground heat exchangers are installed in shallower depths than conventional vertical ground coupled heat pumps. Consequently their heat exchange performance is strongly governed by thermal conductivity of soil layer. Previous studies have shown that the thermal conductivity of soil above ground water table significantly affects the heat exchange rate because of partially saturated condition in soil and consequent variation of soil thermal conductivity. This paper presents a study result on the prediction of thermal conductivity of weathered granite soils. For weathered granite soils sampled from 5 locations, thermal conductivity tests were conducted with varying porosity and degree of saturation. The existing thermal conductivity models in literatures appeared inappropriate to the weathered granite soils. Hence, an empirical equation was proposed in this paper and its validity was examined by applying it to thermal conductivity test results obtained for weathered granite soils in this study and from literatures.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.289-299
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• 2014

Alkali-activated slag concretes are being extensively researched because of its potential sustainability-related benefits. For such concretes to be implemented in large scale concrete applications such as infrastructural and building elements, it is essential to understand its early and long-term performance characteristics vis-a'-vis conventional ordinary portland cement (OPC) based concretes. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the property and performance features including early-age isothermal calorimetric response, compressive strength development with time, microstructural features such as the pore volume and representative pore size, and accelerated chloride transport resistance of OPC and alkali-activated binder systems. Slag mixtures activated using sodium silicate solution ($SiO_2$-to-$Na_2O$ ratio or $M_s$ of 1-2) to provide a total alkalinity of 0.05 ($Na_2O$-to-binder ratio) are compared with OPC mixtures with and without partial cement replacement with Class F fly ash (20 % by mass) or silica fume (6 % by mass). Major similarities are noted between these binder systems for: (1) calorimetric response with respect to the presence of features even though the locations and peaks vary based on $M_s$, (2) compressive strength and its development, (3) total porosity and pore size, and (4) rapid chloride permeability and non-steady state migration coefficients. Moreover, electrical impedance based circuit models are used to bring out the microstructural features (resistance of the connected pores, and capacitances of the solid phase and pore-solid interface) that are similar in conventional OPC and alkali-activated slag concretes. This study thus demonstrates that performance-equivalent alkali-activated slag systems that are more sustainable from energy and environmental standpoints can be proportioned.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.615-636
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• 2014

Aluminium Foam Sandwich (AFS) panels are becoming always more attractive in transportation applications thanks to the excellent combination of mechanical properties, high strength and stiffness, with functional ones, thermo-acoustic isolation and vibration damping. These properties strongly depend on the density of the foam, the morphology of the pores, the type (open or closed cells) and the size of the gas bubbles enclosed in the solid material. In this paper, the vibrational performances of two classes of sandwich panels with an Alulight(R) foam core are studied. Experimental tests, in terms of frequency response function and modal analysis, are performed in order to investigate the effect of different percentage of porosity in the foam, as well as the effect of the random distribution of the gas bubbles. Experimental results are used as a reference for developing numerical models using finite element approach. Firstly, a sensitivity analysis is performed in order to obtain a limit-but-bounded dynamic response, modelling the foam core as a homogeneous one. The experimental-numerical correlation is evaluated in terms of natural frequencies and mode shapes. Afterwards, an update of the previous numerical model is presented, in which the core is not longer modelled as homogeneous. Mass and stiffness are randomly distributed in the core volume, exploring the space of the eigenvectors.