• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2023

Soil erosion can cause scouring and failures of underwater structures, therefore, various soil improvement techniques are used to increase the soil erosion resistance. The microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) method is proposed to increase the erosion resistance, however, there are only limited experimental and numerical studies on the use of MICP treatment for improvement of surface erosion resistance. Therefore, this study investigates the improvement in surface erosion resistance of sands by MICP through laboratory experiments and numerical modeling. The surface erosion behaviors of coarse sands with various calcium carbonate contents were first investigated via the erosion function apparatus (EFA). The test results showed that MICP treatment increased the overall erosion resistance, and the contribution of the precipitated calcium carbonate to the erosion resistance and critical shear stress was quantified in relation to the calcium carbonate contents. Further, these surface erosion processes occurring in the EFA test were simulated through the coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) with the cohesion bonding model to reflect the mineral precipitation effect. The simulation results were compared with the experimental results, and the developed CFD-DEM model with the cohesion bonding model well predicted the critical shear stress of MICP-treated sand. This work demonstrates that the MICP treatment is effective in improving soil erosion resistance, and the coupled CFD-DEM with a bonding model is a useful and promising tool to analyze the soil erosion behavior for MICP-treated sand at a particle scale.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 2023

High-temperature oxidation of a Ni-based superalloy was analyzed with samples taken from gas turbine blades, where the samples were heat-treated and thermally exposed. The effect of Cr/Ti/Al elements in the alloy on high temperature oxidation was investigated using an optical microscope, SEM/EDS, and TEM. A high-Cr/high-Ti oxide layer was formed on the blade surface under the heat-treated state considered to be the initial stage of high-temperature oxidation. In addition, a PFZ (γ' precipitate free zone) accompanied by Cr carbide of Cr₂₃C₆ and high Cr-Co phase as a kind of TCP precipitation was formed under the surface layer. Pits of several ㎛ depth containing high-Al content oxide was observed at the boundary between the oxide layer and PFZ. However, high temperature oxidation formed on the thermally exposed blade surface consisted of the following steps: ① Ti-oxide formation in the center of the oxide layer, ② Cr-oxide formation surrounding the inner oxide layer, and ③ Al-oxide formation in the pits directly under the Cr oxide layer. It is estimated that the Cr content of Ni-based superalloys improves the oxidation resistance of the alloy by forming dense oxide layer, but produced the σ or µ phase of TCP precipitation with the high-Cr component resulting in material brittleness.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.402-411
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• 2023

In order to examine the effect of cementite precipitated on the steel surface on the carburizing rate, the carburizing process was carried out at various boost times to measure the mass gain and carbon flux, phase analysis and carbon concentration analysis were performed on the surface of the carburized specimen. In the case of the only boost type, the longer the boost time, the more the mass gain by the diffused carbon follows the parabolic law and tends to increase. In particular, as the boost time increased, the depth of cementite precipitation and the average size of cementite on the steel surface increased. At a boost time of 7 min, the fraction of cementite precipitated on the surface is 7.32 vol.%, and the carburizing rate of carbon into the surface (surface-carbon flux) is about 17.4% compared to the calculated value because the area of the chemical (catalyst) where the carburization reaction takes place is reduced. The measured carbon concentration profile of the carburized specimen tended to be generally lower than the carbon concentration calculated by the model without considering precipitated cementite. On the other hand, in the pulse type, the mass gain by the diffused carbon increased according to the boost time following a linear law. At a boost time of 7 min, the fraction of cementite precipitated on the surface was 3.62 vol.%, and the surface-carbon flux decreased by about 4.1% compared to the calculated value. As a result, a model for predicting the actual carbon flux was presented by applying the carburization resistace coefficient derived from the surface cementite fraction as a variable.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.435-446
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• 2023

Corrosion behaviors of laser-welded super duplex stainless steel (SDSS) tubes after exposure to an actual power plant environment for one year and those of fin-tube welded SDSS were evaluated. Results showed that corrosion damage on the back side of the SDSS tube in the direction of hot air was higher than that on the front side regardless of weldment location. However, corrosion damage showed no difference between weldment and base metal due to recovery of phase fraction in the weldment through post weld heat treatment (PWHT). Nevertheless, the SDSS tube showed severe corrosion damage along grain boundary due to surface phase transformation (δ → γ) and Cr₂N precipitation caused by PWHT with a high N₂ atmosphere. Corrosion resistance of the SDSS tube was recovered when degraded surface was removed. Corrosion sensitivity of a fin-tube increased significantly due to pre-existing crevice, unbalanced phase fraction, and σ phase precipitation adjacent to the fusion line. Although corrosion resistance was improved by recovered phase fraction and sufficient dissolution of σ phase during PWHT, corrosion reaction was concentrated at the pre-existing crevice. These results suggest that welding conditions for fin-tube steel should be optimized to improve corrosion resistance by removing pre-existing crevice in the weldment.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.560-568
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• 1997

The dissolution behavior of secondary solidification phases in squeeze cast Al-3.9wt%Cu-1.5wt%Si-1.0wt%Mg has been studied using a combination of optical microscope, image analyzer, scanning electron microscope(SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS), X-ray diffractometer(XRD) and differential thermal analyzer (DTA). Special emphasis was placed on the investigation of the effects of the nonequilibrium heat treatment on the dissolution of the second solidification phases. Ascast microstructure consisted of primary solidification product of ${\alpha}-Al$ and secondary solidification products of $Al_2Cu$, $Mg_2Si$ and $Al_2CuMg$. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium solution treatments were carried out at the temperatures of $495^{\circ}C$, $502^{\circ}C$ and $515^{\circ}C$ for 3 to 5 hours. The amount of the dissolved secondary phases increased with increasing solution treatment temperature, for example, area fractions of $Al_2Cu$, $Mg_2Si$ and $Al_2CuMg$ were approximately 0%, 1.6% and 4.2% after solution treatment at $495^{\circ}C$ for 5hours, and were approximately 0%, 0.36% and 2% after solution treatment at $515^{\circ}C$ for 5hours. The best combination of tensile properties was obtained when the as-cast alloy was solution treated at $515^{\circ}C$ for 3hours followed by aging at $180^{\circ}C$ for 10 hours. Detailed DTA and TEM study showed that the strengthening behavior during aging was due to enhanced precipitation of the platelet type fine ${\theta}'$ phase.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.61-68
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• 2017

PURPOSES : A complete signal system is not always the best solution for improving traffic operation efficiency at intersections. An alternative solution is to use a Protected Permitted Left Turn (PPLT) operation method. However, the PPLT method needs to be developed after a detailed study of driving tendencies, most notably the gap acceptance behavior, for successful implementation. In this study, the gap acceptance behavior was investigated under various variables and weather conditions, especially under rain, and the results were compared to the case of normal weather. The results of this study will be helpful in introducing the PPLT method, and are important considering the tendency of attempting unprotected left turns that is extremely common in Korean drivers. METHODS : Data was obtained by analyzing traffic footage at four intersections on a day when the precipitation was greater than 5 mm/h. The collected data was classified into seven variables for statistical analysis. Finally, we used logistic regression analysis to develop a probability distribution model. RESULTS : Gap, traffic volume, and the number of conflicting lanes were factors affecting the gap acceptance behavior of unprotected left turns under rainy conditions. CONCLUSIONS : The probability of attempting unprotected left turns is higher for larger gaps. On the other hand, the probability of attempting unprotected left turns decreases with an increase in the traffic volume. Finally, an increase in the number of conflict lanes leads to a decrease in the probability of attempting unprotected left turns.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.173-179
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• 2023

In this study, the age-hardening behavior and tensile properties of a cast AZ91-0.3Ca-0.2Y (SEN9) alloy are investigated and compared with those of a commercial AZ91 alloy. Even after homogenization heat treatment, the SEN9 alloy contains numerous undissolved secondary phases, Al₈Mn₄Y, Al₂Y, and Al₂Ca, which results in a higher hardness value than the homogenized AZ91 alloy. Under aging condition at 200 ℃, both the AZ91 and SEN9 alloys exhibit the same peak-aging time of 8 h, but the peak hardness of the latter (86.8 Hv) is higher than that of the former (83.9 Hv). The precipitation behavior of Mg₁₇Al₁₂ phase during aging significantly differs in the two alloys. In the AZ91 alloy, the area fraction of Mg₁₇Al₁₂ discontinuous precipitates (DPs) increases up to ~50% as the aging time increases. In contrast, in the SEN9 alloy, the formation and growth of DPs during aging are substantially suppressed by the Ca- or Y-containing particles, which leads to the formation of only a small amount of DPs with an area fraction of ~4% after peak aging. Moreover, the size and interparticle spacing of Mg₁₇Al₁₂ precipitates of the peak-aged SEN9 alloy are smaller than those of the peak-aged AZ91 alloy. The homogenized AZ91 alloy exhibits a higher tensile strength than the homogenized SEN9 alloy due to the finer grains of the former. However, the peak-aged SEN9 alloy has a higher tensile elongation than the peak-aged AZ91 alloy due to the smaller amount of brittle DPs in the former.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.68-76
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• 2002

In this study, we have investigated the geochemical behavior and fate of heavy metals in acid rock drainage (ARD). The ARD was collected from the area of the former Dongrae pyrophyllite mine. The Dongrae Creek waters were strongly acidic (pH : 2.3~4.2) and contained high concentrations of $SO_4$, Al, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd, due to the influence of ARD generated from weathering of pyrite-rich pyrophyllite ores. However, the water quality gradually improved as the water flows downstream. In view of the change of mole fractions of dissolved Fe, Al and Mn, the generated ARD was initially both Fe- and AA-ich but progressively evolved to more Al-rich toward the confluence with the uncontaminated Suyoung River. As the AR3 (pH 2.3) mixed with the uncontaminated waters (pH 6.5), the pH increased up to 4.2, which caused precipitation of $SO_4$-rich Fe hydroxysulfate as a red-colored, massive ferricrete precipitate throughout the Dongrae Creek. Accompanying the precipitation of ferricrete, the Dongrae Creek water progressively changed to more Al-rich toward downstream sites. At the mouth of the Dongrae Creek, it (pH 3.4) mixed with the Suyoung River (pH 6.9), where pH increased to 5.7, causing precipitation of Al hydroxysulfate (white precipitates). Neutralization of the ARD-contaminated waters in the laboratory caused the successive formation of Fe precipitates at pH<3.5 and Al precipitates at higher pH (4~6). Manganese compounds were precipitated at pH>6. The removal of trace metals was dependent on the precipitation of these compounds, which acted as sorbents. The pHs for 50% sorption ($pH_{50}$) in Fe-rich and Al-rich waters were respectively 3.2 and 4.5 for Pb, 4.5 and 5.8 for Cu, 5.2 and 7.4 for Cd, and 5.8 and 7.0 for Zn. This indicates that the trace metals were sorbed preferentially with increasing pH in the general order of Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn and that the sorption of trace metals in Al-rich water occurred at higher pH than those in Fe-rich water. The results of this study demonstrated that the partitioning of trace metals in ARD is not only a function of pH, but also depends on the chemical composition of the water.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.297-307
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• 2011

This study investigates relation of food safety incidents with climate. Therefore food safety incidents and climate data during 1999 to 2009 have been analyzed. In situ observations of monthly mean temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity in 60 observation stations of Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) have been used in this study. Food safety incidents data have been constructed by searching media reports following Park's method (2009) during the same period. According to the Park's method, 729 events were collected. To analyze its relations, food safety incidents data have been classified into chemical, biological, and physical hazards. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients have been applied to analyze the relations. The correlation of food safety incidents has negative one with precipitation (-0.48), and positive one with minimum temperature(0.45). Precipitation has been correlated with biological and physical hazards more than chemical hazard. Temperatures (mean temperature, maximum temperature, and minimum temperature) have been correlated closely with chemical hazard than others. Food safety incidents data has been interblended with human behavior factor through decision-making processes in food manufacturing, processing, and consumption phases of "farm-totable" food processing. Act in the preventing damage will be obvious if the hazard were apparent. Therefore abnormal condition could be more dangerous than that of apparent extreme events because apparent events or extreme events become one of alarm over hazards. Therefore, human behavior should be considered as one of the important factors for analysis of food safety incidents. The result of this study can be used as a better case study for food safety researches related to climate change.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.271-280
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to analyze spatial and temporal patterns of bacterial pollution levels and the relationship between bacterial pollutants and environmental parameters at the main stream and tributaries of Nakdong River. Water quality data including total coliform and fecal coliform were compiled from a total of 50 monitoring sites (30 at the main stream and 20 at the tributaries) along with rainfall and discharge data for three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014. During the study periods, the geometric mean values of total coliforms and fecal coliforms in the main stream were 74 (22~465) CFU/100 mL and 8 (3~42) CFU/100 mL, respectively. The geometric mean values of total coliforms and fecal coliforms in the tributaries were 275 (36~5,145) CFU/100 mL and 6 (1~1,352) CFU/100 mL, respectively. High concentrations of fecal coliforms were observed at Gumi (M 10), Hyeonpung (M 19), Hapcheon (M 23), and Namji (M 25) in the main stream, whereas Gamcheon (T 6), Bakcheon (T 7), Geumho-gang (T 8), and Gyeseongcheon (T 16) were identified as pollution hot spots in the tributaries. Although bacterial pollution levels showed complex behavior across monitoring sites and time, the highest coliform concentrations were routinely observed in the monsoon season between July and September of each year, indicating that the pollution levels were strongly dependent on precipitation in addition to other physiochemical parameters. Statistically significant correlations were found between fecal coliform concentrations and precipitation (r=0.403, p<0.01), followed by SS (r=0.425, p<0.01), nutrient TP (r=0.388, p<0.01), organic matter COD (r=0.322, p<0.01), and PO₄-P (r=0.317, p<0.01) in the main stream in the order of correlation coefficient from high to low.