• Computers and Concrete
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.203-223
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• 2009

Regression analysis (RA) can establish an explicit formula to predict the strength of High-Performance Concrete (HPC); however, the accuracy of the formula is poor. Back-Propagation Networks (BPNs) can establish a highly accurate model to predict the strength of HPC, but cannot generate an explicit formula. Genetic Operation Trees (GOTs) can establish an explicit formula to predict the strength of HPC that achieves a level of accuracy in between the two aforementioned approaches. Although GOT can produce an explicit formula but the formula is often too complicated so that unable to explain the substantial meaning of the formula. This study developed a Backward Pruning Technique (BPT) to simplify the complexity of GOT formula by replacing each variable of the tip node of operation tree with the median of the variable in the training dataset belonging to the node, and then pruning the node with the most accurate test dataset. Such pruning reduces formula complexity while maintaining the accuracy. 404 experimental datasets were used to compare accuracy and complexity of three model building techniques, RA, BPN and GOT. Results show that the pruned GOT can generate simple and accurate formula for predicting the strength of HPC.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.367-375
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• 2016

Although the bucky paper (BP) made from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possesses beneficial characteristics of hydrophobic nature and high porosity for membrane distillation (MD) application, weak mechanical strength of BP has often prevented the stable operation. This study aims to fabricate the BP with high mechanical strength to improve its MD performance. The strategy was to increase the purity level of CNTs with an assumption that purer CNTs would increase the Van der Waals attraction, leading to the improvement of mechanical strength of BP. According to this study results, the purification of CNT does not necessarily enhance the mechanical strength of BP. The BP made from purer CNTs demonstrated a high flux ($142kg/m^2{\cdot}h$) even at low ${\Delta}T$ ($50^{\circ}C$ and $20^{\circ}C$) during the experiments of direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). However, the operation was not stable because a crack quickly formed. Then, a support layer of AAO (anodic aluminum oxide) filter paper was introduced to reinforce the mechanical strength of BP. The support reinforcement was able to increase the mechanical strength, but wetting occurred. Therefore, the mixed matrix membrane (PSf-CNT) using CNTs as filler to polysulphone was fabricated. The DCMD operation with the PSf-CNT membrane was stable, although the flux was low ($6.1kg/m^2{\cdot}h$). This result suggests that the mixed matrix membrane could be more beneficial for the stable DCMD operation than the BP.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2017

A water treatment utility in South Korea operates a large system of pressurized hollow fiber membrane (PHFM) modules. The optimal selection of membrane module for the full scale plant was critical issue and carried out using Risk-based Life Cycle Cost (RbLCC) analysis based on the historical data of operation and maintenance. The RbLCC analysis was used in the process of decision-making for replacing aged modules. The initial purchasing cost and the value at risk during operation were considered together. The failure of modules occurs stochastically depending on the physical deterioration with usage over time. The life span of module was used as a factor for the failure of Poisson's probability model, which was used to obtain the probability of failure during the operation. The RbLCC was calculated by combining the initial cost and the value at risk without its warranty term. Additionally, the properties of membrane were considered to select the optimum product. Results showed that the module's life span in the system was ten years (120 month) with safety factor. The optimum product was selected from six candidates membrane for a full scale water treatment facility. This method could be used to make the optimum and rational decision for the operation of membrane water purification facility.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.303-316
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• 2023

With the development and utilization of urban underground space, the artificial ground freezing technology has been widely used in the construction of underground engineering in soft soil areas. The mechanical properties of soft clay changed greatly after freezing and thawing, which affected the seismic performance of underground structures. In this paper, a series of triaxial tests were carried out to study the dynamic response of the freezing-thawing clay under the seismic load considering different dynamic stress amplitudes and different confining pressures. The reduction factor of dynamic shear stress was determined to correct the amplitude of the seismic load. The deformation development mode, the stress-strain relationship and the energy dissipation behavior of the soft clay under the seismic load were analyzed. An empirical model for predicting accumulative plastic strain was proposed and validated considering the loading times, the confining pressures and the dynamic stress amplitudes. The relevant research results can provide a theoretical reference to the seismic design of underground structures in soft clay areas.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.215-226
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• 2000

Computational procedure within the framework of return mapping technique has been presented to integrate the constitutive behavior of a concrete model. Developed by Ohtani and Chen, this concrete model is based on multiple hardening concept, and is rate-independent and associative. Consistent tangent operator suitable for finite element analysis is derived to preserve the rate of convergence. Accuracy of the integration technique is verified and compared with available experimental data. Computational efficiency is demonstrated by comparing with results based on elasto-plastic tangent.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.259-276
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• 2016

Historically the UK has been a pioneer and early adopter of experimental investigation techniques on new and operation structures, a technology that would now be descried as 'structural health monitoring' (SHM), yet few of these investigations have been enduring or carried out on the long span or tall structures that feature in flagship SHM applications in the Far East.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2002

An Order Management System related to press die fabrication in automobile industry are developed in this research. This system is constructed by CORBA and XML to avoid disorder from data integration. Because CORBA can integrate diverse applications within distributed heterogeneous environments and XML can be made use of data exchange format, The developed system is available on almost any hardware platforms, operation system environments, and programming languages.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.173-187
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• 2012

In this study we investigate the reliability of a bar subjected to a random tensile load in presence of corrosion. We consider linear, quadratic and exponential models that connect the stress in the bar with the corrosion rate. Two probability densities are considered for the load, with attendant derivation of the time-dependant reliability. The design time of operation is determined utilizing the requirement that the reliability must not be less than the required value.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2022

In the present study, a physical model was built for the Jintan underground gas storage cavern group according to the similarity theory. In this regard, four ellipsoid caverns were built with scaled in-situ stresses and internal pressure. Then the stability of underground caverns was analyzed. The obtained results demonstrate that loss of internal pressure adversely affects the safety of caverns and attention should be paid during the operation of gas storage.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.129-150
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• 2018

This paper presents the structural performance monitoring of an urban footbridge located in Hangzhou, China. The structural health monitoring (SHM) system is designed and implemented for the footbridge to monitor the structural responses of the footbridge and to ensure the structural safety during the period of operation. The monitoring data of stress and displacement measured by the fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based sensors installed at the critical locations are used to analyze and assess the operation performance of the footbridge. A linear regression method is applied to separate the temperature effect from the stress monitoring data measured by the FBG-based strain sensors. In addition, the static vertical displacement of the footbridge measured by the FBG-based hydrostatic level gauges are presented and compared with the dynamic displacement remotely measured by a machine vision-based measurement system. Based on the examination of the monitored stress and displacement data, the structural safety evaluation is executed in combination with the defined condition index.