• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.145-164
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• 2012

In this paper, solar-powered, multi-scale, vibration-impedance sensor node on Imote2 platform is presented for hybrid structural health monitoring (SHM) in cable-stayed bridge. In order to achieve the objective, the following approaches are proposed. Firstly, vibration- and impedance-based hybrid SHM methods are briefly described. Secondly, the multi-scale vibration and impedance sensor node on Imote2-platform is presented on the design of hardware components and embedded software for vibration- and impedance-based SHM. In this approach, a solar-powered energy harvesting is implemented for autonomous operation of the smart sensor nodes. Finally, the feasibility and practicality of the smart sensor-based SHM system is evaluated on a full-scale cable-stayed bridge, Hwamyung Bridge in Korea. Successful level of wireless communication and solar-power supply for smart sensor nodes are verified. Also, vibration and impedance responses measured from the target bridge which experiences various weather conditions are examined for the robust long-term monitoring capability of the smart sensor system.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.77-94
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• 2015

Ultrafiltration membranes have several advantages over conventional drinking-water treatment. However, this technology presents major limitations, such as irreversible fouling and low removal of natural organic matter. Fouling depends heavily on the raw-water quality as well as on the operating conditions of the process, including flux, permeate recovery, pre-treatment, chemical cleaning, and backwashing. Starting with the premise that the optimisation of operating variables can improve membrane performance, different experiments were conducted in a pilot plant located in Granada (Spain). Several combinations of permeate and backwashing flow rates, backwashing frequencies, and aeration flow rates were tested for low-quality water coming from Genil River with the following results: the effluent quality did not depend on the combination of operating conditions chosen; and the membrane was effective for the removal of microorganisms, turbidity and suspended solids but the yields for the removal of dissolved organic carbon were extremely low. In addition, the threshold transmembrane pressure (-0.7 bar) was reached within a few hours and it was difficult to recover due to the low efficiency of the chemical cleanings. Moreover, greater transmembrane pressure due to fouling also increased the energy consumption, and it was not possible to lower it without compromising the permeate recovery. Finally, the intensification of aeration contributed positively to lengthening the operation times but again raised energy consumption. In light of these findings, the feasibility of ultrafiltration as a single treatment is questioned for low-quality influents.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.217-228
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• 2012

As the size of container ships continues to increase, not many existing harbors can host the super-container ship due to its increased draft and the corresponding dredging requires huge budget. In addition, the minimization of waiting and loading/offloading time is the most important factor in harbor competitiveness. In this regard, mobile-harbor concept has been developed in Korea to achieve much improved harbor capacity and efficiency. In developing the concept, one of the most important elements is the operability of crane between two or more floating bodies in side-by-side arrangement. The container ship is to be stationed through a hawser connection to an outside-harbor fixed-pile station with the depth allowing its large draft. The mobile harbors with smart cranes are berthed to the sides of its hull for loading/offloading containers and transportation. For successful operation, the relative motions between the two or more floating bodies with hawser/fender connections have to be within allowable range. Therefore, the reliable prediction of the relative motions of the multiple floating bodies with realistic mooring system is essential to find the best hull particulars, hawser/mooring/fender arrangement, and crane/docking-station design. Time-domain multi-hull-mooring coupled dynamic analysis program is used to assess the hydrodynamic interactions among the multiple floating bodies and the global performance of the system. Both collinear and non-collinear wind-wave-current environments are applied to the system. It is found that the non-collinear case can equally be functional in dynamics view compared to the collinear case but undesirable phenomena associated with vessel responses and hawser tensions can also happen at certain conditions, so more care needs to be taken.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.411-433
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• 2013

Due to its easy operation and wide applicability, the ambient vibration method is commonly adopted to determine the cable force by first identifying the cable frequencies from the vibration signals. With given vibration length and flexural rigidity, an analytical or empirical formula is then used with these cable frequencies to calculate the cable force. It is, however, usually difficult to decide the two required parameters, especially the vibration length due to uncertain boundary constraints. To tackle this problem, a new concept of combining the modal frequencies and mode shape ratios is fully explored in this study for developing an accurate method merely based on ambient vibration measurements. A simply supported beam model with an axial tension is adopted and the effective vibration length of cable is then independently determined based on the mode shape ratios identified from the synchronized measurements. With the effective vibration length obtained and the identified modal frequencies, the cable force and flexural rigidity can then be solved using simple linear regression techniques. The feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method is extensively verified with demonstrative numerical examples and actual applications to different cable-stayed bridges. Furthermore, several important issues in engineering practice such as the number of sensors and selection of modes are also thoroughly investigated.

• 소성∙가공
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.422-428
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• 2004

At present, the design of extrusion dies and operation in extrusion companies are primarily based on trial and error. The experience of the die designer, the press operator and the die corrector determine the performance of the extrusion die and the efficiency of the process. In order to produce defect-free products of desirable quality in terms of strength, surface quality and geometrical dimensions, it is important to obtain more knowledge of the processes that occur during extrusion. Recently, to reduce the costs of designing and manufacturing of extrusion dies, and to ensure the quality of the extruded products, numerical simulation for extrusion processes such as FEM (finite element method) is applied increasingly and becomes a very important tool for the design and development of new products. However, most of the studies about FE simulation have been accomplished for simple geometry and low extrusion ratio in the filed of steady metal flow conditions. The extruded products of AI alloy in industrial practice involve complicated sectional geometry. This study was designed to reduce the time of die design and manufacturing in the extrusion process using FEM simulation. FEM simulations of extrusion process were performed in non-steady states conditions by changing weld plate included in extrusion die set. Product which was employed in this study is heat sink that has been used in the parts of heat exchanger of electric circuits. It is generally applied for aluminum or its alloys due to heat efficiency and easy production of complicated shapes, and manufactured by extrusion process. The simulated results showed that weld plate shape in extrusion dies influences meta] flow and dimensional accuracy of products.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.425-436
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• 2017

Vibration control using a tuned mass damper (TMD) is an effective technique that has been verified using analytical methods and experiments. It has been applied in mechanical, automotive, and structural applications. However, the damping of a TMD cannot be adjusted in real time. An excessive mass damper stroke may be introduced when the mass damper is subjected to a seismic excitation whose frequency content is within its operation range. The semi-active tuned mass damper (SATMD) has been proposed to solve this problem. The parameters of an SATMD can be adjusted in real time based on the measured structural responses and an appropriate control law. In this study, a stiffness-controllable TMD, called a leverage-type stiffness-controllable mass damper (LSCMD), is proposed and fabricated to verify its feasibility. The LSCMD contains a simple leverage mechanism and its stiffness can be altered by adjusting the pivot position. To determine the pivot position of the LSCMD in real time, a discrete-time direct output-feedback active control law that considers delay time is implemented. Moreover, an identification test for the transfer function of the pivot driving and control systems is proposed. The identification results demonstrate the target displacement can be achieved by the pivot displacement in 0-2 Hz range and the control delay time is about 0.1 s. A shaking-table test has been conducted to verify the theory and feasibility of the LSCMD. The comparisons of experimental and theoretical results of the LSCMD system show good consistency. It is shown that dynamic behavior of the LSCMD can be simulated correctly by the theoretical model and that the stiffness can be properly adjusted by the pivot position. Comparisons of experimental results of the LSCMD and passive TMD show the LSCMD with less demand on the mass damper stroke than that for the passive TMD.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.355-367
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• 2017

In India, the current operation of condenser cooling system & effluent disposal system in existing power plants aims to reduce drawal of seawater and to achieve Zero Liquid Discharge to meet the demands of statutory requirements, water scarcity and ecological system. Particularly in the Steam-Electric power plants, condenser cooling system adopts Once through cooling (OTC) system which requires more drawal of seawater and effluent disposal system adopts sea outfall system which discharges hot water into sea. This paper presents an overview of closed-loop technology for condenser cooling system and to achieve Zero Liquid Discharge plant in Steam-Electric power plants making it lesser drawal of seawater and complete elimination of hot water discharges into sea. The closed-loop technology for condenser cooling system reduces the drawal of seawater by 92% and Zero Liquid Discharge plant eliminates the hot water discharges into sea by 100%. Further, the proposed modification generates revenue out of selling potable water and ZLD free flowing solids at INR 81,97,20,000 per annum (considering INR 60/Cu.m, 330 days/year and 90% availability) and INR 23,760 per annum (considering INR 100/Ton, 330 days/year and 90% availability) respectively. This proposed modification costs INR 870,00,00,000 with payback period of less than 11 years. The conventional technology can be replaced with this proposed technique in the existing and upcoming power plants.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.459-468
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• 2019

The stability and safety of concrete plug structure of diversion tunnel is crucial for the impoundment of upstream reservoir in hydropower projects. The ongoing Wudongde hydropower plant in China plans to adopt straight column plugs and curved column plugs to replace the traditional expanded wedge-shaped plugs. The performance of the proposed new plug structures under high water head is then a critical issue and attracts the attentions of engineers. This paper firstly studied the joint bearing mechanism of plug and surrounding rock mass and found that the quality and mechanical properties of the interfaces among plug concrete, shotcrete, and surrounding rock mass play a key role in the performance of plug structures. By performing geophysical and mechanical experiments, the contact state and the mechanical parameters of the interfaces were analyzed in detail and provide numerical analysis with rational input parameters. The safety evaluation is carried out through numerical calculation of plug stability under both construction and operation period. The results indicate that the allowable water head acting on columnar plugs is 3.1 to 7.4 times of the designed water head. So the stability of the new plug structure meets the design code requirement. Based on above findings, it is concluded that for the studied project, it is feasible to adopt columnar plugs to replace the traditional expanded wedge-shaped plugs. It is hoped that this study can provide reference for other projects with similar engineering background and problems.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.189-202
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• 2016

This work emphasized optimum production of biodiesel using non-edible Prunus armeniaca (Bitter Apricot) oil via transesterification collected from the high altitude areas of Himachal Pradesh, India. In this study the author produced biodiesel through the process of transesterification by using an alkali catalyst with alcohol (methanol and ethanol), under the varying molar ratio (1:6, 1:9, 1:12), variable catalyst percentage (1% and 2%) and temperature ($70^{\circ}C$, $75^{\circ}C$, $80^{\circ}C$, $85^{\circ}C$). Furthermore, a few strong base catalysts were used that includes sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium metal and freshly prepared sodium methoxide. After screening the catalyst, response surface methodology (RSM) in connection with the central composite design (CCD) was used to statistically evaluate and optimize the biodiesel production operation using NaOH as catalyst. It was found that the production of biodiesel achieved an optimum level biodiesel yield with 97.30% FAME conversion under the following reaction conditions: 1) Methanol/oil molar ratio: 1:6, 2) Reaction time: 3h, 3) Catalyst amount: NaOH 2 wt. %, and 4) Reaction temperature: $85^{\circ}C$. The experimental results showed that the optimum production and conversion of biodiesel through the process of transesterification could be achieved under an optimal set of reaction conditions. The biodiesel obtained showed appropriate fuel properties as specified in ASTM, BIS and En- standards.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제6권5_6호
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• pp.749-765
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• 2010

There are on-going efforts to utilize guided waves for structural damage detection. Active sensing devices such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT) have been widely used for guided wave generation and sensing. In addition, there has been increasing interest in adopting wireless sensing to structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. One of major challenges in wireless SHM is to secure power necessary to operate the wireless sensors. However, because active sensing devices demand relatively high electric power compared to conventional passive sensors such as accelerometers and strain gauges, existing battery technologies may not be suitable for long-term operation of the active sensing devices. To tackle this problem, a new wireless power transmission paradigm has been developed in this study. The proposed technique wirelessly transmits power necessary for PZT-based guided wave generation using laser and optoelectronic devices. First, a desired waveform is generated and the intensity of the laser source is modulated accordingly using an electro-optic modulator (EOM). Next, the modulated laser is wirelessly transmitted to a photodiode connected to a PZT. Then, the photodiode converts the transmitted light into an electric signal and excites the PZT to generate guided waves on the structure where the PZT is attached to. Finally, the corresponding response from the sensing PZT is measured. The feasibility of the proposed method for wireless guided wave generation has been experimentally demonstrated.