• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.41-54
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• 2021

In this study, probabilistic steady seepage behavior of soil foundation beneath water retaining structures according to the location of cutoffs was studied. A Monte Carlo Simulation based on the random finite element method that considers the uncertainty and spatial variability of soil permeability was performed to evaluate the probabilistic seepage behavior. Fragility curves were developed by calculating the failure probability conditional on the occurrence of a given water level from the probability distribution obtained from Monte Carlo simulations. The fragility curve was prepared for the flow quantities such as flow rate through foundation soil, uplift force on the base of structure, and exit gradient in downstream to examine the reliability of the water retaining structure and the foundation soil. From the fragility curves, the effect of the location of cutoff wall on the reliability of water retaining structure and foundation soil according to the rise in water level was studied.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.316-324
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• 2020

This paper presents comparative studies of reliability analysis and meta-modeling using the sampling method of Monte Carlo simulation for the structure design of an automatic ocean salt collector (AOSC). The thickness sizing variables of structure members are considered as random variables. Probabilistic performance functions are selected from strength performances evaluated via the finite element analysis of an AOSC. The sampling methods used in the comparative studies are simple random sampling and Sobol sequences with varied numbers of sampling. Approximation methods such as the Kriging model is applied to the meta-model generation. Reliability performances such as the probability failure and distribution are compared based on the variation of the sampling method of Monte Carlo simulation. The meta-modeling accuracy is evaluated for the Kriging model generated from the Monte Carlo simulation and Sobol sequence results. It is discovered that the Sobol sequence method is applicable to not only to the reliability analysis for the structural design of marine equipment such as the AOSC, but also to Kriging meta-modeling owing to its high numerical efficiency.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.109-127
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• 2010

This work aims at introducing structural sensitivity analysis capabilities into existing commercial finite element software codes for the purpose of mapping retrofit strategies for a broad group of structures including heritage-type buildings. More specifically, the first stage sensitivity analysis is implemented for the standard deterministic environment, followed by stochastic structural sensitivity analysis defined for the probabilistic environment in a subsequent, second phase. It is believed that this new generation of software that will be released by the industrial partner will address the needs of a rapidly developing specialty within the engineering design profession, namely commercial retrofit and rehabilitation activities. In congested urban areas, these activities are carried out in reference to a certain percentage of the contemporary building stock that can no longer be demolished to give room for new construction because of economical, historical or cultural reasons. Furthermore, such analysis tools are becoming essential in reference to a new generation of national codes that spell out in detail how retrofit strategies ought to be implemented. More specifically, our work focuses on identifying the minimum-cost intervention on a given structure undergoing retrofit. Finally, an additional factor that arises in earthquake-prone regions across the world is the random nature of seismic activity that further complicates the task of determining the dynamic overstress that is being induced in the building stock and the additional demands placed on the supporting structural system.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2017

Installation of sensors networks for continuous in-service monitoring of structures and their efficiency conditions is a current research trend of paramount interest. On-line monitoring systems could be strategically useful for road infrastructures, which are expected to perform efficiently and be self-diagnostic, also in emergency scenarios. This work researches damage detection in composite concrete-steel structures that are typical for highway overpasses and bridges. The techniques herein proposed assume that typical damage in the deck occurs in form of delamination and cracking, and that it affects the peak power spectral density of dynamic curvature. The investigation is performed by combining results of measurements collected by long-gauge fiber optic strain sensors installed on monitored structure and a statistic approach. A finite element model has been also prepared and validated for deepening peculiar aspects of the investigation and the availability of the method. The proposed method for real time applications is able to detect a documented unusual behavior (e.g., damage or deterioration) through long-gauge fiber optic strain sensors measurements and a probabilistic study of the dynamic curvature power spectral density.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.30 no.9 s.252
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• pp.1041-1048
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• 2006

The pulley is one of core mechanical elements in the power steering system for vehicles. The pulley operates under both the compressive loading and the torque. Therefore, to assure the safety of the power steering system, it is very important to investigate the durability and the optimization of the pulley. In this study, the applied stress distribution of the pulley under high tension and torsion loads was obtained by using finite element analysis. Based on these results the fatigue life of the pulley with the variation of the fatigue strength was evaluated by a durability analysis simulator. The results at 50% and 1% for the failure probability were compared with respect to the fatigue life. In addition to the optimum design for the fatigue life is obtained by the response surface method. The response function utilizes the function of the life and weight factors. Within range for design life condition the minimization of the weight, one of the formulation, is obtained by the optimal design. Moreover the optimum design by considering its durability and validity is verified by the durability test.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.277-293
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• 2024

Shored Mechanically Stabilized Earth (SMSE) walls are types of soil retaining structures that increase soil stability under static and dynamic loads. The damage caused by an earthquake can be determined by evaluating the probabilistic seismic response of SMSE walls. This study aimed to assess the seismic performance of SMSE walls and provide fragility curves for evaluating failure levels. The generated fragility curves can help to improve the seismic performance of these walls through assessing and controlling variables like backfill surface settlement, lateral deformation of facing, and permanent relocation of the wall. A parametric study was performed based on a non-linear elastoplastic constitutive model known as the hardening soil model with small-strain stiffness, HSsmall. The analyses were conducted using PLAXIS 2D, a Finite Element Method (FEM) program, under plane-strain conditions to study the effect of the number of geogrid layers and the axial stiffness of geogrids on the performance of SMSE walls. In this study, three areas of damage (minor, moderate, and severe) were observed and, in all cases, the wall has not completely entered the stage of destruction. For the base model (Model A), at the highest ground acceleration coefficient (1 g), in the moderate damage state, the fragility probability was 76%. These values were 62%, and 54%, respectively, by increasing the number of geogrids (Model B) and increasing the geogrid stiffness (Model C). Meanwhile, the fragility values were 99%, 98%, and 97%, respectively in the case of minor damage. Notably, the probability of complete destruction was zero percent in all models.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.567-575
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• 2001

In order to consider statistical properties of probability variables used in the structural analysis the conventional approach using the safety factor based on past experience usually estimated the safety of a structure Also the real structures could only be analyzed with the error in estimation of loads material characters and the dimensions of the members. But the errors should be considered systematically in the structural analysis Safety of structure could not precisely be appraised by the traditional structural design concept Recently new aproach based on the probability concept has been applied to the assessment of structural safety using the reliability concept Thus the computer program by the Probabilitstic FEM is developed by incorporating the probabilistic concept into the conventional FEM method. This paper estimated for the reliability of a plane stress structure by Advanced First-Order Second Moment method using von Mises, Tresca and Mohr-Coulomb failure criterions. Verification of the reliability index and failure probability of attained by the Monte Carlo Simulation method with the von Mises criterion were same as PFEM, but the Monte Carlo Simulation were very time-consuming. The variance of member thickness and load could influence the reliability and failure probability most sensitively among the design variables from the results of the parameter analysis. The proper failure criterion according to characteristic of materials must be used for safe design.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.3A
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• pp.193-200
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• 2010

Structural design requires simultaneously to ensure safety by considering quantitatively uncertainties in the applied loadings, material properties and fabrication error and to maximize economical efficiency. As a solution, system reliability-based design optimization (SRBDO), which takes into consideration both uncertainties and economical efficiency, has been extensively researched and numerous attempts have been done to apply it to structural design. Contrary to conventional deterministic optimization, SRBDO involves the evaluation of component and system probabilistic constraints. However, because of the complicated algorithm for calculating component reliability indices and system reliability, excessive computational time is required when the large-scale finite element analysis is involved in evaluating the probabilistic constraints. Accordingly, an algorithm for SRBDO exhibiting improved stability and efficiency needs to be developed for the large-scale problems. In this study, a more stable and efficient SRBDO based on the performance measure approach (PMA) is developed. PMA shows good performance when it is applied to reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) which has only component probabilistic constraints. However, PMA could not be applied to SRBDO because PMA only calculates the probabilistic performance measure for limit state functions and does not evaluate the reliability indices. In order to overcome these difficulties, the decoupled algorithm is proposed where RBDO based on PMA is sequentially performed with updated target component reliability indices until the calculated system reliability index approaches the target system reliability index. Through a mathematical problem and ten-bar truss problem, the proposed method shows better convergence and efficiency than other approaches.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.29 no.10 s.241
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• pp.1377-1383
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• 2005

A general and efficient methodology has been developed to analyze dimensional variations of an assembly, taking into account of weld distortion. Weld distortion is generally probabilistic because of the random nature of welding parameters such as the welding speed, maximum welding temperature, ambient temperature, etc. The methodology is illustrated through a very simple example of two perpendicular plates fillet-welded to each other. Two steps comprise the methodology: establishment of a weld-distortion database, and tolerance analysis using the database. To establish the database, thermo-elasto-plastic finite element analyses are conducted to compute the weld distortion for all combinations of discrete values of major welding parameters. In the second step of tolerance analysis, the weld distortion retrieved from the database is used in addition to the dimensional tolerances of the parts. As a result of such an analysis, sensitivities of the assembly's dimensional variations to the part tolerances and weld distortion are obtained, which can be help improve the dimensional quality of the assembly.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.535-546
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• 2010

Recently, the probability of collision accident between vehicles or vessels and infrastructures are increasing at alarming rate. Particularly, collision impact load can be detrimental to sub-structures such as piers and columns. The damaged pier from an impact load of a vehicle or a vessel can lead to member damages, which make the member more vulnerable to impact load due to other accidents which. In extreme case, may cause structural collapse. Therefore, in this study, the vehicle impact load on concrete compression member was considered to assess the quantitative design resistance capacity to improve, the existing design method and to setup the new damage assessment method. The case study was carried out using the LS-DYNA, an explicit finite element analysis program. The parameters for the case study were cross-section variation of pier, impact load angle, permanent axial load and axial load ratio, concrete strength, longitudinal and lateral rebar ratios, and slenderness ratio. Using the analysis results, the performance based resistance capacity evaluation method for impact load using satisfaction curve was developed using Bayesian probabilistic method, which can be applied to reinforced concrete column design for impact loads.