• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.273-282
• /
• 2023

Probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) has been widely used to evaluate the seismic risk of nuclear power plants (NPPs). However, studies on seismic PSA for process plants, such as gas plants, oil refineries, and chemical plants, have been scarce. This is because the major disasters to which these process plants are vulnerable include explosions, fires, and release (or dispersion) of toxic chemicals. However, seismic PSA is essential for the plants located in regions with significant earthquake risks. Seismic PSA entails probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA), event tree analysis (ETA), fault tree analysis (FTA), and fragility analysis for the structures and essential equipment items. Among those analyses, ETA can depict the accident sequence for core damage, which is the worst disaster and top event concerning NPPs. However, there is no general top event with regard to process plants. Therefore, PSA cannot be directly applied to process plants. Moreover, there is a paucity of studies on developing fragility curves for various equipment. This paper introduces PSA for gas plants based on FTA, which is then transformed into Bayesian network, that is, a probabilistic graph model that can aid risk-informed decision-making. Finally, the proposed method is applied to a gas plant, and several decision-making cases are demonstrated.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.103-110
• /
• 2001

Predictive food microbiology(PFM) is an emerging area of food microbiology since the later 1980’s. It does apply mathematical models to predict the responses of microorganism to specified environmental variables. Although, at present, PFM models do not completely developed, models can provide very useful information for microbiological responses in HACCP(Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system and Risk Assessment. This study illustrates the possible use of PFM models(PMP: Pathogen Modeling Program win5.1) with milk in several elements in the HACCP system, such as conduction of hazard analysis and determination of CCP(Critical Control Points) and CL(Critical Limits). The factors likely to affect the growth of the pathogens in milk involved storage fixed factors were pH 6.7, Aw 0.993 and NaCl 1.3%. PMPwin5.1 calculated generation time, lag phase duration, time to level of infective dose for pathogens across a range of storage (Critical Control Points) and CL(Critical Limits). The factors likely to affect the growth of the pathogens in milk involved storage temperature, pH, Aw and NaCl content. The factors likely to affect the growth of the pathogens in milk involved storage temperature, pH, Aw and NaCl content. The variable factor was storage temperature at the range of 4~15$^{\circ}C$ and the fixed factors were pH 6.7, Aw 0.993 and NaC 1.3%. PMPwin5.1 calculated generation time, lag phase duration, time to level of infective dose for pathogens across a range of storage temperature.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.338-348
• /
• 2023

Objective: Patients with a history of ischemic stroke are at risk for a second ischemic stroke. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between carotid plaque enhancement on perfluorobutane microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and future recurrent stroke, and to determine whether plaque enhancement can contribute to risk assessment for recurrent stroke compared with the Essen Stroke Risk Score (ESRS). Materials and Methods: This prospective study screened 151 patients with recent ischemic stroke and carotid atherosclerotic plaques at our hospital between August 2020 and December 2020. A total of 149 eligible patients underwent carotid CEUS, and 130 patients who were followed up for 15-27 months or until stroke recurrence were analyzed. Plaque enhancement on CEUS was investigated as a possible risk factor for stroke recurrence and as a possible adjunct to ESRS. Results: During follow-up, 25 patients (19.2%) experienced recurrent stroke. Patients with plaque enhancement on CEUS had an increased risk of stroke recurrence events (22/73, 30.1%) compared to those without plaque enhancement (3/57, 5.3%), with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 38.264 (95% confidence interval [CI]:14.975-97.767; P < 0.001) according to a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model analysis, indicating that the presence of carotid plaque enhancement was a significant independent predictor of recurrent stroke. When plaque enhancement was added to the ESRS, the HR for stroke recurrence in the high-risk group compared to that in the low-risk group (2.188; 95% CI, 0.025-3.388) was greater than that of the ESRS alone (1.706; 95% CI, 0.810-9.014). A net of 32.0% of the recurrence group was reclassified upward appropriately by the addition of plaque enhancement to the ESRS. Conclusion: Carotid plaque enhancement was a significant and independent predictor of stroke recurrence in patients with ischemic stroke. Furthermore, the addition of plaque enhancement improved the risk stratification capability of the ESRS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.304-314
• /
• 2015

We have reviewed the current status of coastal vulnerability index(CVI) to be guided into an appropriate CVI development for Korean coast and applied a methodology into the east coast of Korea to quantify coastal vulnerability by future sea_level rise. The CVIs reviewed includes USGS CVI, sea_level rise CVI, compound CVI, and multi scale CVI. The USGS CVI, expressed into the external forcing of sea_level rise, wave and tide, and adaptive capacity of morphology, erosion and slope, is adopted here for CVI quantification. The range of CVI is 1.826~22.361 with a mean of 7.085 for present condition and increases into 2.887~30.619 with a mean of 12.361 for the year of 2100(1 m sea_level rise). The index "VERY HIGH" is currently 8.57% of the coast and occupies 35.56% in 2100. The pattern of CVI change by sea_level rise is different to different local areas, and Gangneung, Yangyang and Goseong show the highest increase. The land use pattern in the "VERY HIGH" index is dominated by both human system of housing complex, road, cropland, etc, and natural system of sand, wetland, forestry, etc., which suggests existing land utilization should be reframed in the era of climate change. Though CVI approach is highly efficient to deal with a large set of climate scenarios entailed in climate impact assessment due to uncertainties, we also propose three_level assessment for the application of CVI methodology in the site specific adaptation such as first screening assessment by CVI, second scoping assessment by impact model, and final risk quantification with the result of impact model.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.228-238
• /
• 2004

Purpose: Obesity is rapidly increasing in Korean children. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and is frequently associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. This study was designed to evaluate risk factors of the metabolic syndrome in obese children. Methods: From February 2000 to June 2004, eighty eight obese (body mass index ${\geq}95th$ percentile) children aged 4 to 15 years were included. We measured serum lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol), fasting sugar levels and insulin levels. Insulin resistance was determined by homeostasis model assessment, fasting insulin/glucose ratio and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. Results: Clustering of risk factors for the metabolic syndrome in obese children demonstrated that 60.2% had more than one risk factors. Hypertension (14.8%), hypertriglyceridemia (14.8%), HDL-hypocholesterolemia (14.8%), LDL-hypercholesterolemia (12.5%) and hyperinsulinemia (12.5%) were observed. As BMI increased, there was statistically significant increase in systolic blood pressure, insulin and insulin resistance values. Insulin resistance was correlated to systolic blood pressure, serum lipid and insulin levels. The more risk factors for the metabolic syndrome obese children had, the higher was their insulin resistance. Conclusion: The increase in insulin resistance and clustering of risk factors for the metabolic syndrome are already apparent in obese children. Monitoring these risk factors for the metabolic syndrome should become a part of routine medical care for obese children.

• Fire Science and Engineering
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 2014

The present study has been conducted to investigate the validity of the computational fire model and the results predicted by BRANZFIRE zone model and FDS field model are compared with a real scale fire test with spray fire in a multi-compartment. The liquid spray fires fueled with toluene and methanol are used as the fire source and the quantitative measurement of heat release rate is performed in an isolated ISO-9705 compartment with a standard door opening. The temperature field predicted by FDS model showed good agreement with the measurement in the fire room and the corridor, and BRANZFIRE model also gave acceptable result in spite of its simplicity and roughness. The mean temperature predicted by FDS model corresponds with measurement within maximum discrepancy range of 25% and the overall mean value of FDS model matched well with experimental data less than 10%. This study can contribute to establish the limitation and application scope of computational fire model and provide reference data for applying to reliable fire risk assessment.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.92-101
• /
• 2016

Objectives: Outdoor workers are exposed to thermally stressful work environments. In this study, heat stress indices for harbor workers in summer were calculated to evaluate thermal comfort based on a human heat balance model. These indices are Physiological Subjective Temperature (PST), Dehydration Risk (DhR), and Overheating Risk (OhR) according to respective stage of cargo work in a harbor. In addition, we constructed a forecast system to provide heat stress information. Methods: Thermophysiological indices in this study were calculated using the MENEX model (i.e. the human heat balance model), which used as inputs the meteorological parameters, clothing insulation, and metabolic rate for each stage of cargo work in the harbor of Masan over the course of seven days, including a four-day heat wave. The forecast heat stress information constructed for Masan harbor was based on meteorological data supported by the Dong-Nae Forecast from the KMA (Korea Metrological Administration) and other input parameters. Results: According to higher metabolic rate, thermophysiological indices showed a critical level. In particular, PST was evaluated as reaching the 'Very hot' or 'Hot' level during all seven days, despite the heat occurring over only four. It is important in a regard to consider the work environment conditions (i.e. labor intensity and clothing in harbor). On a webpage, the forecast thermophysiological indices show as infographics to be easily understand. This webpage is comprised of indices for both current conditions and the forecast, with brief guidance. Conclusion: Thermophysiological indices show the risk level to health during a heat wave period. Heat stress information could help to protect the health of harbor workers. Further, this study could extend the applicability of these indices to a variety of outdoor workers in consideration of work environments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 2021

In the case of military supplies, any potential failure and causes of failures must be considered. This study is aimed at examining the failure modes of a rotorcraft landing system to identify the priority items. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is applied to the rotorcraft landing system. In general, the FMEA is used to evaluate the reliability in engineering fields. Three elements, specifically, the severity, occurrence, and detectability are used to evaluate the failure modes. The risk priority number (RPN) can be obtained by multiplying the scores or the risk levels pertaining to severity, occurrence, and detectability. In this study, different weights of the three elements are considered for the RPN assessment to implement the FMEA. Furthermore, the FMEA is implemented using a fuzzy rule base, similarity aggregation model (SAM), and grey theory model (GTM) to perform a comparative analysis. The same input data are used for all models to enable a fair comparison. The FMEA is applied to military supplies by considering methodological issues. In general, the fuzzy theory is based on a hypothesis regarding the likelihood of the conversion of the crisp value to the fuzzy input. Fuzzy FMEA is the basic method to obtain the fuzzy RPN. The three elements of the FMEA are used as five linguistic terms. The membership functions as triangular fuzzy sets are the simplest models defined by the three elements. In addition, a fuzzy set is described using a membership function mapping the elements to the intervals 0 and 1. The fuzzy rule base is designed to identify the failure modes according to the expert knowledge. The IF-THEN criterion of the fuzzy rule base is formulated to convert a fuzzy input into a fuzzy output. The total number of rules is 125 in the fuzzy rule base. The SAM expresses the judgment corresponding to the individual experiences of the experts performing FMEA as weights. Implementing the SAM is of significance when operating fuzzy sets regarding the expert opinion and can confirm the concurrence of expert opinion. The GTM can perform defuzzification to obtain a crisp value from a fuzzy membership function and determine the priorities by considering the degree of relation and the form of a matrix and weights for the severity, occurrence, and detectability. The proposed models prioritize the failure modes of the rotorcraft landing system. The conventional FMEA and fuzzy rule base can set the same priorities. SAM and GTM can set different priorities with objectivity through weight setting.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.151-163
• /
• 2023

This study explored the 2022 drought over the Nakdong River watershed. Here, we developed a bivariate regional frequency analysis method to evaluate the risk of hydrological drought. Currently, natural streamflow data are generally limited to accurately estimating the drought frequency. Under this circumstance, the existing at site frequency analysis can be problematic in estimating the drought risk. On the other hand, a regional frequency analysis could provide a more reliable estimation of the joint return periods of drought variables by pooling available streamflow data over the entire watershed. More specifically, the Copula-based regional frequency analysis model was proposed to effectively take into account the tail dependencies between drought variables. The results confirmed that the regional frequency analysis model showed better performance in model fit by comparing the goodness-of-fit measures with the at-site frequency analysis model. We find that the estimated joint return period of the 2022 drought in the Nakdong River basin is about eight years. In the case of the Nam river Dam, the joint return period was approximately 20 years, which can be regarded as a relatively severe drought over the last three decades.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.148-157
• /
• 2012

Reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) problem is usually formulated as an optimization problem to minimize an objective function subjected to probabilistic constraint functions which may include deterministic design variables as well as random variables. The challenging task is that, because the probability models of the random variables are often assumed based on limited data, there exists a possibility of selecting inappropriate distribution models and/or model parameters for the random variables, which can often lead to disastrous consequences. In order to select the most appropriate distribution model from the limited observation data as well as model parameters, this study takes into account a set of possible candidate models for the random variables. The suitability of each model is then investigated by employing performance and risk functions. In this regard, this study enables structural design optimization and fitness assessment of the distribution models of the random variables at the same time. As the first paper of a two-part series, this paper describes a new design method considering probability model uncertainties. The robust performance of the proposed method is presented in Part 2. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, an example of ten-bar truss structure is considered. The numerical results show that the proposed method can provide the optimal design variables while guaranteeing the most desirable distribution models for the random variables even in case the limited data are only available.