• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.427-446
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• 2022

Cutouts in the beams or plates are often unavoidable due to inspection, maintenance, ventilation, structural aesthetics purpose, and sometimes to lighten the structures. Therefore, there will be a substantial reduction in the strength of the structure due to the introduction of the cutouts. However, these cutouts can be reinforced with the different patterns of ribs (stiffener) to enhance the strength of the structure. The present study highlights the influence of the elliptical cutout reinforced with a different pattern of ribs on the stability performance of such stiffened composite panels subjected to non-uniform edge loads by employing the Finite element (FE) technique. In the present formulation, a 9-noded heterosis element is used to model the skin, and a 3-noded isoparametric beam element is used to simulate the rib that is attached around a cutout in different patterns. The displacement compatibility condition is employed between the plate and stiffener, and arbitrary orientations are taken care by introducing respective transformation matrices. The effect of shear deformation and rotary inertia are incorporated in the formulation. A new mesh configuration is developed to house the attached ribs around an elliptical cutout with different patterns. Initially, a study is performed on the panels with different stiffener schemes for various ply orientations and for different stiffener depth to width ratios (d_s/b_s) to determine an optimal stiffener configuration. Further, various parametric studies are conducted on an obtained optimal stiffened panel to understand the effect of cutout size, cutout orientation, panel aspect ratio, and boundary conditions. Finally, from the analysis, it can be observed that the arrangement of the stiffener attached to a panel has a major impact on the buckling capacity of the stiffened panel. The stiffener's depth to width ratio also significantly influences the buckling characteristic.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.683-696
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• 2023

The destruction and fracture of rock masses are crucial components in engineering and there is an increasing demand for the study of the influence of rock mass heterogeneity on the safety of engineering projects. The numerical manifold method (NMM) has a unified solution format for continuous and discontinuous problems. In most NMM studies, material homogeneity has been assumed and despite this simplification, fracture mechanics remain complex and simulations are inefficient because of the complicated topology updating operations that are needed after crack propagation. These operations become computationally expensive especially in the cases of heterogeneous materials. In this study, a heterogeneous model algorithm based on stochastic theory was developed and introduced into the NMM. A new fracture algorithm was developed to simulate the rupture zone. The algorithm was validated for the examples of the four-point shear beam and semi-circular bend. Results show that the algorithm can efficiently simulate the rupture zone of heterogeneous rock masses. Heterogeneity has a powerful effect on the macroscopic failure characteristics and uniaxial compressive strength of rock masses. The peak strength of homogeneous material (with heterogeneity or standard deviation of 0) is 2.4 times that of heterogeneous material (with heterogeneity of 11.0). Moreover, the local distribution of parameter values can affect the configuration of rupture zones in rock masses. The local distribution also influences the peak value on the stress-strain curve and the residual strength. The post-peak stress-strain curve envelope from 60 random calculations can be used as an estimate of the strength of engineering rock masses.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.399-415
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• 2023

In this study, we investigate the use of a negative stiffness tuned inerter damper system to improve the performance of a base-isolated structure. The negative stiffness tuned inerter damper system consists of a tuned inerter damper connected in parallel with a negative stiffness element. To find the optimal parameters for the base-isolated structure with negative stiffness tuned inerter damper system, we develop an optimization method based on performance criteria. The objective of the optimization is to minimize the superstructure acceleration response ratio, while ensuring that the base displacement response ratio remains below a specified target value. We evaluate the proposed method by conducting numerical analyses on an eight-story building. The structure is modeled using both a simplified 3-degree-of-freedom system and a more detailed story-by-story shear-beam model. Lastly, a comparative analysis using time history analysis is performed to compare the performance of the base-isolated structure with negative stiffness tuned inerter damper system with that of the base-isolated structure and base-isolated structure with tuned inerter damper systems. The results obtained from the comparative analysis show that the negative stiffness tuned inerter damper system outperforms the tuned inerter damper system in reducing the dynamic seismic response of the base-isolated structure. Overall, this study demonstrates that the negative stiffness tuned inerter damper system can effectively enhance the performance of base-isolated structures, providing improved seismic response reduction compared to other systems.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2006

The main objective of this study is to develop an optimization algorithm of framed structures with rigid and various semi-rigid connections using the multilevel dynamic programming and the sequential unconstrained minimization techniques (SUMT). The second-order elastic analysis is performed for steel framed structures. The second order elastic analysis is developed based on nonlinear beam-column theory considering the bowing effect. The following semi-rigid connections are considered; double web angle, top-seat angle and top-seat angle with web angle. We considered the three connection models, such as modified exponential, polynomial and three parameter model. The total weight of the structural steel is used as the objective function in the optimization process. The dimensions of steel cross section are selected as the design variables. The design constraints consist of strength requirements for axial, shear and flexural resistance and serviceability requirements.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.305-330
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• 2023

Unlike NATM tunnels, Shield TBM tunnels have split linings. Therefore, the stress distribution of the lining is different even if the lining is under the same load. Representative methods for analyzing the stress generated in lining in Shield TBM tunnels include Non-joint Mode that does not consider connections and a 2-ring beam-spring model that considers ring-to-ring joints and segment connections. This study is an analysis method by Break-joint Mode. However, we do not consider the structural role of segment lining connections. The effectiveness of the modeling is verified by analyzing behavioral characteristics against vibration loads by modeling with segment connection interfaces to which vertical stiffness and shear stiffness, which are friction components, are applied. Unlike the Non-joint mode, where the greatest stress occurs on the crown for static loads such as earth pressure, the stress distribution caused by contact between segment lining and friction stiffness produced the smallest stress in the crown key segment where segment connections were concentrated. The stress distribution was clearly distinguished based on segment connections. The results of static analysis by earth pressure, etc., produced up to seven times the stress generated in Non-joint mode compared to the stress generated by Break-joint Mode. This result is consistent with the stress distribution pattern of the 2-ring beam-spring model. However, as for the stress value for the train vibration load, the stress of Break-joint Mode was greater than that of Non-joint mode. This is a different result from the static mechanics concept that a segment ring consisting of a combination of short members is integrated in the circumferential direction, resulting in a smaller stress than Non-joint mode with a relatively longer member length.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.303-308
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• 2022

PIC (Piecewise Integrated Composite) is a new concept for designing a composite structure with mosaically assigning various types of stacking sequences in order to improve mechanical properties of laminated composites. Also, machine learning is a sub-category of artificial intelligence, that refers to the process by which computers develop the ability to continuously learn from and make predictions based on data, then make adjustments without further programming. In the present study, the tapered box beam type PIC robot arm for carrying and transferring wide and thin LCD display was designed based on the machine learning in order to increase structural stiffness. Essential training data were collected from the reference elements, which were intentionally designated elements among finite element models, during preliminary FE analysis. Additionally, triaxiality values for each finite element were obtained for judging the dominant external loading type, such as tensile, compressive or shear. Training and evaluating machine learning model were conducted using the training data and loading types of elements were predicted in case the level accuracy was fulfilled. Three types of stacking sequences, which were to be known as robust toward specific loading types, were mosaically assigned to the PIC robot arm. Henceforth, the bending type FE analysis was carried out and its result claimed that the PIC robot arm showed increased stiffness compared to conventional uni-stacking sequence type composite robot arm.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.17 no.6 s.90
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• pp.993-1000
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• 2005

Various types of FRP materials have been applied for structural strengthening of RC beams in various forms. When CFRP plates are used, a premature failure used to occur before enough strengthening effect appears. This is primarily due to the rip-off of CFRP Plate attached on RC beams. Despite of numerous studies on the rip-off failure of externally strengthened RC beams, its failure mechanism is not definitely clarified yet. Investigations from literatures have shown that the rip-off failure is dependant on the vertical and shear stresses at the level of main reinforcements in RC beams. This study suggests an analytical model to Investigate the rip-off failure load based on the stress states at the level of main reinforcements. The proposed model is relatively simple and produces very comparable results to the test data. It is believed that the proposed model can be successfully used to provide more information on the rip-off failure mechanisms and its prevention.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 2012

Fixed connection is generally used for beam and column connections of concrete structures, but significant damages at the connection due to severe earthquakes have been reported. In order to reduce damages of the connection and improve seismic performance of the connection, several innovative connections have been suggested. One newly proposed connection type allows a rotation of the connection for applications in rotating or rocking beams, columns, and shear walls. Such structural elements would provide a nonlinear lateral force-displacement response since their contact depth developed during rotation is gradually reduced and the stress across the sections of the elements is non-linearly distributed around a contact area, which is called an elastic hinge region in the present study. The purpose of the present study is to define the elastic hinge region or length for the rocking columns, through investigating the cross-sectional stress distribution during their lateral behavior. Performing a finite element analysis (FEA), several parameters are considered including axial load levels (5% and 10% of nominal strength), different boundary conditions (confined-ends and cantilever types), and slenderness ratios (length/depth = 5, 7, 10). The FEA results showed that the elastic hinge length does not directly depend on the parameters considered, but it is governed by a contact depth only. The elastic hinge length started to develop after an opening state and increased non-linearly until a rocking point(pre-rocking). However, the length did not increase any more after the rocking point (post-rocking) and remained as a constant value. Half space model predicting the elastic hinge length is adapted and the results are compared with the numerical results.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.381-388
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• 2010

In this study, characteristics of the seismic response of the non-earthquake resistant reinforced concrete (RC) frame were identified. The test building is designed to withstand only gravity loads and not in compliance with modern seismic codes. Smooth bars were utilized for the reinforcement. Members are provided with minimal amount of stirrups to withstand low levels of shear forces and the core concrete is virtually not confined. Columns are slender and more flexible than beams, and beam-column connections were built without stirrups. Through the modeling of an example RC frame, the feasibility of the fiber elementbased 3D nonlinear analysis method was investigated. Since the torsion is governed by the fundamental mode shape of the structure under dynamic loading, pushover analysis cannot predict torsional response accurately. Hence, dynamic response history analysis is a more appropriate analysis method to estimate the response of an asymmetric building. The latter method was shown to be accurate in representing global responses by the comparison of the analytical and experimental results. Analytical models without rigid links provided a good estimation of reduced stiffness and strength of the test structure due to bond-slip, by forming plastic hinges closer to the column ends. However, the absence of a proper model to represent the bond-slip poased the limitations on the current inelastic analysis schemes for the seismic analysis of buildings especially for those with round steel reinforcements. Thus, development of the appropriate bond-slip model is in need to achieve more accurate analysis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.325-334
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• 2010

In this study, an unbraced five-story steel-framed structure was designed in accordance with KBC2005 to understand the features of structural behavior for the arrangement of semi-rigid connections. A pushover analysis of the structural models was performed, wherein all the connections were idealized as fully rigid and semi-rigid. Additionally, horizontal and vertical arrangements of the semi-rigid connection were adopted for the models. A fiber model was utilized for the moment-curvature relationship of the steel beam and the column, and a three-parameter power model was adopted for the moment-rotation angle of the semi-rigid connection. The top displacement, base-shear force, required ductility for the connection, sequence of the plastic hinge, and design factors such as the overstrength factor, ductility factor, and response modification coefficient were investigated using the pushover analysis of a 2D structure subjected to the equivalent static lateral force of KBC2005. The partial arrangement of the semi-rigid connection was found to have secured higher strength and lateral stiffness than that of the A-Semi frame, and greater ductility than the A-Rigid frame. The TSD connection was found suitable for use for economy and safety in the sample structure.