• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2017

The fundamental goal of this study is to minimize the uncertainty of the median fragility curve and to assess the structural vulnerability under earthquake excitation. Bayesian Inference with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation has been presented for efficient collapse response assessment of the independent intake water tower. The intake tower is significantly used as a diversion type of the hydropower station for maintaining power plant, reservoir and spillway tunnel. Therefore, the seismic fragility assessment of the intake tower is a pivotal component for estimating total system risk of the reservoir. In this investigation, an asymmetrical independent slender reinforced concrete structure is considered. The Bayesian Inference method provides the flexibility to integrate the prior information of collapse response data with the numerical analysis results. The preliminary information of risk data can be obtained from various sources like experiments, existing studies, and simplified linear dynamic analysis or nonlinear static analysis. The conventional lognormal model is used for plotting the fragility curve using the data from time history simulation and nonlinear static pushover analysis respectively. The Bayesian Inference approach is applied for integrating the data from both analyses with the help of MCMC simulation. The method achieves meaningful improvement of uncertainty associated with the fragility curve, and provides significant statistical and computational efficiency.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.685-693
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• 2016

The outer tank of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tank is a longitudinally and meridionally pre-stressed concrete (PSC) wall structure. Because of the current trend of constructing larger LNG storage tanks, the pre-stressing forces required to increase wall strength must be significantly increased. Because of the increase in tank sizes and pre-stressing forces, an extreme loading scenario such as a bomb blast or an airplane crash needs to be investigated. Therefore, in this study, the blast resistance performance of LNG storage tanks was analyzed by conducting a blast simulation to investigate the safety of larger LNG storage tanks. Test data validation for a blast simulation of reinforced concrete panels was performed using a specific FEM code, LS-DYNA, prior to a full-scale blast simulation of the outer tank of a 270,000-kL LNG storage tank. Another objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and serviceability of an LNG storage tank with respect to varying amounts of explosive charge. The results of this study can be used as basic data for the design and safety evaluation of PSC LNG storage tanks.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.355-365
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• 2018

Five previously-tested reinforced concrete frames were modelled using a nonlinear finite element analysis procedure to demonstrate the accurate response simulations for seismically-deficient frames through pushover analyses. The load capacities, story drifts, and failure modes were simulated. This procedure accounts for the effects of shear failures and the shear-axial force interaction, and thus is suitable for modeling seismically-deficient frames. It is demonstrated that a comprehensive analysis method with a capability of simulating material constitutive response and significant second-order mechanisms is essential in achieving a satisfactory response simulation. It is further shown that such analysis methods are invaluable in determining the expected seismic response, safety, and failure mode of the frame structures for a performance-based seismic evaluation. In addition, a new computer program was developed to aid researchers and engineers in the direct displacement-based seismic design process by assessing whether a frame structure meets the code-based performance requirements by analyzing the analysis results. As such, the proposed procedure facilitates the performance-based design of new buildings as well as the numerical assessment and retrofit design of existing buildings. A sample frame analysis was presented to demonstrate the application and verification of the approach.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.765-779
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• 2009

Quantitative condition assessment of structures has been traditionally using proof load test leading to an indication of the load-carrying capacity. Alternative approaches using ultrasonic, dynamics etc. are based on the unloaded state of the structure and anomalies may not be fully mobilized in the load resisting path and thus their effects are not fully included in the measured responses. This paper studies the effect of the load carried by a reinforced concrete beam on the assessment result of the crack damage. This assessment can only be performed with an approach based on static measurement. The crack damage is modelled as a crack zone over an area of high tensile stress of the member, and it is represented by a damage function for the simulation study. An existing nonlinear optimization algorithm is adopted. The identified damage extent from a selected high level load and a low load level are compared, and it is concluded that accurate assessment can only be obtained at a load level close to the one that creates the damage.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.609-615
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• 2012

In recent years, the development of computer technique was possible to the simulation analysis of the structure caused by ground vibration. Generally, finite element method(FEM) has been used in these structural analysis. In this study, it was calculated to the vibration energy as measuring vibration waveform, and estimated about principal stress due to medium characteristics of the ground as processing dynamic analysis by the vibration energy. The results are as follows : Firstly, the principal stress distribution in all mediums was different due to a medium condition, and the principal stress at concrete medium was represented to difference due to physical characteristics. Secondly, the principal stress by time increasing was represented to maximum amplitude within 0.03 second. And also, the principal stress after maximum amplitude was very large at concrete medium, which was considered to be formed compression or tension range at a medium boundary. Thirdly, the variation of principal stress at concrete medium was represented in the order of RC medium, NC=H medium, NC=S medium. It was considered that the vibration energy propagated fast when a medium have a big elasticity and density.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2019

Reinforced Concrete (RC) shear walls are widely used in Nuclear power plants as effective lateral force resisting elements of the structure and these may experience nonlinear behavior for higher earthquake demand. Short shear walls of aspect ratio less than 1.5 generally experience combined shear flexure interaction. This paper presents the results of the displacement-controlled experiments performed on six RC short shear walls with varying aspect ratios (1, 1.25 and 1.5) for monotonic and reversed quasi-static cyclic loading. Simulation of the shear walls is then carried out by Finite element modeling and also by macro modeling considering the coupled shear and flexure behaviour. The shear response is estimated by softened truss theory using the concrete model given by Vecchio and Collins (1994) with a modification in softening part of the model and flexure response is estimated using moment curvature relationship. The accuracy of modeling is validated by comparing the simulated response with experimental one. Moreover, based on the experimental work a multi-linear hysteretic model is proposed for short shear walls. Finally ultimate load, drift, ductility, stiffness reduction and failure pattern of the shear walls are studied in details and hysteretic energy dissipation along with damage index are evaluated.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.60-72
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• 2016

This study proposes a multi-robot system, using multiple autonomous robots, to explore concrete structures and assist in their maintenance by sealing any cracks present in the structure. The proposed system employed a new self-localization method that is essential for autonomous robots, along with a visualization system to recognize the external environment and to detect and explore cracks efficiently. Moreover, more efficient crack search in an unknown environment became possible by arranging the robots into search areas divided depending on the surrounding situations. Operations with increased efficiency were also realized by overcoming the disadvantages of the infeasible logical behavioral model design with only six basic behavioral strategies based on distributed control-one of the methods to control swarm robots. Finally, this study investigated the efficiency of the proposed multi-robot system via basic sensor testing and simulation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.5
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• pp.599-610
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• 2021

Early detection of small concrete crack or reinforcement corrosion is necessary for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). Global vibration based methods are advantageous over local methods because of simple equipment installation and cost efficiency. Among vibration based techniques, FRF based methods are preferred over modal based methods. In this study, a new coupled method using frequency response function (FRF) and proper orthogonal modes (POM) is proposed by using the dynamic characteristic of a damaged beam. For the numerical simulation, wave finite element (WFE), coupled with traditional finite element (FE) method is used for effectively incorporating the damage related information and faster computation. As reported in literature, hybrid combination of wave function based wave finite element method and shape function based finite element method can addresses the mid frequency modelling difficulty as it utilises the advantages of both the methods. It also reduces the dynamic matrix dimension. The algorithms are implemented on a three-dimensional reinforced concrete beam. Damage is modelled and studied for two scenarios, i.e., crack in concrete and rebar corrosion. Single and multiple damage locations with different damage length are also considered. The proposed methodology is found to be very sensitive to both single- and multiple- damage while being computationally efficient at the same time. It is observed that the detection of damage due to corrosion is more challenging than that of concrete crack. The similarity index obtained from the damage parameters shows that it can be a very effective indicator for appropriately indicating initiation of damage in concrete structure in the form of spread corrosion or invisible crack.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2024

In this study, micro CT images were used to confirm the tensile fracture strength according to the pore distribution characteristics of 3D printed concrete. Unlike general specimens, concrete structures printed by 3D printing techniques have the direction of pores (voids) depending on the stacking direction and the presence of filaments contact surfaces. Accordingly, the pore distribution of 3D printed concrete specimens was analyzed through quantitative and qualitative methods, and the tensile strength by direction was analyzed through a finite element technique. It was confirmed that the pores inside the 3D printed specimen had directionality, resulting in their anisotropic behavior. This study aims to analyze the characteristics of 3D concrete printing specimen and correlate them with simulation-based mechanical properties to improve performance of 3D printed material and structure.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2017

The concrete median barrier used currently in South Korea was developed the impact level of SB5-B(270kJ). However, the impact level of SB6(420kJ) should be considered in many placed with the increased accident of heavy vehicles. In order to increase the impact resistance of newly developed concrete median barrier, the computer simulation was conducted before real field test. For the accurate behavior of concrete, the parameter, such as impact vehicle, concrete cover depth and deterioration, was important. In this paper, a parametric study was conducted depending on vehicle curb weight, concrete cover depth and level of deterioration. The impact resistance of concrete median barrier was severely changed depending on vehicle curb weight and concrete cover depth. Furthermore, the impact resistance of concrete median barrier was also decreased due to deterioration of concrete, therefore the repair and rehabilitation should be conducted for damaged concrete depending on deterioration level. Therefore, vehicle curb weight, cover depth of concrete structures and deterioration level of concrete should be carefully considered for conducting analysis of concrete structure to vehicle collision.