• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2008.10a
• /
• pp.1318-1327
• /
• 2008

Geotechnical sites in urban areas may have embedded structures such as utility lines and underground concrete structures, which cause difficulties in site investigation. This study is a preliminary research to establish knowledge base for developing an optimal technique for site investigation in urban areas. Surface-wave method and resistivity survey, which are frequently adopted for non-destructive site-investigation for geotechnical sites, were investigated to characterize effects of adjacent structures. In case of surface wave method, patterns of wave propagation were investigated for typical sets of multi-layered geotechnical profiles by numerical simulation based on forward modeling theory and field experiments for small-size model tests and real-scale tests in the field. In case of resistivity survey, 3-D finite element analyses and field tests were performed to investigate effects of adjacent concrete structures. These theoretical and experimental researches for surface-wave method and resistivity survey resulted in establishing physical criteria to cause interference of adjacent structures in site investigation at urban areas.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.203-218
• /
• 2022

In this paper, quasi-static tests were carried out on three prefabricated reinforced concrete column-steel beam (RCS) sub-assemblages with floor slabs and one comparison specimen without floor slab. The effects of axial compression and floor slab on the seismic performance were studied, and finite element simulations were conducted using ABAQUS. The results showed that the failure of prefabricated RCS sub-assemblages with floor occurred as a joint beam and column failure mode, while failure of sub-assemblages without floor occurred due to beam plastic hinge formation. Compared to the prefabricated RCS sub-assemblages without floor slab, the overall stiffness of the sub-assemblages with floor slab was between 19.2% and 45.4% higher, and the maximum load bearing capacity increased by 26.8%. However, the equivalent viscosity coefficient was essentially unchanged. When the axial compression ratio increased from 0.24 to 0.36, the hysteretic loops of the sub-assemblages with floor became fuller, and the load bearing capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity increased by 12.1%, 12.9% and 8.9%, respectively. Also, the initial stiffness increased by 10.2%, but the stiffness degradation accelerated. The proportion of column drift caused by beam end plastic bending and column end bending changed from 35% and 46% to 47% and 36%, respectively. Comparative finite element analyses indicated that the numerical simulation outcomes agreed well with the experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.563-577
• /
• 2022

This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations of a new seismic enhancement method for existing reinforced concrete (RC) frames by using an external sub-structure, the hybrid seismic retrofit method (HSRM) system. This retrofit system is an H-shaped frame bolt-connected to an existing RC frame with an infilled-concrete layer between their gaps. Two RC frames were built, one with and one without HSRM, and tested under cyclic loading. The experimental findings showed that the retrofitted RC frame was superior to the non-retrofitted specimen in terms of initial stiffness, peak load, and energy dissipation capacity. A numerical simulation using a commercial program was employed for verification with the experiments. The results obtained from the simulations were consistent with those from the experiments, indicating the finite element (FE) models can simulate the seismic behaviors of bare RC frame and retrofitted RC frame using HSRM.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.5
• /
• pp.1686-1704
• /
• 2021

This study addresses the numerical simulation of the shield building of an AP1000 nuclear power plant (NPP) subjected to a large commercial aircraft impact. First, a simplified finite element model (F.E. model) of the large commercial Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft is established. The F.E. model of the AP1000 shield building is constructed, which is a reasonably simplified reinforced concrete structure. The effectiveness of both F.E. models is verified by the classical Riera method and the impact test of a 1/7.5 scaled GE-J79 engine model. Then, based on the verified F.E. models, the entire impact process of the aircraft on the shield building is simulated by the missile-target interaction method (coupled method) and by the ANSYS/LS-DYNA software, which is at different initial impact velocities and impact heights. Finally, the laws and characteristics of the aircraft impact force, residual velocity, kinetic energy, concrete damage, axial reinforcement stress, and perforated size are analyzed in detail. The results show that all of them increase with the addition to the initial impact velocity. The first four are not very sensitive to the impact height. The engine impact mainly contributes to the peak impact force, and the peak impact force is six times higher than that in the first stage. With increasing initial impact velocity, the maximum aircraft impact force rises linearly. The range of the tension and pressure of the reinforcement axial stress changes with the impact height. The perforated size increases with increasing impact height. The radial perforation area is almost insensitive to the initial impact velocity and impact height. The research of this study can provide help for engineers in designing AP1000 shield buildings.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.617-627
• /
• 2011

This paper presents the results of analytical simulation of shake-table responses of a 1:5 scale 10-story reinforcement concrete(RC) residential building model by using the PERFORM-3D program. The following conclusion are drawn based on the observation of correlation between experiment and analysis; (1) The analytical model simulated fairly well the global elastic behavior under the excitations representative of the earthquake with the return period of 50 years. Under the design earthquake(DE) and maximum considered earthquake(MCE), this model shows the nonlinear behavior, but does not properly simulate the maximum responses, and stiffness and strength degradation in experiment. The main reason is considered to be the assumption of elastic slab. (2) Although the analytical model in the elastic behavior closely simulated the global behavior, there were considerable differences in the distribution of resistance from the wall portions. (3) Under the MCE, the shear deformation of wall was relatively well simulated with the flexural deformation being overestimated by 10 times that of experiment. This overestimation is presumed to be partially due to the neglection of coupling beams in modeling.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.53 no.8
• /
• pp.2682-2695
• /
• 2021

This paper aims to evaluate the structural dynamic responses and damage/failure of the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant under the free drop impact of spent fuel cask (SFC) and fuel assembly (FA) during the on-site transportation. At the present Part I of this paper, the large-scale SFC model free drop test and the corresponding numerical simulations are performed. Firstly, a composite target which is composed of the protective structure, i.e., a thin RC plate (representing the inverted U-shaped slab in the loading shaft) and/or an autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) blocks sacrificial layer, as well as a thick RC plate (representing the bottom slab in the loading shaft) is designed and fabricated. Then, based on the large dropping tower, the free drop test of large-scale SFC model with the mass of 3 t is carried out from the height of 7 m-11 m. It indicates that the bottom slab in the loading shaft could not resist the free drop impact of SFC. The composite protective structure can effectively reduce the damage and vibrations of the bottom slab, and the inverted U-shaped slab could relieve the damage of the AAC blocks layer dramatically. Furthermore, based on the finite element (FE) program LS-DYNA, the corresponding refined numerical simulations are performed. By comparing the experimental and numerical damage and vibration accelerations of the composite structures, the present adopted numerical algorithms, constitutive models and parameters are validated, which will be applied in the further assessment of drop impact effects of full-scale SFC and FA on prototype nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in the next Part II of this paper.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.129-139
• /
• 2008

Due to uncertainty of numerous variables in durability model, a probalistic approach is increasing. Monte Carlo simulation (Level III method) is an easily accessible method, but requires a lot of repeated operations. This paper evaluated the effectiveness of First Order Second Moment method (Level II method), which is more convenient and time saving method than MCS, to predict the corrosion initiation in harbor concrete structure. Mean Value First Order Second Moment method (MV FOSM) and Advanced First Order Second Moment method (AFOSM) are applied to the error function solution of Fick's second law modeling chloride diffusion. Reliability index and failure probability based on MV FOSM and AFOSM are compared with the results by MCS. The comparison showed that AFOSM and MCS predict the similar reliability index and MV FOSM underestimates the probability of corrosion initiation by chloride attack. Also, the sensitivity of variables in durability model to corrosion initiation probability was evaluated on the basis of AFOSM. The results showed that AFOSM is a simple and efficient method to estimate the probability of corrosion initiation in harbor structures.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.87-97
• /
• 2023

The bending of a porous FG plate is discussed in this study using a novel higher quasi-3D hyperbolic shear deformation theory with four unknowns. The proposed theory takes into consideration the normal and transverse shear deformation effect and ensures the parabolic distribution of the transverse stresses through the thickness direction with zero-traction at the top and the bottom surfaces of the structure. Innovative porous functionally graded materials (FGM) have through-thickness porosity as a unique attribute that gradually varies with their qualities. An analytical solution of the static response of the perfect and imperfect FG plate was derived based on the virtual work principle and solved using Navier's procedure. The validity and the efficiency of the current model is confirmed by comparing the results with those obtained by others solutions. The comparisons showed that the present model is very efficient and simple in terms of computation time and exactness. The impact of the porosity parameter, aspect ratio, and thickness ratio on the bending of porous FG plate is shown through a discussion of several numerical results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.101-118
• /
• 2022

The seismic performance of the reinforced concrete (RC) special-shaped column to steel beam connections with steel jacket used in the RC column to steel beam fabricated frame structures was investigated in this study. The three full-scale specimens were subjected to cyclic loading. The failure mode, ultimate bearing capacity, shear strength capacity, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capacity, and strain distribution of the specimens were studied by varying the steel jacket thickness parameters. Test results indicate that the RC special-shaped column to steel beam connection with steel jacket is reliable and has excellent seismic performance. The hysteresis curve is full and has excellent energy dissipation capacity. The thickness of the steel jacket is an important parameter affecting the seismic performance of the proposed connections, and the shear strength capacity, ductility, and initial stiffness of the specimens improve with the increase in the thickness of the steel jacket. The calculation formula for the shear strength capacity of RC special-shaped column to steel beam connections with steel jacket is proposed on the basis of the experimental results and numerical simulation analysis. The theoretical values of the formula are in good agreement with the experimental values.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.190-200
• /
• 2023

As the field of application of in-situ gamma spectroscopy is diversified, proficiency is required for consistent and accurate analysis. In this study, a program was developed to virtually create gamma energy spectra of artificial nuclides, which are difficult to obtain through actual measurements, for training. The virtual spectrum was created by synthesizing the spectra of the background radiation obtained through actual measurement and the theoretical spectra of the artificial radionuclides obtained by a Monte Carlo simulation. Since the theoretical spectrum can only be obtained for a given geometrical structure, representative major geometries for in-situ measurement (ground surface, concrete wall, radioactive waste drum) and the detectors (HPGe, NaI(Tl), LaBr₃(Ce)) were predetermined. Generated virtual spectra were verified in terms of validity and harmonization by gamma spectrometry and energy calibration. As a result, it was confirmed that the energy calibration results including the peaks of the measured spectrum and the peaks of the theoretical spectrum showed differences of less than 1 keV from the actual energies, and that the calculated radioactivity showed a difference within 20% from the actual inputted radioactivity. The verified data were assembled into a database and a program that can generate a virtual spectrum of desired condition was developed.