• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2017

Multi-Axial Testing System (MATS) is a 6-DOF loading system located at National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) in Taiwan for advanced seismic testing of structural components or sub-assemblages. MATS was designed and constructed for a large variety of structural testing, especially for the specimens that require to be subjected to vertical and longitudinal loading simultaneously, such as reinforced concrete columns and lead rubber bearings. Functionally, MATS consists of a high strength self-reacting frame, a rigid platen, and a large number of servo-hydraulic actuators. The high strength self-reacting frame is composed of two post-tensioned A-shape reinforced concrete frames interconnected by a steel-and-concrete composite cross beam and a reinforced concrete reacting base. The specimen can be anchored between the top cross beam and the bottom rigid platen within a 5-meter high and 3.25-meter wide clear space. In addition to the longitudinal horizontal actuators that can be installed for various configurations, a total number of 13 servo-hydraulic actuators are connected to the rigid platen. Degree-of-freedom control of the rigid platen can be achieved by driving these actuators commanded by a digital controller. The specification and information of MATS in detail are described in this paper, providing the users with a technical point of view on the design, application, and limitation of MATS. Finally, future potential application employing advanced experimental technology is also presented in this paper.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.29 no.5 s.101
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• pp.389-394
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• 2005

The additional moment occurs because the superstructures of VLFS are influenced by wave loads instead of earthquake loads. In order to reduce the additional moment, this study used the semi-rigid connections which lie between fully rigid and pinned. If the semi-rigid connections are used for superstructures of VLFS, the moment of beams can be reduced and more economical construction will be possible. This study aims to show the effect of wave loads on structure and the efficiency of the semi-rigid connections due to wave loads by analyzing the time history responses. The dynamic behaviors of the rigid frame are compared with those of the semi-rigid frame considering of static loads, wave loads and combination loads for a four-bay, three-story frames. The semi-rigid connection type is a steel tubular column with square external-diaphragm connections and the time history analysis is used for the dynamic responses. The additional moment responses due to wave loads increase $33\%$ in the rigid frame, $26\%$ in the semi-rigid frame with the spring model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.39-48
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze air temperature decreasing effects by shading and ventilation at micro-scale experiment plots, especially focused on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) in outdoor spaces. To monitor the time-serial changes of Dry-bulb Temperature (DT), Globe Temperature (GT) and Relative Humidity (RH) in the wind blocking and shading conditions, Two hexahedral steel frames were established on the open grass field, the dimension of each frame was 1.5m(W)${\times}$1.5m(L)${\times}$1.5m(H). Four vertical side of one frame was covered by transparent polyethylene film to prevent wind passing through (Wind break plot; WP). The top side of the other frame was covered with shading curtain which intercept 95% of solar light and energy (Shading plot; SP). And, Another vertical steel frame without any treatment preventing ventilation and sunlight was set up, which represents natural conditions (Control plot; CP). The major findings were as follows; 1. The average globe temperature (GT) was highest at WP showing $50.94^{\circ}C$ and lowest at SP showing $34.58^{\circ}C$. The GT of natural condition (SP) was $42.31^{\circ}C$ locating the midst between WP and SP. The difference of GT of each plot was about $8-16^{\circ}C$, which means the ventilation and shading has significant effect on decreasing the temperature. 2. WP showed the highest average dry-bulb temperature (DT) of $38.41^{\circ}C$ which apparently differ from SP and CP showing $31.94^{\circ}C$ and $33.15^{\circ}C$ respectively. The DT of SP and CP were nearly the same. 3. The average relative humidity (RH) was lowest at WP showing 15.21%, but SP and CP had similar RH 28.79%, 28.02% respectively. 4. The average of calculated WBGT were the highest at the WP ($27.61^{\circ}C$) and the lowest at the SP ($23.64^{\circ}C$). The CP ($25.49^{\circ}C$) was in the middle of the others. As summery, compared with natural condition (CP), the wind blocking increased about $2.11^{\circ}C$ WBGT, but the shading decreased about $1.84^{\circ}C$ WBGT. So It can be apparently said that the open space with much shading trees, sheltering furnitures and well-delivered wind corridor can reduce useless and even harmful energy for human outdoor activity considerably in outdoor spaces.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.100-108
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• 2012

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of shading and ventilation on Mean Radiant Temperature(MRT) of the outdoor space at a summer outdoor. The Wind Speed(WS), Air Temperature(AT) and Globe Temperature(GT) were recorded every minute from $1^{st}$ of May to the $30^{th}$ of September 2011 at a height of 1.2m above in four experimental plots with different shading and ventilating conditions, with a measuring system consisting of a vane type anemometer(Barini Design's BDTH), Resistance Temperature Detector(RTD, Pt-100), standard black globe(${\O}$ 150mm) and data acquisition systems(National Instrument's Labview and Compfile Techs' Moacon). To implement four different ventilating and shading conditions, three hexahedral steel frames, and one natural plot were established in the open grass field. Two of the steel frames had a dimension of $3m(W){\times}3m(L){\times}1.5m(H)$ and every vertical side covered with transparent polyethylene film to prevent lateral ventilation(Ventilation Blocking Plot: VP), and an additional shading curtain was applied on the top side of a frame(Shading and Ventilation Blocking Plot: SVP). The third was $1.5m(W){\times}1.5m(L){\times}1.5m(H)$, only the top side of which was covered by the shading curtain without the lateral film(Shading Plot: SP). The last plot was natural condition without any kind of shading and wind blocking material(Natural Open Plot: NP). Based on the 13,262 records of 44 sunny days, the time serial difference of AT and GT for 24 hour were analyzed and compared, and statistical analysis was done based on the 7,172 records of daytime period from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M., while the relation between the MRT and solar radiation and wind speed was analyzed based on the records of the hottest period from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M.. The major findings were as follows: 1. The peak AT was $40.8^{\circ}C$ at VP and $35.6^{\circ}C$ at SP showing the difference about $5^{\circ}C$, but the difference of average AT was very small within${\pm}1^{\circ}C$. 2. The difference of the peak GT was $12^{\circ}C$ showing $52.5^{\circ}C$ at VP and $40.6^{\circ}C$ at SP, while the gap of average GT between the two plots was $6^{\circ}C$. Comparing all four plots including NP and SVP, it can be said that the shading decrease $6^{\circ}C$ GT while the wind blocking increase $3^{\circ}C$ GT. 3. According to the calculated MRT, the shading has a cooling effect in reducing a maximum of $13^{\circ}C$ and average $9^{\circ}C$ MRT, while the wind blocking has heating effect of increasing average $3^{\circ}C$ MRT. In other words, the MRT of the shaded area with natural ventilation could be cooler than the wind blocking the sunny site to about $16^{\circ}C$ MRT maximum. 4. The regression and correlation tests showed that the shading is more important than the ventilation in reducing the MRT, while both of them do an important role in improving the outdoor thermal comfort. In summary, the results of this study showed that the shade is the first and the ventilation is the second important factor in terms of improving outdoor thermal comfort in summer daylight hours. Therefore, it can be apparently said that the more shade by the forest, shading trees etc., the more effective in conditioning the microclimate of an outdoor space reducing the useless or even harmful heat energy for human activities. Furthermore, the delicately designed wind corridor or outdoor ventilation system can improve even the thermal environment of urban area.