• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.6 no.7
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• pp.568-577
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• 2000

In this paper for an object grasped by a robot hand to work in stiffness control domain we first investigate the number of fingers for successful stiffness modulation in the object operational space. Next we propose a new compliance control method for robot hands which consist of two steps. RIFDS(Resolved Inter-Finger Decoupling Solver) is to decompose the desired compliance characteristic specified in the op-erational space into the compliance characteristic in the fingertip space without inter-finger coupling and RIJDS(Resolved Inter-Joint Decoupling Solver) is to decompose the fingertip space without inter-finger coupling and RIJDS(Resolved inter-Joint Decoupling Solver) is to decompose the compliance characteristic in the finger-tip space into the compliance characteristic given in the joint space without inter-joint coupling. Based on the analysis results the finger structure should be biominetic in the sense that either kniematic redundancy or force redundancy are required to implement the proposed compliance control scheme, Five-bar fingered robot hands are used as an illustrative example to implement the proposed compliance control method. To show the effectiveness of the proposed compliance control method simulations are performed for two-fingered and three-fingered robot hands.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.143-154
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• 1997

Astochastic finite element model which reflects both the effect of discontinuities and the uncertainty of material properties in underground rock mass has been developed. Latin Hypercube Sampling technique has been mobilized and compared with the Monte Carlo simulation method. To consider the effect of discontinuities, the joint finite element model, which is known to be suitable to explain faults, cleavage, things of that nature, has been used in this study. To reflect the uncertainty of material properties, multi-random variables are assumed as the joint normal stiffness and the joint shear stiffness, which could be simulated in terms of normal distribution. The developed computer program in this study has been verified by practical example and has been applied to analyze the circular cavern with discontinuous rock mass.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2020

Non-destructive exploration using elastic waves has been widely used to characterize rock mass properties. Wave propagation in jointed rock masses is significantly governed by the characteristics and orientation of discontinuities. The relationship between spatial heterogeneity (i.e., joint spacing) and wavelength for elastic waves propagating through jointed rock masses have been investigated previously. Discontinuous rock masses can be considered as an equivalent continuum material when the wavelength of the propagating elastic wave exceeds the spatial heterogeneity. However, it is unclear how stress-dependent long-wavelength elastic waves propagate through a repetitive rock-joint system with multiple joints. A preliminary numerical simulation was performed in in this study to investigate long-wavelength elastic wave propagation in regularly jointed rock masses using the three-dimensional distinct element code program. First, experimental studies using the quasi-static resonant column (QSRC) testing device are performed on regularly jointed disc column specimens for three different materials (acetal, aluminum, and gneiss). The P- and S-wave velocities of the specimens are obtained under various normal stress levels. The normal and shear joint stiffness are calculated from the experimental results using an equivalent continuum model and used as input parameters for numerical analysis. The spatial and temporal sizes are carefully selected to guarantee a stable numerical simulation. Based on the calibrated jointed rock model, the numerical and experimental results are compared.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

Purpose: Stretching exercises are commonly used in conjunction with sports and rehabilitation. Weassessed the immediate effects of stretching on passive stiffness of the hamstring muscles and knee range of motion (ROM) using three stretching techniques. Methods: A total of 45 participants were recruited. Isokinetic equipment was used to measure the passive stiffness of hamstring muscles and an inclinometer was used to measure active and passive ROM of the knee joint pre and post stretching. Stiffness was then calculated based on the incline of the torque-angle relationship. The test conditions for Group I were $3{\times}30$ seconds of static stretches using the hamstring muscle, Group II were $3{\times}30$ seconds of static stretches using the hamstring muscle with ankle dorsiflexion, and Group IIII had $3{\times}30$ seconds of active stretching. Results: Group II had significantly higher excursion of active ROM and Group IIIhad significantly higher excursion of passive muscle stiffness. All of the groups had significantly higher active and passive ROM and significantly lower muscle stiffness after stretching. The participants showed no change in hamstring muscle stiffness on the following day. Conclusion: Stretching has significant acute effects on ROM and muscle stiffness and canbe used in warm-up protocols for reducing muscle stiffness before a variety of exercise programs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.637-656
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• 2021

The component-based method is widely used to analyze the initial stiffness of joint in steel structures. In this study, an analytical component model for determining the column face stiffness of square or rectangular hollow section (SHS/RHS) subjected to tension was established, focusing on endplate connections. Equations for calculating the stiffness of the SHS/RHS column face in bending were derived through regression analysis using numerical results obtained from a finite element model database. Because the presence of bolt holes decreased the bending stiffness of the column face, this effect was calculated using a novel plate-spring-based model through numerical analysis. The developed component model was first applied to predict the bending stiffness of the SHS column face determined through tests. Furthermore, this model was incorporated into the component-based method with other effective components, e.g., bolts under tension, to determine the tensile stiffness of the T-stub connections, which connects the SHS column, and the initial rotational stiffness of the joints. A comparison between the model predictions, test data, and numerical results confirms that the proposed model shows satisfactory accuracy in evaluating the bending stiffness of SHS column faces.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.293-294
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• 2021

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.142-151
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• 1993

In this study, the deformation characteristics of atrtificially fractured joints of granite under normal and shear loading were investigated. To obtain the characteristics of joint deformation, compression and shear tests were performed in the laboratory on three different sizes of rock specimens. The rock used in the experimens was Iksan granite. Joints were produced artificially by fracturing using the apparatus for generating extension-joint. Joint normal deformability was studied by conducting cyclic loading tests on the joints. Joint closure varied non-linearly with normal stress through cyclic loadings. As normal stress increased, the joints gradually reached a state of maximum joint closure. The relation between normal stress and joint closure for mated and unmated joints was well described by the hyperbolic and exponential function, respectively. Joint shear deformability was studied by performing direct shear tests under normal stresses on the joints. it was shown that the behaviour in the prepeak range was non-linear and joint shear stiffness depended on the size of specimen and the normal stress.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.96-105
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• 2002

Shear wall is the most important component resisting lateral loads imposed to a building by wind or earthquake. In shear walls, lateral load applied to framing is transmitted to sheathing panel through nailed joints between sheathing and framing so that the load is resisted by in-plane shear strength of sheathing. Therefore, nailed joints are the most basic and important component in the viewpoint of stiffness and strength of shear walls. In this study, stiffness and strength of single nailed joint were measured by single shear tests of nailed joints and used as input for theoretical models developed to estimate racking behavior of shear walls. And shear walls were tested to check the accuracy of theoretical models estimating racking resistance of shear walls. Stiffness of nailed joint was affected by grain direction of stud but direction of sheathing panel had little effect. Behavior of nailed joint and shear walls under lateral loads could be represented by three lines. Theoretical model II was more accurate than theoretical model I in estimating racking behavior of shear wall under loads.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.146-150
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• 2010

Purpose: Pilon fracture has several serious complications such as joint stiffness, arthrosis and delayed angular deformity. We report short-term results of new treatment modality using distracted dynamic external fixators and early controlled ankle motion. Materials and Methods: Eight cases of severe pilon fractures for which we tried small plate fixation and additional distracted dynamic external fixators from July 2007 to June 2009 were included. Half passive continuous ankle joint motion was allowed under free hinged ring fixators after the operation. The external fixators were removed after two or three months from the surgery. We investigated joint space by radiograph, joint pain, range of motion, patient's satisfaction of treatment protocol. Results: Joints were distracted when external fixators were applied and mean 28% of space loss developed after removal of external fixators. In most of cases, satisfactory alignments were maintained. Regarding range of joint motion, mean dorsiflexion angle was 15 degrees and mean plantarflexion angle was 32 degree in the condition of wearing external fixators. There was mean 8% reduction of range of motion but no further progression of ankle stiffness after removal of external fixators. Dorsiflexion was not improved after that, but plantarflexion angle was improved 10% even after removal of external fixators. Patients were generally in compliance with the treatment protocols with high level of satisfaction. Conclusion: We got good results with distracted dynamic external fixators and early continuous half-passive joint motion for pilon fractures in terms of joint pain and range of motion. Therefore we suggest this new protocol as an alternative modality for severe pilon fractures.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 1998

Structural damage is used to be modeled through reductions in the stiffness of structural elements for the purpose of damage estimation of structural system. In this study, the concept of joint damage is employed for more realistic damage assessment of a steel structure. The joint damage is estimated damage based on the mode shape informations using neural networks, The beam-to-column connection in a steel frame structure is represented by a rotational spring at the fixed end of a beam element. The severity of joint damage is defined as the reduction ratio of the connection stiffness with respect to the value of the intact joint. The concept of the substructural identification is used for the localized damage assessment in a large structure. The feasibility of the proposed method is examined using an example with simulated data. It has been found that the joint damages can be reasonably estimated for the case with the measurements of the mode vectors subjected to noise.