• Computers and Concrete
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.117-134
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• 2008

An experimental and numerical research was conducted to gain a deeper insight on the structural behaviour of deep-beams with indirect supports and to assess the size effects in the ultimate state behaviour. The experimental campaign focused on the influence of the reinforcement tie distribution height on the compression check of the support region and on the benefits of using unbonded prestressing steel. Three reduced scale specimens were tested and used to validate the results obtained with a nonlinear finite element model. As a good agreement could be found between the numerical and the experimental results, the numerical model was then further used to perform simulations in large scale deep-beams, with dimensions similar to the ones to be adopted in a practical case. Two sources of size effects were identified from the simulation results. Both sources are related to the concrete quasi-brittle behaviour and are responsible for increasing failure brittleness with increasing structural size. While in the laboratory models failure occurred both in the experimental tests as well as in the numerical simulations after reinforcement yielding, the numerically analysed large scale models exhibited shear failures with reinforcement still operating in the elastic range.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.06b
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• pp.404-409
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• 2001

Seismic qualification of the Air Cleaning Units for nuclear power plant Ulchin 5&6 has been performed with the guideline of ASME Section III and IEEE 344 code. By using the structural and geometrical similarity analysis, the three models to be analyzed is condensed into a single model and, at the same time, the excitation forces and other operating loads for each model are encompassed with respect to different loading conditions. As the fundamental frequencies of the structure are found to be less than 33Hz, which is the upper frequency limit of the seismic load, response spectrum analysis using ANSYS is performed in order to combine the modal stresses within the frequency limit. In order to confirm the structural and electric stability of the major components, modal analysis theory is adopted to derive the required response spectrum at the component locations. As the all combined stresses obtained from the above procedures are less than allowable stresses and no mechanical or electrical failures are found from the seismic testing, the authors confirm the safety of the nuclear equipments Air Cleaning Units studied in this paper.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.237-248
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• 2013

Thermal stratification has continuously caused several piping failures in nuclear power plants since the early 1980s. However, this critical thermal effect was not considered when the old nuclear power plants were designed. Therefore, it is urgent to evaluate this unexpected thermal effect on the structural integrity of piping systems. In this paper, the thermal effects of stratified flow in two different safety injection piping systems were investigated by using a coupled CFD-FE method. Since stratified flow is generally generated by turbulent penetration and/or valve leakage, thermal stress analyses as well as CFD analyses were carried out considering these two primary causes. Numerical results show that the most critical factor governing thermal stratification is valve leakage and that temperature distribution significantly changes according to the leakage path. In particular, in-leakage has a high possibility of causing considerable structural problems in RCS piping.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2017

This paper presents the findings of experimental and numerical investigations on failure analysis and structural behavior of notched steel I-beams reinforced by bonded Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) plates under static load. To find solutions for preventing or delaying the failures, understanding the CFRP failure modes is beneficial. One non-strengthened control beam and four specimens with different deficiencies (one side and two sides) on flexural flanges in both experimental test and simulation were studied. Two additional notched beams were investigated just numerically. In the experimental test, four-point bending method with static gradual loading was employed. To simulate the specimens, ABAQUS software in full three dimensional (3D) case and non-linear analysis method was applied. The results show that the CFRP failure modes in strengthening of deficient steel I-beams include end-debonding, below point load debonding, splitting and delamination. Strengthening schedule is important to the occurrences and sequences of CFRP failure modes. Additionally, application of CFRP plates in the deficiency region prevents crack propagation and brittle failure.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.145-164
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• 2015

Bridge scour is the predominant cause of overwater bridge failures in North America and around the world. Several sensing systems have been developed over the years to detect the extent of scour so that preventative actions can be performed in a timely manner. These sensing systems have drawbacks, such as signal inaccuracy and discontinuity, installation difficulty, and high cost. Therefore, attempts to develop more efficient monitoring schemes continue. In this study, the viability of using optical dissolved oxygen (DO) probes for monitoring scour depths was explored. DO levels are very low in streambed sediments, as compared to the standard level of oxygen in flowing water. Therefore, scour depths can be determined by installing sensors to monitor DO levels at various depths along the buried length of a bridge pier or abutment. The measured DO is negligible when a sensor is buried but would increase significantly once scour occurs and exposes the sensor to flowing water. A set of experiments was conducted in which four dissolved oxygen probes were embedded at different soil depths in the vicinity of a mock bridge pier inside a laboratory flume simulating scour conditions. The results confirmed that DO levels jumped drastically when sensors became exposed during scour hole evolution, thereby providing discrete measurements of the maximum scour depth. Moreover, the DO probes could detect any subsequent refilling of the scour hole through the deposition of sediments. The effect of soil permeability on the sensing response time was also investigated.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.81-95
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• 2019

The unexpected seismic interaction of dry-assembled precast concrete frame structures typical of the European heritage with their precast cladding panels brought to extensive failures of the panels during recent earthquakes due to the inadequateness of their connection systems. Following this recognition, an experimental campaign of cyclic and pseudo-dynamic tests has been performed at ELSA laboratory of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission on a full-scale prototype of precast structure with vertical and horizontal cladding panels within the framework of the Safecladding project. The panels were connected to the frame structure by means of innovative arrangements of fastening systems including isostatic, integrated and dissipative. Many of the investigated configurations involved a strong frame-cladding interaction, modifying the structural behaviour of the frame turning it into highly non-linear since small deformation. In such cases, properly modelling the connections becomes fundamental in the framework of a design by non-linear dynamic analysis. This paper presents the peculiarities of the numerical models of precast frame structures equipped with the various cladding connection systems which have been set to predict and simulate the experimental results from pseudo-dynamic tests. The comparison allows to validate the structural models and to derive recommendations for a proper modelling of the different types of existing and innovative cladding connection systems.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.483-500
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• 2022

Cold-formed steel wall panels sheathed with gypsum plasterboard have shown superior thermal and structural performance in fire. Recent damage caused by fire events in Australia has increased the need for accurate fire resistance ratings of wall systems used in low- and mid-rise construction. Past fire research has mostly focused on light gauge steel framed (LSF) walls under uniform axial compression and LSF floors under pure bending. However, in reality, LSF wall studs may be subject to both compression and bending actions due to eccentric loading at the wall to-roof or wall-to-floor connections. In order to investigate the fire resistance of LSF walls under the effects of these loading eccentricities, four full-scale standard fire tests were conducted on 3 m × 3 m LSF wall specimens lined with two 16 mm gypsum plasterboards under different combinations of axial compression and lateral load ratios. The findings show that the loading eccentricity can adversely affect the fire resistance level of the LSF wall depending on the magnitude of the eccentricity, the resultant compressive stresses in the hot and cold flanges of the wall studs caused by combined loading and the temperatures of the hot and cold flanges of the studs. Structural fire designers should consider the effects of loading eccentricity in the design of LSF walls to eliminate their potential failures in fire.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.235-244
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• 2011

Failures of segmental bridges have been attributed to the inadequate joint connection techniques, which led to corrosion of the post-tensioned tendons connecting the segmental joints. The principal objective of this study is to evaluate the performances of the in-situ cast joint and epoxy applied shear key joints as a function of shear and ultimate strengths. Furthermore, shear behavior and strength of shear key joints in ultra high performance precasted concrete segmental bridges are experimentally evaluated to understand its shear failure behavior. The test parameters of shear key shape and type, load-displacement relations, cracking behavior, concrete strength, and fracture modes are considered in the study. Also, several parameters which influence the mechanical behavior of the shear key joint are analyzed. Based on the study results, the optimal shear key shape and joint type are proposed for the joint design and analysis guidelines.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.61-66
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• 2008

As the water distribution system which is one of the critical lifeline system is deteriorated and pipe failures occur frequently, the more efficient pipe monitoring system becomes a critical issue in the water industry. One of the pipe monitoring systems is called "Smart-pipe System" which is permanent, comprehensive and an automated SIM (Structural Integrity Monitoring) system and has superiorities to existing monitoring system. To implement a smart-pipe system on a water distribution system, assessment of its indirect benefit obtaining from smartpipe such as the ratio of preventing water main failures must be preceded. However, only some researches on this field have been performed. In this paper, the concept of smart-pipe system is compared with the current monitoring systems for a water distribution system, and a method to quantify its benefit using the inconvenient time for customers is suggested. The suggested method was applied to a real water distribution system to estimate its applicability and benefit.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.73-76
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• 2008

According to the survey of earthquake disaster, low-rise reinforced concrete building larger by the extent of damage and because of the underlying distribution of reinforced concrete structures more, it is very likely to be disasters. The purpose of this study is to discuss how strength and stiffness of each system in low-rise reinforced concrete buildings consisted of extremely brittle, shear and flexural failure lateral-load resisting systems have influence on seismic capacities of the overall system. Generally, if shear failure members including extremely brittle failure members are failed during an earthquake, the lateral-load resisting seismic capacities of RC buildings are lower rapidly, and if the seismic capacities of shear failure members were higher than that of flexural failure members, failures of shear failure members have influence on failures of the overall system. The result of this paper will provide pseudo-dynamic test of carried out to estimate the possibility of proposals.