• Korean System Dynamics Review
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.77-95
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• 2009

The ever-increasing government budget constraints have led to a continued decline in the increase rate for defense spending, and the government's 5-year National Fiscal Management Plan has served to reinforce the verification and validation procedures for the Force Improvement Programs (FIP) budget requirements and performance. Additionally, as large programs are controlled in accordance with the Total Program Cost Management Guidelines, timely and credible feasibility study and performance measurement need to be conducted. Due to these internal and external circumstances, needs have surged for feasibility and economic effectiveness study for big ticket projects in the FIP sector, with an increasing number of studies conducted by external research institutes. However, questions have been raised regarding the credibility and thoroughness of the program analyses performed by these research institutes due to various restrictions. This paper analyzes and identifies the structural limitations and problems using a systems thinking approach, and examines the systemic characteristics of the program analysis system. It also presents policy intervention recommendations based on the theory of systems thinking, a method to regularize and reinforce the program analysis system. Policy interventions recommended to ensure alignment of the external studies to the clear analysis objectives and resolve the bottlenecks in the external analysis include training those in charge of external study commissioning for a short term intervention, and increasing the number of research institutes and consulting agencies utilizing analysis and evaluation experts who transition to the private sector from the military for a long term intervention. additionally presented are strategies and policy alternatives to best utilize these policy interventions. They will contribute to the stable funding of Force Improvement Programs and efficient utilization of defense budget.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.217-244
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• 2003

As energy industry is undergoing a rapid structural changes, economic feasibility analysis based on the conventional discounted cash flow (DCF) method has limitations to incorporate management's flexibilities. We present a real options pricing method (ROPM) which can be applied to an energy sector as an alternative. In order to examine the usefulness of ROPM, this study compares the result of DCF method applied to the investment of cogeneration power plant with that based on the ROPM incorporating the value of real of options inherent in the project. The simulation results show that the value of investment opportunities improves using ROPM compared to that with the conventional DCF methods. Therefore, a specific project which appears to be unprofitable from the conventional point of view could be, actually, an economically feasible one based on ROPM method, when properly incorporating the management's flexibilities inherent in the project.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.981-994
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• 2016

Two field research stations based upon atmospheric corrosivity monitoring combined with reinforced concrete corrosion rate sensors have been established in Kuwait. This was established for the purpose of remote monitoring of building materials performance for concrete under Kuwait atmospheric environment. The two field research sites for concrete have been based upon an outcome from a research investigation intended for monitoring the atmospheric corrosivity from weathering station distributed in eight areas, and in different regions in Kuwait. Data on corrosivity measurements are essential for the development of specification of an optimized corrosion resistance system for reinforced concrete manufactured products. This study aims to optimize, characterize, and utilize long-term concrete structural health monitoring through on line corrosion measurement and to determine the feasibility and viability of the integrated anode ladder corrosion sensors embedded in concrete. The atmospheric corrosivity categories supported with GSM remote data acquisition system from eight corrosion monitoring stations at different regions in Kuwait are being classified according to standard ISO 9223. The two nominated field sites where based upon time of wetness and bimetallic corrosion rate from atmospheric data where metals and rebar's concrete are likely to be used. Eight concrete blocks with embeddable anodic ladder corrosion sensors were placed in the atmospheric zone adjacent to the sea shore at KISR site. The anodic ladder corrosion rate sensors for concrete were installed to provide an early warning system on prediction of the corrosion propagation and on developing new insights on the long-term durability performance and repair of concrete structures to lower labor cost. The results show the atmospheric corrosivity data of the environment and the feasibility of data retrieval of the corrosion potential of concrete from the embeddable sets of anodic ladder corrosion sensors.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1603-1611
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• 2010

The comparative study of regression-model-based approximate optimization techniques used in the strength design of an automotive knuckle component that will be under bump and brake loading conditions is carried out. The design problem is formulated such that the cross-sectional sizing variables are determined by minimizing the weight of the knuckle component that is subjected to stresses, deformations, and vibration frequency constraints. The techniques used in the comparative study are sequential approximate optimization (SAO), sequential two-point diagonal quadratic approximate optimization (STDQAO), and approximate optimization based on enhanced moving least squares method (MLSM), such as CF (constraint feasible)-MLSM and Post-MLSM. Commercial process integration and design optimization (PIDO) tools are utilized for the application of SAO and STDQAO. The enhanced MLSM-based approximate optimization techniques are newly developed to ensure constraint feasibility. The results of the approximate optimization techniques are compared with those of actual non-approximate optimization to evaluate their numerical performances.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.76 no.3
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• pp.293-310
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• 2020

This study derives the differential equations of free vertical bending and torsional vibrations for two- and three-pylon suspension bridges using d'Alembert's principle. The respective algorithms for natural vibration frequency and vibration mode are established through the separation of variables. In the case of the three-pylon suspension bridge, the effect of the along-bridge bending vibration of the middle pylon on the vertical bending vibration of the entire bridge is considered. The impact of torsional vibration of the middle pylon about the vertical axis on the torsional vibration of the entire bridge is also analyzed in detail. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified by two engineering examples. A comparative analysis of the results obtained via the proposed and more intricate finite element methods confirmed the former feasibility. Finally, the middle pylon stiffness effect on the vibration frequency of the three-pylon suspension bridge is discussed. It is found that the vibration frequencies of the first- and third-order vertical bending and torsional modes both increase with the middle pylon stiffness. However, the increase amplitudes of third-order bending and torsional modes are relatively small with the middle pylon stiffness increase. Moreover, the second-order bending and torsional frequencies do not change with the middle pylon stiffness.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4146-4158
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• 2022

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) has been widely utilized in military and civil protective structures to resist intensive loadings attributed to its excellent properties, e.g., high tensile/compressive strength, high dynamic toughness and impact resistance. At present, aiming to improve the defects of the traditional vertical concrete cask (VCC), i.e., the external storage facility of spent fuel, with normal strength concrete (NSC) shield, e.g., heavy weight and difficult to fabricate/transform, the feasibility of UHPC applied in the shield of VCC is numerically examined considering its high radiation and corrosion resistance. Firstly, the finite element (FE) analyses approach and material model parameters of NSC and UHPC are verified based on the 1/3 scaled VCC tip-over test and drop hammer test on UHPC members, respectively. Then, the refined FE model of prototypical VCC is established and utilized to examine its dynamic behaviors and damage distribution in accidental tip-over and end-drop events, in which the various influential factors, e.g., UHPC shield thickness, concrete ground thickness, and sealing methods of steel container are considered. In conclusion, by quantitatively evaluating the safety of VCC in terms of the shield damage and vibrations, it is found that adopting the 300 mm-thick UHPC shield instead of the conventional 650 mm-thick NSC shield can reduce about 1/3 of the total weight of VCC, i.e., about 50 t, and 37% floor space, as well as guarantee the structural integrity of VCC during the accidental drop simultaneously. Besides, based on the parametric analyses, the thickness of concrete ground in the VCC storage site is recommended as less than 500 mm, and the welded connection is recommended for the sealing method of steel containers.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.451-461
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• 2010

Utilization of the fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) material has been enlarged as a substitution material to the general construction materials having certain long-term problems such as corrosion, etc. However, it could be difficult to apply the FRP material, which has a linear shape generally, to an arch-shaped tunnel structure. Therefore, an attempt has been made in this study to develop a device to form a designed cross section of FRP material by pulling out with a curvature. A sample of the circled FRP product was successfully produced and then the sample has been tested to identify its physical characteristics. Then, intensive feasibility studies on the circled FRP panel to be used for a tunnel lining structure have been carried out by numerical analyses. As a result, it appears that the new circled FRP-concrete composite panel has a high capability to be used for a tunnel lining material without any structural problem.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.61-77
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• 2019

If a new utility tunnel is planned for high density existing urban areas in Korea, a rational decision-making process such as the determination of optimum design capacity by using the feasibility evaluation system based on quantitative evaluation indexes and the economic evaluation is needed. Thus, the previous study presented the important weight of individual higher-level indexes (3 items) and sub-indexes (16 items) through a hierarchy analysis (AHP) for quantitative evaluation index items, considering the characteristics of each urban type. In addition, an economic evaluation method was proposed considering 10 benefit items and 8 cost items by adding 3 new items, including the effects of traffic accidents, noise reduction and socio-economic losses, to the existing items for the benefit cost analysis suitable for urban utility tunnels. This study presented a quantitative feasibility evaluation method using the important weight of 16 sub-index items such as the road management sector, public facilities sector and urban environment sector. Afterwards, the results of quantitative feasibility and economic evaluation were compared and analyzed in 123 main road sections of the Seoul. In addition, a comprehensive evaluation method was proposed by the combination of the two evaluation results. The design capacity optimization program, which will be developed by programming the logic of the quantitative feasibility and economic evaluation system presented in this study, will be utilized in the planning and design phases of urban community zones and will ultimately contribute to the vitalization of urban utility tunnels.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2018

In this paper, the feasibility of recycling concrete waste as a method to reduce final disposal amount of wastes generated through decommissioning of nuclear power plant has been analyzed based on experimental results of existing literature. When recycled concrete waste was used as recycled aggregate, it was investigated through literature that the concrete strength decreased by 30~40% depending on the mixing ratio. It was also investigated that concrete with recycled aggregate can be used as a structural material when the quality of recycled aggregate is well managed since no significant problem was found. When recycled cement produced from concrete waste was used, the strength of concrete or mortar decreased considerably as the recycled cement content increased. Therefore, it can be concluded that concrete or mortar with recycled cement can be used as a filling material for final disposal of large radioactive waste rather than for structural use. This paper is expected to be useful for reduction on disposal volume and decommissioning cost for nuclear power plants such as Kori 1.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.307-313
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• 2016

When liquefied natural gas (LNG) is stored in a tank, it is necessary to maintain low temperature. It is very important that insulation techniques are applied to the LNG cargo because of this extreme environment. Hence, laminated wood, especially plywood, is widely used as the structural member and insulation material in LNG cargo containment systems (CCS). However, fracture of plywood has been reported recently, owing to sloshing effect. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the strength of the structural member for solving the problem. In this study, compressed wood, which is used as a support in LNG independent type B tanks, was considered as a substitute for plywood. Compression and bending tests were performed on compressed wood under ambient and cryogenic temperatures to estimate the mechanical behaviors and fracture characteristics. In addition, the direction normal to the laminates surface was considered as an experimental variable. Finally, the feasibility of using compressed wood for an LNG CCS was evaluated from the test results.