• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 2010

This study was performed to validate reference materials (RMs) for proficiency testing (PT) in waste inter-laboratories. Dioxin RMs were prepared from fly ash in industrial incinerators. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of analytical results were 2.6~15.7% for the dioxin RMs in 10 replicates (between and withinbottles). Data were collected and statistical analysis was performed by the One-way ANOVA test. The combined uncertainties of target isomers in dioxin analysis were 0.114~7.091.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.235-256
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• 2010

The aeroelastic stability of bridge decks equipped with multiple tuned mass dampers is studied. The problem is attacked in the time domain, by representing self-excited loads with the aid of aerodynamic indicial functions approximated by truncated series of exponential filters. This approach allows to reduce the aeroelastic stability analysis in the form of a direct eigenvalue problem, by introducing an additional state variable for each exponential term adopted in the approximation of indicial functions. A general probabilistic framework for the optimal robust design of multiple tuned mass dampers is proposed, in which all possible sources of uncertainties can be accounted for. For the purposes of this study, the method is also simplified in a form which requires a lower computational effort and it is then applied to a general case study in order to analyze the control effectiveness of regular and irregular multiple tuned mass dampers. A special care is devoted to mistuning effects caused by random variations of the target frequency. Regular multiple tuned mass dampers are seen to improve both control effectiveness and robustness with respect to single tuned mass dampers. However, those devices exhibit an asymmetric behavior with respect to frequency mistuning, which may weaken their feasibility for technical applications. In order to overcome this drawback, an irregular multiple tuned mass damper is conceived which is based on unequal mass distribution. The optimal design of this device is finally pursued via a full domain search, which evidences a remarkable robustness against frequency mistuning, in the sense of the simplified design approach.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.99-115
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• 2014

Uncertainties in design variables and design equations have a significant impact on the safety of geotechnical structures like retaining walls and slopes. This paper presents a possible framework for obtaining the partial safety factors based on reliability approach for different random variables affecting the stability of a reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall and a slope under static loading conditions. Reliability analysis is carried out by Mean First Order Second Moment Method, Point Estimate Method, Monte Carlo Simulation and Response Surface Methodology. A target reliability index ${\beta}$ = 3 is set and partial safety factors for each random variable are calculated based on different coefficient of variations of the random variables. The study shows that although deterministic analysis reveals a safety factor greater than 1.5 which is considered to be safe in conventional approach, reliability analysis indicates quite high failure probability due to variation of soil properties. The results also reveal that a higher factor of safety is required for internal friction angle ${\varphi}$, while almost negligible values of safety factors are required for soil unit weight ${\gamma}$ in case of cantilever retaining wall and soil unit weight ${\gamma}$ and cohesion c in case of slope. Importance of partial safety factors is shown by analyzing two simple geotechnical structures. However, it can be applied for any complex system to achieve economization.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.202-211
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• 2021

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) have been regulated by the Air Pollution Control Act (1978) and their atmospheric concentrations have been monitored in 39 monitor sites in Korea. However, measurement standards of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in HAPs at ambient levels have not been established in Korea. Primary reference gas mixtures (measurement standards) at ambient levels are required for accurately monitoring atmospheric VOCs in HAPs and managing their emissions. In this study, primary reference gas mixtures (PRMs) at 5 nmol/mol were developed in order to establish primary national standards of VOCs in HAPs at ambient levels. Primary reference gas mixtures (PRMs) were prepared in pressurized aluminum cylinders with special internal surface treatment using gravimetric method. Analytical methods using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) coupled with a cryogenic preconcentrator were also developed to verify the consistency of gravimetrically prepared HAP VOCs PRMs. Three different columns installed in the GC-FID were evaluated and compared for the retention times and separation of eighteen target components in a chromatogram. Results show that the HAP VOCs PRMs at 5 nmol/mol were consistent within a relative expanded uncertainty (k=2) of less than 3 % except acrylonitrile (less than 6 %) and the 18 VOCs were stable for 1 year within their associated uncertainties.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.95-100
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• 2021

This paper introduces model-based meta reinforcement learning as a control for the manipulator of an underwater construction robot. Model-based meta reinforcement learning updates the model fast using recent experience in a real application and transfers the model to model predictive control which computes control inputs of the manipulator to reach the target position. The simulation environment for model-based meta reinforcement learning is established using MuJoCo and Gazebo. The real environment of manipulator control for underwater construction robot is set to deal with model uncertainties.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.461-475
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• 2021

Strategic structures are a potential target of the growing terrorist attacks, so their performance under explosion hazard has been paid attention by researchers in the last years. In this regard, the aim of this study is to evaluate the blast-resistance performance of lead-rubber bearing (LRB) base isolation system based on a probabilistic framework while uncertainties related to the charge weight and standoff distance have been taken into account. A sensitivity analysis is first performed to show the effect of explosion uncertainty on the response of base-isolated buildings. The blast fragility curve is then developed for three base-isolated steel moment-resisting buildings with different heights of 4, 8 and 12 stories. The results of sensitivity analysis show that although LRB has the capability of reducing the peak response of buildings under explosion hazard, this control system may lead to increase in the peak response of buildings under some explosion scenarios. This shows the high importance of probabilistic-based assessment of isolated structures under explosion hazard. The blast fragility analysis shows effective performance of LRB in mitigating the probability of failure of buildings. Therefore, LRB can be introduced as effective control system for the protection of buildings from explosion hazard regarding uncertainty effect.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2024

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and elemental carbon (EC) in particulate matter, typical primary aerosols have decreased in Seoul between 2003 and 2018 (80% for PAHs and 85% for EC). The yearly mean benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) concentration has been lower than 1 ng/m3 since 2010-2011, the target value set by the European Union (EU) and China. A series of policies related to solid fuel and vehicle in South Korea and China should be effective in the reduction of the ambient PAHs and EC concentrations. But the emission data of PAHs and EC at both countries did not support that hypothesis. Possible causes are uncertainties in the emission inventories of primary carbonaceous aerosols in South Korea and China, although there may be a minor effect of the emissions from North Korea on the concentrations in Seoul. Thus the further policy directions against PAHs and EC such as improvements of emissions inventories and measurements, intensive regulation of non-road mobile sources and control of PAHs derivatives are discussed.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2006

Hepatoma is one of 3 most common malignancies in Korea, the survival rate is not improved since last decades because of delayed diagnosis and limited treatment conditions. Radiation was one of treatment options but the impact on the survival is not remarkable. High dose exposure to target area was suggested for improved effect but low tolerance dose of normal liver tissue is the main limited factor. IMRT is the advanced form of 3DCRT, for focusing high dose on target with minimal dose to surrounding normal tissues. Motion of the tumor by respiration, cardiac pulsation and peristalsis is the main treatment harrier of IMRT for treatment of hepatoma patients. Development of QA technique for acceptable geometrical uncertainties and dose error on target volume is essential for IMRT in clinical treatment but proper QA technique is not yet developed. This study compared the verification film dosimetry with measured dose in phantom and calculated dose in planning computer on exactly same conditions of patient treatments. Within 3% dose differences between 3 groups were confirmed. We suggest that our verification QA technique is easy, economic, iterative and acceptable in clinical application for advanced hepatoma patients.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.543-554
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• 2018

A methodology has been presented for evaluating the partial safety factors on the sliding failure mode of vertical caissons of composite breakwaters and for determining the cross sections of those by Level I reliability-based design method. Especially, a mathematical model has been suggested for the sake of a consistency of code format as well as convenience of application in practical design, for which the uncertainties associated with buoyancy and its own weight can be taken into account straightforwardly. Furthermore, design criteria equation has been derived by considering accurately the effect of uplift pressure, so that the cross sections of caissons can be assessed which must be safe against the sliding failure. It has been found that cross sections estimated from partial safety factors proposed in this paper are in very good agreement with the results of Level II AFDA and Level III MCS under the same target probability of failure. However, partial safety factors of the Technical Standards and Commentaries for Port and Harbour Facilities in Japan and Coastal Engineering Manual in USA tend to estimate much bigger or smaller cross sections in comparison to the present results. Finally, many reliability re-analyses have been performed in order to conform whether the stability level of cross section estimated by Level I reliability-based design method is satisfied with the target probability of failure of partial safety factors or not.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.314-323
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• 2024

Recently, a score-penalty method has been used for the acoustic passive tracking of marine mammals. The interesting aspect of this technique lies in the loss function, which has a penalty term representing the mismatch between the measured signal and the modeled signal, while the traditional time-domain matched-field processing is positively considering the match between them. In this study, we apply the score-penalty method into the depth estimation of a passive target with a known source waveform. Assuming deep ocean environments with uncertainties in the sound speed profile, we evaluate the score-penalty method, comparing it with the time-domain matched field processing method. We shows that the score-penalty method is more accurate than the time-domain matched field processing method in the ocean environment with weak mismatch of sound speed profile, and has better efficiency. However, in the ocean enviroment with strong mismatch of the sound speed profile, the score-penalty method also fails in the depth estimation of a target, similar to the time-domain matched-field processing method.