• Computers and Concrete
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• 제1권3호
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• pp.355-369
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• 2004

This paper presents a study of four finite element techniques that can be used to model slabon-beam highway bridges. The feasibility and correctness of each modeling technique are examined by applying them to a prestressed concrete I-beam bridge and a prestressed concrete box-beam bridge. Other issues related to bridge modeling such as torsional constant, support conditions, and quality control check are studied in detail and discussed in the paper. It is found that, under truck loading, the bending stress distribution in a beam section depends on the modeling technique being utilized. It is observed that the behavior of the bridge superstructure can be better represented when accounting for composite behavior between the supporting beams and slab.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.431-458
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• 2014

Construction of a new cavern close to an existing cavern will result in a modification of the state of stresses in a zone around the existing cavern as interaction between the twin caverns takes place. Extensive plane strain finite difference analyses were carried out to examine the deformations induced by excavation of underground twin caverns. From the numerical results, a fairly simple nonparametric regression algorithm known as multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) has been used to relate the maximum key point displacement and the percent strain to various parameters including the rock quality, the cavern geometry and the in situ stress. Probabilistic assessments on the serviceability limit state of twin caverns can be performed using the First-order reliability spreadsheet method (FORM) based on the built MARS model. Parametric studies indicate that the probability of failure $P_f$ increases as the coefficient of variation of Q increases, and $P_f$ decreases with the widening of the pillar.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.355-368
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• 2022

This paper investigates the impact of length and volume fractions (VFs) of banana fibres (BFs) on the mechanical and physical properties of concrete. The mechanical properties were compressive strength, splitting tensile, flexural strength, and bond stress, while the physical properties were unit weight and absorption. The slump test was used to determine workability. The concrete's behaviour with BFs was studied using scanning electron microscopy. Experimental work of concrete mixtures with BFs of various lengths (12 mm, 25 mm, and 35 mm) and VFs (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) were carried out. The samples did not indicate any agglomeration of fibres or heterogeneity during mixing. The addition of BFs to concrete with VFs of up to 1.50% for all fibre lengths have a significant impact on mechanical properties, also the longer fibres performed better than shorter ones at all volume fractions of BFs. The mix10, which contain BFs with VFs 1.5% and length 35 mm, demonstrated the highest mechanical properties. The compressive strength, splitting tensile, flexural strength, and bond stress of the mix10 were 37.71 MPa, 4.27 Mpa, 6.12 MPa, and 6.75 MPa, an increase of 7.37%, 20.96%, 24.13%, and 11.2% over the reference concrete, which was 35.12 MPa, 3.53 MPa, 4.93 MPa, and 6.07 MP, respectively. The absorption is increased for all lengths by increasing the VFs up to 1.5%. Longer fibres have lower absorption, while shorter fibres have higher absorption. The mix8 had the highest absorption of 4.52%, compared to 3.12% for the control mix. Furthermore, the microstructure of concrete was improved through improved bonding between the fibres and the matrix, which resulted in improved mechanical properties of the composite.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.210-215
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• 2014

Background: The ongoing economic crisis in Greece has affected both stress and quality of life (QoL) at all socioeconomic levels, including professionals in the police force. The aim of this study was to examine perceived stress, job satisfaction, QoL, and their relationships in a sample of police officers in Greece. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first trimester of 2011 in 23 police stations in the greater Athens area. A total of 201 police officers agreed to participate (response rate 44.6%). The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used to assess general health, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) questionnaires were used to assess QoL and perceived stress, respectively. Results: The PSS and GHQ subscales and total scores exhibited strong, positive, and significant correlations coefficients (r): 0.52 for somatic disturbances, 0.56 for stress and insomnia, 0.40 for social dysfunction, and 0.37 for depression, yielding an r equal to 0.57 for the total GHQ score. A higher level of perceived stress was related to a lower likelihood of being satisfied with their job; in this regard, male participants and higher ranked officers reported lower job satisfaction. The PSS and GHQ scores were inversely, consistently, and significantly related to almost all of the QoL aspects, explaining up to 34% of their variability. Parenthood had a positive effect on QoL related to physical health, and women reported lower QoL related to psychological health. Conclusion: Higher levels of stress are related to an increased risk of reporting suboptimal job satisfaction and QoL. The magnitude of these associations varied depending on age, gender, and rank, highlighting the need for stress-management training.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.549-561
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• 2009

As it is known, laminated composite materials are increasingly used in many technological applications, and in some instance, cutouts must be made into laminated panels for practical reasons, changing the stress distribution. The present study deals with the determination of the stress concentration factor that holes of square shape cause in an orthotropic plate subjected to distributed in - plane loading. Square holes of rounded corners in a rectangular plate are considered, and the effect of different combinations of axial and tangential forces applied to its middle plane at the external edges, is studied. The mutually perpendicular axes, which define the principal axes of orthotropy, are assumed in many different directions referred to the sides of the plate. Numerical experiments by means of a finite element code is performed, evaluating the influence of the fiber orientation with respect to the edges of the plate and the characteristics of the orthotropic materials since such structures do not exhibit easily predictable behavior.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.41-49
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• 1986

Modern technological progress demands the use of materials at high temperature and high pressure. One of the most critical factors in considering such applications-perhaps the most critical one-is creep behavior. In this study the activation energy for the creep rupture (Qf) and the stress dependence of rupture time (n') have been determined during creep of Al 7075 alloy eve, the temporature range of $200^{\circ}C to 500^{\circ}C$ and stress range of 0.64 kgf/$\textrm{mm}^2$ to 9.55 kgf/$\textrm{mm}^2$, respectively, in order to investigate the creep-rupture property. Constant load creep tests were carried out in the enperiment At around the temperature $210^{\circ}C~390^{\circ}C$ and the stress level 1.53~9.55(kgf/$\textrm{mm}^2$), the stress dependence of rupture time(n') had the value of 6.6~6.78 but at 50$0^{\circ}C$, the value of 1.3. Besides at around the temperature of $200^{\circ}C~500^{\circ}C$ and under the stress level of 0.89~8.51 (kgf/$\textrm{mm}^2$), the activation energy for the creepprupture (Qf) was nearly equal to that of the volume self diffusion of pure aluminum (34Kca1/mo1e)

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.35-38
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• 2015

Background: Organizational changes that involve healthcare hospital departments and care services of health districts, and ongoing technological innovations and developments in society increasingly expose healthcare workers (HCWs) to work-related stress (WRS). Minimizing occupational exposure to stress requires effective risk stress assessment and management programs. Methods: The authors conducted an integrated analysis of stress sentinel indicators, an integrated analysis of objective stress factors of occupational context and content areas, and an integrated analysis between nurses and physicians of hospital departments and care services of health districts in accordance with a multidimensional validated tool developed in Italy by the National Network for the Prevention of Work-Related Psychosocial Disorders. The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to detect and analyze in different work settings the level of WRS resulting from organizational changes implemented by hospital healthcare departments and care services of health districts in a sample of their employees. Results: The findings of the study showed that hospital HCWs seemed to incur a medium level risk of WRS that was principally the result of work context factors. The implementation of improvement interventions focused on team development, safety training programs, and adopting an ethics code for HCWs, and it effectively and significantly reduced the level of WRS risk in the workplace. Conclusion: In this study HCW resulted to be exposed to occupational stress factors susceptible to reduction. Stress management programs aimed to improve work context factors associated with occupational stress are required to minimize the impact of WRS on workers.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.837-853
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• 2016

This paper presents the experimental and numerical study on the distribution of transverse and longitudinal residual stresses in cold-formed thick-walled structural steel rectangular hollow sections manufactured by indirect technique. Hole-drilling method is employed to measure the magnitude of the transverse and longitudinal surface residual stress distribution, and the effects of the residual stresses are evaluated qualitatively by sectioning method. It is shown that compared to normal cold-formed thin-walled structural hollow sections (SHS), the cold-formed thick-walled SHS has similar level of residual stress in the flat area but higher residual stresses in the corner and welding areas. Both the transverse and longitudinal residual stresses tend to open the section. In order to predict the surface residual stresses in the corners of the cold-formed thick-walled SHS, an analytical model is developed. 2D finite element simulation of the cold bending process is conducted to validate the analytical approach. It is shown that in analyzing bending for thick-walled sections, shifting of neutral axis must be considered, since it would lead to nonlinear and non-symmetrical distribution of stresses through the thickness. This phenomenon leads to the fact that cold-formed thick-walled SHSs has different distribution and magnitude of the residual stresses from the cold-formed thin-walled SHSs.

• 기술혁신연구
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.34-55
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• 2001

With increasing globalization, a proper policy for global inter-city networking strongly required, which presumes the study on the heterogeneity among regional innovation systems. While surveying the research results of the Evolutionary Economics, 1 stress that regional systems of innovation differ in technological capacities, industrial structures, institutional arrangements and socio-cultural features. 1 make the empirical investigation based on the data of Busan and Hamburg, making clear the regional specificities among regional innovation systems. The results show that regional systems of innovation in Busan and Hamburg are quitely asymmetric. They suggest also the limitation of neo-classical assumption on the ‘homogeneous production function’ and that policy-makers in regions should make the policy for ‘global inter-cities networking’, based on perspectives of regional heterogeneity.

• 대한치과의사협회지
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• 제54권7호
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• pp.542-550
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• 2016

Recent technological advance have greatly expanded the application of invisible orthodontic treatment using clear thermoplastic materials. However, the final outcomes using clear aligner system do not achieve the level of final goal frequently, which results in case refinement, midcourse correction, or fixed orthodontic treatment. Therefore, mechanical properties of thermoplastic materials should be considered to improve the quality of outcomes. The purposes of this special article were to evaluate the force and stress depending on the materials, deflection and thickness of thermoplastic materials and to evaluate the mechanical properties of thermoplastic materials after repeated loading. Thickness and amount of deflection rather than products and materials showed the largest effect on force and stress. In all products, at least 159 gf of force was required for more than 1.0 mm deflection or when materials with 1.0 mm thickness were deflected. Orthodontic forces delivered by thermoplastic materials depend on the materials, thickness, amount of activation, and intra-oral condition. Proper thickness of thermoplastic materials and deflection level of tooth movement should be decided for the efficient and physiologic tooth movement.