• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.45-52
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• 2017

The precast concrete (PC) method has many advantages in fast construction, quality control, etc. In domestic construction market, however, its application has been quite limited because of the concerns about structural integrity and seismic performances due to the discrete connections between precast concrete members. By applying the post-tensioning method, the precast beam-column connection can be well tightened, allowing improved structural integrity, and proper seismic performances can be also achieved. In this study, reversed cyclic tests have been conducted on the beam-column connection specimens, where the test variables included the compressive strength of grouting mortar and the tensile strengths of prestressing strands, based on which their seismic performances have been examined in detail. The post-tensioned PC beam-column connections showed good seismic performances comparable to that of the monolithic reinforced concrete connection specimen. When 2400 MPa prestressing strands are applied to the beam-column connection, it is preferable to adjust the prestress level similar to that applied for the 1860 MPa prestressing strands to avoid premature local crushing failures at the beam-column connections.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.545-553
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• 2008

Dynamic deformation behavior of ultra-fine-grained pure coppers fabricated by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) was investigated in this study. Dynamic torsional tests were conducted on four copper specimens using a torsional Kolsky bar, and then the test data were analyzed by their microstructures and tensile properties. The 1-pass ECAP'ed specimen consisted of fine dislocation cell structures elongated along the ECAP direction, which were changed to very fine, equiaxed subgrains of 300~400 nm in size as the pass number increased. The dynamic torsional test results indicated that maximum shear stress increased with increasing ECAP pass number. Adiabatic shear bands were not found at the gage center of the dynamically deformed torsional specimen of the 1- or 4-pass ECAP'ed specimen, while some weak bands were observed in the 8-pass ECAP'ed specimen. These findings suggested that the grain refinement according to the ECAP was very effective in strengthening of pure coppers, and that ECAP'ed coppers could be used without serious reduction in fracture resistance under dynamic torsional loading as adiabatic shear bands were hardly formed.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 2010

An application of the instrumented indentation technique has been expanded from the measurements of hardness and elastic modulus to the analysis of residual stress. A slope of the indentation loading curve increases (or decreases) according to compressive (or tensile) residual stress. A theoretical equation has been established for quantifying residual stress from the slope change. However, a precise observation of the remnant indents is indispensible because the theoretical approach needs actual contact information. In addition, the conventional hardness test is still used for predicting the residual stress distribution of welded joints. Thus, we observed the three-dimensional morphologies of the remnant indents formed on artificial stress states and analyzed stress effects on morphological recovery of the indents. First, a depth recovery ratio, which has been regarded as a sensitive stress indicator, did not show a clear dependency with the residual stress. Thus an analysis on volumetric recovery was tried in this study and yielded a inverse proportional behavior with the residual stress. In addition, an elastic to plastic volume recovery ratio showed more significant correlation with the residual stress.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.924-929
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• 2011

It is well known that grain boundary cavitation is the main failure mechanism in austenitic stainless steel under tensile hold creep-fatigue interaction conditions. The cavities are nucleated at the grain boundary during cyclic loading and grow to become grain boundary cracks. The attenuation of ultrasound depends on scattering and absorption in polycrystalline materials. Scattering occurs when a propagation wave encounters microstructural discontinuities, such as internal voids or cavities. Since the density of the creep-fatigue cavities increases with the fatigue cycles, the attenuation of ultrasound will also be increased with the fatigue cycles and this attenuation can be detected nondestructively. In this study, it is found that individual grain boundary cavities are formed and grow up to about 100 cycles and then, these cavities coalesce to become cracks. The measured ultrasonic attenuation increased with the cycles up to cycle 100, where it reached a maximum value and then decreased with further cycles. These experimental measurements strongly indicate that the open pores of cavities contribute to the attenuation of ultrasonic waves. However, when the cavities develop, at the grain boundary cracks whose crack surfaces are in contact with each other, there is no longer any open space and the ultrasonic wave may propagate across the cracks. Therefore, the attenuation of ultrasonic waves will be decreased. This phenomenon of maximum attenuation is very important to judge the stage of grain boundary crack development, which is the indication of the dangerous stage of the structures.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.394-399
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• 2021

Piecewise Integrated Composite (PIC) is a new concept to design composite structures of multiple stacking angles both for in-plane direction and through the thickness direction in order to improve stiffness and strength. In the present study, PIC beam was suggested based on 3D training data instead of 2D data, which did offer a limited behavior of beam characteristics, with enhancing the stiffness accompanied by reduced tip deformation. Generally training data were observed from the designated reference finite elements, and preliminary FE analysis was conducted with respect to regularly distributed reference elements. Also triaxiality values for each element were obtained in order to categorize the loading state, i.e. tensile, compressive or shear. The main FE analysis was conducted to predict the mechanical characteristics of the PIC beam.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2022

In mountainous areas of China, concrete poles with connectors are widely employed in power transmission due to its convenience of manufacture and transportation. The bearing capacity of the poles must have degenerated over time, and most of the steel connectors have been corroded. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) offers a durable, light-weight alternative in strengthening those poles that have served for many years. In this paper, the bearing capacity and failure mechanism of CFRP sheet strengthened existing reinforced concrete poles with corrosion steel connectors were investigated. Four poles were selected to conduct flexural capacity test. Two poles were strengthened by single-layer longitudinal CFRP sheet, one pole was strengthened by double-layer longitudinal CFRP sheets and the last specimen was not strengthened. Results indicate that the failure is mainly bond failure between concrete and the external CFRP sheet, and the specimens fail in a brittle pattern. The cross-sectional strains of specimens approximately follow the plane section assumption in the early stage of loading, but the strain in the tensile zone no longer conforms to this assumption when the load approaches the failure load. Also, bearing capacity and stiffness of the strengthened specimens are much larger than those without CFRP sheet. The bearing capacity, initial stiffness and elastic-plastic stiffness of specimen strengthened by double-layer CFRP are larger than those strengthened by single-layer CFRP. Weighting the cost-effective effect, it is more economical and reasonable to strengthen with single-layer CFRP sheet. The results can provide a reference to the same type of poles for strengthening design.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.39-47
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• 2010

In recent days, the foundations of huge structures in general and mega foundations of grand bridges and high-rise buildings in particular are required in geotechnical engineering. This study described 3 dimensional behavior of mat foundation on soft rock based on a numerical study using 3D finite element method. A series of numerical analyses were performed for various soil conditions and mat rigidities under vertical loading. Based on the results of the parametric study, it is shown that the prediction of the settlement, cross sectional tensile stress and bending moments in the mat is overestimated in the analysis without considering interface behavior in comparison with the analysis considering interface between mat and rock mass.

• Composites Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

The effects of aging on fatigue of PSF/AS4 laminates tvas studied using the new energy release rate analysis. The analysis by the variational mechanics has been useful in providing fracture mechanics interpretation of matrix microcracking in cross-ply laminates. This paper describes the changes of the critical energy release rate ${\Delta}Gmc$(microcracking toughness) about the variation of the aging period during fatigue loading. The master plot by modified Pans-law gives a characterization of a material system's resistance to microcrack formation. PSF/AS4 $[0/902]_s$ laminates were aged at four different temperatures based on the glass transition temperature for 60 days. At all temperatures, the toughness decreased with aging time. The decrease of the toughness at higher temperature was faster than at lower temperature. To assess the effects of aging on fatigue, the unaged laminates were compared with the laminates which were aged for 60 days at $170^{\circ}C$ near $180^{\circ}C\;T_g$. The slope of dD/dN versus A 6u, of the aged laminates was lower than that of the unaged laminates. There was a significant shift of the aged data to formation of microcracks at the lower values of ${\Delta}G_m$.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.597-609
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• 2023

The instability and failure of engineered rock masses are influenced by crack initiation and propagation. Uniaxial compression and acoustic emission (AE) experiments were conducted on cracked sandstone. The effect of the crack's dip on the crack initiation was investigated using fracture mechanics. The crack propagation was investigated based on stress-strain curves, AE multi-parameter characteristics, and failure modes. The results show that the crack initiation occurs at the tip of the pre-fabricated crack, and the crack initiation angle increases from 0° to 70° as the dip angle increases from 0° to 90°. The fracture strength k_cr is derived varies in a U-shaped pattern as β increased, and the superior crack angle β_m is between 36.2 and 36.6 and is influenced by the properties of the rock and the crack surface. Low-strength, large-scale tensile cracks form during the crack initiation in the cracked sandstone, corresponding to the start of the AE energy, the first decrease in the b-value, and a low r-value. When macroscopic surface cracks form in the cracked sandstone, high-strength, large-scale shear cracks form, resulting in a rapid increase in the AE energy, a second decrease in the b-value and an abrupt increase in the r-value. This research has significant theoretical implications for rock failure mechanisms and establishment of damage indicators in underground engineering.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.577-595
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• 2023

A dynamic triaxial discrete element numerical model of lightweight soil was established using the discrete element method to study the microscopic mechanism of expanded polystyrene (EPS) particles in the soil under cyclic loading. The microscopic parameters of the discrete element model of the lightweight soil were calibrated depending on the dynamic triaxial test hysteresis curves. Based on the calibration results, the effects of the EPS particles volume ratio and amplitude on the contact force, displacement field, and velocity field of the lightweight soil under different accumulated strains were studied. The results showed that the hysteresis curves of lightweight soil exhibit nonlinearity, hysteresis, and strain accumulation. The strain accumulated in remolded soil is mainly tensile strain, and that in lightweight soil is mainly compressive strain. As the volume ratio of EPS particles increased, the contact force first increased and then decreased, and the displacement and velocity of the particles increased accordingly. With an increase in amplitude, the dynamic stress of the particle system increased, and the accumulation rate of the dynamic strain of the samples also increased. At 5% compressive strain, the contact force of the particles changed significantly and the number of particles deflected in the direction of velocity also increased considerably. These results indicated that the cemented structure of the lightweight soil began to fail at a compressive strain of 5%. Thus, a compressive strain of 5% is more reasonable than the dynamic strength failure standard of lightweight soil.