• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.337-357
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• 2017

Knowledge of thin films mechanical properties is strongly associated to the reliability and the performances of Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS). In the literature, there are several methods for micro materials characterization. Bulge test is an established nondestructive technique for studying the mechanical properties of thin films. This study improve the performances of NEMS by investigating the mechanical behavior of Nano rectangular thin film (NRTF) made of new material embedded in Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS) by developing the bulge test technique. The NRTF built from adhesively-bonded layers of basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) laminate composite materials in Nano size at room temperature and were used for plane-strain bulging. The NRTF is first pre-stressed to ensure that is no initial deflection before applied the loads on NRTF and then clamped between two plates. A differential pressure is applying to a deformation of the laminated composite NRTF. This makes the plane-strain bulge test idea for studying the mechanical behavior of laminated composite NRTF in both the elastic and plastic regimes. An exact solution of governing equations for symmetric cross-ply BFRP laminated composite NRTF was established with taking in-to account the effect of the residual strength from pre-stressed loading. The stress-strain relationship of the BFRP laminated composite NRTF was determined by hydraulic bulging test. The NRTF thickness gradation in different points of hemisphere formed in bulge test was analysed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.439-451
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• 2023

The construction of shield tunnelling in urban sites is facing serious risks from complex and changeable underground conditions. Construction problems in the sand-clay mixed ground have been more reported in recent decades for its poor control of soil loss in tunnel face, ground settlement and supporting pressure. Since the limitations of observation methods, the conventional physical modelling experiments normally simplify the tunnelling to a plane strain situation whose results are not reliable in mixed ground cases which exhibit more complicated responses. We propose a new method for the study of the mixed ground tunnel through which mixed lays are simulated with transparent soil surrogates exhibiting different mechanical properties. An experimental framework for the transparent soil modelling of the mixed ground tunnel was established incorporated with the self-developed digital image correlation system (PhotoInfor). To understand better the response of face stability, ground deformation, settlement and supporting phenomenon to tunnelling excavation in the sand-clay mixed ground, a series of case studies were carried out comparing the results from cases subjected to different buried depths and mixed phenomenon. The results indicate that the deformation mode, settlement and supporting phenomenon vary with the mixed phenomenon and buried depth. Moreover, a stratigraphic effect exists that the ground movement around mixed face reveals a notable difference.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2019

Wetlands that provide diverse ecosystem services, such as habitat provision and hydrological control of flora and fauna, constitute ecosystems through interaction between wetlands existing in a wetlandscape. Therefore, to evaluate the wetland functions such as resilience, it is necessary to analyze the ecological connectivity that is formed between wetlands which also show hydrologically dynamic behaviors. In this study, by defining wetlands as ecological nodes, we generated ecological networks through the connection of wetlands according to the dispersal model of wetland species. The characteristics of these networks were then analyzed using various network metrics. In the case of the dispersal based on a threshold distance, while a high local clustering is observed compared to the exponential dispersal kernel and heavy-tailed dispersal model, it showed a low efficiency in the movement between wetlands. On the other hand, in the case of the stochastic dispersion model, a low local clustering with high efficiency in the movement was observed. Our results confirmed that the ecological network characteristics are completely different depending on which dispersal model is chosen, and one should be careful on selecting the appropriate model for identifying network properties which highly affect the interpretation of network structure and function.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.566-572
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• 2021

A methodology for the identification and coordinates estimation of air cavities under urban ground or sandy soil using its natural poles and natural resonant frequencies is presented. The potential of this methodology was analyzed. Simulation models of PEC (Perfect Electric Conductor)s with various shapes and dimensions were developed using an EM (Electromagnetic) simulator. The Cauchy method was applied to the obtained EM scattering response of various objects from EM simulation models. The natural poles of objects corresponding to its instinct characterization were then extracted. Thus, a library of poles can be generated using their natural poles. The generated library of poles provided the possibility of identifying a target by comparing them with the computed natural poles from a target. The simulation models were made assuming that there is an air cavity under urban ground or sandy soil. The response of the desired target was extracted from the electromagnetic wave scattering data from its simulation model. The coordinates of the target were estimated using the time delay of the impulse response (peak of the impulse response) in the time domain. The MP (Matrix Pencil) method was applied to extract the natural poles of a target. Finally, a 0.2-m-diameter spherical air cavity underground could be estimated by comparing both the pole library of the objects and the calculated natural poles and the natural resonant frequency of the target. The computed location (depth) of a target showed an accuracy of approximately 84 to 93%.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.411-417
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• 2022

Environmental issues such as global warming due to fossil fuel use are now major worldwide concerns, and interest in renewable and clean energy is growing. Of the various types of renewable energy, green hydrogen energy has recently attracted attention because of its eco-friendly and high-energy density. Electrochemical water splitting is considered a pollution-free means of producing clean hydrogen and oxygen and in large quantities. The development of non-noble electrocatalysts with low cost and high performance in water splitting has also attracted considerable attention. In this study, we successfully synthesized a NiCo₂O₄/NF electrode for an oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline water splitting using a hydrothermal method, which was followed by post-heat treatment. The effects of heat treatment on the electrochemical performance of the electrodes were evaluated under different heat-treatment conditions. The optimized NCO/NF-300 electrode showed an overpotential of 416 mV at a high current density of 50 mA/cm² and a low Tafel slope (49.06 mV dec^-1). It also showed excellent stability (due to the large surface area) and the lowest charge transfer resistance (12.59 Ω). The results suggested that our noble-metal free electrodes have great potential for use in developing alkaline electrolysis systems.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-57
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• 2020

This paper presents the experimental application of a new method for seismic vulnerability assessment of buildings recently introduced in literature, the SMAV (Seismic Model Ambient Vibration) methodology with reference to their operational limit state. The importance of this kind of evaluation arises from the civil protection necessity that some buildings, considered strategic for seismic emergency management, should retain their functionality also after a destructive earthquake. They do not suffer such damage as to compromise the operation within a framework of assessment of the overall capacity of the urban system. To this end, for the characterization of their operational vulnerability, a Structural Operational Index (IOPS) has been considered. In particular, the dynamic environmental vibrations of the two considered strategic buildings, the fire station and the town hall building of a small town in the South of Italy, have been monitored by positioning accelerometers in well-defined points. These measurements were processed through modern Operational Modal Analysis techniques (OMA) in order to identify natural frequencies and modal shapes. Once these parameters have been determined, the structural operational efficiency index of the buildings has been determined evaluating the seismic vulnerability of the strategic structures analyzed. his study aimed to develop a model to accurately predict the acceleration of structural systems during an earthquake.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.487-501
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• 2002

The concentrations of gaseous (NO$_{x}$, SO$_2$, and $O_3$) and particulate (Elemental Carbon, EC and Organic Carbon, OC) pollutants were measured to evaluate the air quality of Kosan. Samples were taken at Kosan during ACE-Asia (Asian Pacific Regional Aerosol Characterization Experiment) IOP (Intensive Observation Period) (2001. 3. 21~2001. 5. 5). The mean concentrations of $O_3$(46.3$\pm$10.4 ppb) is higher than those at urban area such as Seoul and Busan in Korea. On the other hand, the mean concentrations of other gaseous species, NO$_{x}$(4.73$\pm$3.42 ppb) and SO$_2$(0.62$\pm$0.63 ppb) are lower than those at great cities. So we concluded that there are a few primary sources emitting atmospheric pollutants. The concentration of EC is higher and the concentration of OC is similar with or higher than those at other background sites. The recent EC concentration is higher than those measured before at Kosan. We concluded that there are more primary sources than other background sites and the amount of primary source have increased recently in Jeju. Backward trajectory and co..elation analysis were used to study where the air masses originated and distinguish the source of pollutants. While NO$_{x}$ and $O_3$ were mainly emitted and formed from Jeju inland area, concentrations of SO$_2$, OC and EC were affected by Asian Dust from China. Using the mean relative standard deviation of ozone, cleanness coefficient was obtained. The cleanness coefficient value, is 1.6 times larger than the value in 1992. Recently, the air quality of Kosan has been contaminated because of the Asian Dust events since spring and the rapid industrialization development.pment.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.55-56
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• 2006

This thesis describes the use of measured aerosol size distributions and size-resolved hygroscopic growth to examine the physical and chemical properties of several particle classes. The primary objective of this work was to investigate the optical and cloud forming properties of a range of ambient aerosol types measured in a number of different locations. The tool used for most of these analyses is a differential mobility analyzer / tandem differential mobility analyzer (DMA / TDMA) system developed in our research group. To collect the data described in two of the chapters of this thesis, an aircraft-based version of the DMA / TDMA was deployed to Japan and California. The data described in two other chapters were conveniently collected during a period when the aerosol of interest came to us. The unique aspect of this analysis is the use of these data to isolate the size distributions of distinct aerosol types in order to quantify their optical and cloud forming properties. I used collected data during the Asian Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-Asia) to examine the composition and homogeneity of a complex aerosol generated in the deserts and urban regions of China and other Asian countries. An aircraft-based tandem differential mobility analyzer was used for the first time during this campaign to examine the size-resolved hygroscopic properties of particles having diameters between 40 and 586 nm. Asian Dust Above Monterey (ADAM-2003) study was designed both to evaluate the degree to which models can predict the long-range transport of Asian dust, and to examine the physical and optical properties of that aged dust upon reaching the California coast. Aerosol size distributions and hygroscopic growth are measured in College Station, TX to investigate the cloud nucleating and optical properties of a biomass burning aerosol generated from fires on the Yucatan Peninsula. Measured aerosol size distributions and size-resolved hygroscopicity and volatility were used to infer critical supersaturation distributions of the distinct particle types that were observed during this period. The predicted CCN concentrations were used in a cloud model to determine the impact of the different aerosol types on the expected cloud droplet concentration. RH-dependent aerosol extinction coefficients are calculated at a wavelength of 550 nm.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.143-158
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• 2000

This report presents the findings of a one-year monitoring effort to empirically characterize and evaluate the nature of near-ground winds for structural engineering purposes. The current wind engineering practice in the United States does not explicitly consider certain important near-ground wind characteristics in typical rough terrain conditions and the possible effect on efficient design of low-rise structures, such as homes and other light-frame buildings that comprise most of the building population. Therefore, near ground wind data was collected for the purpose of comparing actual near-ground wind characteristics to the current U.S. wind engineering practice. The study provides data depicting variability of wind speeds, wind velocity profiles for a major thunderstorm event and a northeaster, and the influence of thunderstorms on annual extreme wind speeds at various heights above ground in a typical rough environment. Data showing the decrease in the power law exponent with increasing wind speed is also presented. It is demonstrated that near-ground wind speeds (i.e., less than 10 m above ground) are likely to be over-estimated in the current design practice by as much as 20 percent which may result in wind load over-estimate of about 50% for low-rise buildings in typical rough terrain. The importance of thunderstorm wind profiles on determination of design wind speeds and building loads (particularly for buildings substantially taller than 10 m) is also discussed. Recommendations are given for possible improvements to the current design practice in the United States with respect to low-rise buildings in rough terrain and for the need to study the impact of thunderstorm gust profile shapes on extreme value wind speed estimates and building loads.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 2016

The research aims to study the different flexible rubber tube diffusers used in urban wastewater treatment processes and aquaculture systems. The experiment was conducted in small-scale aeration tank with different physical properties of the tubes that were used as aerators. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient ($k_La$), oxygen transfer efficiency (OTE) and aeration efficiency (AE) were measured and determined to compare the diffusers. Moreover, the bubble hydrodynamic parameters were analyzed in terms of bubble diameter ($d_B$) and rising velocity ($U_B$) by a high speed camera (2,000 frames/s). Then the interfacial area (a) and liquid-side mass transfer coefficient ($k_L$) can be calculated. The physical properties (tube wall thickness, tensile strength, orifice size, hardness and elongation) have been proven to be the key factor that controls the performance (kLa and OTE). The effects of hardness and elongation on bubble formation, orifice size and a-area were clearly proved. It is not necessary to generate too much fine bubbles to increase the a-area: this relates to high power consumption and the decrease of the kL. Finally, the wall thickness, elongation and hardness associated of the flexible tube diffuser (tube No. 12) were concluded, to be the suitable properties for practically producing, in this research.