• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.71 no.3
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• pp.211-221
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• 2019

To study the eccentric compression behavior of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) columns, six UHPFRC columns and one high-strength concrete (HSC) column were tested. Variation parameters include load eccentricity, volume of steel fibers and stirrup ratio. The crack pattern, failure mode, bearing capacity, and deformation of the specimens were studied. The results showed that the UHPFRC columns had different failure modes. The large eccentric compression failure mode was the longitudinal tensile reinforcements yielded and many horizontal cracks appeared in the tension zone. The small eccentric compression failure mode was the longitudinal compressive reinforcements yielded and vertical cracks appeared in the compressive zone. Because of the bridging effect of steel fibers, the number of cracks significantly increased, and the width of cracks decreased. The load-deflection curves of the UHPFRC columns showed gradually descending without sudden dropping, indicating that the specimens had better deformation. The finite element (FE) analysis was performed to stimulate the damage process of the specimens with monotonic loading. The concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model was adopted to characterize the behaviour of UHPFRC. The contribution of the UHPFRC tensile strength was considered in the bearing capacity, and the theoretical calculation formulas were derived. The theoretical calculation results were consistent with the test results. This research can provide the experimental and theoretical basis for UHPFRC columns in engineering applications.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.43-53
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• 2019

It is well-known fact that the stone-mastic asphalt (SMA) mixture has shown superior rut resistance, compared with the dense-graded asphalt (DGA) mixture in highway pavements. However, the SMA is measured to be inferior to DGA mixes when tested by well-known high-temperature test methods, such as the wheel tracking (WT), asphalt pavement analyzer, the Marshall Stability and Kim Test. Therefore, this study examined the reasons why it was measured to be inferior, and devised a potential procedure by which the superiority of SMA could be measured at $60^{\circ}C$. The strength against deformation ($S_D$), which was known to show very high correlation with WT results for DGA mixes, was measured by the Kim Test on the specimen confined in the compacted mold. In standard Kim Test, which used the specimen without confinement, the DGA was measured to show higher $S_D$ than the SMA. But by confining specimen, it was found that the $S_D$ of SMA was measured to be higher than that of DGA. Therefore, the confined static test protocol devised in this study was found to be feasible for evaluating rut resistance of SMA mix.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 2019

This paper reports on the results of a parametric study, which examines the effects of varying aspect ratios on the dynamic response of cylindrical silos directly supported on the ground under earthquake loading. Previous research has shown that numerical models can provide considerably realistic simulations when it comes to the behavior of silos by using correct boundary conditions, appropriate element types and material models. To this end, a three dimensional numerical model, taking into account the bulk material-silo wall interaction, was produced by the ANSYS commercial program, which is in turn based on the finite element method. The results obtained from the numerical analysis are discussed comparatively in terms of dynamic material pressure, horizontal displacement, equivalent base shear force and equivalent bending moment responses for considered aspect ratios. The effects experienced because of the slenderness of the silo in regards to the seismic response were evaluated along with the effectiveness of the classification system proposed by Eurocode in evaluating the loads on the vertical walls. Results clearly show that slenderness directly affects the seismic response of such structures especially in terms of behavior and the magnitude of the responses. Furthermore the aspect ratio value of 2.0, given as a behavioral changing limit in the technical literature, can be used as a valid limit for seismic behavior.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.69-77
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• 2019

This paper presents a new analytical model for estimating the free vibration of tapered friction piles. The governing differential equation for the free vibration of statically axially-loaded piles embedded in non-homogeneous soil is derived. The equation is numerically integrated by the Runge-Kutta method, and then the eigenvalue of natural frequency is determined by the Regula-Falsi scheme. For a cylindrical non-tapered pile, the computed natural frequencies compare well with the available data from literature. Numerical examples are presented to investigate the effects of the tapering, the skin friction resistance, the end condition of the pile, the vertical compressive loading, and the soil non-homogeneity on the natural frequency and mode shape of tapered friction piles.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.155-162
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• 2019

Hybrid precast concrete panel is a wall element that is able to quickly construct the core wall structure for moderate-rise modular buildings. Hybrid precast concrete panel has unique characteristics which is a pair of C-shaped steel beams combined at the top and bottom of a concrete wall, In this study, an improved anchorage detail for vertical rebar is proposed to ensure the lateral force resistance performance of hybrid precast concrete panel emulating monolithic concrete wall. Also, the structural performance of horizontal connection is investigated experimentally with the bolt spacing parameter. And the behavior of hybrid precast concrete panel with the improved detail is compared with the monolithic concrete wall tested in a previous study. Finally, the required thickness of C-shaped steel beam to eliminate or minimize the deformation in horizontal connection is calculated by prying action equation.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.295-317
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• 2020

Investigation of the stability of arch dam abutments is one of the most important aspects in the analysis of this type of dams. To this end, the Bakhtiari dam, a doubly curved arch dam having six wedges at each of its abutments, is selected. The seismic safety of dam abutments is studied through time history analysis using the design-based earthquake (DBE) and maximum credible earthquake (MCE) hazard levels. Londe limit equilibrium method is used to calculate the stability of wedges in abutments. The thrust forces are obtained using ABAQUS, and stability of wedges is calculated using the code written within MATLAB. Effects of foundation flexibility, grout curtain performance, vertical component of earthquake, nonlinear behavior of materials, and geometrical nonlinearity on the safety factor of the abutments are scrutinized. The results show that the grout curtain performance is the main affecting factor on the stability of the abutments, while nonlinear behavior of the materials is the least affecting factor amongst others. Also, it is resulted that increasing number of the contraction joints can improve the seismic stability of dam. A cap is observed on the number of joints, above which the safety factor does not change incredibly.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.109-123
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• 2021

This research endeavor intends to use the implicit finite element method to investigate the structural response of steel shear walls with partial plate-column connection. To this end, comprehensive verification studies are initially performed by comparing the numerical predictions with several reported experimental results in order to demonstrate the reliability and accuracy of the implicit analysis method. Comparison is made between the hysteresis curves, failure modes, and base shear capacities predicted numerically using ABAQUS software and obtained/observed experimentally. Following the validation of the finite element analysis approach, the effects of partial plate-column connection on the strength and stiffness performances of steel shear wall systems with different web-plate slenderness and aspect ratios under monotonic loading are investigated through a parametric study. While removal of the connection between the web-plate and columns can be beneficial by decreasing the overall system demand on the vertical boundary members, based on the results and findings of this study such detachment can lower the stiffness and strength capacities of steel shear walls by about 25%, on average.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.653-671
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• 2023

In practice, the interference influence caused by adjacent footings of structures on geo-reinforced loose soil has a considerable impact on their behavior. Thus, the goal of this study is to evaluate the behavior of two strip footings in close proximity on both geocell and geogrid reinforced soil with different reinforcement layers. Geocell was made from geogrid material used to compare the performance of cellular and planar reinforcement on the bearing pressure of twin footings. Extensive experimental tests have been performed to attain the optimum embedment depth and vertical distance between reinforcement layers. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) analysis has been conducted to monitor the deformation, tilting and movement of soil particles beneath and between twin footings. Results of tests and PIV technique were verified using finite element modeling (FEM) and the results of both PIV and FEM were used to utilize failure mechanisms and influenced shear strain around the loading region. The results show that the performance of twin footings on geocell-reinforced sand at allowable and ultimate settlement ranges are almost 4% and 25% greater than the same twin footings on the same geogrid-reinforced sand, respectively. By increasing the distance between twin footings, soil particle displacements become smaller than the settlement of the foundations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.219-230
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• 2022

The aim of this paper is to study the mechanical behaviors of the cold-formed thin-walled steel and reinforced concrete sandwich composite slab (CTS&RC-SCS) under vertical loads and to develop the calculation methods of its flexural bearing capacity and section stiffness. Two CTS&RC-SCS specimens were designed and manufactured to carry out the static loading test, and meanwhile, the numerical simulation analyses based on finite element method were implemented. The comparison between experimental results and numerical analysis results shows that the CTS&RC-SCS has good flexural capacity and ductility, and the accuracy and rationality of the numerical simulation analysis are verified. Further, the variable parameter analysis results indicate that neither increasing the concrete strength grade nor increasing the thickness of C-sections can significantly improve the flexural capacity of CTS&RC-SCS. With the increase of the ratio of longitudinal bars and the thickness of the composite slab, the flexural capacity of CTS&RC-SCS will be significantly increased. On the basis of experimental research and numerical analysis above, the calculation formula of the flexural capacity of CTS&RC-SCS was deduced according to the plastic section design theory, and section stiffness calculation formula was proposed according to the theory of transformed section. In terms of the ultimate flexural capacity and mid-span deflection, the calculated values based on the formulas and the experimental values are in good agreement.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4030-4048
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• 2022

In this study, road transportation tests were conducted with surrogate fuel assemblies under normal conditions of transport to evaluate the vibration and shock load characteristics of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). The overall test data analysis was conducted based on the measured acceleration and strain data obtained from the speed bump, lane-change, deceleration, obstacle avoidance, and circular tests. Furthermore, representative shock response spectrums and power spectral densities of each test mode were acquired. Amplification or attenuation characteristics were investigated according to the load transfer path. The load attenuated significantly as it transferred from the trailer to the cask. By contrast, the load amplified as it transferred from the cask to the surrogate SNF assembly. The fuel loading location on the cask disk assembly did not exhibit a significant influence on the strain measured from the fuel rods. The principal strain was in the vertical direction, and relatively large strain values were obtained in spans with large spacing between spacer grids. The influence of the lateral location of fuel rods was also investigated. The fuel rods located at the side exhibited relatively large strain values than those located at the center. Based on the strain data obtained from the test results, a hypothetical road transportation scenario was established. A fatigue evaluation of the SNF rod was performed based on this scenario. The evaluation results indicate that no fatigue damage occurred on the fuel rods.