• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.323-330
• /
• 2023

The development of an analysis model that reflects the microstructure characteristics of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber-reinforced cementitious composites, which have a highly complex microstructure, enables synergy between efficient material design and real experiments. PVA fiber orientations are an important factor that influences the mechanical behavior of PVA fiber-reinforced cementitious composites. Owing to the difficulty in distinguishing the gray level value obtained from micro-CT images of PVA fibers from adjacent phases, fiber segmentation is time-consuming work. In this study, a micro-CT test with a voxel size of 0.65 ㎛³ was performed to investigate the three-dimensional distribution of fibers. To segment the fibers and generate training data, histogram, morphology, and gradient-based phase-segmentation methods were used. A U-net model was proposed to segment fibers from micro-CT images of PVA fiber-reinforced cementitious composites. Data augmentation was applied to increase the accuracy of the training, using a total of 1024 images as training data. The performance of the model was evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The trained model achieved a high fiber segmentation performance and efficiency, and the approach can be applied to other specimens as well.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
• /
• v.52 no.11
• /
• pp.917-929
• /
• 2019

Denitrification in streams is of great importance because it is essential for amelioration of water quality and accurate estimation of $N_2O$ budgets. Denitrification is a major biological source or sink of $N_2O$, an important greenhouse gas, which is a multi-step respiratory process that converts nitrate ($NO_3{^-}$) to gaseous forms of nitrogen ($N_2$ or $N_2O$). In aquatic ecosystems, the complex interactions of water flooding condition, substrate supply, hydrodynamic and biogeochemical properties modulate the extent of multi-step reactions required for $N_2O$ flux. Although water flow in streambed and residence time affect reaction output, effects of a complex interaction of hydrodynamic, geomorphology and biogeochemical controls on the magnitude of denitrification in streams are still illusive. In this work, we built a two-dimensional water flow channel and measured $N_2O$ flux from channel sediment with different bed geomorphology by using static closed chambers. Two independent experiments were conducted with identical flume and geomorphology but sediment with differences in dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The experiment flume was a circulation channel through which the effluent flows back, and the size of it was $37m{\times}1.2m{\times}1m$. Five days before the experiment began, urea fertilizer (46% N) was added to sediment with the rate of $0.5kg\;N/m^2$. A sand dune (1 m length and 0.15 m height) was made at the middle of channel to simulate variations in microtopography. In high- DOC experiment, $N_2O$ flux increases in the direction of flow, while the highest flux ($14.6{\pm}8.40{\mu}g\;N_2O-N/m^2\;hr$) was measured in the slope on the back side of the sand dune. followed by decreases afterward. In contrast, low DOC sediment did not show the geomorphological variations. We found that even though topographic variation influenced $N_2O$ flux and chemical properties, this effect is highly constrained by carbon availability.

• Ultrasonography
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.132-142
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlations of various kinetic parameters derived from the time intensity curve in a xenograft mouse model injected with a prostate cancer model (PC-3 and LNCaP) using an ultrasound contrast agent with histopathologic parameters. Materials and Methods: Twenty nude mice were injected with human prostate cancer cells (15 PC-3 and five LNCaP) on their hind limbs. A bolus of $500{\mu}L$ ($1{\times}10^8$ microbubbles) of second-generation US contrast agent (SonoVue) was injected into the retroorbital vein. The region of interest was drawn over the entire tumor. The time intensity curve was acquired and then fitted to a gamma variate function. The maximal intensity (A), time to peak (Tp), maximal wash-in rate (washin), washout rate (washout), area under the curve up to 50 sec ($AUC_{50}$), area under the ascending slope ($AUC_{in}$), and area under the descending slope ($AUC_{out}$) were derived from the parameters of the gamma variate fit. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF and CD31 was performed. Tumor volume, the area percentage of VEGF stained in a field, and the count of CD31 (microvessel density, MVD) positive vessels showed correlation with the parameters from the time intensity curve. Results: No significant differences were observed between the kinetic and histopathological parameters from each group. MVD showed positive correlation with A (r=0.625, p=0.003), washin (r=0.462, p=0.040), $AUC_{50}$ (r=0.604, p=0.005), and $AUC_{out}$ (r=0.587, p=0.007). Positive correlations were also observed between tumor volume and $AUC_{50}$ (r=0.481, p=0.032), washin (r=0.662, p=0.001), and $AUC_{out}$ (r=0.547, p=0.012). Washout showed negative correlations with MVD (r=-0.454, p=0.044) and tumor volume (r=-0.464, p=0.039). The area percentage of VEGF did not show any correlation with calculated data from the curve. Conclusion: MVD showed correlations with several of the kinetic parameters. CEUS has the potential for prediction of tumor vascularity in a prostate cancer animal model.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2008.11a
• /
• pp.465-468
• /
• 2008

SHCCs (Strain Hardening Cement Composites) show the high energy tolerance capacity due to the interfacial bonding of the fibers to the cement matrix. For effective material design and application of SHCCs, it is needed to investigate the compression, four-point bending, direct tensile response of SHCCs with different types of fibers and water-cement ratio. For these purposes, three kinds of fibers were used: PP(polypropylene, 2.0%), PVA(Polyvinyl alcohol, 2.0%), PE (Polyethylene, 1.0%). Also, effects of water-cement ratio(0.45, 0.60) on the SHCCs were evaluated in this paper. As the result of test, SHCCs with PVA and PE fiber were showed better overall behavior than specimens with PP fibers on bending and direct tensile test. Also, for the same type of fiber, SHCCs with water-cement ratio of 0.45 exhibited higher ultimate strength than specimen with water-cement ratio of 0.60 on compression strength, and showed the multiple cracking on bending and direct tensile test. Therefore, to improve of workability and dispersibility of SHCCs on water-cement ratio of 0.60, continual studies were needed.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.189-198
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the stress distribution of mandibular molar restoration supported by the implants with external hex and internal taper abutment connection design. Materials and Methods: Models of external connection (EXHEX) and internal connection (INCON) implants, corresponding abutment/crowns, and screws were developed. Supporting edentulous mandibular bony structures were designed. All the components were assembled and a finite element analysis was performed to predict the magnitude and pattern of stresses generated by occlusal loading. A total of 120 N static force was applied both by axial (L1) and oblique (L2) direction. Results: Peak von Mises stresses produced in the implants by L2 load produced 6 - 15 times greater than those by L1 load. The INCON model showed 2.2 times greater total amount of crown cusp deflection than the EXHEX model. Fastening screw in EXHEX model and upside margin of implant fixture in INCON model generated the peak von Mises stresses by oblique occlusal force. EXHEX model and INCON model showed the similar opening gap between abutment and fixture, but intimate sealing inside the contact interface was maintained in INCON model. Conclusion: Oblique force produced grater magnitudes of deflection and stress than those by axial force. The maximum stress area at the implant was different between the INCON and EXHEX models.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.9-20
• /
• 1991

The characteristics of the unconsolidated sediment in Gwangyang bay was analyzed from the core samples. The porosity of the sediment showed irregular variation with respect to the sedimentation depth, which indicated that sediment weight-induced consolidation was not significant. Numerical analysis for the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of the unconsolidated sediment due to the tidal sea level change was processed. Because of the delayed excessive pore pressure change in the very low permeable mud medium, the magnitude of the excessive pore pressure for the duration of the minimum sea level exceeded the total stress from the sea water weight, which resulted in the negative (tensional) effective stress below the top surface. The in-situ effective stress, obtained by superposing the tensional effective stress on the solid weight-induced compressive stress, was remained to be tensile (quick-sand condition) near the top surface of the mud deposit. The occurrence of the quirk-sand condition provided a theoretical evidence for the insignificant consolidation and the irregular porosity variation of the sediment. When the sand is distributed on the top surface of the mud layer, the quick-sand condition occurred below the sandy mud layer and the downward movement of sand particles was facilitated.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.49-58
• /
• 2009

This study aims to analyze the association between the center of mass(C.O.G) and ocular movement(E.O.G) according to the success and failure in the left turn motion on the balance beam, targeting three female gymnasts. When successful, the left-right C.O.G was moved to the left, which was a rotational direction until such time as the body rotated $180^{\circ}$, whereas there appeared to be a greater movement during failure; thus, it was shown to affect the maintenance of dynamic postural control. In case of the subsequent left-right turning motion of E.O.G, this matches the previous theory that the eyeball moves against the direction of rotation of the body. However, there was a difference at the time of movement, and a clear difference emerged in the success and failure in this study. Also, in the E.O.G in the up-down direction, a movement during failure showed a pattern of down direction in most cases; thus, it is deemed to affect the failure. Therefore, the kinetic postural control and E.O.G are supposed to affect the success and failure in a landing, which is the most importantly evaluated movement on the balance beam, in mutual association.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.17-26
• /
• 2010

Recently, yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) is getting attention in Korea due to the fast growing and high yield and quality of lumber. But, it is thought that the color difference between heartwood and sapwood may restrict the practical use of it. This study was aimed to enhance the value of yellow poplar lumber by the color control using high temperature heat-treatment, which had been tried for domestic cedar (Kim et al., 2009). The material properties including surface color of yellow poplar lumber were evaluated according to heat treatment conditions. The difference of color between sapwood and heartwood could be reduced by heat treatment at a temperature about $200^{\circ}C$. Long heating time was more effective in reducing the difference. The Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) of heat-treated wood was as low as 50 percent of the control. The result obviously indicates that heat-treated wood is more dimensionally stable in the change of moisture condition. The durability against wood rotting fungi also increased by the heat-treated, but it was not so effective as the case of cedar. The changes of mechanical properties of heat-treated yellow poplar were very similar to that of heat-treated cedar. In order to develop new use of heat-treated yellow poplar, the changes of mechanical properties should be considered. There were no significant changes in microscopic structure which may cause changes in mechanical properties. Further study of heat-treated wood is needed to scrutinize the causes of changes of material properties.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.223-233
• /
• 2012

Steel fiber is high stiffness and large weight. So, Pumping hose to rupture of the safety management is difficult. Steel fiber caused by corrosion of the deterioration of durability and high-rebound losses are needed for the improvements. Thus, the revised regulations in 2009 by a steel fiber to reinforce other materials is possible. Variety of fiber reinforcement material for concrete review of applicability is needed. Steel fiber strength than the other fibers is large and by the geometry of the fibers are attached to improve performance. However, compared to steel fiber organic fibers and low modulus of elasticity and tensile strength of fiber and agglomeration occurs in the concrete to be used as reinforcement material is difficult. In this regard, the present study as a single object in the micro-fiber bouquet sharp entanglement through make muck attach surface area, distributed fibers from surfactant of the surface enhanced polyamide fibers, steel fiber and PP fiber reinforced concrete by comparing the scene to provide a basis for the use.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.330-339
• /
• 2009

The material properties of Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) were evaluated according to heat treatment conditions. The special focus was made on the color control of cedar wood by heat treatment. The difference of color between sapwood and heartwood could be reduced by heat treatment at a temperature above $170^{\circ}C$. Long heating time was more effective in reducing the difference. The Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) of heat-treated wood was as low as 50 percent. The result obviously indicates that heat-treated wood is more dimensionally stable in the change of moisture condition than the control. The heat-treated wood was also effective in increasing the durability against wood rotting fungi. However, more study is required to develop heat treatment as an environmentally-friendly technology for wood preservation without chemical. The mechanical properties of heat-treated wood showed relatively higher performance than the control in general. Meanwhile the dramatic decrease in impact bending stress due to the loss of ductility may limit uses of heat-treated wood in certain cases. There were no significant changes in microscopic structure which may cause changes in mechanical properties. Further study on the chemical analysis of heat-treated wood is needed to scrutinize the causes of changes of material properties.