• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.593-609
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• 2021

We proposed a numerical method for the thermo-mechanical behavior of rock fracture using a grain-based distinct element model (GBDEM) and simulated thermally induced fracture slip. The present study is the benchmark simulation performed as part of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G, which aims to develop a numerical method to estimate the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes within the crystalline rock fracture network. We represented the rock sample as an assembly of Voronoi grains and calculated the interaction of the grains (blocks) and their interfaces (contacts) using a distinct element code, 3DEC. Based on an equivalent continuum approach, the micro-parameters of grains and contacts were determined to reproduce rock as an elastic material. Then, the behavior of the fracture embedded in the rock was characterized by the contacts with Coulomb shear strength and tensile strength. In the benchmark simulation, we quantitatively examined the effects of the boundary stress and thermal stress due to heat conduction on fracture behavior, focusing on the mechanism of thermally induced fracture slip. The simulation results showed that the developed numerical model reasonably reproduced the thermal expansion and thermal stress increment, the fracture stress and displacement and the effect of boundary condition. We expect the numerical model to be enhanced by continuing collaboration and interaction with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G and validated in further study experiments.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.5A
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• pp.841-848
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• 2006

There is a complex variation of stress in PSC anchorage zones and box girder diaphragms because of large concentrated load by prestress. According to the AASHTO LFRD design code, three-dimensional effects due to concentrated jacking loads shall be investigated using three-dimensional analysis procedures or may be approximated by considering separate submodels for two or more planes. In this case, the interaction of the submodels should be considered, and the model loads and results should be consistent. However, box girder diaphragms are 3-dimensional disturbed region which requires a fully three-dimensional model, and two-dimensional models are not satisfactory to model the flow of forces in diaphragms. In this study, the strengths of the prestressed box girder diaphragms are predicted using the 3-dimensional grid strut-tie model approach, which were tested to failure in University of Texas. According to the analysis results, the 3-dimensional strut-tie model approach can be possibly applied to the analysis and design of PSC box girder anchorage zones as a reasonable computer-aided approach with satisfied accuracy.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.1331-1337
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• 2013

This study deals with the structural optimization of hybrid vertical-axis wind turbine blades using a response surface method (RSM). The structural analysis results suggest that the stress of hybrid vertical-axis wind turbine blades exceeds the yield strength. Optimization techniques are then applied to structural design to ensure a safe structure. First, the design factors that strongly influence the structural response are identified. The RSM was applied based on the design of experiments. The objective function and constraint terms set the weight and allowable stress, respectively. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was conducted to indicate the effects of the design factors on the stress and weight. Finally, structural design was performed for the hybrid vertical-axis wind turbine blade.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 2014

If volumetric flaws such as bearing pad fretting flaws and debris fretting flaws are detected in the pressure tubes of pressurized heavy water reactors during in-service inspection, the initiation of fatigue cracks and delayed hydrogen cracking from the detected volumetric flaws shall be assessed by using elastic stress concentration factors in accordance with CSA N285.8-05. The CSA N285.8-05 presents only an approximate formula based on linear elastic fracture mechanics for the debris fretting flaw. In this study, an engineering formula considering the geometric characteristics of the debris fretting flaw in detail was derived using two-dimensional finite element analysis and Kinectrics, Inc.'s engineering procedure with slight modifications. Comparing the application results obtained using the derived formula with the three-dimensional finite element analysis results, it is found that the results obtained using the derived formula agree well with the results of the finite element analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.381-390
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• 2023

In this study, the mechanical performance of concrete exposed to chloride ion penetration was investigated. And a compressive stress-strain model was presented. CaCl₂ solution was added when mixing concrete to simulate long-term chloride ion penetration, and the concentration of chlorine ions was set to 0, 1, 2, and 4 % based on the weight of the binder. To investigate the compressive stress-strain curve after the peak stress of concrete, the compressive strength was measured by displacement control. When the chlorine ion concentration was 1 %, peak stress increased, but when the chlorine ion concentration was 2 % or more, peak stress decreased. In the case of peak strain, no trend according to chloride ion concentration was observed at 7 days. At 28 days, peak strain decreased as the chloride ion concentration increased. A compressive stress-strain curve model based on the Popovics model was presented using changes in peak stress and peak strain at 28 days. Microstructure analyses were performed to investigate the cause of the decrease in mechanical performance as the concentration of chlorine ions increased. It was confirmed that as the concentration of chlorine ion increased, Friedel's salt increased and portlandite decreased.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2017

Metal fatigue is an important aging mechanism that material characteristics can be deteriorated when even a small load is applied repeatedly. An accurate fatigue evaluation is very important for component structural integrity and reliability. In the design stage of a nuclear power plant, the fatigue evaluations of the Class 1 components have to be performed. However, operating experience shows that the design evaluation can be very conservative due to conservatism in the transient severity and number of occurrence. Therefore, the fatigue monitoring system has been considered as a practical mean to ensure safe operation of the nuclear power plants. The fatigue monitoring system can quantify accumulated fatigue damage up to date for various plant conditions. The purpose of this paper is to describe the fatigue monitoring procedure and to introduce the fatigue monitoring program developed by the authors. The feasibility of the fatigue monitoring program is demonstrated by comparing with the actual operating data and finite element analysis results.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.431-438
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• 2012

The mechanical behavior of the polymeric material, HDPE depends on both time and temperature. The study of the tensile behavior at different strain rates is important in engineering design of the orthopedics device such as X-band plate. The mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of HDPE are strongly dependent on the applied strain rate. Generally, the deformation behavior of HDPE based on the stress-strain curve is complex because of the highly inhomogeneous nature of plastic deformation, particularly that of necking. Therefore, we attempted to determine the mechanical behavior of HDPE in this study. Normally, tensile testing under various strain rates of the HDPE has been used to determine the mechanical behavior. We performed tensile tests at various strain rates (1 to 500 %/min) to analyze the viscoelastic behavior on increasing the strain rate. A tensile stress-strain curve was plotted from the data, and the point of transition was marked to calculate the transition stress, strain, and modulus.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.11-22
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• 2019

Limit state design (LSD) and allowable stress design (ASD) are two main types of soil nailing design methodologies. In the LSD method, stability is determined by applying individual coefficients to ground strength, working load and etc. The ASD method calculates the safety factor and compares it with the minimum safety factor to determine the stability. The global design trend of soil nailing system is changing from the ASD method to the LSD method. The design method in Korea still adopts the ASD philosophy while others mostly do the limit state design. In this study, four soil nail design methods, 'FHWA GEC 7' in U.S. (2015), 'Clouterre' in France (1991), 'Soil nailing - best practice guidance' in U.K. (2005), 'Geoguide 7' in Hongkong (2008), and 'Design guide for slope in construction work' in Korea (2016) were applied to the evaluation of the stability and the results were analyzed comparatively in brief. It is revealed that the design method of 'the overall stability of soil nail walls' in Korea is the most conservative and next those by FHWA, Clouterre and CIRIA become more conservative in order. However, the difference of results obtained from FHWA and Clouterre is negligible. Also, this study found out that efforts to improve domestic design criterion are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2013

Power generating unit structures are designed and built to meet standard to secure its safety for expected life time. As the structures have been exposed to combined environment, degradation of structure material is accelerated and it can cause unexpected damage; evaluating precise mechanical properties of weak site like welded area is an essential research area as it is directly connected to safety issues. Existing measuring technique like tensile test requires specific size in testing specimen yet it is destructive method which is hard to apply on running structures. To overcome above mentioned limitation, IIT is getting limelight as it is non-destructive and simple method. In this study, latest technique is introduced to evaluate tensile property and residual stress by analyzing stress field occurs under the indenter while IIT is performed. Test on welded area, the weak site of nuclear structures have been practiced and confirmed that IIT can be usefully applied to evaluate integrity in industry.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.579-590
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• 2012

Weight reduction of a railway axle, which is one of heaviest parts in an urban railway vehicle, is discussed in this paper. A wheelset of a railway vehicle is very important with regard to railway safety, and its structural strength should always be considered when attempting to reduce the railway axle weight. In this work, the weight of the axles of a trailer bogie and a motor bogie of the Korean EMU was reduced by replacing solid axles with hollow axles. On the basis of the EN standard for railway axle design, the strength of existing solid axles was analyzed and the required bore size of a hollow axle was determined. It is shown that the weight of the concurrent axle of the Korean EMU can be reduced by up to 20% with a very small decrease in the structural strength. Finite element analyses were also carried out to verify the design result for lightweight hollow axles.