• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.8
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• pp.2696-2707
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of various structural modeling schemes for evaluating seismic performances and fragility of the reactor containment building (RCB) structure in the advanced power reactor 1400 (APR1400) nuclear power plant (NPP). Four structural modeling schemes, i.e. lumped-mass stick model (LMSM), solid-based finite element model (Solid FEM), multi-layer shell model (MLSM), and beam-truss model (BTM), are developed to simulate the seismic behaviors of the containment structure. A full three-dimensional finite element model (full 3D FEM) is additionally constructed to verify the previous numerical models. A set of input ground motions with response spectra matching to the US NRC 1.60 design spectrum is generated to perform linear and nonlinear time-history analyses. Floor response spectra (FRS) and floor displacements are obtained at the different elevations of the structure since they are critical outputs for evaluating the seismic vulnerability of RCB and secondary components. The results show that the difference in seismic responses between linear and nonlinear analyses gets larger as an earthquake intensity increases. It is observed that the linear analysis underestimates floor displacements while it overestimates floor accelerations. Moreover, a systematic assessment of the capability and efficiency of each structural model is presented thoroughly. MLSM can be an alternative approach to a full 3D FEM, which is complicated in modeling and extremely time-consuming in dynamic analyses. Specifically, BTM is recommended as the optimal model for evaluating the nonlinear seismic performance of NPP structures. Thereafter, linear and nonlinear BTM are employed in a series of time-history analyses to develop fragility curves of RCB for different damage states. It is shown that the linear analysis underestimates the probability of damage of RCB at a given earthquake intensity when compared to the nonlinear analysis. The nonlinear analysis approach is highly suggested for assessing the vulnerability of NPP structures.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.109-116
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• 2010

Three-dimensional finite element model for analysis of reinforced concrete members was developed in order to investigate the prediction of bending and shear failure of reinforced concrete beams. A failure surface of concrete in strain space was newly proposed in order to predict accurately the ductile response of concrete under multi-axial confining stresses. Cracking of concrete in triaxial state was incorporated with considering the tensile strain-softening behavior of cracked concrete as well as the cracked shear behavior on cracked surface of concrete caused by aggregate interlocking and, dowel action. By correlation study on failure types of bending and shear of beams, current finite element model was well simulated not only the type of ductile bending failure of under-reinforced beams but also the type of brittle shear failure of no-stirruped reinforced concrete beam.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.695-710
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• 2014

This paper presents a theoretical and computational approach to solve inelastic structures subjected to overloads. Current practice in structural design is based on elastic analysis followed by limit strength design. Whereas this approach typically results in safe strength design, it does not always guarantee satisfactory performance at the service level because the internal stiffness distribution of the structure changes from the service to the ultimate strength state. A significant variation of relative stiffnesses between the two states may result in unwanted cracking at the service level with expensive repairs, while, under certain circumstances, early failure may occur due to unexpected internal moment reversals. To address these concerns, a new inelastic model is presented here that is based on the nonlinear material response and the interaction relation between axial forces and bending moments of a beam-column element. The model is simple, reasonably accurate, and computationally efficient. It is easy to implement in standard structural analysis codes, and avoids the complexities of expensive alternative analyses based on 2D and 3D finite-element computations using solid elements.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.45-69
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• 2022

This paper investigates the shear behavior of reinforced concrete haunched beams (RCHBs) without stirrups. The research objective is to study the effectiveness of the ideal steel fiber (SF) ratio, which is used to resist shear strength, besides the influence of main steel reinforcement, compressive strength, and inclination angles of the haunched beam. The modeling and analysis were carried out by Finite Element Method (FE) based on a software package, called Atena-GiD 3D. The program of this study comprises two-part. One of them consists of nine results of experimental SF RCHBs which are used to identify the accuracy of FE models. The other part comprises 81 FE models, which are divided into three groups. Each group differed from another group by the area of main steel reinforcement (A_s) which are 226, 339, and 509 mm². The other parameters which are considered in each group in the same quantities to study the effectiveness of them, were steel fiber volumetric ratios (0.0, 0.5, and 1.0)%, compressive strength (20.0, 40.0, 60.0) MPa, and the inclination angle of haunched beam (0.0°, 10.0°, and 15.0°). Moreover, the parametric analysis was carried out on SF RCHBs to clarify the effectiveness of each parameter on the mechanical behavior of SF RCHBs. The results show that the correlation coefficient (R²) between shear load capacities of FE proposed models and shear load capacities of experimental SF RCHBs is 0.9793, while the effective inclination angle of the haunched beam is 10° which contributes to resisting shear strength, besides the ideal ratio of steel fibers is 1% when the compressive strength of SF RCHBs is more than 20 MPa.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

The Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF) is here extended to perform free-vibrational analyses of rotating structures. CUF is a hierarchical formulation, which enables one to obtain refined structural theories by writing the unknown displacement variables using generic functions of the cross-section coordinates (x, z). In this work, Taylor-like expansions are used. The increase of the theory order leads to three-dimensional solutions while, the classical beam models can be obtained as particular cases of the linear theory. The Finite Element technique is used to solve the weak form of the three-dimensional differential equations of motion in terms of "fundamental nuclei", whose forms do not depend on the adopted approximation. Including both gyroscopic and stiffening contributions, structures rotating about either transversal or longitudinal axis can be considered. In particular, the dynamic characteristics of thin-walled cylinders and composite blades are investigated to predict the frequency variations with the rotational speed. The results reveal that the present one-dimensional approach combines a significant accuracy with a very low computational cost compared with 2D and 3D solutions. The advantages are especially evident when deformable and composite structures are analyzed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.667-676
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• 2002

Many studies on the finite element modeling for bolted joints have proceeded, but the structures with bolted joints are complicated in shape and it is difficult to find out the characteristics according to joint condition. Usually, experimental methods have been used for bolted joint analysis. A reliable and practical finite element modeling technique for structure with bolted joints is very important for engineers in industry. In this study, three kinds of model are presented; a detailed model, a practical model and a simple model. The detailed model is modeled by using 3-D solid element and gap element, and the practical model is modeled by using shell element (a portion of bolt head) and beam element (a portion of bolt body), the simple model is modeled by simplifying practical model without using gap elements. Among these models, the simple model has the least degree of freedom and show the effect of memory reduction of 59%, when compared with the detailed model.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.435-444
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• 2001

Even todays, accurate and efficient algorithms for the large deformation analysis of elastoplastic frame structures lack due to the complexities of kinematics, material nonlinearities and numerical methods to cater for. The author suggests appropriate beam element based upon the incremental formulation from the 3D rod theory where Cauchy stress and engineering strain are variables to incorporate plasticity equations so that objectivity may be satisfied. A rectum mapping methods which can integrate and satisfy yield criteria efficiently is suggested and a continuation method which has global convergency and quadratic speed is developed as well. leading-unloading example problems are tested and the ideas are proved to be valuable.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.783-792
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• 2017

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates are used widely either for repairing or strengthening of existing structures. When CFRP laminates are used for strengthening of RC continuous T-beams in the Hogging Moment Zone (HMZ); above and around the intermediate supports, it is important to study the expected positions of the laminates across the width of the beam flange. Although, it is traditional to consider CFRP laminates added above the beam web, this is not practical since walls and columns are located in such positions in general. This paper examines the effect of changing the positions of CFRP laminates used for the strengthening of the hogging moment zone across the beam flange of two-span-T-section beams. The Finite Element (FE) Package ANSYS is used to create 3-D theoretical models needed for the study. It can be concluded that changing the position of CFRP strengthening across the beam flange, in the hogging moment zone, is effective upon the overall behavior. The best locations are either above the web or at the flange just beside the web, due to the presence of walls and/or columns.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.292-298
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• 2015

A wiper is a safety device removing rain and debris from windshield and ensuring visibility of drivers. If contact pressure distribution between rubber of the blade and the windshield is unbalanced, unwanted noise, vibration, and abrasion of the blade can occur and sometimes fatal accidents could occur. To improve the safety of the wiper, there have been many researches on the contact pressure analysis of the wiper, but the analysis results were not converged or require much computational time due to material nonlinearity of the rubber and contact conditions between the blade rubber and the windshield. In this research, a simple model with 1D beam and 2D shell elements was used for the contact pressure analysis instead of the 3D blade model. The simplified model saved computational time of the analysis and resolved convergence problems. The accuracy of the analysis results was verified by comparing them with experimental results for different rail spring curvatures.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.459-465
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• 2015

There exist different kinds of aircrafts, such as conventional airplane, rotorcraft, fighter, and unmanned aerial vehicle. Their shape and feature are dependent upon their own assigned mission. One of the fundamental analyses performed during the aircraft design is the structural analysis. It becomes more complicated and requires severe computations because of the recent complex trends in aircraft structure. In order for efficiency in the structural analysis, a simplified approach, such as equivalent beam or plate model, is preferred. However, it is not clear which analysis will be appropriate to analyze the realistic configuration, such as an aircraft wing, i.e., between an equivalent beam and plate analysis. It is necessary to assess the limitation for both the one-dimensional beam analysis and the two-dimensional plate theory. Thus, in this paper, the static structural analysis results obtained by EDISON solvers were compared with the three-dimensional results obtained from MSC NASTRAN. Before that, EDISON program was verified by comparing the results with those from MSC NASTRAN program and other analytic solutions.