• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 2023

Reinforcement learning (RL) is widely applied to various engineering fields. Especially, RL has shown successful performance for control problems, such as vehicles, robotics, and active structural control system. However, little research on application of RL to optimal structural design has conducted to date. In this study, the possibility of application of RL to structural design of reinforced concrete (RC) beam was investigated. The example of RC beam structural design problem introduced in previous study was used for comparative study. Deep q-network (DQN) is a famous RL algorithm presenting good performance in the discrete action space and thus it was used in this study. The action of DQN agent is required to represent design variables of RC beam. However, the number of design variables of RC beam is too many to represent by the action of conventional DQN. To solve this problem, multi-agent DQN was used in this study. For more effective reinforcement learning process, DDQN (Double Q-Learning) that is an advanced version of a conventional DQN was employed. The multi-agent of DDQN was trained for optimal structural design of RC beam to satisfy American Concrete Institute (318) without any hand-labeled dataset. Five agents of DDQN provides actions for beam with, beam depth, main rebar size, number of main rebar, and shear stirrup size, respectively. Five agents of DDQN were trained for 10,000 episodes and the performance of the multi-agent of DDQN was evaluated with 100 test design cases. This study shows that the multi-agent DDQN algorithm can provide successfully structural design results of RC beam.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.328-331
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• 2011

준정적 횡하중을 재하 받는 철근콘크리트 보-기둥 접합부의 전단강도에 대한 주요 영향요인을 Bayesian parameter estimation의 신뢰성 이론 접목을 통해 검토하였다. 이와 같은 연구 scope의 수행을 위해 철근콘크리트 보-기둥의 실험 database가 구축되었다. 실험 database는 일정한 criteria을 적용하여 구축되었으며, 포함된 시편들은 최종적으로 접합부 내의 전단파괴가 지배하는 경우들이다. 포함된 시편들의 상세는 ACI (American Concrete Institute) 352R-02를 기준으로 평가되어졌다. 보-기둥 접합부의 전단강도에 영향 요인을 편중되지 않게 평가하고자, Bayesian parameter estimation의 신뢰성 이론을 적용하였다. Bayesian parameter estimation의 적용을 통해 전단강도에 영향이 적은 변수 (not informative parameter)를 순차적으로 제거 (stepwise removal process)함으로 주요 영향요인의 우선 순위를 확인할 수 있었다. 검토된 8개의 변수들 중에서, 횡하중을 재하 받는 철근콘크리트 보-기둥의 전단강도는 주로 콘크리트 압축강도, in-plane geometry, 종방향 보의 주철근 그리고 접합부 내의 구속철근 순으로 영향을 줌을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to develop a fluidity-improved refilling material that satisfies smooth construction and long-term durability in a low-temperature environment using special materials and field soil as a refilling material to develop technology for high-speed installation of long-term non-traditional pipelines on poor ground containing a large amount of organic soil in a low-temperature environment. To this end, a special cement material was developed, and an indoor test was conducted to determine the construction performance and durability of the fluidity improved refilling material mixed with the developed special material and field soil to meet the quality standards for field construction. The construction quality standard items of fluidity improved refill materials were set to meet the CLSM (ACI 229R-13) standard suggested by the American ACI (America Concrete Institute). In addition, in order to understand the applicability in a low-temperature environment, the test was performed with the same items at low temperature and compared with the indoor test results at room temperature.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.525-541
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• 2012

This study aims to investigate the possibility of Investor-State Dispute under Korea US FTA in relation to Korean environmental impact assessment scheme. The study analyzes the Investor-State Dispute case between Bilcon of Delaware and the government of Canada. The case study shows that Bilcon challenged Canada with violations of NAFTA 1102, 1103 and 1105, arguing that Canada treated Bilcon in an arbitrary and discriminatory manner. The study analyzes two different scenarios that Korea could face with arbitration for alleged breach of its obligations under the Korea US FTA in relation to EIA scheme. From analyzing the case study in relation to two different scenarios, the study finds that problems previously identified and associated with EIA scheme in Korea could directly or indirectly cause Investor-State Dispute Settlement process between Korea and American investors. The study concludes that the risk of violating Korea US FTA related with Korean EIA could be reduced by creating Korean EIA scheme in a transparent and unarbitrary manner which guarantees fair public participation and elaborating the concrete meaning of sustainable development in EIA law.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.779-799
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• 2015

The slosh height and the possibility of water spill from rectangular Spent Fuel Storage Bays (SFSB) and Tray Loading Bays (TLB) of Nuclear power plant (NPP) are studied during 0.2 g, Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE) level of earthquake. The slosh height obtained through Computational Fluid dynamics (CFD) is compared the values given by TID-7024 (Housner 1963) and American concrete institute (ACI) seismic codes. An equivalent amplitude method is used to compute the slosh height through CFD. Numerically computed slosh height for first mode of vibration is found to be in agreement the codal values. The combined effect in longitudinal and lateral directions are studied separately, and found that the slosh height is increased by 24.3% and 38.9% along length and width directions respectively. There is no liquid spillage under SSE level of earthquake data in SFSB and TLB at convective level and at free surface acceleration data. Since seismic design codes do not have guidelines for combined excitations and effect of higher modes for irregular geometries, this CFD procedure can be opted for any geometries to study effect of higher modes and combined three directional excitations.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.493-498
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• 2009

Recently, the number of complex construction projects, such as high-density development and long-span mega structure construction, has been increasing globally. Therefore, the construction duration has become an even more important factor for success. Nevertheless, in domestic residential construction projects, it usually takes more time than twice as much as North American cases. The long construction duration causes a number of problems, for example growth of financial costs, fall in productivity, and weakness of competitiveness. If the framework construction duration can be shortened to 3 ~ 4 days, then it is also expected to complete the finish work of building in shorter duration, be led to reduce the entire construction duration, and eventually to save a great deal of indirect costs. For shortening the construction duration, previous researches pointed out that the development of simplified plan design should precedes. But, in reality, lack of experience of new design and innovative techniques tends to be the obstacle to wide adoption of the simplified plan design in construction fields. In this paper, a simplified structural plan design is proposed, and the construction cost is quantitatively compared between when traditional construction technique is applied to the traditional plan and when the duration-shortening key technique is applied to the developed plan.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2011

This research was performed to evaluate physical properties of polysulfide epoxy overlay material for bridge deck as part of a review for possibility of domestic application of polymer concrete for bridge deck pavement. In order to evaluate strength characteristics, compressive strength, flexural strength and bond strength were tested, and, for durability characteristics, chloride ion penetration resistance and freeze/thaw resistance were tested along with ultraviolet rays impact evaluation. The tests showed that the results met the criteria suggested by the American Concrete Institute in terms of compressive strength, flexural strength and bond strength. However, in terms of the strengths measured at various test temperatures, it was found that the epoxy material was highly dependent on temperature, and, therefore, this should be considered at the time of domestic application of the epoxy material later. Deflection characteristics was checked through flexural strength test and it was found that bridge deck pavement using the epoxy material was excellent compared to bridge deck pavement using asphalt. Furthermore, the results of chloride ion penetration resistance test and freeze/thaw resistance test were also excellent. In the evaluation of ultraviolet rays impact on epoxy slurry mixture, reduction of strain was noticed with increased strength, but the deflection characteristics after exposure to ultraviolet rays was better than the existing acryl polymer concrete. Therefore, it is concluded from the research that the polysulfide epoxy overlay material has the physical properties that are appropriate to pavement of bridge deck.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.229-237
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• 2011

The pullout test is a nondestructive testing method certified by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and British Standards (BS). Research has shown that it is very reliable in terms of evaluating the concrete strength of reinforced concrete members. However, the pullout test is rarely performed on domestic construction sites due to the complex procedures and high costs involved. This study proposes a new pullout test composed of a post installable break-off bolt, an insert nut, and a pullout tester, which satisfy both economical and practical purposes on a construction site. Three different types of special fastening methods, a temporary fixed bolt, a plastic fixed panel, and a fixed bar, have been developed. A pullout tester is proposed that is driven by the circle force introduced into a handle composed of eight gears without a load cell and a hydraulic cylinder. The serviceability and reliability of these instruments were investigated through experiments at construction sites. Furthermore, the sample pullout test with a wall specimen was conducted to estimate the usefulness of the temporary fixed bolt type of fastening methods and pullout devices. Eventually, the developed instruments will be useful on construction sites if minor requirements are met.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.3 s.93
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• pp.303-312
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• 2006

The main objective of this experimental study is to examine the feasibilities of each testing method with various kinds of grip systems for the analysis of tensile strength of GFRP(glass fiber reinforced polymer) reinforcing bars. Three types of grip systems were examined such as resin-sleeved pipe-type grip proposed by CSA(Canadian Standard Association), frictional resistance type metal grip by ASTM(American Standard for Testing and Materials) and wedge-inserted cone-type grip normally used in prestressing tendons. Also, mechanical properties of GFRP rebars with different surface deformations were investigated for each different type of testing grip used in this study. All testing procedures including specimens preparation, set-up of test equipments and measuring devices were made according to the CSA S806-02 recommendations. From the test results, it was found that the highest tensile strengths of GFRP rebars were observed when tested by resin-sleeved grip system regardless of their different surface deformations. But tensile strengths of GFRP rebars by ASTM grip system are only 10% less than those by CSA grip system. On the other hand, CSA grip is not only difficult to prepare but also not disposable. Therefore, ASTM grip system is recommended as a practical alternative to estimate the tensile strength of GFRP rebars.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.17 no.6 s.90
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• pp.947-953
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• 2005

Previous test results showed that the current ASTM(American Standard for Testing and Materials) grip adapter for GFRP(Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer) rebar was not fully successful in developing the design tensile strength of GFRP rebars with reasonable accuracy. It is because the current ASTM grip adapter which is composed of a pair of rectangular metal blocks of which inner faces are grooved along the longitudinal direction does not take into account the various geometric characteristics of GFRP rebar such as surface treatment, shape of bar cross section as well as physical characteristics such as poisson effect, elastic modulus in the transverse direction and so on. The objective of this paper is to provide how to proportion the optimum diameter of inner groove in ASTM grip adapter to develop design tensile strength of GFRP rebar. The proportioning of inner groove in ASTM grip adapter is based on the force equilibrium of GFRP rebar between tensile capacity and minimum frictional resistance required along the grip adapter. The frictional resistance of grip adapter is calculated based on the compressive strain compatibility in radial direction induced by the difference between diameter of GFRP rebar and inner groove In ASTM grip. All testing procedures were made according to the CSA S806-02 recommendations. From the preliminary test results on round-type GFRP rebars, it was found that maximum tensile loads acquired under the same testing conditions is highly affected by the diameter of inner groove in ASTM grip adapter. The grip adapter with specific dimension proportioned by proposed method recorded the highest tensile strength among them.