• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.15-25
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• 1993

In order to promote the efficient use of composite materials, effort is currently being directed at the development of design criteria for composite structures. Insofar as design against buckling is concerned, it is well known that, for metal shells, a key step is the definition of 'knockdown' factors on the elastic critical buckling stress accounting mainly for the influence of initial geometric imperfections. At present, the imperfection sensitivity of composite shells has not been explored in detail. Due to the large number of parameters influencing buckling response (considerably larger than for isotropic shells), a very large number of tests would be needed to quantify imperfection sensitivity experimentally. An alternative approach is to use validated numerical models for this task. Thus, the objective of this paper is to outline the underlying theory used in developing a composite shell element and to present results from a validation exercise and subsequently from a parametric study on axially loaded glass fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP) curved panels using finite element modelling. Both eigenvalue and incremental analyses are performed, the latter including the effect of initial geometric imperfection shape and amplitude, and the results are used to estimate 'knockdown' factors for such panels.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.769-776
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• 2013

The dynamic compliance characteristics of a prosthetic foot midgait are very important for natural performance in an amputee's gait and should be in a range that provides natural, stable walking. In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) and classical laminate theory were used to examine the mechanical characteristics of a carbon-epoxy composite laminate prosthetic foot as a function of variation in the lamination composition. From this analysis, an FEM model of a prosthetic keel, made from the composite material, was developed. The lamination composition of the keel was designed for improved stiffness. The prototype product was fabricated using an autoclave. Vertical loading response tests were performed to verify the simulation model. The results of the experiments were similar to those from simulations below the loading level of the gait, suggesting use of the proposed simulation model for prosthetic keel design.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.59-91
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• 2016

Laminated composite shells are commonly used in various engineering applications including aerospace and marine structures. In this paper, using semi-analytical finite strip method, the buckling behavior of laminated composite deep as well as thick shells of revolution under follower forces which remain normal to the shell is investigated. The stiffness caused by pressure is calculated for the follower forces subjected to external fibers in thick shells. The shell is divided into several closed strips with alignment of their nodal lines in the circumferential direction. The governing equations are derived based on first-order shear deformation theory which accounts for through thickness-shear flexibility. Displacements and rotations in the middle surface of shell are approximated by combining polynomial functions in the meridional direction as well as truncated Fourier series with an appropriate number of harmonic terms in the circumferential direction. The load stiffness matrix which accounts for variation of loads direction will be derived for each strip of the shell. Assembling of these matrices results in global load stiffness matrix which may be un-symmetric. Upon forming linear elastic stiffness matrix called constitutive stiffness matrix, geometric stiffness matrix and load stiffness matrix, the required elements for the second step analysis which is an eigenvalue problem are provided. In this study, different parameter effects are investigated including shell geometry, material properties, and different boundary conditions. Afterwards, the outcomes are compared with other researches. By considering the results of this article, it can be concluded that the deformation-dependent pressure assumption can entail to decrease the calculated buckling load in shells. This characteristic is studied for different examples.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.575-584
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• 2006

In this paper, a shear-flexible finite element model is developed for the buckling analysis of axially loaded, thin-walled composite I-beams. Based on an orthogonal Cartesian coordinate system, the displacement fields are defined using the first-order shear-deformable beam theory. The derived element takes into account flexural shear deformation and torsional warping deformation. Three different types of beam elements, namely, the two-noded, three-noded, and four-noded beam elements, were developed to solve the governing equations. An inverse iteration with shift eigenvalue solution was used to solve the resulting linearized buckling problem. A parametric study was conducted to show the importance of shear flexibility and fiber orientation on the buckling behavior of thin-walled composite beams. A good agreement was obtained among the proposed shear-flexible model, other results available in literature, and the finite element solution.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.607-614
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• 2011

This study deals with thegeometrical nonlinear dynamic behavior of laminated plates made of advanced composite materials (ACMs), which contain central cutouts. Based on the first-order shear deformation plate theory (FSDT), the Newmark method and Newton-Raphson iteration wereused for the nonlinear dynamic solution. The effects of the cutout sizes and lay-up sequences on the nonlinear dynamic response for various parameters werestudied using a nonlinear dynamic finite element program that was developed for this study. The several numerical results agreed well with those reported by other investigators for square composite plates with or without central cutouts, and the new results reported in this paper showed significant interactions between the cutout and the layup sequence in the laminate. Key observation points are discussed and a brief design guide for laminates with central cutouts is given.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.100-109
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• 1999

A method is proposed to characterize single-fiber composite interphases from the frequency-domain characteristics of scattered ultrasonic waves, and its feasibility is investigated theoretically. It has been shown that the locations and magnitudes of the peaks and valleys in the frequency domain are affected significantly by the interphase properties, which may indicate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Although the frequency-domain behavior is basically associated with the resonance of the fiber-interphase system, it is not dominantly affected by the scatterer's resonance unlike that in the case of acoustic wave scattering. Therefore, the conventional acoustic resonant scattering theory is not directly applicable to the characterization of composite interphases. In order to solve the inverse problem of predicting the interphase properties from the frequency-domain characteristics of the ultrasonic scattered waves, an artificial neural network has been constructed. This approach has demonstrated reasonable accuracy in most cases considered in this study.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.51-74
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• 2001

A series of tests on concrete-filled SHS (Square Hollow Section) stub columns (twenty), columns (eight) and beam-columns (twenty one) were carried out. The main parameters varied in the tests are (1) Confinement factor (${\xi}$) from 1.08 to 5.64, (2) concrete compression strength from 10.7MPa to 36.6MPa, (3) tube width to thickness ratio from 20.5 to 36.5. (4) load eccentricity (e) from 15 mm to 80 mm and (5) column slenderness (${\lambda}$) from 45 to 75. A mechanics model is developed in this paper for concrete-filled SHS stub columns, columns and beam-columns. A unified theory is described where a confinement factor (${\xi}$) is introduced to describe the composite action between the steel tube and filled concrete. The predicted load versus axial strain relationship is in good agreement with stub column test results. Simplified models are derived for section capacities and modulus in different stages of the composite sections. The predicted beam-column strength is compared with that of 331 beam-column tests with a wide range of parameters. A good agreement is obtained. The predicted load versus midspan deflection relationship for beam-columns is in good agreement with test results. A simplified model is developed for calculating the member capacity of concrete-filled SHS columns. Comparisons are made with predicted columns strengths using the existing codes such as LRFD (AISC 1994), AIJ (1997), and EC4 (1996). Simplified interaction curves are derived for concrete-filled beam-columns.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.381-387
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• 2017

Fiber-reinforced composites not only have a direction of thermal expansion coefficient, but also inevitably suffer thermal stress effects due to the difference between the manufacturing process temperature and the actual use temperature. The damage caused by thermal stress is more prominent in the case of thick composite laminates, which are increasingly applied in the aerospace industry, and have a great influence on the mechanical function and fracture strength of the laminates. In this study, the dimensional reduction and thermal stress recovery theory of composite beam structure having high slenderness ratio is introduced and show the efficiency and accuracy of the thermal stress comparison results between the 3-D finite element model and the dimension reduction beam model. Efficient recovery analysis study will be introduced by reconstructing the thermal stress of the composite beam section applied to the thermal environment by constructing the dimensional reduction modeling and recovery relations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.537-565
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• 2016

Australian railway networks possess a large amount of aging timber components and need to replace them in excess of 280 thousands $m^3$ per year. The relatively high turnover of timber sleepers (crossties in a plain track), bearers (skeleton ties in a turnout), and transoms (bridge cross beams) is responsible for producing greenhouse gas emissions 6 times greater than an equivalent reinforced concrete counterparts. This paper presents an innovative solution for the replacement of aging timber transoms installed on existing railway bridges along with the incorporation of a continuous walkway platform, which is proven to provide environmental, safety and financial benefits. Recent developments for alternative composite materials to replace timber components in railway infrastructure construction and maintenance demonstrate some compatibility issues with track stiffness as well as structural and geometrical track systems. Structural concrete are generally used for new railway bridges where the comparatively thicker and heavier fixed slab track systems can be accommodated. This study firstly demonstrates a novel and resilient alterative by incorporating steel-concrete composite slab theory and combines the capabilities of being precast and modulated, in order to reduce the depth, weight and required installation time relative to conventional concrete direct-fixation track slab systems. Clear benefits of the new steel-concrete composites are the maintainability and constructability, especially for existing railway bridges (or brown fields). Critical considerations in the design and finite element modelling for performance benchmarking of composite structures and their failure modes are highlighted in this paper, altogether with risks, compatibilities and compliances.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.15-24
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• 1996

In this study, as a part of the basic study for the application of optical fiber sensors to smart composite structures, the integrity of optical fiber sensors embedded within the composite structures was examined and then the laser signal transmitted through optical fiber sensors during the deformation of host structures was investigated. Firstly, it was found that bending test could be substituted for tensile test by comparing cumulative failure distribution based on weakest link theory and introducing the correction factor. Weibull parameters were obtained through the experiments and the correction factor was found to be applied to cumulative failure distribution derived from bending test. The integrity of embedded optical fiber sensors due to the thermal effect was evaluated by the comparison of the mean tensile strengths of cured and uncured optical fibers. Secondly, relationships between stress-strain curve obtained in tensile test of composite laminate and the intensity of laser signal transmitted through embedded optical fibers were examined and the possibility of the effective damage detection using optical fiber sensors was studied.