• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2020

The application of critical excitation method with displacement-based objective function for multi degree of freedom (MDOF) systems is investigated. To this end, a new critical excitation method is developed to find the critical input motion of a MDOF system as a synthetic accelerogram. The upper bound of earthquake input energy per unit mass is considered as a new constraint for the problem, and its advantages are discussed. Considering this constraint, the critical excitation method is then used to generate synthetic accelerograms for MDOF models corresponding to three shear buildings of 10, 16, and 22 stories. In order to demonstrate the reliability of generated accelerograms to estimate dynamic response of the structures, three target ground motions with considerable level of energy contents are selected to represent "real critical excitation" of each model, and the method is used to re-generate these ground motions. Afterwards, linear dynamic analyses are conducted using these accelerograms along with the generated critical excitations, to investigate the key parameters of response including maximum displacement, maximum interstory drift, and maximum absolute acceleration of stories. The results show that the generated critical excitations can make an acceptable estimate of the structural behavior compared to the target ground motions. Therefore, the method can be reliably implemented to generate critical excitation of the structure when real one is not available.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.5
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• pp.583-594
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• 2018

A theoretical formulation based on the linearized potential theory, the Descartes' rule and the extremum optimization method is presented to calculate the critical distance of lifting points of the fully balanced hoist vertical ship lift, and to study pitching stability of the ship lift. The overturning torque of the ship chamber is proposed based on the Housner theory. A seven-free-degree dynamic model of the ship lift based on the Lagrange equation of the second kind is then established, including the ship chamber, the wire rope, the gravity counterweights and the liquid in the ship chamber. Subsequently, an eigenvalue equation is obtained with the coefficient matrix of the dynamic equations, and a key coefficient is analyzed by innovative use of the minimum optimization method for a stability criterion. Also, an extensive influence of the structural parameters contains the gravity counterweight wire rope stiffness, synchronous shaft stiffness, lifting height and hoists radius on the critical distance of lifting points is numerically analyzed. With the Runge-Kutta method, the four primary dynamical responses of the ship lift are investigated to demonstrate the accuracy/reliability of the result from the theoretical formulation. It is revealed that the critical distance of lifting points decreases with increasing the synchronous shaft stiffness, while increases with rising the other three structural parameters. Moreover, the theoretical formulation is more applicable than the previous criterions to design the layout of the fully balanced hoist vertical ship lift for the ensuring of the stability.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.222-228
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• 2010

In this paper, we propose a optimization approach for the Electric Locomotive Overhaul Maintenance Facility (ELOMF), which aims at the simulation optimization so as to meet the design specification. In simulation design, we consider the critical path and sensitivity analysis of the critical (dependent) factors and the design (independent) parameters for the parameter selection and reduction of the metamodel. Therefore, we construct the multi-objective non-linear programming. The objective function is normalized for the generalization of design parameter while the constraints are composed of the simulation-based regression metamodel for the critical factors and design factor's domain. Then the effective solution procedure based on the pareto optimal solution set is proposed. This approach provides a comprehensive approach for the optimization of Train Overhaul Maintenance Facility(TOMF)'s design parameters using the simulation and metamoels.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.109-118
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• 2023

In this paper, the evaluation method of fluidelastic instability (FEI) of newly designed steam generator tubing in pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plants is discussed. To obtain the parameters for prediction of the critical velocity of FEI for steam generator tubes, experimental research is carried out, and the design parameters are determined. Using CFD numerical simulation, the tube array scale of the model experiment is determined, and the experimental device is designed. In this paper, 7 groups of experiments with void fractions of 0% (water), 10%, 20%, 50%, 75%, 85% and 95% were carried out. The critical damping ration, fundamental frequency and critical velocity of FEI of tubes in flowing water were measured. Through calculation, the total mass and instability constant of the immersed tube are obtained. The critical damping ration measured in the experiment mainly included two-phase damping and viscous damping, which changed with the change in void fraction from 1.56% to 4.34%. This value can be used in the steam generator design described in this paper and is conservative. By introducing the multiplier of frequency and square root of total mass per unit length, it is found that the difference between the experimental results and the calculated results is less than 1%, which proves the rationality and feasibility of the calculation method of frequency and total mass per unit length in engineering design. Through calculation, the instability constant is greater than 4 when the void fraction is less than 75%, less than 4 when the void fraction exceeds 75% and only 3.04 when the void fraction is 95%.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.755-763
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• 2020

The critical flow phenomenon has been studied because of its significant effect for design basis accidents in nuclear power plants. Transition points from thermal non-equilibrium to equilibrium are different according to the geometric effect on the critical flow. This study evaluates the uncertainty parameters of the critical flow model for analysis of DBA (Design Basis Accident) with the MARS-KS (Multi-dimensional Analysis for Reactor Safety-KINS Standard) code used as an independent regulatory assessment. The uncertainty of the critical flow model is represented by three parameters including the thermal non-equilibrium factor, discharge coefficient, and length to diameter (L/D) ratio, and their ranges are determined using large-scale Marviken test data. The uncertainty range of the thermal non-equilibrium factor is updated by the MCDA (Model Calibration through Data Assimilation) method. The updated uncertainty range is confirmed using an LBLOCA (Large Break Loss of Coolant Accident) experiment in the LOFT (Loss of Fluid Test) facility. The uncertainty ranges are also used to calculate an LBLOCA of the APR (Advanced Power Reactor) 1400 NPP (Nuclear Power Plants), focusing on the effect of the PCT (Peak Cladding Temperature). The results reveal that break flow is strongly dependent on the degree of the thermal non-equilibrium state in a ruptured pipe with a small L/D ratio. Moreover, this study provides the method to handle the thermal non-equilibrium factor, discharge coefficient, and length to diameter (L/D) ratio in the system code.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2002

The objective of this study is to examine the fracture characteristics of concrete at early ages such as critical stress intensity factor, critical crack-tip opening displacement, fracture energy, and bilinear softening curve based on the concepts of the effective-elastic crack model and the cohesive crack model. A wedge splitting test for Mode I was performed on cubic wedge specimens with a notch at the edge. By taking various strengths and ages, load-crack mouth opening displacement curves were obtained, and the results were analyzed by linear elastic fracture mechanics and the finite element method. The results from the test and analysis showed that critical stress intensity factor and fracture energy increased, and critical crack-tip opening displacement decreased with concrete ages from 1 day to 28 days. By numerical analysis four parameters of bilinear softening curve from 1 day to 28 days were obtained. The obtained fracture parameters and bilinear softening curves at early ages may be used as a fracture criterion and an input data for finite element analysis of concrete at early ages.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.317-328
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• 2023

The soil behaviour can be represented by numerical modelling of element testing using diverse constitutive models. However, not all constitutive models allow the simulation of the stress-strain response at the critical state in granular soils with both contractive and dilative behaviour. Moreover, the accuracy of these models depends highly on the quality of the experimental data used for their calibration. This study addresses the modelling of the critical state behaviour of an alluvial natural soil from the Lower Tagus Valley (south of Portugal), known as TP-Lisbon sand, using the NorSand constitutive law. For this purpose, a series of numerical simulations of element testing was carried out using two algorithms performed in Visual Basic (VB) and Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAC). Moreover, this study presents the characterisation of of NorSand parameters from an accurate experimental programme based on triaxial and bender element testing. This experimental program allowed defining: (i) the critical state locus, (ii) the stress-dilatancy, and (iii) the soil elasticity of TP-Lisbon sand -all fundamental to calibrate the contractive and dilative behaviour of such alluvial soil. The results revealed a good agreement between experimental data and NorSand simulations using VB and FLAC. Therefore, this study showed that the quality of laboratory testing procedures and its good interpretation enables NorSand constitutive law to capture representatively the non-associated plastic strains, often expressed by the state parameter, allowing a representation of soil behaviour of alluvial soils within the critical state soil mechanics framework for different state parameters.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2018

The changes of parameters of pressure and velocity of propagation of elastic pressure and shear waves in uniformly deformed solid compressible media are studied within the nonclassically linearized approach (NLA) of nonlinear elastodynamics to create a new theoretical basis of the geomechanical interpretation of various groups of geophysical observational and experimental data. The cases of small and large deformations are considered while their describing by various elastic potentials, i.e., problems considering the physical and geometric nonlinearity. Convenient analytical formulae are obtained to calculate the indicated parameters in the deformed isotropic media within the nonclassical linear and nonlinear solution in the NLA. Specific numerical experiments are conducted in case of overall compression of various materials. It is shown that the method (generally accepted in the studies of mechanics of standard constructional materials) of additional linearization (relative to the pressure parameter) in the basic correlations of the NLA introduces substantial quantitative and qualitative errors into the results at significant preliminary deformations. The influences of the physical and geometric nonlinearity on the studied characteristics of the medium are large in various materials and differ qualitatively. The contribution of nonlinear components to the values of the considered parameters prevails over linear components at large deformations. When certain critical values of compression deformations in the medium are achieved, elastic waves with actual velocity cannot propagate in it. The values of the critical deformations for pressure and shear waves differ within different elastic potentials and variants of the theory of initial deformations.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.99-115
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• 2016

In meeting the technical needs for deepwater conditions and overcoming the shortfalls of single-layer pipes for deepwater applications, pipe-in-pipe (PIP) systems have been developed. While, for PIP pipelines directly laid on the seabed or with partial embedment, one of the primary service risks is lateral buckling. The critical axial force is a key factor governing the global lateral buckling response that has been paid much more attention. It is influenced by global imperfections, submerged weight, stiffness, pipe-soil interaction characteristics, et al. In this study, Finite Element Models for imperfect PIP systems are established on the basis of 3D beam element and tube-to-tube element in Abaqus. A parameter study was conducted to investigate the effects of these parameters on the critical axial force and post-buckling forms. These parameters include structural parameters such as imperfections, clearance, and bulkhead spacing, pipe/soil interaction parameter, for instance, axial and lateral friction properties between pipeline and seabed, and load parameter submerged weight. Python as a programming language is been used to realize parametric modeling in Abaqus. Some conclusions are obtained which can provide a guide for the design of PIP pipelines.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.1079-1092
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• 2020

A parametric study of several parameters relevant to design safety on the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) rod response under a drop accident is presented. In the view of the complexity of interactions between the independent safety-related parameters, a factorial design of experiment is employed as an efficient method to investigate the main effects and the interactions between them. A detailed single full-length fuel rod is used with consideration of post-irradiated fuel conditions under horizontal and vertical free-drops onto an unyielding surface using finite-element analysis. Critical drop heights and critical g-loads that yield the threshold plastic strain in the cladding are numerically estimated to evaluate the fuel rod structural resistance to impact load. The combinatory effects of four uncertain parameters (pellet-cladding interfacial bonding, material properties, spacer grid stiffness, rod internal pressure) and the interactions between them on the fuel rod response are investigated. The principal finding of this research showed that the effects of above-mentioned parameters on the load-carrying capacity of fuel rod are significantly different. This study could help to prioritize the importance of data in managing and studying the structural integrity of the SNF.