• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2019

Designing sophisticate ship structures that satisfy several design criteria simultaneously with minimum weight and cost is an important engineering issue. For a ship structure composed of a shell and stiffeners, this issue is more serious because their mutual effect has to be addressed. In this study, a two-stage optimization method is proposed for the conceptual design of stiffeners in a ship's prow. In the first stage, a topology optimization method is used to determine a potential stiffener distribution based on the optimal results, whereupon stiffeners are constructed according to stiffener generative theory and the material distribution. In the second stage, size optimization is conducted to optimize the plate and stiffener sections simultaneously based on a parametric model. A final analysis model of the ship-prow structure is presented to assess the validity of this method. The analysis results show that the two-stage optimization method is effective for stiffener conceptual design, which provides a reference for designing actual stiffeners for ship hulls.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.495-509
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• 2019

The objective of this study is to analyze the compressibility effects of multiphase cavitating flow during the water-entry process. For this purpose, the water-entry of a projectile at transonic speed is investigated computationally. A temperature-adjusted Tait equation is used to describe the compressibility effects in water, and air and vapor are treated as ideal gases. First, the computational methodology is validated by comparing the simulation results with the experimental measurements of drag coefficient and the theoretical results of cavity shape. Second, based on the computational methodology, the hydrodynamic characteristics of flow are investigated. After analyzing the cavitating flow in compressible and incompressible fluids, the characteristics under compressible conditions are focused upon. The results show that the compressibility effects play a significant role in the development of cavitation and the pressure inside the cavity. More specifically, the drag coefficient and cavity size tend to be larger in the compressible case than those in the incompressible case. Furthermore, the influence of entry velocities on the hydrodynamic characteristics is investigated to provide an insight into the compressibility effects on cavitating flow. The results show that the drag coefficient and the impact pressure vary with the entry velocity, and the prediction formulas for drag coefficient and impact pressure are established respectively in the present study.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.340-350
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• 2021

This paper proposes a decision support model for USVs to improve the accuracy of collision avoidance decision-making. It is formed by Navigation Safety Domain (NSD) and domain-based Collision Risk Index (CRI), capable of determining the collision stage and risk between multiple ships. The NSD is composed of a warning domain and a forbidden domain, which is constructed under the constraints of COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea). The proposed domain based CRI takes the radius of NSD in various encounter situations as threshold parameters. It is found that the value of collision risk in any directions can be calculated, including actual value and risk threshold. A catamaran USV and 6 given vessels are taken as study objects to validate the proposed model. It is found that the judgment of collision stage is accurate and the azimuth range of risk exists can be detected, hence the ships can take direct and effective collision avoidance measures. According to the relation between the actual value of CRI and risk threshold, the decision support rules are summarized, and the specific terms of COLREGs to be followed in each encounter situation are given.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.683-696
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• 2022

Dams are inevitably planned to be built on thick overburden with high permeability and deformability. The connection part between concrete cut-off wall in overburden and earth core in dam body is not only a key part of the anti-seepage system, but also a weak position. Large uneven settlement will be aroused at the concoction part. However, the interaction behavior and the scope of the connection part cannot be determined effectively. In this paper, numerical analysis of a high earth core dam built on thick overburden was carried out with large deformation FE method. The mechanical behavior of the connection part was detail studied. It can be drawn that there is little differences in dam integral deformation for different analysis method, but big differences were found at the connection part. The large deformation analysis method can reasonably describe the process that concrete wall penetrates into soil. The high plasticity clay has stronger ability to adapt to large uneven deformation which can reduce stress level, and stress state of concrete wall is also improved. The scope of high plasticity clay zone in the connection part can be determined according to stress level of soils and penetration depth of concrete wall.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2022

Simplified analytical solutions are developed for the dynamic analyses of an axially loaded pile foundation embedded in a transverse-isotropic, fluid-filled, poro-visco-elastic soil with rigid substratum. The pile is modeled as a viscoelastic Rayleigh-Love rod, while the surrounding soil is regarded as a transversely isotropic, liquid-saturated, viscoelastic, porous medium of which the mechanical behavior is represented by the Boer's poroelastic media model and the fractional derivative model. Upon the separation of variables, the frequency-domain responses for the impedance function of the pile top, and the vertical displacement and the axial force along the pile shaft are gained. Then by virtue of the convolution theorem and the inverse Fourier transform, the time-domain velocity response of the pile head is derived. The presented solutions are validated, compared to the existing solution, the finite element model (FEM) results, and the field test data. Parametric analyses are made to show the effect of the soil anisotropy and the excitation frequency on the pile-soil dynamic responses.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2023

In this paper, the bending performance of a MSFRHPC (containing steel fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, and CW)-reinforced beam was studied for the first time. Introducing a multiscale fiber system increased the first crack load (up to 150%), yield load (up to 50%), and peak load (up to 15%) of reinforced beams. The multiscale fiber system delays cracking of the reinforced beam, reduces crack width of the reinforced beam in normal use, and improves the durability of the beam. Considering yield load and peak load, the reinforcing effect of multiscale fiber on the high-reinforcement ratio beam (1.00%) is better than that on the low-reinforcement ratio beam (0.57%). Introducing fibers slowed the development of cracks in the reinforced beam under bending. With the added hybrid fiber, the deformation concentration of reinforced beams after yield was more significant with concentration in 1 or 2 cracks. A model for predicting the flexural capacity of MSFRHPC-reinforced beams was proposed, considering the action of multiscale hybrid fibers. This research is helpful for structure application of MSFRHPC-containing CW.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.491-502
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• 2022

A model experiment with a scale of 1:150 has been conducted to investigate the dynamic responses of a freestanding four-column bridge tower subjected to regular wave, random wave and coupled wave-current actions. The base shear forces of the caisson foundation and the dynamic behaviors of the superstructure were measured and analyzed. The comparisons of the test values with the theoretical values shows that wave-induced base shear forces on the bridge caisson foundation can be approximated by using a wave force calculation method in which the structure is assumed to be fixed and rigid. Although the mean square errors of the base shear forces excited by joint random wave and current actions are approximately equal to those excited by pure random waves, the existence of a forward current increases the forward base shear forces and decreases the backward base shear forces. The tower top displacements excited by wave-currents are similar to those excited by waves, suggesting that a current does not significantly affect the dynamic responses of the superstructure of the bridge tower. The experiment results can be used as a reference for similar engineering design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.89-105
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• 2024

Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) method has exhibited broad application prospects in the nondestructive detection of interfacial debonding in steel-concrete composite structures (SCCS). However, due to the structural diversity of SCCS and the high stealthiness of interfacial debonding defects, the feasibility of MASW method needs to be investigated in depth. In this study, synthetic parametric study on MASW nondestructive debonding detection for SCCSs is performed. The aim is to quantitatively analyze influential factors with respect to structural composition of SCCS and MASW measurement mode. First, stress wave composition and propagation process in SCCS are studied utilizing 2D numerical simulation. For structural composition in SCCS, the thickness variation of steel plate, concrete core, and debonding defects are discussed. To determine the most appropriate sensor arrangement for MASW measurement, the effects of spacing and number of observation points, along with distances between excitation points, nearest boundary, as well as the first observation point, are analyzed individually. The influence of signal type and frequency of transient excitation on dispersion figures from forwarding analysis is studied to determine the most suitable excitation signal. The findings from this study can provide important theoretical guidance for MASW-based interfacial debonding detection for SCCS. Furthermore, they can be instrumental in optimizing both the sensor layout design and signal choice for experimental validation.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.41-55
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• 2024

There are obvious differences between the characteristics of offshore ground motion and onshore ground motion in current studies, and factors such as water layer and site conditions have great influence on the characteristics of offshore ground motion. In addition, unlike seismic response analysis of offshore superstructures such as sea-crossing bridges, tunnels are affected by offshore soil constraints, so it is necessary to consider the dynamic interaction between structure and offshore soil layer. Therefore, a seismic response analysis model considering the seawater, soil layer and tunnel structure coupling is established. Firstly, the measured offshore and different soil layers onshore ground records are input respectively, and the difference of seismic response under different types of ground motions is analyzed. Then, the models of different site conditions were input into the measured onshore bedrock strong ground motion records to study the influence of seawater layer and silt soft soil layer on the seabed and tunnel structure. The results show that the overall seismic response between the seabed and the tunnel structure is more significant when the offshore ground motion is input. The seawater layer can suppression the vertical seismic response of seabed and tunnel structure, while the slit soft soil layer can amplify the horizontal seismic response. The results will help to promote seismic wave selection of marine structures and provide reference for improving the accuracy of seismic design of immersed tunnels.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.8
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• pp.3397-3404
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• 2024

The shield building of the AP1000 nuclear power plant serves as a crucial protective barrier against radioactive substances. However, past research indicates that structures are susceptible to experiencing aftershocks, which may lead to unforeseeable damage and potential radioactive material leakage. To address this issue, a finite element model of the shield building was established with the damage indexes of the tensile and compressive damage selected for further model analysis. According to the fundamental theory of reliability, the traditional incremental dynamic analysis method was used to analyze the seismic fragility of the shield building by inputting mainshock and aftershock sequences with three strength ratios. The results indicate that the seismic fragility of shield building may be underestimated without considering the influence of aftershocks and the damage state presents an upward tendency as the strength ratio increases. However, the cumulative damage caused by aftershocks is unlikely to exceed the initial damage induced by the corresponding mainshock. Overall, the aggravation of the compressive damage is less pronounced than the increase of the tensile damage as the strength ratio increases.