• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.565-582
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• 2023

The present research reports the application of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) as an alternative to conventional concrete to improve the seismic behavior of short columns. Experimental and finite element investigation was conducted by testing five reinforced engineered cementitious composite (RECC) concrete columns (half-scale specimens) and one control reinforced concrete (RC) specimen for different shear-span and transverse reinforcement ratios under cyclic lateral loads. RECC specimens with higher shear-span and transverse reinforcement ratios demonstrated a significant effect on the column lateral load behavior by improving ductility (>5), energy dissipation capacity (1.2 to 4.1 times RC specimen), gradual strength degradation (ultimate drift >3.4%), and altering the failure mode. The self-confinement effect of ECC fibers maintained the integrity in the post-peak region and reserved the transmission of stress through fibers without noticeable degradation in strength. Finite element modeling of RECC specimens under monotonic incremental loads was carried out by adopting simplified constitutive material models. It was apprehended that the model simulated the global response (strength and stiffness) and damage crack patterns reasonably well.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4030-4048
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• 2022

In this study, road transportation tests were conducted with surrogate fuel assemblies under normal conditions of transport to evaluate the vibration and shock load characteristics of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). The overall test data analysis was conducted based on the measured acceleration and strain data obtained from the speed bump, lane-change, deceleration, obstacle avoidance, and circular tests. Furthermore, representative shock response spectrums and power spectral densities of each test mode were acquired. Amplification or attenuation characteristics were investigated according to the load transfer path. The load attenuated significantly as it transferred from the trailer to the cask. By contrast, the load amplified as it transferred from the cask to the surrogate SNF assembly. The fuel loading location on the cask disk assembly did not exhibit a significant influence on the strain measured from the fuel rods. The principal strain was in the vertical direction, and relatively large strain values were obtained in spans with large spacing between spacer grids. The influence of the lateral location of fuel rods was also investigated. The fuel rods located at the side exhibited relatively large strain values than those located at the center. Based on the strain data obtained from the test results, a hypothetical road transportation scenario was established. A fatigue evaluation of the SNF rod was performed based on this scenario. The evaluation results indicate that no fatigue damage occurred on the fuel rods.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.269-282
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• 2023

This study investigates a rocking seismic isolation (RSI) system as a seismic protection measure against narrow-band ground-motions generated by earthquakes. Structures supported over RSIs are considered capable of reducing the lateral demands and damage of the main structural system through lifting and rocking. This lifting and rocking during earthquake activity is provided by free-standing columns. A single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system supported on a RSI system is subjected to narrow-band seismic motions and its response is compared to an analog system without RSI. The comparison is then extended to reinforced concrete linear frames with and without RSI; three-bay frames with 11 and 17 storeys are considered. It is found that the RSI systems significantly reduce acceleration and displacement demands in the main structural frames, more noticeably if the first structural mode dominates the response and for ratios of the predominant frequency of the ground motion to the predominant frequency of the main frame near one. It is also found that the RSI system is more effective in reducing lateral accelerations and displacements of the main structure when the aspect ratio, b/h, and size, R, of the free-standing columns decrease, although the rocking stability of the RSI system is also reduced.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.283-296
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• 2023

This paper presents experimental and numerical studies of seismic performance on reinforced concrete (RC) wide beam (WB) joints. Two RC-WB joint specimens and one conventional RC joint specimen were fabricated using the reinforcing details of longitudinal reinforcing bars in a beam as a variable, and quasi-static cyclic loading tests were performed. The results were used to compare and analyze the load-drift ratio relationship, failure mode, and seismic performance of the specimens quantitatively. In addition, a finite element (FE) analysis of the RC-WB joint was conducted, and the rationality of the FE model was validated by comparing it with the test results. Based on the FE model, a parametric study was conducted, where the ratio of longitudinal reinforcing bars placed on the outer and inner parts of the joint (𝜌_ex/𝜌_in) was a key variable. The results showed that, in the RC-WB joint, an increase of 𝜌_ex/𝜌_in leads to more severe damage to concrete, which reduces the seismic performance of the RC-WB joints.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.1975-1988
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• 2024

It is important to maintain cladding integrity in spent nuclear fuel management. This study proposes a numerical analysis method to evaluate the fracture resistance of irradiated zirconium alloy cladding under pinch load known to cause Mode-III failure. The mechanical behavior and fracture of the cladding under pinch loading can be evaluated by a Ring Compression Test (RCT). To simulate the fracture of hydride precipitates, zirconium matrix, and Zr/hydride interfaces under the stress field generated by RCT, a micro-structure crack propagation simulation method based on Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM) has been proposed. Our RCT simulation model was constructed from microscopic images of irradiated cladding. In this study, we developed an automated process to generate a pixel-based finite element model by separating the hydride precipitates, zirconium matrix, and interfaces using an image segmentation method. The appropriate element size was selected to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of a crack propagation simulation. The load-displacement curves and strain energies from RCT were compared and analyzed with the simulation results of different element sizes. The finalized RCT simulation model can be used to establish the failure criterion of fuel rods under pinch loading. The advantages and limitations of the proposed method are fully discussed here.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.545-557
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• 2017

The study is about the efficient alternative to concrete surface in the field of visual inspection technology for deteriorated infrastructure. By combining industrial drones and deep learning based image analysis techniques with traditional visual inspection and research, we tried to reduce manpowers, time requirements and costs, and to overcome the height and dome structures. On board device mounted on drones is consisting of a high resolution camera for detecting cracks of more than 0.3 mm, a lidar sensor and a embeded image processor module. It was mounted on an industrial drones, took sample images of damage from the site specimen through automatic flight navigation. In addition, the damege parts of the site specimen was used to measure not only the width and length of cracks but white rust also, and tried up compare them with the final image analysis detected results. Using the image analysis techniques, the damages of 54ea sample images were analyzed by the segmentation - feature extraction - decision making process, and extracted the analysis parameters using supervised mode of the deep learning platform. The image analysis of newly added non-supervised 60ea image samples was performed based on the extracted parameters. The result presented in 90.5 % of the damage detection rate.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2014

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by a progressive loss of cartilage. And, increased oxidative stress plays a relevant role in the pathogenesis of OA. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a used drug for liver diseases known for its free radical-scavenging property. The objectives of this study were to investigate the in vivo effects of UDCA on pain severity and cartilage degeneration using an experimental OA model and to explore its mode of actions. OA was induced in rats by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) to the knee. Oral administration UDCA was initiated on the day of MIA injection. Limb nociception was assessed by measuring the paw withdrawal latency and threshold. Samples were analyzed macroscopically and histologically. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the expression of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, nitrotyrosine and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in knee joints. UDCA showed an antinociceptive property and attenuated cartilage degeneration. OA rats given oral UDCA significantly exhibited a decreased number of osteoclasts in subchondral bone legion compared with the vehicle-treated OA group. UDCA reduced the expression of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, nitrotyrosine and iNOS in articular cartilage. UDCA treatment significantly attenuated the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), -13, and ADAMTS5 in IL-$1{\beta}$-stimulated human OA chondrocytes. These results show the inhibitory effects of UDCA on pain production and cartilage degeneration in experimentally induced OA. The chondroprotective properties of UDCA were achieved by suppressing oxidative damage and inhibiting catabolic factors that are implicated in the pathogenesis of cartilage damage in OA.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1690-1698
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• 2006

In order to investigate the effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) level on AVM $B_{1a}$ production by a high yielding mutant of Streptomyces avermitilis, five sets of bioreactor cultures were performed under variously controlled DO levels. Using an online computer control system, the agitation speed and aeration rate were automatically controlled in an adaptive manner, responding timely to the oxygen requirement of the producer microorganism. In the two cultures of DO limitation, the onset of AVM $B_{1a}$ biosynthesis was observed to casually coincide with the fermentation time when oxygen-limited conditions were overcome by the producing microorganism. In contrast, this phenomenon did not occur in the parallel fermentations with DO levels controlled at around 30% and 40% throughout the entire fermentation period, showing an almost growth-associated mode of AVM $B_{1a}$ production: AVM $B_{1a}$ biosynthesis under the environments of high DO levels started much earlier than the corresponding oxygen-limited cultures, leading to a significant enhancement of AVM $B_{1a}$ production during the exponential stage. Consequently, approximately 6-fold and 9-fold increases in the final AVM $B_{1a}$ production were obtained in 30% and 40% DO-controlled fermentations, respectively, especially when compared with the culture of severe DO limitation (the culture with 0% DO level during the exponential phase). The production yield ($Y_{p/x}$), volumetric production rate (Qp), and specific production rate (${\bar{q}}_p$) of the 40% DO-controlled culture were observed to be 14%, 15%, and 15% higher, respectively, than those of the parallel cultures that were performed under an excessive agitation speed (350 rpm) and aeration rate (1 vvm) to maintain sufficiently high DO levels throughout the entire fermentation period. These results suggest that high shear damage of the high-yielding strain due to an excessive agitation speed is the primary reason for the reduction of the AVM $B_{1a}$ biosynthetic capability of the producer. As for the cell growth, exponential growth patterns during the initial 3 days were observed in the fermentations of sufficient DO levels, whereas almost linear patterns of cell growth were observed in the other two cultures of DO limitation during the identical period, resulting in apparently lower amounts of DCW. These results led us to conclude that maintenance of optimum DO levels, but not too high to cause potential shear damage on the producer, was crucial not only for the cell growth, but also for the enhanced production of AVM $B_{1a}$ by the filamentous mycelial cells of Streptomyces avermitilis.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.120-125
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• 2009

Alaria esculenta is a brown seaweed found in the Arctic. This study investigated the protective effect of A. esculenta extract (AEE) against oxidant-mediated injury and its mode of action in RAW264.7 macrophages. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay showed that $H_2O_2$ treatment reduced cell viability, whereas AEE protected cells from $H_2O_2$-mediated cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Because heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is known to protect cells against oxidative damage, we investigated the effect of AEE on HO-1 gene expression and HO enzyme activity. The protective effect of AEE against $H_2O_2$-induced injury was correlated with increased HO enzyme activity. AEE also induced HO-1 mRNA and protein expression, as determined RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. To characterize the mechanisms by which AEE induces HO-1 gene expression, we examined the effect of AEE on the nuclear translocation of NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and Akt phosphorylation. AEE treatment activated upstream signaling for HO-1 gene expression, including the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and Akt phosphorylation. Collectively, these results suggest that AEE has anti-oxidant activity that is mediated, at least in part, via the activation of Nrf2 and Akt and the subsequent induction of HO-1 gene expression.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.297-305
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• 2006

The thermal ratcheting deformation at the reactor baffle and upper internal structure of the liquid metal reactor (LMR) can occur due to movement of the hot sodium free surface. In in-service inspection of reactor internals of LMR, a new inspection technique should be developed for the detection of the thermal ratcheting damage. In this study, an inspection technique using ultrasonic guided wave is proposed for the detection of the thermal ratcheting damage of cylindrical vessels. A 316L stainless steel cylindrical shell specimen has been prepared. The thermal ratchet structural tests were cyclically performed by heat-up up to $550^{\circ}C$ with steep temperature gradients along the axial direction after cool-down by cooling water. Ultrasonic guided wave propagation has been characterized by analysis of dispersion curve of the stainless steel plate. The zero-order antisymmetric $A_0$ guided wave has been selected as the optimal mode for detection of the ratcheting deformation. It is confirmed that the thermal ratcheting deformation can be detected by the measurement of transit time difference of circumferentially propagated $A_0$ guided waves.