• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.637-647
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• 2018

Numerical approach using finite element method has been used to evaluate the behaviour of reinforced concrete frame structure subjected to fire. The structure is previously designed in accordance with Eurocode standards for the design of structures for earthquake resistance, for the ductility class M. Thermal and structural response are obtained using a commercially available software ANSYS. Temperature-dependent nonlinear thermal and mechanical properties are adopted according to Eurocode standards, with the application of constitutive model for the triaxial behaviour of concrete with a smeared crack approach. Discrete modelling of concrete and reinforcement has enabled monitoring of the behaviour at a global, as well as at a local level, providing information on the level of damage occurring during fire. Critical regions in frame structures are identified and assessed, based on temperatures, displacements, variations of internal forces magnitudes and achieved plastic deformations of main reinforcement bars. Parametric analyses are conducted for different fire scenarios and different types of concrete aggregate to determine their effect on global deformations of frame structures. According to analyses results, the three-dimensional finite element model can be used to evaluate the insulation and mechanical resistance criteria of reinforced concrete frame structures subjected to nominal fire curves.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.7 no.4 s.21
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• pp.44-52
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• 2003

In this work dynamic heat transfer in a CPFS (cable penetration fire stop) system built in the firewall of nuclear power plants is three-dimensionally investigated to develop a test-simulator that can be used to verify effectiveness of the sealant. Dynamic heat transfer in the fire stop system is formulated in a parabolic PDE (partial differential equation) subjected to a set of initial and boundary conditions. First, the PDE model is divided into two parts; one corresponding to heat transfer in the axial direction and the other corresponding to heat transfer on the vertical planes. The first PDE is converted to a series of ODEs (ordinary differential equations) at finite discrete axial points for applying the numerical method of SOR (successive over-relaxation) to the problem. The ODEs are solved by using an ODE solver In such manner, the axial heat flux can be calculated at least at the finite discrete points. After that, all the planes are separated into finite elements, where the time and spatial functions are assumed to be of orthogonal collocation state at each element. The initial condition of each finite element can be obtained from the above solution. The heat fluxes on the vertical planes are calculated by the Galerkin FEM (finite element method). The CPFS system was modeled, simulated, and analyzed here. The simulation results were illustrated in three-dimensional graphics. Through simulation, it was shown clearly that the temperature distribution was influenced very much by the number, position, and temperature of the cable stream, and that dynamic heat transfer through the cable stream was one of the most dominant factors, and that the feature of heat conduction could be understood as an unsteady-state process.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.4 s.63
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• pp.334-346
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• 2006

The discrete element code in 2-D, PFC2D, has been used as a tool to simulate various phenomena in rock mechanics and rock engineering. However, the code has an disadvantage that procedure to determine micro-parameters, namely properties of particles and contacts is repetitive and time-consuming. In this study, we analyzed the effect of micro-parameters(for generation of a contact-bonded model) on macro-properties(that were measured numerically by uniaxial compressive test). Based on the analysis, also, the time-saving and reliable method was suggested to determine a complete set of micro-parameters. In order to verify the suggested method, numerical specimens were generated in PFC2D for 10 different rock types at home and abroad. By the two trials for each specimen, in the result, the Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and uniaxial compressive strength could be reproduced with being in relative error by about 5% to the values obtained by laboratory tests.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.455-466
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• 2020

This paper presents analysis of the interaction between tunnel and Qanat with a particular interest for the optimization of Qanat shape using the discrete element code, PFC2D, and the results will be compared with the FEM results of PLAXIS2D. For these concerns, using software PFC2D based on Discrete Element Method (DEM), a model with dimension of 100m ^⁎ 100 m was prepared. A circular tunnel with dimension of 9 m was situated 20 m below the ground surface. Also one Qanat was situated perpendicularly above the tunnel roof. Distance between Qanat center and ground surface was 8 m. Five different shapes for Qanat were selected i.e., square, semi-circular, vertical ellipse, circular and horizontal ellipse. Confining pressure of 5 MPa was applied to the model. The vertical displacement of balls situated in ground surface was picked up to measure the ground subsidence. Also two measuring circles were situated at the tunnel roof and at the Qanat roof to check the vertical displacements. The properties of the alluvial soil of Tehran city are: γ_dry=19 (KN/㎥), E= 750 (kg/㎠), ν=0.35, c=0.3(kg/㎠), φ=34°. In order to validate the DEM results, a comparison between the numerical results (obtained in this study) and analytical and field monitoring have been done. The PFC2D results are compared with the FEM results. The results shows that when Qanat has rectangular shape, the tensile stress concentration at the Qanat corners has maximum value while it has minimum value for vertical ellipse shape. The ground subsidence for Qanat rectangular shape has maximum value while it has minimum value for ellipse shape of Qanat. The vertical displacements at the tunnel roof for Qanat rectangular shape has maximum value while it has minimum value for ellipse shape of Qanat. Historical shape of Qante approved the finding of this research.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2018

PURPOSES : In this research, the initiation and development of corrugation on a gravel road with certain wheel and boundary conditions were evaluated using a coupled discrete-element method (DEM) with multibody dynamics (MBD). METHODS : In this study, 665,534 particles with a 4-mm diameter were generated and compacted to build a circular roadbed track, with a depth and width of 42 mm and 50 mm, respectively. A single wheel with a 100-mm diameter, 40-mm width, and 0.157-kg mass was considered for the track. The single wheel was set to run slowly on the track with a speed of 2.5 rad/s so that the corrugation was gradually initiated and developed without losing contact between the wheel and the roadbed. Then, the shape of the track surface was monitored, and the movement of the particles in the roadbed was tracked at certain wheel-pass numbers to evaluate the overall corrugation initiation and development mechanism. RESULTS : Two types of corrugation, long wave-length and short wave-length, were observed in the circular track. It seems that the long wave-length corrugation was developed by the longitudinal movement of surface particles in the entire track, while the short wave-length corrugation was developed by shear deformation in a local section. Properties such as particle coefficients, track bulk density, and wheel mass, have significant effects on the initiation and development of long-wave corrugation. CONCLUSIONS : It was concluded that the coupled numerical method applied in this research could be effectively used to simulate the corrugation of a gravel road and to understand the mechanism that initiates and develops corrugation. To derive a comprehensive conclusion for the corrugation development under various conditions, the driver's acceleration and deceleration with various particle gradations and wheel-configuration models should be considered in the simulation.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.423-438
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• 2021

The blade of motor grader is used for scattering and leveling the aggregates on the foundation of road construction site. The paper performed a design improvement research of the blade part to enhance the working efficiency of motor graders. The scattering works of aggregates by blade driving were simulated by DEM (discrete element method) of a dynamic code. The four design parameters were selected and a specific leveling scenario for the simulation was determined. The nine blade models were numerically experimented, and the sensitivity of each factors was analyzed. Next, the design factors that influence a blade performance have been selected by ANOVA, and these key design factors were applied to the progressive quadratic response surface method (PQRSM). The optimum set of design factors of the blade was finally proposed.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 1994

Linear composite theory as well as a finite element program is developed for axisymmetric elastomeric bearings. This study is limited to axisymmetrically loaded horizontal layered systems with linear, elastic, small' deformation conditions. A multiscale method is used in the development of the composite theory which enables us to model inhomogeneous layered composites as equivalent homogeneous, orthotropic material. Only continuity of the prime variables is required for the finite element analysis, allowing the use of simple $C_o$ elements whereas rather complicated theories presented in the past need more requirements. Four node isoparametric elements are used in the study. The developed theory of this paper is limited to linear conditions, however, the analysis can be extended to nonlinear behavior of flexible material in elastomeric bearing by using multiscale method presented here. Two numerical examples are examined and compared to the results of discrete and previously obtained composite analysis to verify the theory.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.271-285
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• 2020

In this study, a numerical experiment related to the stress-strain analysis was performed on 3-D discrete fracture network(DFN) systems based on the distinct element method to evaluate the effect of joint geometry on deformability of jointed rock masses. Using one or two joint sets with deterministic orientation, a total of 12 3-D DFN blocks having 10m cube domain were generated with different joint density and size distribution. Directional deformation modulus of the DFN cube blocks were estimated along the axis directions of 3-D cartesian coordinate. In addition, deviatoric stress directions were chosen at every 30° of trend and plunge in 3-D for some DFN blocks to examine the variability of directional deformation modulus with respect to joint geometry. The directional deformation modulus of the DFN block were found to reduce with the increase of joint size distribution. The increase in joint density was less likely to have a significant effect on directional deformation modulus of the DFN block in case of the effect of rock bridges was relatively large because of short joint size distribution. It, however, was evaluated that the longer the joint size, the increase in the joint density had a more significant effect on the anisotropic deformation modulus of the DFN block. The variation of the anisotropic deformation modulus according to the variations in joint density and size distribution was highly dependent on the number of joint sets and their orientation in the DFN block. Finally, this study addressed a numerical procedure for stress-strain analysis of jointed rock masses considering joint geometry and discussed a methodology for practical application at the field scale.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.59-72
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• 2022

This study employed a 3-D numerical analysis based on the distinct element method to estimate the strength and deformability of a Cretaceous biotite granitic rock mass at Gijang, Busan, Korea. A workflow was proposed to evaluate the scale effect and the representative elementary volume (REV) of mechanical properties for fractured rock masses. Directional strength and deformability parameters such as block strength, deformation modulus, shear modulus, and bulk modulus were estimated for a discrete fracture network (DFN) in a cubic block the size of the REV. The size of the mechanical REV for fractured rock masses in the study area was determined to be a 15 m cube. The mean block strength and mean deformation modulus of the DFN cube block were found to be 52.8% and 57.7% of the intact rock's strength and Young's modulus, respectively. A constitutive model was derived for the study area that describes the linear-elastic and orthotropic mechanical behavior of the rock mass. The model is expected to help evaluate the stability of tunnels and underground spaces through equivalent continuum analysis.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2012

In this study, the delamination analysis has been implemented to investigate the initiation and propagation of crack in composite laminates composed of orthotropic materials. A simple modeling was achieved by moving nodal technique without re-meshing work when crack propagation occurred. This paper aims at achieving two specific objectives. The first is to suggest a very simple modeling scheme compared with those applied to conventional h-FEM based models. To verify the performance of the proposed model, analysis of double cantilever beams with composite materials was implemented and then the results were compared with reference values in literatures. The second one is to investigate the behavior of interior delamination problems using the proposed model. To complete these objectives, the full-discrete-layer model based on Lobatto shape functions was considered and energy release rates were calculated using three-dimensional VCCT(virtual crack closure technique) based on linear elastic fracture mechanics.