• Computers and Concrete
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.325-354
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• 2004

Slabs in buildings and bridge decks, which are restrained against lateral displacements at the edges, have ultimate strengths far in excess of those predicted by analytical methods based on yield line theory. The increase in strength has been attributed to membrane action, which is due to the in-plane forces developed at the supports. The benefits of compressive membrane action are usually not taken into account in currently available design methods developed based on plastic flow theories assuming concrete to be a rigid-plastic material. By extending the existing knowledge of compressive membrane action, it is possible to design slabs in building and bridge structures economically with less than normal reinforcement. Recent research on building and bridge structures reflects the importance of membrane action in design. This paper describes the finite element modelling of membrane action in reinforced concrete slabs through optimisation of a simple concrete model. Through a series of parametric studies using the simple concrete model in the finite element simulation of eight fully clamped concrete slabs with significant membrane action, a set of fixed numerical model parameter values is identified and computational conditions established, which would guarantee reliable strength prediction of arbitrary slabs. The reliability of the identified values to simulate membrane action (for prediction purposes) is further verified by the direct simulation of 42 other slabs, which gave an average value of 0.9698 for the ratio of experimental to predicted strengths and a standard deviation of 0.117. A 'deflection factor' is also established for the slabs, relating the predicted peak deflection to experimental values, which, (for the same level of fixity at the supports), can be used for accurate displacement determination. The proposed optimised concrete model and finite element procedure can be used as a tool to simulate membrane action in slabs in building and bridge structures having variable support and loading conditions including fire. Other practical applications of the developed finite element procedure and design process are also discussed.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2005

The permeate flux decline due to membrane fouling can be addressed using a variety of theoretical stand-points. Judicious selection of an appropriate theory is a key toward successful prediction of the permeate flux. The essential criterion f3r such a decision appears to be a detailed characterization of the feed solution and membrane properties. Modem theories are capable of accurately predicting several properties of colloidal systems that are important in membrane separation processes from fundamental information pertaining to the particle size, charge, and solution ionic strength. Based on such information, it is relatively straight-forward to determine the properties of the concentrated colloidal dispersion in a polarized layer or the cake layer properties. Incorporation of such information in the framework of the standard theories of membrane filtration, namely, the convective diffusion equation coupled with an appropriate permeate transport model, can lead to reasonably accurate prediction of the permeate flux due to colloidal fouling. The schematic of the essential approach has been delineated in Figure 5. The modern approaches based on appropriate cell models appear to predict the permeate flux behavior in crossflow membrane filtration processes quite accurately without invoking novel theoretical descriptions of particle back transport mechanisms or depending on adjust-able parameters. Such agreements have been observed for a wide range of particle size ranging from small proteins like BSA (diameter ${\~}$6 nm) to latex suspensions (diameter ${\~}1\;{\mu}m$). There we, however, several areas that need further exploration. Some of these include: 1) A clear mechanistic description of the cake formation mechanisms that clearly identifies the disorder to order transition point in different colloidal systems. 2) Determining the structure of a cake layer based on the interparticle and hydrodynamic interactions instead of assuming a fixed geometrical structure on the basis of cell models. 3) Performing well controlled experiments where the cake deposition mechanism can be observed for small colloidal particles (< $1\;{\mu}m$). 4) A clear mechanistic description of the critical operating conditions (for instance, critical pressure) which can minimize the propensity of colloidal membrane fluting. 5) Developing theoretical approaches to account for polydisperse systems that can render the models capable of handing realistic feed solutions typically encountered in diverse applications of membrane filtration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2000

In this paper, the interaction of oblique incident waves with a bottom-mounted and fluid-filled flexible membrane structure is investigated in the frame of linear hydro-elastic theory. The static shape of a membrane structure containing the fluid of a specific density is initially unknown and must be calculated before the hydrodynamic analysis. To solve hydrodynamic problem, the fluid domain is divided into the inner and outer region. The inner solution based on discrete membrane dynamic model and simple-source distribution over the entire fluid boundaries is matched to the outer solution ba~ed on an eigenfunction expansion method. The numerical results were compared to a series of Ohyama's experimental results. The measured reflection and tran¬smission coefficients reasonably follow the trend of predicted values. Using the computer program developed, the performance of a bottom-mounted and fluid-filled flexible membrane strocture is tested with various system parameters (membrane shape, internal pressure, density ratio) and wave characteristics (wave frequencies, incident wave angle). It is found that a bottom-mounted and fluid-filled flexible membrane structure can be an effel;tive wave barrier if properly designed.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2017

Mesoscale simulation is a type of molecular simulation techniques where groups of atoms are defined as a single bead for calculations, and accordingly, is possible to simulate longer time ($ns{\sim}{\mu}s$) and bigger size ($nm{\sim}{\mu}m$). There are two types of mesoscale simulations : (1) particle-based mesoscale which simulates the system by calculating the movement of the particles themselves and (2) field theory which simulates the system by calculating changes in the chemical potential filed or density field. Mesoscale simulations are powerful tools to study the macroscopic properties of polymers for various applications of energy and environment. In this review, we report the trends and useful information in mesoscale simulation and provide an opportunity for membrane researchers working in the energy-environment field to understand mesoscale simulation techniques.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.11-15
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• 1995

Polysulfone (PS) membranes were prepared by the phase inversion process using water or isopropanol as nonsolvent. The Flory-Huggins theory for a ternary system nonsolvent/solvent/polymer is applied to describe the thermodynamic equilibria of the components. The calculated ternary phase equilibria show that demixing of a PS binary solution with n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) will be fast in a water coagulation bath and will be delayed in an isopropanol bath. The prepared membranes were characterized by SEM, gas adsorption-desorption measurement, and permeability test. The membrane, which is precipitated by fast demixing in a water bath, has nodular structures in the skin region and includes finger-like cavities in the sublayer. The membrane coagulated by isopropanol has a very dense and thick skin structure, which is formed by delayed demixing. The membrane coagulated by isopropanol showed considerably lower pore volume and surface area compared to that observed with water coagulation method. With dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent and 2-3 wt% of water, the solution can show the liquid-liquid phase separation due to agglomation of the polymer-lean phase from the homogeneous solution. The membranes, which were coagulated near an equilibrium state, show the large (micron size) round pores in the whole membranes. The pores do not contribute the permeation characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.793-800
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• 2008

Recently domestic drinking water industry has recognized membrane-based technology as a promising alternative for water treatment. To ensure successful application of membrane processes, the integrity of membrane systems should be maintained. According to US EPA guidance, the pressure decay test based on the bubble point theory is recommended to detect any membrane defection of which size is close to the smallest diameter of Cryptosporidium oocysts, $3{\mu}m$. Proper implementation of the pressure decay test is greatly affected by initial test pressure, and the interpretation of the test results is associated with upper control limit. This study is conducted to investigate various factors affecting determination of initial test prtessure and upper control limit, including membrane-based parameters such as pore shape correction factor, surface tension and contact angle, and system-based parameters, such as volumetric concentration factor and total volume of system. In this paper, three different hollow fibers were used to perform the pressure decay test. With identical initial test pressure applied, their pressure decay tendency were different from each other. This finding can be explained by the micro-structure disparity of those membranes which is verified by FESEM images of those membranes. More specifically, FESEM images revealed that three hollow fibers have asymmetry, deep finger, shallow finger pore shape, respectively. In addition, sensitivity analysis was conducted on five parameters mentioned above to elucidate their relation to determination of initial test pressure and upper control limit. In case of initial pressure calculation, the pore shape correction factor has the highest value of sensitivity. For upper control limit determination, system factors have greater impact compared to membrane-based parameters.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.131-136
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• 1997

It is well known that concrete is typical porous material. We pay attention to Hansen's idea that concrete may be expected to act as semi-permeable membrane, and report the effect of concentration of solution and temperature on water flux in forward osmosis. In order to measuring volume of water flux from distilled water to solution of sodium chloride through hardened cement paste, specially designed apparatus was constructed, and the following result were obtained: (1) hardened cement paste acts as semi-permeable membrane, consequently, water flux in forward osmosis may occur. (2) Rate of water flux is proportion to concentration of dilute solution, and this suggests hardened cement paste is agreeable to the theory of membrane. (3) Effect of temperature on water flux is agreeable to Arrehenius equation and is great.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.19 no.2 s.63
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• pp.19-28
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• 2005

The present paper outlines the numerical investigation of the incident wave interactions with fully submerged and floating dual double hull pontoon/vertical porous membrane breakwaters. Two dimensional five fluid-domains hydro-elastic formulation was carried out in the context of linear wave body interaction theory to study the wave interaction with the double hull of pontoon-membranes. The submerged circular pontoon is consisted of double hulls, which is filled with water in the void space between the outer structure and inner solid buoyant structure. Hydrodynamic characteristics of the proposed system with dual floating double-hull-pontoons filled with water have been studied numerically for the various incident waves. This study is a beginning stage research for the dual double hull porous pontoons/vertical porous membranes breakwaters which is ideally designed in order to suppress significantly the transmitted and reflected waves simultaneously.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.33-38
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• 2004

Molecular modeling of gas permeation through zeolite membranes with/without intercrystalline region was carried out. Molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were performed to estimate the diffusion coefficient and adsorption parameters respectively, and our proposed combined method of molecular simulation techniques with a permeation theory (CMP) was used to estimate gas permeability. The calculated permeability of gases (Ar, He, Ne, $N_2$, $0_2$, $CH_4$) at 301 K for the single crystal membrane model was about one order of magnitude larger than the experiential values, although the dependence on the molecular weight of the permeating species agreed with experiments. On the other hand, the estimated permeability using the diffusivity and adsorption parameters of the intercrystalline region model was in good agreement with the experiments. The consistency between experiments and the estimated values means the importance of considering the intercrystalline region and the validity of CMP method to predict the performance of zeolite membranes.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2001

Unlike existent field flow fractionation, new method, osmotic sink field flow fractionation is introduced and used ultrafiltration hollow fiber membranes as separation channel. This hollow fiber osmotic sink field flow fractionation is called HF-OSFFF. A theory that describes the retention, relaxation, resolution, plate number for the system, has been developed and experimentally verified by separation model of po1ystyrene latex beads. At external field, it is measured that radial flow rates change according to various concentrations of PEG solutions. Concentration of PEG solution vs. radial flow rate is a linear relation. For diameter distribution of unknown polymer sample, HF-OSFFF compared with the commercial capillary hydrodynamic flow fractionation (CHDF).