• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.195-205
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• 2021

Time effect on the deformation and strength characteristics of geogrid reinforced sand retaining wall has become an important issue in geotechnical and transportation engineering. Three physical model tests on geogrid reinforced sand retaining walls performed under various loading conditions were simulated to study their rate-dependent behaviors, using the presented nonlinear finite element method (FEM) analysis procedure. This FEM was based on the dynamic relaxation method and return mapping scheme, in which the combined effects of the rate-dependent behaviors of both the backfill soil and the geosynthetic reinforcement have been included. The rate-dependent behaviors of sands and geogrids should be attributed to the viscous property of materials, which can be described by the unified three-component elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model. By comparing the FEM simulations and the test results, it can be found that the present FEM was able to be successfully extended to the boundary value problems of geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining walls. The deformation and strength characteristics of the geogrid reinforced sand retaining walls can be well reproduced. Loading rate effect, the trends of jump in footing pressure upon the step-changes in the loading rate, occurred not only on sands and geogrids but also on geogrid reinforced sands retaining walls. The lateral earth pressure distributions against the back of retaining wall, the local tensile force in the geogrid arranged in the retaining wall and the local stresses beneath the footing under various loading conditions can also be predicted well in the FEM simulations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.5
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• pp.627-644
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• 2022

In past major earthquakes (1994 Northridge, 1995 Kobe, Chi-Chi 1999, Kocaeli 1999), significant damages occurred in the liquid storage tanks. The basic failure patterns were observed to be the buckling of the tank wall and uplift of the anchorage system. The damages in the industrial facilities and nuclear power plants have caused the spread of toxic substances to the environment and significant fires. Seismic isolation can be used in liquid storage tanks to decouple the structure and decrease the structural demand in the superstructure in case of ground shaking. Previous studies on the use of seismic isolation systems on liquid storage tanks show that an isolation system reduces the impulsive response but might slightly increase the convective one. There is still a lack of understanding of the seismic response of seismically isolated liquid storage tanks considering the fluid-structure interaction. In this study, one broad tank, one medium tank, and one slender tank are selected and designed. Two- and three-dimensional elastomeric bearings are used as seismic isolation systems. The seismic performance of the tanks is then investigated through nonlinear dynamic time-history analyses. The effectiveness of each seismic isolation system on tanks' performance was investigated. Isolator tension forces, modal analysis results, hydrodynamic stresses, strains, sloshing heights and base shear forces of the tanks are compared. The results show that the total base shear is lower in 3D-isolators compared to 2D-isolators. Even though the tank wall stresses, and strains are slightly higher in 3D-isolators, they are more efficient to prevent the tension problem.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2023

The purpose of this paper is to review the appropriateness of the application method for the value of the damping ratio suggested in the current design standards and evaluation guidelines when evaluating the seismic performance of concrete dams and to suggest improvements. As a result of the study, for the magnitude of the damping ratio in the dynamic elastic analysis, it is necessary to refer to the case of a similar dam in which the magnitude of the earthquake load is similar and the reproducibility of the damping ratio has been verified. Considering this, it is necessary to apply a low damping ratio and consider adding hysteresis damping in case of nonlinear behavior. In addition, since the concrete dam body located on the rock has insignificant radiation attenuation effect, it is not reasonable to increase the damping ratio of the concrete dam body to reflect the radiation damping. Therefore, in order to evaluate the realistic seismic performance of concrete dams, it is necessary to revise the damping ratio-related contents contained in the current dam design standards and evaluation guidelines.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.227-237
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• 2024

The incidence angle of seismic excitation relative to the two orthogonal major axes of structures has been a subject of considerable research interest. Previous studies have primarily focused on single-storey symmetric and asymmetric structures, suggesting a minimal effect of incidence angle on structural behavior. This research extends the investigation to multi-storey structures, including vertically irregular configurations, using a comprehensive set of 20 near fault and 20 far field seismic excitation. The study employs nonlinear time-history analysis with a bidirectional hysteresis model to capture inelastic deformations accurately. Various structural models, including one-storey and two- storey regular structures (R1, R2) and vertically irregular structures with setbacks in one direction (IR1) and both directions (IR2), are analysed. The analysis reveals that the incidence angle has no discernible impact over the response of regular multi-storey structures. However, vertically irregular structures exhibit notable responses at corner columns, which decrease towards central columns, irrespective of the incidence angle. This response is attributed to the inherent mass distribution and stiffness irregularities rather than the angle of seismic excitation. The findings indicate that for both near fault and far field seismic excitation, the incidence angle's impact remains marginal even for complex structural configurations. Consequently, the study suggests that the angle of incidence of seismic excitation need not be a primary consideration in the seismic design of both regular and vertically irregular structures. These conclusions are robust across various structural models and seismic excitation characteristics, providing a comprehensive understanding the impact of incidence angle on seismic response.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.622-628
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• 2016

As the suction pad-supporting bike carrier attached to a car may be subject to an excessive dynamic load due to random vibrations and centrifugal forces during driving, its structural safety is of great concern. To examine this, the finite-element method with a fluid-structure interaction should be used because the pressure on the pad bottom is changed in real time according to the fluctuations of the force or the moment applied on the pad. This method, however, has high computing costs in terms of modeling efforts and software expense. Moreover, the accuracy of computation is not easily guaranteed. Therefore, a new method combining the experiment and computation is proposed in this paper: the bottom pressure and contact area of the pad under varying loads was measured in real time and the acquired data are then used in the nonlinear elastic finite-element calculations. The computational and experimental results obtained with the product under development showed that the safety margin of the pad under the axial loading is relatively sufficient, whereas with an excessive rotational loading, the pad is vulnerable to separation or a local surface damage; hence, the safety margin may not be secured. The predicted contact behavior under the variation of the magnitude and type of the loading were in good agreement with the one from the experiment. The proposed analysis method in this study could be used in the design of similar vacuum pad systems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.408-417
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• 2007

Recently, an artificial beach has been constructed compensating for loss of the natural one caused by the development of coastal area, as well as serving as a location for recreational activities such as sea bathing. It is well known that some structure should be constructed to protect an artificial beach from the outflow due to wave action of the reclaimed sand. In general, dike is utilized as the structure to protect an artificial beach. And, one of the factors which may need to be taken into consideration for stability of dike on seabed foundation is the ground water behavior behind dike. However, the interrelated phenomena of nonlinear wave and ground water response have relatively little attention although these interactions are important for stability of structure and sand suction to the artificial beach. In this paper, the numerical wave tank was developed to clarify nonlinear wave, dike and ground water dynamic interaction, which can simulate the difference of ground water and mean water level. Using the developed numerical wave tank, the present study investigates how variation of ground water level influences hydrodynamic characteristics in seabed around dike and numerically simulates the wave fields, pore flow patterns, pore water pressures and vorticities according to variation of ground water level. Numerical results explain well how hydrodynamic characteristics in seabed around dike is affected by the variation of ground water level.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.57-70
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• 2018

In this study, verification of the nonlinear effective stress analysis is performed for introducing performance based earthquake resistance design of port and harbor structures. Seismic response of gravitational caisson quay wall in numerical analysis is compared directly with dynamic centrifuge test results in prototype scale. Inside of the rigid box, model of the gravitational quay wall is placed above the saturated sand layer which can show the increase of excess pore water pressure. The model represents caisson quay wall with a height of 10 m, width of 6 m under centrifugal acceleration of 60 g. The numerical model is made in the same dimension with the prototype scale of the test in two dimensional plane strain condition. Byrne's liquefaction model is adopted together with a nonlinear constitutive model. Interface element is used for sliding and tensional separation between quay wall and the adjacent soils. Verification results show good agreement for permanent displacement of the quay wall, horizontal acceleration at quay wall and soil layer, and excess pore water pressure increment beneath the quay wall foundation.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.34-41
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• 2020

In recent years, magnitude and frequency of earthquakes have increased in Korea. Damage to a bridge, which is one of the main infrastructures, can directly lead to considerable loss of human lives. Therefore, engineers need to evaluate the seismic fragility of the structure and prepare for the possible seismic damage. In particular, the number of aging bridges over 30 years of service increases, and thus the seismic analysis and fragility requires accounting for the aging and retrofit effects on the bridge. In this study, the nonlinear static and dynamic analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of the aging and FRP retrofit on a PSC bridge. The aging and FRP retrofit were applied to piers that dominate the response of the bridge during earthquakes. The maximum displacement of the bridge increased due to the aging of the pier but decreased when FRP retrofit applied to the aged pier. In addition, seismic fragility analysis was performed to evaluate the seismic behavior of the bridge combined with the seismic performance of the pier. Compared with the aged bridge, the FRP retrofit bridge showed a decrease in the seismic fragility in all levels of damage. The reduction of the seismic fragility in the FRP bridge was prominent as the value of PGA and level of damage increased.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2022

The collision behaviors of the tripod and jacket structures, which are considered as support structures for offshore wind towers at the Southwest sea of Korea, were compared by nonlinear dynamic analysis. These structures, designed for the 3 MW capacity of the wind towers, were modeled using shell elements with nonlinear behaviors, and the tower structure including the nacelle, was modeled by beam and mass elements with elastic materials. The mass of the tripod structure was approximately 1.66 times that of the jacket structure. A barge and commercial ship were modeled as the collision vessel. To consider the tidal conditions in the region, the collision levels were varied from -3.5 m to 3.5 m of the mean sea level. In addition, the collision behaviors were evaluated as increasing the minimum collision energy at the collision speed (=2.6 m/s) of each vessel by four times, respectively. Accordingly, the plastic energy dissipation ratios of the vessel were increased as the stiffness of collision region. The deformations in the wind tower occurred from vibration to collapse of conditions. The tripod structure demonstrated more collision resistance than the jacket structure. This is considered to be due to the concentrated centralized rigidity and amount of steel utilized.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.875-888
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• 2013

The researches have recently progressed toward the use of the superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) to develop new smart control systems that reduce permanent deformation occurring due to severe earthquake events and that automatically recover original configuration. The superelastic SMA materials are unique metallic alloys that can return to undeformed shape without additional heat treatments only after the removal of applied loads. Once the superelastic SMA materials are thus installed at the place where large deformations are likely to intensively occur, the structural system can make the best use of recentering capabilities. Therefore, this study is intended to propose new buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBFs) with superelastic SMA bracing systems. In order to verify the performance of such bracing systems, 6-story braced frame buildings were designed in accordance with the current design specifications and then nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed at 2D frame model by using seismic hazard ground motions. Based on the analysis results, BRBFs with innovative SMA bracing systems are compared to those with conventional steel bracing systems in terms of peak and residual inter-story drifts. Finally, the analysis results show that new SMA bracing systems are very effective to reduce the residual inter-story drifts.