• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.239-245
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• 2014

Finite element modeling of composite structures may be cumbersome due to complex distributions of reinforcements. In this paper, an efficient scheme is proposed that can generate periodic meshes for the composite structures. Regular meshes with hexahedral finite elements are first prepared, and the elements are then trimmed to fit external surfaces of reinforcements in the composite structures. The trimmed hexahedral finite elements located at interfaces between the matrix and the reinforcements correspond to polyhedral finite elements, which allow an arbitrary number of nodes and faces in the elements. Because the trimming process is consistently conducted by means of consistent algorithms, the elements of the reinforcements are automatically compatible with those of the matrices. With the additional consideration of periodicity of reinforcements in a representative volume element(RVE), the proposed scheme provides periodic meshes in an efficient manner, which are compatible for each pair of periodic boundaries of the RVE. Therefore, periodic boundary conditions for the RVE are enforced straightforwardly. Numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme for finite element modeling of complex composite structures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.177-180
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• 2002

3-D 원형 브레이드 복합재료의 물리적인 물성을 계산하기 위해서는 실제와 같은 단위구조의 모델링과 이를 통한 RVE(Representative Volume Element)의 구현이 필수적이다. 실제적인 내부구조 모델링을 위해 단위구조를 2가지로 나누었으며, 실의 경로를 3차원 스플라인으로 적합시켰다. 구현한 내부구조를 통하여 공정변수와 구조변수와의 관계를 고찰하였다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.114-117
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• 2002

To develop an effective geometric modeling is essential in order that precise material properties of the 3-D braided composite can be estimated. in this study RVE(representative volume element) which is the smallest volume element representing whole material properties is developed to estimate the mechanical properties of 3-D flat board shaped braided composite using volume averaging method.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2013

In this paper, a micro-mechanical failure prediction program is developed based on SIFT (Strain Invariant Failure Theory) by using the multi-scale modeling method for fiber-reinforced composite materials. And the failure analysis are performed for open-hole composite laminate specimen in order to verify the developed program. First of all, the critical strain invariants are obtained through the tensile tests for three types of specimens. Also, the matrices of strain amplification factors are determined through the finite element analysis for micro-mechanical model, RVE (Representative Volume Element). Finally, the microscopic failure analysis is performed for the open-hole composite laminate specimen model by applying a failure load obtained from tensile test, and the predicted failure indices are evaluated for verification of the developed program.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.133-140
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• 2018

This paper is concerned with the 2-D micostructure generation for $Ni-A{\ell}_2O_3$ dual-phase composite materials and the numerical analysis of mechanical characteristic of hierarchical models of microstructure which are defined in terms of the scale of microstructure. The microstructures of dual-phase composite materials were generated by applying the mathematical RMDF(random morphology description functions) technique to a 2-D RVE of composite materials. And, the hierarchical models of microstructure were defined by the number of Gaussian points. Meanwhile, the volume fractions of metal and ceramic particles were set by adjusting the level of RMD functions. The microstructures which were generated by RMDF technique are definitely random even though the total number of Gaussian points is the same. The randomly generated microstructures were applied to a 2-D beam model, and the variation of normal and shear stresses to the scale of microstructure was numerically investigated. In addition, through the crack analyses, the influence of RMDF randomness and Gauss point number on the crack-tip stress is investigated.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.251-259
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• 2018

In this paper, statistical volume element modeling method was developed for multi-scale progressive failure analysis of fiber reinforced composite materials. Big-size statistical volume elements (BSVEs) was considered to minimize the size effect in the micro-scale, by including as many fibers as possible. For that purpose, a mesh cutting method is suggested and adapted into the fiber model generator that creates finite element domain rapidly. The fiber defect model was also developed based on the experimental distribution of the fiber strength. The size effects from the local load sharing (LLS) are evaluated by increasing the fiber inclusion in the micro-scale model. Finally, continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model to the fiber direction was extracted from numerical analysis on BSVEs. And it was compared with strength prediction from typical representative volume element (RVE) model.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.419-429
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• 2020

To investigate the effect of spatial variability on hydraulic properties of unsaturated soils, a numerical model is set up which can simulate seepage process in an unsaturated heterogeneous soil. The unsaturated heterogeneous soil is composed of matrix sand embedded with a small proportion of clay for simulating the heterogeneity. Soil-water characteristic curve and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity curve of the unsaturated soil are expressed by Van Genuchten model. Hydraulic parameters of the matrix sand are considered as random fields. Different autocorrelation lengths (ACLs) of hydraulic parameter of the matrix sand and different proportions of clay are assumed to investigate the influence of spatial variability on the equivalent hydraulic properties of the heterogeneous soil. Four model sizes are used in the numerical experiments to investigate the influence of scale effects and to determine the sizes of representative volume element (RVE) in the numerical simulations. Through a number of Monte Carlo simulations of unsaturated seepage analysis, the means and the coefficients of variations (COVs) of the equivalent hydraulic parameters of the heterogeneous soil are calculated. Simulations show that the ACL and model size has little influence on the means of the equivalent hydraulic parameters, but they have a large influence on the COVs of the equivalent hydraulic parameters. The size of an RVE is mainly affected by the ACL and the proportion of heterogeneity. The influence of spatial variability on the hydraulic parameters of the heterogeneous unsaturated soil can be used as a guidance for geotechnical reliability analysis and design related to unsaturated soils.

• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2020

Stress distributions dependent on fiber arrangements are studied using the two-dimensional representative volume element (RVE) model for uni-directionally continuous fiber-reinforced composites subjected to transverse tensile loading. It is easily expected that the stresses around the fibers are concentrated mainly due to the stiffness mismatch between the fiber and matrix materials. In this presentation, it is shown that the stresses are not always increased although the distance between two fibers is shortened. The 2D RVE models, originally having a regular hexagonal fiber array, is utilized to study the effect of the fiber locations on the stress distributions. As the central fiber is relocated, the stress distributions around the fiber are obtained through finite element analysis. It is found that the stresses around the fiber are strongly dependent on the fiber distance as well as the angle between the loading direction and the line connecting two fibers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.1549-1559
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• 2022

As an accident tolerant fuel (ATF) concept, oxide dispersion strengthened Zircaloy-4 (ODS Zry-4) cladding has been developed to enhance the mechanical properties of cladding using laser processing technology. In this study, a simulation technique was established to investigate the mechanical properties and effects of Y₂O₃ particles for the ODS Zry-4. A 3D representative volume element (RVE) model was developed considering the parameters of the size, shape, distribution and volume fraction (VF) of the Y₂O₃ particles. From the 3D RVE model, the Young's modulus, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and creep strain rate of the ODS Zry-4 were effectively calculated. It was observed that the VF of Y₂O₃ particles had a significant effect on the aforementioned mechanical properties. In addition, the predicted properties of ODS Zry-4 were applied to a simulation model to investigate cladding deformation under a transient condition. The ODS Zry-4 cladding showed better performance, such as a delay in large deformation compared to Zry-4 cladding, which was also found experimentally. Accordingly, it is expected that the simulation approach developed here can be efficiently employed to predict more properties and to provide useful information with which to improve ODS Zry-4.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2017

In this study, the failure behavior of composite material in the biaxial and off-axis loading is studied based on a computational micromechanical model. The model is developed so that the combination of mechanical and thermal loading conditions can be considered in the analysis. The modified generalized plane strain assumption of the theory of elasticity is used for formulation of the micromechanical modeling of the problem. A truly meshless method is employed to solve the governing equation and predict the distribution of micro-stresses in the selected RVE of composite. The fiber matrix interface is assumed to be perfect until the interface failure occurs. The biaxial and off-axis loading of the SiC/Ti and Kevlar/Epoxy composite is studied. The failure envelopes of SiC/Ti and Kevlar/Epoxy composite in off-axis loading, biaxial transverse-transverse and axial-transverse loading are predicted based on the micromechanical approach. Various failure criteria are considered for fiber, matrix and fiber-matrix interface. Comparison of results with the available results in the litreture shows excellent agreement with experimental studies.