• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.21-26
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• 2007

This paper summarizes the design procedure and constructibility of an ECC (Engineered Cementitious Composite), which is a synthetic fiber-reinforced composite produced with the Portland cement-based mortar matrix. This study employs a stepwise method to develop useful ECC in construction field, which possesses different fluid properties to facilitate diverse types of processing (i.e., self-consolidating or spray processing). To control the rheological properties of the composite, the aggregates and reinforcing fibers were initially selected based on micromechanical analysis and steady-state cracking theory. The stability and consequent viscosity of the suspensions were then mediated by optimizing the dosage of the chemical and mineral admixtures. The rheological properties altered through this approach were revealed to be effective in obtaining ECC-hardened properties, represented by pseudo strain-hardening behavior in uniaxial tension, allowing the readily achievement of the desired function of the fresh ECC.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.13-20
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• 2022

In this study, a general low-rise building was selected to compare the new shear wall reinforcement method, which is a general method among the existing reinforcement methods, and the reinforcement method using sinusoidal corrugated web reinforcement. And it was confirmed that the following effects can be expected. Sinusoidal corrugated web members can be carried out in a short period of time as it does not require the removal of the masonry filling wall, the reinforcement of reinforcing bars, and the curing period of the concrete. It is effective in preventing damage that may occur when masonry filling wall is overturned in the out-of-plane direction, and the burden of the foundation is also reduced, and thus the construction period and cost required for reinforcement can greatly be reduced. By adjusting the number of sinusoidal corrugated web member, details of joints, and reinforcement positions, the flow of load can be induced to have an advantageous effect on the building. It can be considered as the most suitable reinforcement plan in terms of life safety. Unlike the shear wall that fills between the columns, the sinusoidal corrugated web members, which has a width of 1.5m, can install openings between two columns depending on the purpose of use, and can be expected to have a great effect in terms of usability due to its free installation location. As mentioned above, the seismic reinforcement using a sinusoidal corrugated web members, can expect great effect compared to conventional reinforcement methods in terms of usability, economic feasibility, and stability.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.433-442
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• 2023

This study presents the visually observed behavior of fibers embedded in concrete samples that were subjected to a flexural bending test. Three types of fibers such as macro polypropylene, macro polyethylene, and the hybrid of steel and polyvinyl alcohol were mixed with cement by a designated mix ratio to prepare a total of nine specimens of each. The bending test was conducted by following ASTM C1609 with a net deflection of 2, 4, and 7 mm. The X-ray computed tomography (XCT) was carried out for 7 mm-deflection specimens. The original XCT images were post-processed to denoise the beam-hardening effect. Then, fiber, crack, and void were semi-manually segmented. The hybrid specimen showed the highest toughness compared to the other two types. Debonding based on 2D XCT sliced images was commonly observed for all three groups. The cement matrix near the crack surface often involved partially localized breakage in conjunction with debonding. The pullout was predominant for steel fibers that were partially slipped toward the crack. Crack bridging and rupture were not found presumably due to the image resolution and the level of energy dissipation for poly-fibers, while the XCT imaging was advantageous in evaluating the distribution and behavior of various fibers upon bending for fiber-reinforced concrete beam elements.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.10-19
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to find out the characteristics of patients with facial palsy based on the National Health Insurance(NHI) statistical yearbook and provide the information pertaining to supplement Coverage of NHI. Methods: Based on the data of NHI between 2004 to 2021 for facial palsy(G51) obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the analyses were carried out according to the distribution of gender and the number of patients, visits, reimbursed days, and medical expenses by using the SAS 9.4. Results: The crude rate of facial palsy was reported as 361.71(2021) comparable with 419.60(2004) and 534.11(2009). The rate of men increased from 293.96(2004) to 302.27(2021) but the rate of women decreased from 450.88(2014) to 420.80(2021). The number of patients maintained around 190,000, however, it declined for patients treated Korean medicine(KM) after 2010. As the medical expenses were elevated, especially Western medicine(WM), that of WM exceeded KM's since 2018. The expenses of women were higher than men's in KM. By contrast, there was no difference with gender in WM. For reimbursed days per visits, it has been increased in WM but there was no difference in KM. Conclusion: Although the rate of patients with facial palsy in KM was high with no difference in the whole number of patients and reimbursed days per visits in KM annually, the number of patients in KM decreased but medical expenses elevated. According to this, it is necessary for reinforcing Coverage of NHI to research other factors related to KM.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2023

Various efforts have been made to reduce the weight of concrete slabs while preserving their flexural strength. This will result in reducing deflection and allows the utilization of longer spans. The top zone of the slab requires concrete to create the compression block for flexural strength, and the tension zone needs concrete to join with reinforcing for flexural strength. Also, the top and bottom slab faces must be linked to transmit stresses. Voided slab systems were and are still used to make long-span slab buildings lighter. Eight slab specimens of (1000^*1000 (1000^*1000 mm²) were cast and tested as two-way simply supported slabs in this research. The tested specimens consist of one solid slab and seven voided slabs with the following variables (type of slab solid and voided), thickness of slab (100 and 125 mm), presence of steel fibers (0% and 1%), and the number of GFRP layers). The voids in slabs were made using high-density polystyrene of dimensions (200^*200^*50 mm) with a central hole of dimensions (50^*50^*50 mm) at the ineffective concrete zones to give a reduction in weight by (34% to 38%). The slabs were tested as simply supported slabs under partial uniform loading. The results of specimens subjected to monotonic loading show that the combined strengthening by steel fibers and GFRP sheets of the concrete specimen (V-125-2GF-1%) shows the least deflection, deflection (4.6 mm), good ultimate loading capacity (192 MPa), large stiffness at cracking and at ultimate (57 and 41.74) respectively, more ductility (1.44), and high energy absorption (1344.83 kN.mm); so it's the best specimen that can be used as a voided slab under this type of loading.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.461-472
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• 2023

This paper proposes a novel method for increasing the distortional frame rigidity of off-rail box girder bridges for cranes by reinforcing the diaphragm with staggered truss. The study starts by using the Matrix Displacement Method to determine the shear angle of the staggered truss diaphragm under two assumptions: hinge joint and rigid joint. To obtain closed-form solutions for the transversal and longitudinal deformations and warping stress of the crane girder, the study employs the Initial Parameter Method and considers the compatibility of shear deformation at joints between the diaphragms and the girder. The theoretical solutions are validated through finite element analysis, which also confirms that the hinge-joint assumption accurately represents the shear angle of the staggered truss diaphragm in girder distortion. Additionally, the study conducts extensive parameter analyses to examine the impact of staggered truss dimensions on distortional stress and deformation. Furthermore, the study compares the distortional warping stresses of crane girders reinforced with staggered truss diaphragms and those reinforced with perforated ones, emphasizing the importance of incorporating stagger truss in diaphragms. Overall, this paper provides a thorough evaluation of the proposed approach's effectiveness in enhancing the distortional frame rigidity of off-rail box girder bridges for cranes. The findings offer valuable insights into the design and reinforcement of diaphragms using staggered truss to enhance the structural performance of crane girders.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.105-124
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence the pre-use expectation and the continuous usage intention of the OTT services. Methods: For empirical analysis, the survey for this study was administered with many anonymous people who had previously used any of the OTT services and valid 192 data were analyzed by SPSS and PLS-SEM. Results: The results of this study are as follows. Personalization and understandability in the information quality didn't significantly affect confirmation. Ease of use and search of the system quality significantly affected confirmation. Also, it was found that content diversity, content recency, and content playfulness as the characteristics of the content quality significantly affected the expectation confirmation. OTT service fees also significantly affected the expectation confirmation. It also significantly affected perceived usefulness and satisfaction. Finally, satisfaction positively influenced the continuouse intention to use. Conclusion: The findings of this empirical analysis shows that the specific characteristics related to the relationship of expectation confirmation, perceived usefulness, satisfaction, and continuous usage intention with respect to OTT services through the Post Acceptance Model (PAM). Because system quality, content quality, and service fees meeted users' expectations, OTT services need a strategy that can boost the users' positive perceptions or experiences by reinforcing these three factors.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.439-453
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• 2023

Older brick masonry structures generally suffer from low strength defects. Using a cement mortar layer (CML) or steel-meshed cement mortar layer (S-CML) to reinforce existing low-strength brick masonry structures (LBMs) is still an effective means of increasing seismic performance. However, performance indices such as lateral displacement ratios and skeleton curves for LBMs reinforced with CML or S-CML need to be clarified in performance-based seismic design and evaluation. Therefore, research into the failure mechanisms and seismic performance of LBMs reinforced with CML or S-CML is imperative. In this study, thirty low-strength brick walls (LBWs) with different cross-sectional areas, bonding mortar types, vertical loads, and CML/S-CML thicknesses were constructed. The failure modes, load-carrying capacities, energy dissipation capacity and lateral drift ratio limits in different limits states were acquired via quasi-static tests. The results show that 1) the primary failure modes of UBWs and RBWs are "diagonal shear failure" and "sliding failure through joints." 2) The acceptable drift ratios of Immediate Occupancy (IO), Life Safety (LS), and Collapse Prevention (CP) for UBWs can be 0.04%, 0.08%, and 0.3%, respectively. For 20-RBWs, the acceptable drift ratios of IO, LS, and CP for 20-RBWs can be 0.037%, 0.09%, and 0.41%, respectively. Moreover, the acceptable drift ratios of IO, LS, and CP for 40-RBWs can be 0.048%, 0.09%, and 0.53%, respectively. 3) Reinforcing low-strength brick walls with CML/S-CML can improve brick walls' bearing capacity, deformation, and energy dissipation capacity. Using CML/S-CML reinforcement to improve the seismic performance of old masonry houses is a feasible and practical choice.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.3A
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• pp.315-322
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• 2008

The present study applied the external post tensioning reinforcement method for reinforcing a non-ballast steel plate girder railway bridge, and the effects of the strength of tendons and the level of post-tensioning force on the dynamic behavior are experimented and analyzed. According to the results of this study, the natural frequency was increased by the strength of tendons but it was decreased by the rise of post-tensioning force and as a consequence the introduction of post-tensioning force decreased natural frequency slightly. It was analyzed that further study is need to establish the exact relations between post-tensioning force and natural frequency. In addition, it was found that the dynamic displacement, dynamic bending stress and vertical acceleration were decreased by the external post-tensioning. On the other hand, external post-tensioning increased horizontal acceleration by up to 20%, which was around 70% of vertical acceleration. This needs further study.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2A
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• pp.249-257
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• 2008

Various methods have been used to reinforce the cementitious material such as mortar and concrete that have weak tensile strength. Major reinforcing method is to mix matrix with fibers which have strong tensile strength. Recently, micro-fiber reinforced mortar has been studied which removes coarse aggregate and uses micro-fiber with small diameter in order to homogenize the matrix properties and maximize the performance of fiber. Performance of micro-fiber reinforced mortar showing multiple cracking behavior is hardly represented only by the flexural toughness. Therefore, This paper reports the cracking behavior as well as mechanical behavior for various mixtures which have different fiber type and mixture proportions to find the proper parameter representing the cracking characteristic. Correlations between flexural toughness and various cracking characteristics such as cracking area, width and number are explored. As a result, it is found that flexural toughness, volume of fiber and number of cracks are suitable for representing the characteristics of micro-fiber reinforced mortar.