• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2008

The end plates of fuel cell assemblies are used to fasten the inner stacks, reduce the contact pressure, and provide a seal between Membrane-Electrode Assemblies (MEAs). They therefore require sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the tightening pressure, light weight to obtain high energy densities, and stable chemical/electrochemical properties, as well as provide electrical insulation. The design criteria for end plates can be divided into three parts: the material, connecting method, and shape. In the past, end plates were made from metals such as aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel alloys, but due to corrosion problems, thermal losses, and their excessive weight, alternative materials such as plastics have been considered. Composite materials consisting of combinations of two or more materials have also been proposed for end plates to enhance their mechanical strength. Tie-rods have been traditionally used to connect end plates, but since the number of connecting parts has increased, resulting in assembly difficulties, new types of connectors have been contemplated. Ideas such as adding reinforcement or flat plates, or using bands or boxes to replace tie-rods have been proposed. Typical end plates are rectangular or cylindrical solid plates. To minimize the weight and provide a uniform pressure distribution, new concepts such as ribbed-, bomb-, or bow-shaped plates have been considered. Even though end plates were not an issue in fuel cell system designs in the past, they now provide a great challenge for designers. Changes in the materials, connecting methods, and shapes of an end plate allow us to achieve lighter, stronger end plates, resulting in more efficient fuel cell systems.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.111-127
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• 2020

The goal of this study is to fill this apparent gap in the area about investigating the effect of porosity distributions on vibrational behavior of FG sectorial plates resting on a two-parameter elastic foundation. The response of the elastic medium is formulated by the Winkler/Pasternak model. The internal pores and graphene platelets (GPLs) are distributed in the matrix either uniformly or non-uniformly according to three different patterns. The model is proposed with material parameters varying in the thickness of plate to achieve graded distributions in both porosity and nanofillers. The elastic modulus of the nanocomposite is obtained by using Halpin-Tsai micromechanics model. The annular sector plate is assumed to be simply supported in the radial edges while any arbitrary boundary conditions are applied to the other two circular edges including simply supported, clamped and free. The 2-D differential quadrature method as an efficient and accurate numerical approach is used to discretize the governing equations and to implement the boundary conditions. The convergence of the method is demonstrated and to validate the results, comparisons are made between the present results and those reported by well-known references for special cases treated before, have confirmed accuracy and efficiency of the present approach. It is observed that the maximum vibration frequency obtained in the case of symmetric porosity and GPL distribution, while the minimum vibration frequency is obtained using uniform porosity distribution. Results show that for better understanding of mechanical behavior of nanocomposite plates, it is crucial to consider porosities inside the material structure.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.25-32
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• 2023

In this study, a double wall system is introduced, which was invented to simplify the complicated manufacturing process of the existing precast concrete (PC) double wall systems and to remove defects such as laitance that may occur during the production of concrete panels. An experimental study was conducted to investigate the tensile resisting capacity of the steel tube which is embedded in the precast concrete panel to keep the spacing between PC panels and to prevent damage of the PC panels during transportation and casting concrete onsite. The experiment was planned to determine the detail of effective steel tube connection considering the steel plate treatment method according to the formation of the opening, the presence of embedded concrete, and the reinforcement welding for additional dowel action as key variables. As a result, the ultimate tensile strength increased by 20-30% compared to the control specimen (ST) except for the steel tube specimen (ST_CP) which has steel plates bent inward at the end part of the steel tube. Since the specimen (ST_CON) filled with concrete inside the control specimen has no additional process and cost for the steel tube connections compared to the control specimen during the production of the developed double wall system, it is determined to be the appropriate detail of steel tube connection.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.47-59
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• 2013

This study that is a successive secondary study right after the primary bending strength test of a new form of U-shape hybrid composite beam is a cyclic seismic test of U-shape hybrid composite beam and column conncetion. Three specimens are built for the variables which are kinds of columns, depth of beam, continuity or discontinuity of upper plate of beam, and a number of steel bars of end-beam. Kinds of columns are a reinforcement concrete column and a ACT column of CFT shape, and beam depth are 300, and 500 mm. Detail of connection is bolt connection with using a short bracket that is commonly use. As the result, deformability of 2~4% is ensured the floor displacement angle. If it is the negative moment, the maximum moment shows that its capacity is above the nominal moment.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.6A
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• pp.853-859
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• 2008

As a new system of steel pipe pile cap reinforcement, the application of perforated flat bar bolted to the steel pipe pile head was suggested for the improvement of structural performance of footing structure. This study investigates the structural characteristics of perforated flat bar shear connectors according to shape and diameter of hole, number of rebars passing through the hole and the depth of settlement. The result shows several requirements to ensure sufficient pull-out resistance and ductility such as that the hole diameter excluding diameter of rebar should exceed the size of aggregates; the hole should be perforated with diameter as the half of plate height; and the adequate depth of settlement should be ensured for the optimal performance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.249-260
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• 2017

In order to investigate the structural performance of a novel prefabricated-SRC column using bolt-connected steel angles(PSRC column), eccentric axial loading tests were performed for six PSRC column specimens and two conventional SRC column specimens. The test parameters were the spacing and sectional configurations of lateral reinforcement, and eccentricity ratio of axial load. The test results showed that, due to high axial-stiffness of the angles located at the corners of the cross section, the compressive load-carrying capacity and deformation capacity of the PSRC specimens were greater than those of the SRC specimens in the large eccentricity ratio of axial load. Closely spaced lateral steel plates and Z-shaped lateral steel plates improved lateral confinement, which increased the load-carrying capacity of the PSRC specimens. The combined flexural and axial load-carrying capacity of the specimens by tests and nonlinear numerical analysis were greater than the predictions by current design codes. The numerical analysis agreed well with the test results including the initial stiffness, peak strength, and post-peak strength degradation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.345-354
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• 2016

In the present study, hybrid moment connections of welding and bar reinforcement for composite beam-column connections were proposed. Concrete-filled octagonal tube and U-section were used for the column and beam, respectively. In the beam-column connection, the top flange and web of the beam U-section were connected to the column plate by welding. However, to reduce stress concentration at the weld joints, the bottom flange of the beam was not welded to the column plate. Instead, to transfer the tension force of the beam flange, reinforcing bars passing through the column plate were used. Four exterior connections with conventional welded and hybrid moment connections were tested under cyclic loading and their cyclic behaviors were investigated. The test results showed that the hybrid moment connections successfully transferred the beam moment to the column. The strength and ductility of the hybrid moment connections were comparable to the conventional welded moment connection with exterior diaphragm; however, the connection performance was significantly affected by the details of the hybrid moment connection.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.689-702
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• 2020

The current study deals with the size-dependent free vibration analysis of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) reinforced polymer nanocomposite plates resting on Pasternak elastic foundation containing different boundary conditions. Based on a four variable refined shear deformation plate theory, which considers shear deformation effect, in conjunction with the Eringen nonlocal elasticity theory, which contains size-dependency inside nanostructures, the equations of motion are established through Hamilton's principle. Moreover, the effective material properties are estimated via the Halpin-Tsai model as well as the rule of mixture. Galerkin's mathematical formulation is utilized to solve the equations of motion for the vibrational problem with different boundary conditions. Parametrical examples demonstrate the influences of nonlocal parameter, total number of layers, weight fraction and geometry of GNPs, elastic foundation parameter, and boundary conditions on the frequency characteristic of the GNPs reinforced nanoplates in detail.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.105-120
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• 2011

The strengthening and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete structures with externally bonded carbon fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates has shown excellent performance and, as a result, this technology is rapidly replacing steel plate bonding techniques. This paper addresses this issue, and presents results deals with the influence of external bonded CFRP-reinforcement on the time-dependent behavior of reinforced concrete beams. A total of eight reinforced concrete beams with cracked and un-cracked section, with and without externally bonded CFRP laminates, were investigated for their creep and shrinkage behavior. All the beams considered in this paper were simply supported and subjected to a uniform sustained loading for the period of six months. The main parameters of this study are two types of sustained load and different degrees of strengthening scheme for both cracked and un-cracked sections of beams. Both analytical and experimental work has been carried out on strengthened beams to investigate the cracking and deflection performance. The applied sustained load was 56% and 38% of the ultimate static capacities of the un-strengthened beams for cracked and un-cracked section respectively. The analytical values based on effective modulus method (EMM) are compared to the experimental results and it is found that the analytical values are in general give conservative estimates of the experimental results. It was concluded that the attachment of CFRP composite laminates has a positive influence on the long term performance of strengthened beams.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.493-500
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• 2013

In this study, it was evaluated the protective performance of the protection material for filed of the army by impact of fragment from the explosion of 155mm artillery shell to propose the improvement items. And it was evaluated the protection materials for structural boby such as corrugated steel plate, concrete block, prevention paint of explosion, aluminum foam and concrete T-wall by impact of fragment of 155mm artillery shells and explosion-induced pressure of C-4 explosive. As a result, protective performance of the existing protective material was superior but reinforcement is necessary for secondary damage because sand is leaking. The protective performance of new protective materials was greater than existing protective materials. And it can be used for protective materials.