• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1819-1829
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• 2018

A three-phase, three-switch, and three-level boost-type PWM rectifier (Vienna rectifier) is proposed as an active front-end power factor correction (PFC) rectifier for telecom loads. The proposed active front-end PFC rectifier system is modeled by the switching cycle average model. The relation between duty ratios and DC link capacitor voltages is derived in terms of the system input currents. Furthermore, the feasible switching states are identified and applied to the proposed system to reduce the switching stress and DC ripples. A detailed equivalent circuit analysis of the proposed front-end PFC rectifier is conducted, and its performance is verified through simulations in MATLAB. Simulation results are verified using an experimental setup of an active front-end PFC rectifier that was developed in the laboratory. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the improved power quality parameters that are in accordance with the IEEE and IEC standards.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2020

Connections play a significant role in strength of structures against earthquake-induced loads. According to the post-seismic reports, connection failure is a cause of overall failure in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Connection failure results in a sudden increase in inter-story drift, followed by early and progressive failure across the entire structure. This article investigated the cyclic performance and behavioral improvement of shape-memory alloy-based connections (SMA-based connections). The novelty of the present work is focused on the effect of shape memory alloy bars is damage reduction, strain recoverability, and cracking distribution of the stated material in RC moment frames under seismic loads using 3D nonlinear static analyses. The present numerical study was verified using two experimental connections. Then, the performance of connections was studied using 14 models with different reinforcement details on a scale of 3:4. The response parameters under study included moment-rotation, secant stiffness, energy dissipation, strain of bar, and moment-curvature of the connection. The connections were simulated using LS-DYNA environment. The models with longitudinal SMA-based bars, as the main bars, could eliminate residual plastic rotations and thus reduce the demand for post-earthquake structural repairs. The flag-shaped stress-strain curve of SMA-based materials resulted in a very slight residual drift in such connections.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.74 no.3
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• pp.381-394
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• 2020

The structural performance of cold-formed steel (CFS) built-up battened columns were numerically investigated in this paper. The built-up column sections were formed by connecting two-lipped channels back-to-back, with a regular spacing of battens plates, and have been investigated in the current study. Finite element models were validated with the test results reported by the authors in the companion paper. Using the validated models, the parametric study was extended, covering a wider range of overall slenderness to assess the accuracy of the current design rules in predicting the design strengths of the CFS built-up battened columns. The parameters viz., overall slenderness, different geometries, plate slenderness (b/t ratio) and yield stress were considered for this study. In total, a total of 228 finite element models were analyzed and the results obtained were compared with current design strength predicted by Effective Width Method of AISI Specifications (AISI S100:2016) and European specifications (EN1993-1-3:2006). The parametric study results indicated that the current design rules are limited in predicting the accuracy of the design strengths of CFS built-up battened columns. Therefore, a design equation was proposed for the AISI and EC3 specifications to predict the reliable design strength of the CFS Built-up battened columns and was also verified by the reliability analysis.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.693-707
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• 2019

This paper proposes an integrated safety assessment method that can take multiple sources data into consideration based on a data fusion approach. Data cleaning using the Kalman filter method (KF) was conducted first for monitoring data from each sensor. The inclination data from the four tilt sensors of the same monitoring section have been associated to synchronize in time. Secondly, the finite element method (FEM) model was established to physically correlate the external forces with various structural responses of the shield tunnel, including the measured inclination. Response surface method (RSM) was adopted to express the relationship between external forces and the structural responses. Then, the external forces were updated based on the in situ monitoring data from tilt sensors using the extended Kalman filter method (EKF). Finally, mechanics parameters of the tunnel lining were estimated based on the updated data to make an integrated safety assessment. An application example of the proposed method was presented for an urban tunnel during a nearby deep excavation with multiple source monitoring plans. The change of tunnel convergence, bolt stress and segment internal forces can also be calculated based on the real time deformation monitoring of the shield tunnel. The proposed method was verified by predicting the data using the other three sensors in the same section. The correlation among different monitoring data has been discussed before the conclusion was drawn.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.303-311
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• 2019

The depth of superstructure is the summation of the height of girders and the thickness of the deck floor. In this study, it is aim to determine the maximum span length of girders and minimum depth of the superstructure of prestressed concrete I-girder bridge. For this purpose the superstructure of the bridge with the width of 10m and the thickness of the deck floor of 0.175m, which the girders length was changed by two meter increments between 15m and 35m, was taken into account. Twelve different girders with heights of 60, 75, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170 and 180 cm, which are frequently used in Turkey, were chosen as girder type. The analyses of the superstructure of prestressed concrete I girder bridge was conducted with I-CAD software. In the analyses AASHTO LRFD (2012) conditions were taken into account a great extent. The dead loads of the structural and non-structural elements forming the bridge superstructure, prestressing force, standard truck load, equivalent lane load and pedestrian load were taken into consideration. HL93, design truck of AASHTO and also H30S24 design truck of Turkish Code were selected as vehicular live load. The allowable concrete stress limit, the number of prestressed strands, the number of debonded strands and the deflection parameters obtained from analyses were compared with the limit values found in AASHTO LRFD (2012) to determine the suitability of the girders. At the end of the study maximum span length of girders and equation using for calculation for minimum depth of the superstructure of prestressed concrete I-girder bridge were proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.64-71
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• 2019

We herein propose a systematic design method of hydraulic pipes used in heavy construction equipment. We found that even though many design studies have been conducted regarding major hydraulic components such as pumps, cylinders, and control valves, studies regarding the optimal design of hydraulic pipes are scarce. In this study, the design of four types of pipes is considered: two high-pressure and two low-pressure pipes. First, fluid flow analysis was conducted based on oil flow and pressure for various radii of curvature. For a check-valve pipe, we considered the location of an inlet pipe. We could visualize fluid flow inside the pipe according to the flow velocity and pressure distribution. Based on fluid flow analysis, we conducted a structural analysis that revealed the stress distribution and concentration for each pipe design. We selected the best design parameters for each pipe design, fabricated the pipes, and subsequently tested them for validity.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.793-813
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• 2015

Characterization of discontinuous media is an endeavor that poses great challenge to engineers in practice. Since the inherent defects in cracked domains can substantially influence material resistance and govern its behavior, a lot of work is dedicated to efficiently model such effects. In order to overcome difficulties of material instability problems, one needs to comprehensively represent the geometry of cracks along with their impact on the mechanical properties of the intact material. In the present study, stress-strain results from laboratory experiments on Inada granite was used to derive crack tensor as a tool for the evaluation of fractured domain stability. It was found that the formulations proposed earlier could satisfactorily be employed to attain crack tensor via the invariants of which judgment on cracks population and induced anisotropy is possible. The earlier criteria based on crack tensor analyses were reviewed and compared to the results of the current study. It is concluded that the geometrical parameters calculated using mechanical properties could confidently be used to judge the anisotropy as well as strength of the cracked domain.

• Advances in biomechanics and applications
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2014

In this paper, a simple and accurate finite element model coupled to quasi-brittle damage law able to describe the multiple cracks initiation and their progressive propagation is developed in order to predict the complete force-displacement curve and the fracture pattern of human proximal femur under quasi-static load. The motivation of this work was to propose a simple and practical FE model with a good compromise between complexity and accuracy of the simulation considering a limited number of model parameters that can predict proximal femur fracture more accurately and physically than the fracture criteria based models. Different damage laws for cortical and trabecular bone are proposed based on experimental results to describe the inelastic damage accumulation under the excessive load. When the damage parameter reaches its critical value inside an element of the mesh, its stiffness matrix is set to zero leading to the redistribution of the stress state in the vicinity of the fractured zone (crack initiation). Once a crack is initiated, the propagation direction is simulated by the propagation of the broken elements of the mesh. To illustrate the potential of the proposed approach, the left femur of a male (age 61) previously investigated by Keyak and Falkinstein, 2003 (Model B: male, age 61) was simulated till complete fracture under one-legged stance quasi-static load. The proposed finite element model leads to more realistic and precise results concerning the shape of the force-displacement curve (yielding and fracturing) and the profile of the fractured edge.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2008

Flow fields inside feeder pipes have been simulated numerically using a CFD (computational fluid dynamics) code to calculate the shear stress distribution, which is the most important factor in predicting the local regions of feeder pipes highly susceptible to FAC (flow-accelerated corrosion)-induced wall thinning. The CFD approach, with schemes used in this study, to simulate the flow situations inside the CANDU feeder pipes has been verified as it showed a good agreement between the investigation results for the failed feedwater pipe at Surry unit 2 plant in the U.S. and the CFD calculation. Sensitivity studies of the three geometrical parameters, such as angle of the first and second bends, length of the first span between the grayloc hub and the first bend, and length of the second span between the first and the second bends have been performed. CFD analysis reveals that the local regions of feeder pipes of Wolsung unit 1 in Korea, on which wall thickness measurements have been performed so far, are not coincident with the worst regions predicted by the present CFD analysis located in the connection region of straight and bend pipe near the inlet part of the bend intrados. Finally, based on the results of the present CFD analysis, a guide to the selection of the weakest local positions where the measurement of wall thickness should be performed with higher priority has been provided.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.569-575
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• 2017

One of the important requirements for the application of reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel is to retain proper mechanical properties under irradiation and high-temperature conditions. To simulate the yield strength and stress-strain curve of steels during high-temperature and irradiation conditions, a multiscale simulation method consisting of both microstructure and strengthening simulations was established. The simulation results of microstructure parameters were added to a superposition strengthening model, which consisted of constitutive models of different strengthening methods. Based on the simulation results, the strength contribution for different strengthening methods at both room temperature and high-temperature conditions was analyzed. The simulation results of the yield strength in irradiation and high-temperature conditions were mainly consistent with the experimental results. The optimal application field of this multiscale model was 9Cr series (7-9 wt.%Cr) RAFM steels in a condition characterized by 0.1-5 dpa (or 0 dpa) and a temperature range of $25-500^{\circ}C$.