• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2003

The purposes of this study were to analyze the muscle activities and the characteristics of muscle recruting patterns of lower limb for crouching start technique using four elite splint. The EMG technique was used to record muscle activities of both right and left sides of retus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius. Eight surface electrodes were placed on the surface of the selected muscles and one ground electrode was also attached on the back of neck(C7). One video camera was also used to record the crouching start motion to define 6 events and 5 phases for further analysis. The raw EMG data were filtered with band pass filter(10-350) to remove artifacts and then low pass filtered(4Hz) to find the linear envelope which resemble muscle tension curve. This filter EMG data were normalized to MVIC for the purpose of comparison between right and left sides muscle. The results of this study were as follows. All four subjects showed that vastus medialis muscle activity was comparatively higher than those of retus femoris, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius. And left side of muscle activity was comparatively higher than right side of muscle activity. Therefore, when the subjects starting out crouching start position, we recognized that the muscle of lower limb showed interaction effect by each muscle.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.195-209
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• 2020

This study investigates the behavior of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) with hybrid macro-micro steel and macro steel-polypropylene (PP) fibers. Compression, direct and indirect tension tests were carried out on cubic and cylindrical, dogbone and prismatic specimens, respectively. Three types of macro steel fibers, i.e., round crimped (RC), crimped (C), and hooked (H) were combined with micro steel (MS) and PP fibers in overall ratios of 2% by volume. Additionally, numerical analyses were performed to validate the test results. Parameters studied included, fracture energy, tensile strength, compressive strength, flexural strength, and residual strength. Tests showed that replacing PP fibers with MS significantly improves all parameters particularly flexural strength (17.38 MPa compared to 37.71 MPa). Additionally, the adopted numerical approach successfully captured the flexural load-deflection response of experimental beams. Lastly, the proposed regression model for the flexural load-deflection curve compared very well with experimental results, as evidenced by its coefficient of correlation (R²) of over 0.90.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.347-356
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• 2021

To address the limitation of the commonly used steam curing of reactive powder concrete (SC-RPC) in engineering, a preparation technology of normal curing reactive powder concrete (NC-RPC) is proposed. In this study, an experimental comparative research on the mechanical properties of NC-RPC and SC-RPC under uniaxial tension is conducted. Under the premise of giving full play to the ultra-high performance of RPC, the paper tries to explore whether normal curing can replace steam curing. The results show that various mechanical indexes of NC-RPC (e.g., tensile strength, ultimate tensile strain, elastic modulus and deformation performance) could basically reach the mechanical index values in steam curing at 28d age, some performance is even better at a longer age. So it affirms the feasibility of normal curing. In this paper, the influence of normal curing age on the tensile properties of RPC is discussed, and the relationship between each index and age is introduced in detail. Based on the experimental data, the tensile mechanism of RPC is analyzed theoretically, and two kinds of tensile constitutive models for RPC are proposed, one is curvilinear model, and another one is polygonal line model. The validity of the two models is further verified by the test results of others.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.591-601
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• 2019

This research study investigates experimentally and analytically the axial compressive behaviour of Concrete Filled Fiber Reinforced Polymer Tube (CFFT) columns with and without Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars. The experimental program comprises five circular columns of 204-206 mm outer diameter and 800-812 mm height. All columns were tested under concentric axial compressive loads. It was found that CFFT columns with and without FRP bars achieved higher peak axial compressive loads and corresponding axial deformations than conventional steel reinforced concrete (RC) column. The contribution of FRP bars was about 12.1% of the axial compressive loads carried by CFFT columns reinforced with FRP bars. Axial load-axial deformation ($P-{\delta}$) curves of CFFT columns were analytically constructed, which mapped well with the experimental $P-{\delta}$ curves. Also, an equation was proposed to predict the axial compressive load capacity of CFFT columns with and without FRP bars, which adequately considers the contributions of the circumferential confinement provided by FRP tubes and lower ultimate strength of FRP bars in compression than in tension.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.361-377
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• 2019

The stiffness of shape memory alloy (SMA) spring while in actuation is represented by an empirical model that is derived from the logistic differential equation. This model correlates the stiffness to the alloy temperature and the functionality of SMA spring as active variable stiffness actuator (VSA) is analyzed based on factors that are the input conditions (activation current, duty cycle and excitation frequency) and operating conditions (pre-stress and mechanical connection). The model parameters are estimated by adopting the nonlinear least square method, henceforth, the model is validated experimentally. The average correlation factor of 0.95 between the model response and experimental results validates the proposed model. In furtherance, the justification is augmented from the comparison with existing stiffness models (logistic curve model and polynomial model). The important distinction from several observations regarding the comparison of the model prediction with the experimental states that it is more superior, flexible and adaptable than the existing. The nature of stiffness variation in the SMA spring is assessed also from the Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA), which as well proves the proposal. This model advances the ability to use SMA integrated mechanism for enhanced variable stiffness actuation. The investigation proves that the stiffness of SMA spring may be altered under controlled conditions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.1805-1815
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• 2019

While nickel-based alloys have been widely used for power plants due to corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties, during the last couple of decades, failures of nuclear components increased gradually. One of main degradation mechanisms was primary water stress corrosion cracking at dissimilar metal welds of piping and reactor head penetrations. In this context, precise estimation of welding effects became an important issue for ensuring reliability of them. The present study deals with a series of finite element analyses and crack growth rate evaluation of Alloys 690/152. Firstly, variation of residual stresses and equivalent plastic strains was simulated taking into account welding of a cylindrical block. Subsequently, extraction and pre-cracking of compact tension (CT) specimens were considered from different locations of the block. Finally, crack growth curves of the alloys and heat affected zone were developed based on analyses results combined with experimental data in references. Characteristics of crack growth behaviors were also discussed in relation to mechanical and fracture parameters.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.974-987
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• 2021

This paper presents ductile fracture simulation of full-scale cracked pipe for nuclear piping materials using the cohesive zone model (CZM). The main objective of this study is to investigate the applicability of CZM to predict ductile fracture of cracked pipes with various crack shapes and under quasi-static/dynamic loadings. The transferability of the traction-separation (T-S) curve from a small-scale specimen to a full-scale pipe is demonstrated by simulating small- and full-scale tests. T-S curves are calibrated by comparing experimental data of compact tension specimens with finite element analysis results. The calibrated T-S curves are utilized to predict the fracture behavior of cracked pipes. Three types of full-scale pipe tests are considered: pipe with circumferential through-wall crack under quasistatic/dynamic loadings, and with 360° internal surface crack under quasi-static loading. Computational results using the calibrated T-S curves show a good agreement with experimental data, demonstrating the transferability of the T-S curves from small-scale specimen.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2022

This study is focused on developing a technology to prevent high-strength wire net from expanding damage due to insufficient performance of the existing PVC coating net. For the test method, reference was made to ISO 17746, an international standard. In addition, as a result of referring to the test criteria, a wire net was fabricated with a width of 1,000 mm or more a size of 1 m² sample. load-displacement curve of the test results was compared to analyze how much performance was improved compared to the existing PVC coating net.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.113-123
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• 2023

A novel type of buckling restrained brace with built-up angle steel was developed. The core segment was formed by welding angle steel, and the middle section was reduced by cutting technology to solve the problem that the end of BRB was easy to buckle. The experimental program has been undertaken to study the performance of BRBs with different unbonded materials (silica gel, kraft paper) and different filler materials (ordinary concrete, full light-weight concrete). Four specimens were designed and fabricated for low cycle reciprocating load tests to simulate horizontal seismic action. The failure mode, hysteretic curves, tension-compression unbalance coefficient and other mechanical parameters were compared and analyzed. The finite element software ABAQUS was used to conduct numerical simulation, and the simulation results were compared with the experimental phenomena. The test results indicated that the hysteretic curve of each specimen was plump. Sustaining cumulative strains of each specimen was greater than the minimum value of 200 required by the code, which indicated the ductility of BRB was relatively good. The energy dissipation coefficient of the specimen with silica gel as unbonded material was about 13% higher than that with kraft paper. The experimental results were in good agreement with the simulation results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.89 no.3
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• pp.239-252
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• 2024

Steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) are classified as lateral load-resisting systems. The feasibility of openings in the steel plate is a characteristic of SPSWs. The use of openings in SPSWs can lower the load capacity, stiffness, and energy dissipation. This study proposes a novel form of SPSWs that provides convenient access through openings by combining steel plates and eccentrically braced frames (EBFs). The proposed system also avoids a substantial reduction in the strength and stiffness. Hence, various geometric forms were analyzed through two different structural approaches. Groups 1, 2, and 3 included a steel EBF with a steel plate between the column and EBF in order to improve system performance. In Group 4, the proposed system was evaluated within an SPSW with openings and an EBF on the opening edge. To evaluate the performance of the proposed systems, the nonlinear finite element method (NL-FEM) was employed under cyclic loading. The hysteresis (load-drift) curve, stress contour, stiffness, and damping were evaluated as the structural outputs. The numerical models indicated that local buckling within the middle plate-EBF connection prevented a diagonal tension field. Moreover, in group 4, the EBF and stiffeners on the opening edge enhanced the structural response by approximately 7.5% in comparison with the base SPSW system.