• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.101-126
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• 2024

To avoid irregularities in buildings, design codes worldwide have introduced detailed guidelines for their check and rectification. However, the criteria used to define and identify each of the plan and vertical irregularities are specific and may vary between codes of different countries, thus making their implementation difficult. This short communication paper proposes a novel approach for quantifying different types of structural irregularities using a common parameter named as unified identification factor, which is exclusively defined for the columns based on their axial loads and tributary areas. The calculation of the identification factor is demonstrated through the analysis of rectangular and circular reinforced concrete models using ETABS v18.0.2, which are further modified to generate plan irregular (torsional irregularity, cut-out in floor slab and non-parallel lateral force system) and vertical irregular (mass irregularity, vertical geometric irregularity and floating columns) models. The identification factor is calculated for all the columns of a building and the range within which the value lies is identified. The results indicate that the range will be very wide for an irregular building when compared to that with a regular configuration, thus implying a strong correlation of the identification factor with the structural irregularity. Further, the identification factor is compared for different columns within a floor and between floors for each building model. The findings suggest that the value will be abnormally high or low for a column in the vicinity of an irregularity. The proposed factor could thus be used in the preliminary structural design phase, so as to eliminate the complications that might arise due to the geometry of the structure when subjected to lateral loads. The unified approach could also be incorporated in future revisions of codes, as a replacement for the numerous criteria currently used for classifying different types of irregularities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.09a
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• pp.133-144
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• 2009

Incheon Bridge, 18.4 km long sea-crossing bridge, will be opened to the traffic in October 2009 and this will be the new landmark of the gearing up north-east Asia as well as the largest & longest bridge of Korea. Incheon Bridge is the integrated set of several special featured bridges including a magnificent cable-stayed girder bridge which has a main span of 800 m width to cross the navigation channel in and out of the Port of Incheon. Incheon Bridge is making an epoch of long-span bridge designs thanks to the fully application of the AASHTO LRFD (load & resistance factor design) to both the superstructures and the substructures. A state-of-the-art of the geotechnologies which were applied to the Incheon Bridge construction project is introduced. The most Large-diameter drilled shafts were penetrated into the bedrock to support the colossal superstructures. The bearing capacity and deformational characteristics of the foundations were verified through the world's largest static pile load test. 8 full-scale pilot piles were tested in both offshore site and onshore area prior to the commencement of constructions. Compressible load beyond 30,000 tonf pressed a single 3 m diameter foundation pile by means of bi-directional loading method including the Osterberg cell techniques. Detailed site investigation to characterize the subsurface properties had been carried out. Geotextile tubes, tied sheet pile walls, and trestles were utilized to overcome the very large tidal difference between ebb and flow at the foreshore site. 44 circular-cell type dolphins surround the piers near the navigation channel to protect the bridge against the collision with aberrant vessels. Each dolphin structure consists of the flat sheet piled wall and infilled aggregates to absorb the collision impact. Geo-centrifugal tests were performed to evaluate the behavior of the dolphin in the seabed and to verify the numerical model for the design. Rip-rap embankments on the seabed are expected to prevent the scouring of the foundation. Prefabricated vertical drains, sand compaction piles, deep cement mixings, horizontal natural-fiber drains, and other subsidiary methods were used to improve the soft ground for the site of abutments, toll plazas, and access roads. Light-weight backfill using EPS blocks helps to reduce the earth pressure behind the abutment on the soft ground. Some kinds of reinforced earth like as MSE using geosynthetics were utilized for the ring wall of the abutment. Soil steel bridges made of corrugated steel plates and engineered backfills were constructed for the open-cut tunnel and the culvert. Diverse experiences of advanced designs and constructions from the Incheon Bridge project have been propagated by relevant engineers and it is strongly expected that significant achievements in geotechnical engineering through this project will contribute to the national development of the longspan bridge technologies remarkably.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.6 s.65
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• pp.506-525
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• 2006

For the design of large scale rock slope which has complex formations and geological structures, generally, insufficiency of geotechnical investigations and laboratory tests are the main factors of slope failures doling construction. In such case, remedial measures to stabilize slope should be selected and applied through reliable investigations and analysis considering the geotechnical characteristics. The rock slope of this study, one of the largest cut slopes in Korea with a length of 520.0 m and maximum height of 122.0 m consists of metasedimentary rocks. And a case study on the causes of large-scale rock slope failure was carried out by analysis of landslides history and site investigations during construction. When the slope with the original design slope of 0.7: 1.0 (H:V) was partially constructed, the slope failure was occurred due to the factors such as poor conditions of rocks (weathered zone, coaly shale and fault shear zone), various discontinuities (joints, foliations and faults), severe rain storm and so on. The types of failures were rockfall, circular failure, wedge failure and the combination of these types. So, the design of slope was changed three times to ensure long-term slope stability. This paper is intended to be a useful reference for analyzing and estimating the stability of rock slopes whose site conditions are similar to those of this study site such as geological structures and geotechnical properties.

• Solar Energy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.51-62
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• 1991

Heat transfer characteristics for heat retrieving processes in a paraffin-filled horizontal circular cylinder was studied. Theoretical and experimental analyses were carried out. In the theoretical analysis, solid and liquid phases were treated separately. Namely, convection for liquid and conduction for solid phase were investigated respectively. The retrieved heat was calculated from the experimentally determined solidified mass. Furthermore, the effects of initial temperature of the liquid and cooling temperature on the heat discharge rate were also studied. In the heat retrieving process, the governing factor for the solidifying rate is the cooling temperature, because most of the liquid sensible heat is rapidly discharged in the initial stage of solidification. Hence heat transfer mechanism during heat retrieving process can be safely considered as conduction. In the cut of frozen paraffin, there showed an empty space in the upper region. It is caused by the temperature drop in the liquid paraffin. While volume shrinkage caused by phase transition was indiscernible. Irrespective of cooling temperature and initial liquid temperature, solidified mass was well-correlated with the product of Fourier number and Stefan number in the solid phase.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.6 s.86
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• pp.831-835
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• 2007

This study was carried out to obtain information about the valuable combination and concentration to produce good plants of cut gerbera flowers of 19 domestically - bred gerbera cultivars. BA and kinetin combination is more effective than NAA and BA combination to produce good plants and mass propagation of domestically - bredgerbera cultivars. Normally almost of 19 cultivars, mass propagation was more effective on the medium containing 1.0 mg/L BA + 0.5, 1.0 mg/L kinetin. But some cultivars, 'Sunnyeo', 'Oksaem','Piny', and 'Pink Light', vitrified plants were induced on MS medium high level of BA concentration(BA 1.0 mg/L), in comparison with those on the medium with low level of BA(0.1 mg/L).Fresh and dry weight, more effective on the medium containing BA 0.5 mg/L . Kinetin 0.1, 0.5 mg/L. Anatomical investigation of vitrified leaf, stomata of vitrified leaves were circular and inflated, where-as those of normal leaves.