• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.109-118
• /
• 2018

Two-row overlap pile wall, currently under development for use in deep excavations, is a novel retaining structure designed to perform itself as a cutoff wall as well as a high-stiffness wall by constructing four overlapping piles arranged in zigzag manner at a time using a tetra-axis auger. This wall has a relatively complex cross-section, compared with other types of pile wall, which would make it difficult to determine design parameters related to cross-section. In this study, a flexural rigidity equation has been derived by analyzing both theoretically and statistically various wall cross-sections with different pile diameters and overlap lengths. The flexural rigidity equation was found to show the maximum error rate of 3%.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.687-701
• /
• 2022

Inevitable response loss under complex operational conditions significantly affects the integrity and quality of measured data, leading the structural health monitoring (SHM) ineffective. To remedy the impact of data loss, a common way is to transfer the recorded response of available measure point to where the data loss occurred by establishing the response mapping from measured data. However, the current research has yet addressed the structural condition changes afterward and response mapping learning from a small sample. So, this paper proposes a novel data driven structural response reconstruction method based on a sophisticated designed generating adversarial network (UAGAN). Advanced deep learning techniques including U-shaped dense blocks, self-attention and a customized loss function are specialized and embedded in UAGAN to improve the universal and representative features extraction and generalized responses mapping establishment. In numerical validation, UAGAN efficiently and accurately captures the distinguished features of structural response from only 40 training samples of the intact structure. Besides, the established response mapping is universal, which effectively reconstructs responses of the structure suffered up to 10% random stiffness reduction or structural damage. In the experimental validation, UAGAN is trained with ambient response and applied to reconstruct response measured under earthquake. The reconstruction losses of response in the time and frequency domains reached 16% and 17%, that is better than the previous research, demonstrating the leading performance of the sophisticated designed network. In addition, the identified modal parameters from reconstructed and the corresponding true responses are highly consistent indicates that the proposed UAGAN is very potential to be applied to practical civil engineering.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.44-56
• /
• 2023

Additive manufacturing (AM) or three-dimensional (3D) printing of metals has been drawing significant attention due to its reliability, usefulness, and low cost with rapid prototyping. Among the various AM technologies, fused deposition modeling (FDM) or fused filament fabrication is receiving much interest because of its simple manufacturing processing, low material waste, and cost-effective equipment. FDM technology uses metal-filled polymer filaments for 3D printing, followed by debinding and sintering to fabricate complex metal parts. An efficient binder is essential for producing polymer filaments and the thermal post-processing of printed objects. This study involved an in-depth investigation of and a fabrication route for a novel multi-component binder system with steel alloy powder (45 vol.%) ranging from filament fabrication and 3D printing to debinding and sintering. The binder system consisted of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a binder and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polylactic acid (PLA) as a carrier. The PVP binder held the metal components tightly by maintaining their stoichiometry, and the TPU and PLA in the ratio of 9:1 provided flexibility, stiffness, and strength to the filament for 3D printing. The efficacy of the binder system was examined by fabricating 3D-printed cubic structures. The results revealed that the thermal debinding and sintering processes effectively removed the binder/carrier from the cubic structures, resulting in isotropic shrinkage of approximately 15.8% in all directions. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) patterns displayed the microstructure behavior, phase transition, and elemental composition of the 3D cubic structure.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.165-175
• /
• 2024

Rotating beams play a crucial role in representing complex mechanical components that are prevalent in vital sectors like energy and transportation industries. These components are susceptible to the initiation and propagation of cracks, posing a substantial risk to their structural integrity. This study presents a two-stage methodology for detecting the location and estimating the size of an open-edge transverse crack in a rotating Euler-Bernoulli beam with a uniform cross-section. Understanding the dynamic behavior of beams is vital for the effective design and evaluation of their operational performance. In this regard, modal parameters such as natural frequencies and eigenmodes are frequently employed to detect and identify damages in mechanical components. In this instance, the Frobenius method has been employed to determine the first two natural frequencies and corresponding eigenmodes associated with flapwise bending vibration. These calculations have been performed by solving the governing differential equation that describes the motion of the beam. Various parameters have been considered, such as rotational speed, beam slenderness, hub radius, and crack size and location. The effect of the crack has been replaced by a rotational spring whose stiffness represents the increase in local flexibility as a result of the damage presence. In the initial phase of the proposed methodology, a damage index utilizing the slope of the beam's eigenmode has been employed to estimate the location of the crack. After detecting the presence of damage, the size of the crack is determined using a Genetic Algorithm optimization technique. The ultimate goal of the proposed methodology is to enable the development of more suitable and reliable maintenance plans.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.515-529
• /
• 2024

Cold-formed steel (CFS) is a popular choice for construction due to its low cost, durability, sustainability, resistance to high environmental and seismic pressures, and ease of installation. The beam-column connections in residential and medium-rise structures are formed using self-drilling screws that connect two CFS channel sections and a gusset plate. In order to increase the moment capacity of these CFS screwed beam-column connections, stiffeners are often placed on the web area of each single channel. However, there is limited literature on studying the effects of stiffeners on the moment capacity of CFS screwed beam-column connections. Hence, this paper proposes a new test approach for determining the moment capacity of CFS screwed beam-column couplings. This study describes an experimental test programme consisting of eight novel experimental tests. The effect of stiffeners, beam thickness, and gusset plate thickness on the structural behaviour of CFS screwed beam-column connections is investigated. Besides, nonlinear elasto-plastic finite element (FE) models were developed and validated against experimental test data. It found that there was reasonable agreement in terms of moment capacity and failure mode prediction. From the experimental and numerical investigation, it found that the increase in gusset plate or beam thickness and the use of stiffeners have no significant effect on the structural behaviour, moment capacity, or rotational capacity of joints exhibiting the same collapse behaviour; however, the capacity or energy absorption capacities have increased in joints whose failure behaviour varies with increasing thickness or using stiffeners. Besides, the thickness change has little impact on the initial stiffness.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.95-103
• /
• 2011

Among structural systems for complex-shaped tall buildings, diagrid system is widely used because of its structural efficiency and beauty of form. Recently, mega frame is favorably employed as a suitable structural system for skyscrapers because this structural system has sufficient stiffness against the lateral forces by combination of mega members which consist of many columns and girders. Diagrid mega frame system is expected to be promising structural system for future super tall buildings. However, it takes tremendous analysis times and engineer's efforts to predict the structural behavior of tall buildings applied with diagrid mega frame system because the diagrid mega frame structure has significant numbers of elements and nodes. Therefore, efficient analytical method for all buildings applied with diagrid mega frame system has been proposed in this study to reduce the efforts and time required for the analysis and design of diagrid mega frame structure. To this end, an efficient modelling technique using the characteristics of diagrid mega frame structures and an efficient analytical model using minimal DOFs by the matrix condensation method were proposed in this study. Based on the analysis of an example structure, the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method have been verified by the comparison between the results of the proposed method and the conventional method.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 2002

Large soft tissue defects around the knee joint are known to significantly diminish joint function. Severe soft tissue defects on the anterior aspect of the knee joint especially bring on significant joint motion limitation. Although simple split skin grafts can cover the skin defect, the progressing scar contracture of the grafted skin causes joint stiffness. One of the best solutions of large soft tissue defects around the knee joint is covering the defect with a good quality skin flap. Separated flaps with one vascular pedicle are good candidates for covering anterior and posterior aspects of the joint for example. Authors performed 12 cases of combined scapular and latissimus dorsi free flaps from 1984 to 2000. Among them, we experienced 5 cases of knee joint defect covering using the double free flap for coverage of the soft tissue defect with preservation of the knee joint function and satisfactory results. The system of flaps based on the subscapular artery and vein provides a variety of composite free flaps. The possible flaps that can be harvested based on this single vascular pedicle include the scapular and parascapular skin flap, the serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscular flap, the lateral scapular bone flap, the latissimus dorsi-rib flap, and the serratus anterior-rib flap. This combined flap is available for multiple tissue defects or complex defects because it can be incorporated with skin, muscle and bone flaps. A main advantage is the independent vascular pedicles of each component, which allow freedom in orientation of each components. Consequently it can be freely applied to any form of three dimensional defects on the upper and lower extremities. The combination of scapular cutaneous flap and latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap can be resurfaced for massive cutaneous defects on the extremities. We report the use of the combined scapular and latissimus dorsi free flap in five patients to reconstruct massive defects on the extremities with resultant improved joint function. There was no flap failure and minimal complications and disadvantages. The anatomy of this flap is reviewed and the indication and advantages are discussed. All of the five flaps survived and there was no scar contracture affecting the joint motion.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.60 no.8
• /
• pp.1606-1616
• /
• 2011

The blood pressure measuring equipment, which is being supplied and used most widely by being recognized convenience and accuracy now generally, is oscillometric blood pressure monitor. However, a change in blood pressure is basically influenced by diverse elements such as each individual's physiological status and physical condition. Thus, the measurement of blood pressure, which used single element called oscillation in blood pressure of being conveyed to cuff, is not considered on physiological elements such as cardiovascular system status and blood vessel stiffness index, and on external elements, thereby being quite in error. Accordingly, this study detected diverse bio-signals and body informations in each individual as the measurement subject such as ECG, PPG, and Korotkoff Sound in order to enhance convenience and accuracy of measuring blood pressure in the complex measurement equipment, thereby having extracted regression method for compensation in error of oscillometric blood pressure measurement on the wrist, and having improved accuracy of measuring blood pressure. To verify a method of improving accuracy, the blood pressure value in each of SBP, DBP, MAP was acquired through 4-stage experimental procedure targeting totally 51 subjects. Prior to experiment, the subjects were divided into two groups such as the experimental group for extracting regression method and the control group for verifying regression method. Its error was analyzed by comparing the reference blood pressure value, which was obtained through the auscultatory method, and the oscillometric blood pressure value on the wrist. To reduce the detected error, the blood pressure compensation regression method was calculated through multiple linear regression analysis on elements of blood pressure, individual body information, PTT, HR, K-Sound PSD change. Verification was carried out on improving significance and accuracy by applying the regression method to the data of control group. In the experimental results, as a result of confirming error on the reference blood pressure value in SBP, DBP, and MAP, which were acquired through applying regression method, the results of $-0.47{\pm}7.45$ mmHg, $-0.23{\pm}7.13$ mmHg, $0.06{\pm}6.39$ mmHg could be obtained. This is not only the numerical value of satisfying the sphygmomanometer reference of AAMI, but also shows the lower result than the numerical value in SBP : $-2.5{\pm}12.2$ mmHg, DBP : $-7.5{\pm}8.4$ mmHg, which is the mean error in the experimental results of Brram's research for verifying accuracy of Omron RX-M, which shows relatively high accuracy among wrist sphygmomanometers. Thus, the blood pressure compensation could be confirmed to be made within significant level.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.160-168
• /
• 2003

Background: Confirm the stability of intervertebral disc sustaining each fused lumbar spine cases, comparing vertical compression, A-P shear force and rotational moment on intervertebral disc of instrumented lumbar spine with simple vertical compression load and follower load using finite element analysis. Materials and Methods: We analyze the stability of intervertebral disc L4-5 supporting fused lumbar spine segments. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column and L1-L4 each fusion level pedicle screw system for fused lumbar spine fine element model. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. Performing geometrical non-linear analysis. Results: The differences of intervertebral disc L4-5 behavior under the follower compression load in comparision with vertical compression load are as follows. Conclusion: As a result of finite element interpretation of instrumented lumbar spine, the stability of L4-5 sustaining fused lumbar segment, the long level fused lumbar spine observed hing stability under follower load. This research method can be the basis tool of effects prediction for instrumentation, a invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.345-352
• /
• 2014

In this paper, the CAD data for the optimal shape design obtained by isogeometric shape optimization is directly used to fabricate the specimen by using 3D printer for the experimental validation. In a conventional finite element method, the geometric approximation inherent in the mesh leads to the accuracy issue in response analysis and design sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, in the finite element based shape optimization, subsequent communication with CAD description is required in the design optimization process, which results in the loss of optimal design information during the communication. Isogeometric analysis method employs the same NURBS basis functions and control points used in CAD systems, which enables to use exact geometrical properties like normal vector and curvature information in the response analysis and design sensitivity analysis procedure. Also, it vastly simplify the design modification of complex geometries without communicating with the CAD description of geometry during design optimization process. Therefore, the information of optimal design and material volume is exactly reflected to fabricate the specimen for experimental validation. Through the design optimization examples of elasticity problem, it is experimentally shown that the optimal design has higher stiffness than the initial design. Also, the experimental results match very well with the numerical results. Using a non-contact optical 3D deformation measuring system for strain distribution, it is shown that the stress concentration is significantly alleviated in the optimal design compared with the initial design.