• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.8-17
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• 2022

This paper presents a novel geometric modeling technique to predict the mechanical properties of an aircraft wing's skin-stringer integrated panel. Due to mechanical and adhesive fastening, this panel is vulnerable to stress concentration and debonding, so we designed it to integrate the skin and stringer using three-dimensional woven composites. Geometric modeling was conducted by measuring the geometric parameters of the specimen and defining the pattern of the yarns as functions. We used a weighted average model with iso-strain and iso-stress assumptions to predict the mechanical properties of the panel parts. We then compared the results of a finite element analysis with a compression test to verify the accuracy of our model. Our proposed technique proved to be more efficient than the traditional experimental method for predicting the mechanical properties of skin-stringer integrated panels.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.703-713
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• 2021

The field of vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) has undergone significant advancement in recent decades, and VCAs are increasingly common and accepted in the clinical setting, bringing hope of functional recovery to patients with debilitating injuries. A major obstacle facing the widespread application of VCAs is the side effect profile associated with the current immunosuppressive regimen, which can cause a wide array of complications such as infection, malignancy, and even death. Significant concerns remain regarding whether the treatment outweighs the risk. The potential solution to this dilemma would be achieving VCA tolerance, which would allow recipients to receive allografts without significant immunosuppression and its sequelae. Promising tolerance protocols are being studied in kidney transplantation; four major trials have attempted to withdraw immunosuppressive treatment with various successes. The common theme in all four trials is the use of radiation treatment and donor cell transplantation. The knowledge gained from these trials can provide valuable insight into the development of a VCA tolerance protocol. Despite similarities, VCAs present additional barriers compared to kidney allografts regarding tolerance induction. VCA donors are likely to be deceased, which limits the time for significant pre-conditioning. VCA donors are also more likely to be human leukocyte antigen-mismatched, which means that tolerance must be induced across major immunological barriers. This review also explores adjunct therapies studied in large animal models that could be the missing element in establishing a safe and stable tolerance induction method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.617-631
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• 2022

In this paper the viscoelastic responses of four experimental steel-concrete composite beams subjected to highly variable environmental conditions are investigated by means of a finite element (FE) model. Concrete specimens submitted to stepped stress changes are also evaluated to validate the current formulations. Here, two well-known approaches commonly used to solve the viscoelastic constitutive relationship for concrete are employed. The first approach directly solves the integral-type form of the constitutive equation at the macroscopic level, in which aging is included by updating material properties. The second approach is postulated from a rate-type law based on an age-independent Generalized Kelvin rheological model together with Solidification Theory, using a micromechanical based approach. Thus, conceptually both approaches include concrete hardening in two different manners. The aim of this work is to compare and analyze the numerical prediction in terms of long-term deflections of the studied specimens according to both approaches. To accomplish this goal, the performance of several well-known model codes for concrete creep and shrinkage such as ACI 209, CEB-MC90, CEB-MC99, B3, GL 2000 and FIB-2010 are evaluated by means of statistical bias indicators. It is shown that both approaches with minor differences acceptably match the long-term experimental deflection and are able to capture complex oscillatory responses due to variable temperature and relative humidity. Nevertheless, the use of an age-independent scheme as proposed by Solidification Theory may be computationally more advantageous.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.477-488
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• 2022

Pile composite foundation (PCF) has been commonly applied in practice. Existing research has focused primarily on semi-infinite media having equal pile lengths with little attention given to the effects of inclined bedrock and dissimilar pile lengths. This investigation considers the effects of inclined bedrock on vertical loaded PCF with dissimilar pile lengths. The pile-soil system is decomposed into fictitious piles and extended soil. The Fredholm integral equation about the axial force along fictitious piles is then established based on the compatibility of axial strain between fictitious piles and extended soil. Then, an iterative procedure is induced to calculate the PCF characteristics with a rigid cap. The results agree well with two field load tests of a single pile and numerical simulation case. The settlement and load transfer behaviors of dissimilar 3-pile PCFs and the effects of inclined bedrock are analyzed, which shows that the embedded depth of the inclined bedrock significantly affects the pile-soil load sharing ratios, non-dimensional vertical stiffness N₀/wdE_s, and differential settlement for different length-diameter ratios of the pile l/d and pile-soil stiffness ratio k conditions. The differential settlement and pile-soil load sharing ratios are also influenced by the inclined angle of the bedrock for different k and l/d. The developed model helps better understand the PCF characteristics over inclined bedrock under vertical loading.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.6
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• pp.529-540
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• 2023

A novel laminated-hybrid-composite-beam (LHCB) of glass-epoxy infused with flyash and graphene is constructed for this study. The conventional mixture-rule and constitutive-relationship are modified to incorporate filler and lamina orientation. Eringen's non-local-theory is used to include the filler effect. Hamilton's principle based on fifth-order-layer-wise-shear-deformation-theory is applied to formulate the equation of motion. The analogous shear-spring-models for LHCB with multiple-cracks are employed in finite-element-analysis (FEA). Modal-experimentations are conducted (B&K-analyser) and the findings are compared with theoretical and FEA results. In terms of dimensionless relative-natural-frequencies (RNF), the dynamic-response in cantilevered support is investigated for various relative-crack-severities (RCSs) and relative-crack-positions (RCPs). The increase of RCS increases local-flexibility in LHCB thus reductions in RNFs are observed. RCP is found to play an important role, cracks present near the end-support cause an abrupt drop in RNFs. Further, multiple cracks are observed to enhance the nonlinearity of LHCB strength. Introduction of the first to third crack in an intact LHCB results drop of RNFs by 8%, 10%, and 11.5% correspondingly. Also, it is demonstrated that the RNF varies because of the lamina-orientation, and filler addition. For 0° lamina-orientation the RNF is maximum. Similarly, it is studied that the addition of graphene reduces weight and increases the stiffness of LHCB in contrast to the addition of flyash. Additionally, the response of LHCB to moving mass is accessed by appropriately modifying the numerical programs, and it is noted that the successive introduction of the first to ninth crack results in an approximately 40% to 120% increase in the dynamic-amplitude-ratio.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.215-230
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• 2023

Cable-girder anchorage joint is the critical part of cable-supported bridges. Tensile-plate anchorage (TPA) is one of the most commonly used types of cable-girder anchorage joints in steel girder cable-supported bridges. In recent years, it has been proposed by bridge designers to apply TPA to concrete girder cable-supported bridges to form composite cable-girder anchorage joint (CCGAJ). In this paper, the mechanical performance of CCGAJ under tensile force is studied through experimental and numerical analyses. Firstly, the effects of the external prestressing (EP) and the bearing plate (BP) on the mechanical performance of CCGAJ were investigated through three tests. Then, finite element model was established for parametrical study, and was verified by the experimental results. Then, the effects of shear connector forms, EP, BP, vertical rebar rate, and perforated rebar rate on the tensile capacity of CCGAJ were investigated through numerical analyses. The results show that the tensile capacity of CCGAJ depends on the first row of PR. The failure mode of CCGAJ using headed stud connectors is to form a shear failure surface at the end of the studs while the failure mode using PBLs is similar to the bending of a deep girder. Finally, based on the strut-and-tie model (STM), a calculation method for CCGAJ tensile capacity was proposed, which has a high accuracy and can be used to calculate the tensile capacity of CCGAJ.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.347-362
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• 2024

Controlling vibrations and noise in steel box girders is important for reducing noise pollution and avoiding discomfort to residents of dwellings along bridges. The fundamental approach to solving this problem involves first identifying the main path of transmission of the vibration energy and then cutting it off by using targeted measures. However, this requires an investigation of the characteristics of flow of vibration energy in the steel box girder, whereas most studies in the area have focused on analyzing its single-point frequency response and overall vibrations. To solve this problem, this study examines the transmission of vibrations through the segments of a steel box girder when it is subjected to harmonic loads through structural intensity analysis based on standard finite element software and a post-processing code created by the authors. We identified several frequencies that dominated the vibrations of the steel box girder as well as the factors that influenced their emergence. We also assessed the contributions of a variety of vibrational waves to power flow, and the results showed that bending waves were dominant in the top plate and in-plane waves in the vertical plate of the girder. Finally, we analyzed the effects of commonly used stiffened structures and steel-concrete composite structures on the flow of vibration energy in the girder, and verified their positive impacts on energy regionalization. In addition to providing an efficient tool for the relevant analyses, the work here informs research on optimizing steel box girders to reduce vibrations and noise in them.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.131-143
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• 2024

Shield tunneling construction commonly crosses underground pipelines in urban areas, resulting in soil loss and followed deformation of grounds and pipelines nearby, which may threaten the safe operation of shield tunneling. This paper investigated the pipeline deformation caused by double curved shield tunnels in soil-rock composite stratum in Nanjing, China. The stratum settlement equation was modified to consider the double shield tunneling. Moreover, a three dimensional finite element model was established to explore the effects of hard-layer ratio, tunnel curvature radius, pipeline buried depth and other influencing factors. The results indicate the subsequent shield tunnel would cause secondary disturbance to the soil around the preceding tunnel, resulting in increased pipeline and ground surface settlement above the preceding tunnel. The settlement and stress of the pipeline increased gradually as buried depth of the pipeline increased or the hard-layer ratio (the ratio of hard-rock layer thickness to shield tunnel diameter within the range of the tunnel face) decreased. The modified settlement calculation equation was consistent with the measured data, which can be applied to the settlement calculation of ground surface and pipeline settlement. The modified coefficients a and b ranged from 0.45 to 0.95 and 0.90 to 1.25, respectively. Moreover, the hard-layer ratio had the most significant influence on the pipeline settlement, but the tunnel curvature radius and the included angle between pipeline and tunnel axis played a dominant role in the scope of the pipeline settlement deformation.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.237-248
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• 2024

In order to make the dynamic analysis and design of improved composite beam with corrugated steel web (CBGSCC) bridge more efficient and economical, the parametric self-cyclic analysis model (SCAM) was written in Python on Anaconda platform. The SCAM can call ABAQUS finite element software to realize automatic modeling and dynamic analysis. For the CBGSCC bridge, parameters were set according to the general value range of CBGSCC bridge parameters in actual engineering, the SCAM was used to calculate the large sample model generated by parameter coupling, the optimal value range of each parameter was determined, and the sensitivity of the parameters was analyzed. The number of diaphragms effects weakly on the dynamic characteristics. The deck thickness has the greatest influence on frequency, which decreases as the deck thickness increases, and the deck thickness should be 20-25 cm. The vibration frequency increases with the increase of the bottom plate thickness, the web thickness, and the web height, the bottom plate thickness should be 17-23mm, the web thickness should be 13-17 mm, and the web height should be 1.65-1.7 5 m. Web inclination and Skew Angle should not exceed 30°, and the number of diaphragms should be 3-5 pieces. This method can be used as a new method for structural dynamic analysis, and the importance degree and optimal value range of each parameter of CBGSCC bridge can be used as a reference in the design process.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.173-184
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• 2023

Presently, the general seismic fragility evaluation method for a bridge system composed of member elements with different nonlinear behaviors against strong earthquakes has been to evaluate at the element-level. This study aims to develop a system-level seismic fragility evaluation method that represents a structural system. Because the seismic behavior of bridges is generally divided into transverse and longitudinal directions, this study evaluated the system-level seismic fragility in both directions separately. The element-level seismic fragility evaluation in the longitudinal direction was performed for piers, bridge bearings, pounding, abutments, and unseating. Because pounding, abutment, and unseating do not affect the transverse directional damages, the element-level seismic fragility evaluation was limited to piers and bridge bearings. Seismic analysis using nonlinear models of various structural members was performed using the OpenSEES program. System-level seismic fragility was evaluated assuming that damage between element-levels was serially connected. Pier damage was identified to have a dominant effect on system-level seismic fragility than other element-level damages. In other words, the most vulnerable element-level seismic fragility has the most dominant effect on the system-level seismic fragility.