• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2023

Any pre-existed delamination defect present during manufacturing or induce during service loading conditions in the wingskin adherend invariably shows a greater loss of structural integrity of the spar wingskin joint (SWJ). In the present study, inter-laminar delamination propagation at the critical location of the SWJ has been carried out using contact and multi-point constraint finite elements available with commercial FE software (ANSYS APDL). Strain energy release rates (SERR) based on virtual crack closure technique have been computed for evaluation of the opening (Mode-I), sliding (Mode-II) and cross sliding (Mode-III) modes of delamination by sequential release of multi point constraint elements. The variations of different modes of SERR are observed to be significant by considering varied delamination lengths, material properties of adherends and radius of curvature of the SWJ panel. The SERR rates are seen to be much different at the two pre-embedded delamination ends. This shows dissimilar delamination propagation rates. The maximum is seen to occur in the delamination front in the unstiffened region of the wingskin. The curvature geometry and material anisotropy of SWJ adherends significantly influences the SERR values. Increase in the SERR values are observed with decrease in the radius of curvature of wingskin panel, keeping its width unchanged. SWJs made with flat FRP composite adherends have superior resistance to delamination damage propagation than curved composite laminated SWJ panels. SWJ made with Boron/Epoxy (B/E) material shows greater resistance to the delamination propagation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.4
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• pp.371-390
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• 2024

Investigating the impact of openings on the structural behavior of ferrocement I-beams with two distinct types of reinforcing metallic and non-metallic meshes is the primary goal of the current study. Up until failure, eight 250x200x2200 mm reinforced concrete I-beams were tested under flexural loadings. Depending on the kind of meshes used for reinforcement, the beams are split into two series. A control I-beam with no openings and three beams with one, two, and three openings, respectively, are found in each series. The two series are reinforced with three layers of welded steel meshes and two layers of tensar meshes, respectively, in order to maintain a constant reinforcement ratio. Structural parameters of investigated beams, including first crack, ultimate load, deflection, ductility index, energy absorption, strain characteristics, crack pattern, and failure mode were reported. The number of mesh layers, the volume fraction of reinforcement, and the kind of reinforcing materials are the primary factors that vary. This article presents the outcomes of a study that examined the experimental and numerical performance of ferrocement reinforced concrete I-beams with and without openings reinforced with welded steel mesh and tensar mesh separately. Utilizing ANSYS-16.0 software, nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) was applied to illustrate how composite RC I-beams with openings behaved. In addition, a parametric study is conducted to explore the variables that can most significantly impact the mechanical behavior of the proposed model, such as the number of openings. The FE simulations produced an acceptable degree of experimental value estimation, as demonstrated by the obtained experimental and numerical results. It is also noteworthy to demonstrate that the strength gained by specimens without openings reinforced with tensar meshes was, on average, 22% less than that of specimens reinforced with welded steel meshes. For specimens with openings, this value is become on average 10%.

• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2024

The bipolar plate is a crucial element of the vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) as it serves as both the electrical conduit and the structural support for the cell within the VRFB stack. Although, the graphite material is primarily used for the bipolar plate due to its excellent electrical conductivity, a significant limitation of performance of the VRFB is present due to high interfacial contact resistance (ICR) arises between the electrode and bipolar plate in the cell stack. This study aims to develop an integrated electrode-bipolar plate assembly that will address the limitations of the ICR. The integrated assembly was constructed using a single carbon felt with thermoplastic and thermoset polymers utilizing hot press method. Experimental results verify that the bipolar plate assembly exhibits reduced area specific resistance (ASR) due to the continuous electrical path. Additionally, from the charge/discharge cell test results, the integrated assembly shows improved cell performance. Therefore, the developed integrated electrode-bipolar plate assembly can serve as a substitute for the conventional bipolar plate and electrode assembly.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.73-80
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• 2024

A deep neural network (DNN) was employed to predict the spring-back of a CFRP composite spar induced by the curing process. A total of 816 spring-back data points, derived from varying stacking angles, layer counts, and flange radii, were generated through finite element method (FEM)-based curing analysis to train the DNN model. The trained model demonstrated an R-squared value of 0.99 and a mean squared error of 0.00093, indicating excellent performance. For untrained flange radii, the spring-back predicted by the DNN exhibited a mean relative error of 2.18% when compared to FEM results. Additionally, while FEM analysis required approximately 20 minutes, the DNN-based prediction required only about 14 milliseconds. These results highlight the potential of using DNNs for the rapid prediction of process-induced deformation in CFRP composites.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.663-670
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• 2020

A study on mechanical property characterization and modeling technique was carried out to approximate the behaviour of structures with 2.5D C/SiC material. Several tensile tests were performed to analyze the behaviour characteristics of the 2.5D C/SiC material and elastic property was characterized by applying a mathematical homogenization and a modified rule of mixture. SiC matrix representing the elasto-plastic behavior approximates as a bilinear function. Then the equivalent yield strength and equivalent plastic stiffness were calculated by minimizing errors in experiment and approximation. RVE(Representative Volume Element)was defined from the fiber and matrix configuration of 2.5D C/SiC and a process of calculating the effective stiffness matrix by applying the modified rule of mixture to RVE was implemented in the ABAQUS User-defined subroutine. Finite element analysis was performed by applying the mechanical properties of fiber and matrix calculated based on the proposed process, and the results were in good agreement with the experimental results.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.543-556
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• 2016

In this work, an insulated coupling test machine for a 5-MW-class wind turbine was designed and developed, along with the public performance testing of a 3-MW-class wind turbine. The results of the device design, development requirements, functional considerations, structural vibration analysis, and the evaluation of the insulated coupling test machine are presented in this study. For the coupling models, thick fiberglass composite pipe insulation, fabricated by filament winding, was considered. Results of three-dimensional finite element analysis conducted using both solid element and shell element modeling were analyzed and compared, considering the effect of thickness. In addition, results from the nonlinear finite element analysis of multiple leaf springs of the laminated disk pack structure were verified and compared with experimental data.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.631-639
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• 2013

Non-linear finite element analysis for newly developed precast concrete details for beam-to-column connection which can be used in moderate seismic region was carried out in this study. Developed precast system is based on composite structure and which have steel tube in column and steel plate in beam. Improving cracking strength of joint under reversed cyclic loading, joint area was casted with ECC (Engineering Cementitious Composites). Since this newly developed precast system have complex sectional properties and newly developed material, new analysis method should be developed. Using embedded elements and models of non-linear finite element analysis program ABAQUS previously tested specimens were successfully analyzed. Analysis results show comparatively accurate and conservative prediction. Using finite element model, effect of axial load magnitude and flexural strength ratio were investigated. Developed connection have optimized performance under axial load of 10~20% of compressive strength of column. Plastic hinge was successfully developed with flexural strength ratio greater than 1.2.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.233-245
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• 2007

Previous finite element studies have shown that AASHTO Standard load distribution factor (LDF) equations appear to be conservative for longer spans and larger girder spacing, but too permissible for short spans and girder spacing. AASHTO LRFD specification defines the distribution factor equation for girder spacing, span length, slab thickness, and longitudinal stiffness. However, this equation requires an iterative procedure to correctly determine the LDF value due to an initially unknown longitudinal stiffness parameter. This study presents a simplified LDF equation for interior and exterior girders of two-span continuous I-girder bridges that does not require an iterative design procedure. The finite element method was used to investigate the effect of girder spacing, span length, slab thickness, slab width, and spacing and size of bracing. The computer program, GTSTRUDL, was used to idealize the bridge superstructures as the eccentric beam model, the concrete slab by quadrilateral shell elements, steel girders by space frame members, and the composite action between these elements by rigid links. The distribution factors obtained from these analyses were compared with those from the AASHTO Standard and LRFD methods. It was observed through the parametric studies that girder spacing, span length, and slab thickness were the dominant parameters compared with others. The LRFD distribution factor for the interior girder was found to be conservative in most cases, whereas the factor for the exterior girder to be unconservative in longer spans. Furthermore, a regression analysis was performed to develop simplified LDF formulas. The formulas developed in this study produced LDF values that are always conservative to those from the finite element method and are generally smaller than the LDF values obtained from the AASHTO LRFD specification. The proposed simplified equation will assist bridge engineers in predicting the actual LDF in two-span continuous I-girder bridges.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.583-588
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• 2010

The nonlinearity and high deformability of rubber make accurate analysis of the behavior of cord-rubber composites a challenging task. Some researchers have adopted the third phase between cord and rubber and have carried out three-phase modeling. However, it is difficult to determine the thickness and properties of the interface in cord-rubber composites. In this study, a two-dimensional finite-element method (2D FEM) is used to investigate the effective and normalized moduli of cord-rubber composites having interfaces of various thicknesses; this model takes into account the 2D generalized plane strain and a plane strain element. The neo-Hookean model is used for the properties of rubber, several interface properties are assumed and three loading directions are selected. It is found that the properties and thickness of the interface can affect the nonlinearity and the effective modulus of cord-rubber composites.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.323-339
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• 2020

In steel framed-tube structures (SFTSs), the plastic hinges at beam-ends cannot be adequately improved because of the large cross sections of spandrel beams, which results in the lower ductility and energy dissipation capacities of traditional SFTSs. To address this drawback, high-strength steel fabricated SFTSs with bolted web-connected replaceable shear links (HSFTS-SLs) have been proposed. In this system, shear links use conventional steel and are placed in the middle of the deep spandrel beams to act as energy dissipative components. In this study, 2/3-scaled HSFTS-SL specimens were fabricated, and cyclic loading tests were carried out to study the seismic performance of both specimens. The finite element models (FEMs) of the two specimens were established and the numerical results were compared with the test results. The results showed that the specimens had good ductility and energy dissipation capacities due to the reliable deformation capacities. The specimens presented the expected failure modes. Using a shorter shear link can provide a higher load-carrying capacity and initial elastic lateral stiffness but induces lower ductility and energy dissipation capacity in HSFTS-SLs. The performance of the specimens was comparable to that of the original sub-structure specimens after replacing shear links. Additionally, the expected post-earthquake recoverability and resilience of the structures could be achieved by replacing shear links. The acceptable residual interstory drift that allows for easy replacement of the bolted web-connected shear link was 0.23%. The bolted web-connected shear links had reliable hysteretic responses and deformation capacities. The connection rotation had a notable contribution to total link rotation. The results of the numerical analysis run for the proposed FEMs were consistent with the test results. It showed that the proposed FEMs could be used to investigate the seismic performance of the HSFTS-SL.