• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.115-127
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• 2024

Biopolymer treatment of geomaterials is a promising technology with green technology potential that can help reduce global warming. It offers a positive environmental impact and a wide range of applications. This paper reports the results of a study of the mechanical performance of biopolymer-treated dune-sand from the Algeria desert. The sand was mixed with varying amounts of xanthan gum biopolymer and reinforced with polypropylene fibre. The study demonstrated that xanthan gum treatment improved the Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) of unreinforced sand and fibre-reinforced sand. Nonetheless, the test results revealed that biopolymer-treated sand manifested higher resistance after drying. Based on the findings, the optimal quantity of xanthan gum for treating sand is 2%. The incorporation of fibre in the matrix increases the strength and failure strain. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis further substantiated that the biopolymer bonds the sand particles together and the distribution of PP fibre in the mixture, thereby enhancing compressive strength and durability. The results indicate that using xanthan gum biopolymer treatment offers an environmentally friendly approach to enhancing the mechanical properties of desert sand.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.49-53
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• 2013

This paper describes the assessment of seismic performance of the concrete gravity dam seismically reinforced by post-tensioned anchors. In order to evaluate the seismic performance, the response spectrum analyses have been carried out for 7 different configurations of the post-tensioned anchors, and then their performance improvement in the maximum tensile and compressive stresses is compared to each other. The comparative results demonstrate that the layout of the post-tensioned anchors strongly influences the seismic performance of the concrete gravity dam. In this study, the slightly-inclined vertical anchorage system shows the largest improvement on the overall performance of the seismically-excited concrete gravity dam.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.1821-1828
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• 2010

Laser shock peening(LSP) is an innovative surface treatment technique, and it has been successfully used to improve the fatigue performance of metallic components. It is widely known, that cracks caused by metal fatigue occur only at the location where the metal is subject to tension, and not at the location where the metal is subjected to compression. Therefore, LSP can be employed to improve fatigue life because it generates a high-magnitude compressive residual stress on the surface and interior of metallic components. In this study, we analyzed the applicability of the LSP method in improving fatigue performance and evaluated the various parameters that influence the compressive residual stress. Further, we analyzed the change in the mechanical properties such as surface dynamic stress and the compressive residual stress on the surface and interior of metallic components.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.441-464
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• 2017

The determination of the mixture parameters of stabilization has become a great concern in geotechnical applications. This paper presents an effort about the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques including radial basis neural network (RBNN), multi-layer perceptrons (MLP), generalized regression neural network (GRNN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in order to predict the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of silty soil stabilized with bottom ash (BA), jute fiber (JF) and steel fiber (SF) under different freeze-thaw cycles (FTC). The dosages of the stabilizers and number of freeze-thaw cycles were employed as input (predictor) variables and the UCS values as output variable. For understanding the dominant parameter of the predictor variables on the UCS of stabilized soil, a sensitivity analysis has also been performed. The performance measures of root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and determination coefficient ($R^2$) were used for the evaluations of the prediction accuracy and applicability of the employed models. The results indicate that the predictions due to all AI techniques employed are significantly correlated with the measured UCS ($p{\leq}0.05$). They also perform better predictions than nonlinear regression (NLR) in terms of the performance measures. It is found from the model performances that RBNN approach within AI techniques yields the highest satisfactory results (RMSE = 55.4 kPa, MAE = 45.1 kPa, and $R^2=0.988$). The sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the JF inclusion within the input predictors is the most effective parameter on the UCS responses, followed by FTC.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.449-457
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• 2020

The influence of subsequent curing on the performance of fly ash contained mortar under steam curing was studied. Mortar samples incorporated with different content (0%, 20%, 50% and 70%) of Class F fly ash under five typical subsequent curing conditions, including standard curing (ZS), water curing(ZW) under 25℃, oven-dry curing (ZD) under 60℃, frozen curing (ZF) under -10℃, and nature curing (ZN) exposed to outdoor environment were implemented. The unsteady chloride diffusion coefficient was measured by rapid chloride migration test (RCM) to analyze the influence of subsequent curing condition on the resistance to chloride penetration of fly ash contained mortar under steam curing. The compressive strength was measured to analyze the mechanical properties. Furthermore, the open porosity, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were examined to investigate the pore characteristics and phase composition of mortar. The results indicate that the resistance to chloride ingress and compressive strength of steam-cured mortar decline with the increase of fly ash incorporated, regardless of the subsequent curing condition. Compared to ZS, ZD and ZF lead to poor resistance to chloride penetration, while ZW and ZN show better performance. Interestingly, under different fly ash contents, the declining order of compressive strength remains ZS>ZW>ZN>ZD>ZF. When the fly ash content is blow 50%, the open porosity grows with increase of fly ash, regardless of the curing conditions are diverse. However, if the replacement amount of fly ash exceeds a certain high proportion (70%), the value of open porosity tends to decrease. Moreover, the main phase composition of the mortar hydration products is similar under different curing conditions, but the declining order of the C-S-H gels and ettringite content is ZS>ZD>ZF. The addition of fly ash could increase the amount of harmless pores at early age.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the possibility of using basalt powder sludge instead of sand in a normal cement dry mortar as a way to recycle basalt powder sludge, which is a waste product from the manufacturing a process of basalt in Jeju. Basic performance evaluations of the dry mortar material included a compressive strength test, a flexural strength test, and SEM to observe the micro structure. The compressive and flexural strengths were increased to a replacement ratio of 21% of basalt powder sludge, whereby a strength enhancement of about 40% greater than that of normal dry mortar was shown. However, the creation of hydration products affected the replacement ratio of the basalt powder sludge. The possibility of using basalt powder sludge waste was identified in this study, and results showed that the basalt powder sludge waste could be used as a material for a secondary product of concrete.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.409-412
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• 2004

Over last decade extensive researches have been undertaken on the strength behaviour of Fiber Reinforced Concrete(FRC) structures. But the use of Ultra-High Strength Steel Fiber Cementitious Concrete Composites is in its infancy and there is a few experiments, analysis method and design criteria on the structural elements constructed with this new generation material which compressive strength is over 150 MPa and characteristic behaviour on the failure status is ductile. The objective of this paper is to investigate and analyze the behaviour of reinforced rectangular structural members constructed with ultra high performance cementitious composites (UHPCC). This material is known as reactive powder concrete (RPC) mixed with domestic materials and its compressive strength is over 150MP. The variables of test specimens were shear span ratio, reinforcement ratio and fiber quantity. Even if there were no shear stirrups in test specimens, most influential variable to determine the failure mode between shear and flexural action was proved to be shear span ratio. The characteristics of ultra high-strength concrete is basically brittle, but due to the steel fiber reinforcement behaviour of this structure member became ductile after the peak load. As a result of the test, the stress block of compressive zone could be defined. The proposed analytical calculation of internal force capacity based by plastic analysis gave a good prediction for the shear and flexural strength of specimens. The numerical verification of the finite element model which constitutive law developed for Mode I fracture of fiber reinforced concrete correctly captured the overall behaviour of the specimens tested.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.316-322
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• 2019

A probabilistic approach considering uncertainties was employed to investigate the effects on the material characteristics and strength of nuclear bio-logical shield concrete walls, when exposed to long-term radiation during the entire service life. Time-dependent compressive and tensile strengths were estimated by conducting the neutron fluence analysis. For the contaminated concrete, individual compressive and tensile failure probabilities can be possibly evaluated by not only establishing limit-state function withthe predefined critical values but also performing Monte Carlo Simulation. Nuclear power plant types similar to the Kori Unit 1, which was shut off permanently in 2017 after the 40-year operation, were herein selected for an illustrative purpose. Consequently, the probability-based performance assessment and prediction of contaminated concrete walls were well demonstrated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.9-15
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• 2011

The flexural behavior of the UHPFRC rectangular beam which has 100 MPa, 140 MPa compressive strength were compared with that of the typical RPC rectangular beam which has same geometrical shape, prestressd force and 160 MPa compressive strength. UHPFRC beam was not reinforced at all and the variable of test is fraction of steel fiber, compressive strength of concrete, method of prestressing and ratio of prestressing bar. The behavior of UHPFRC beam was analysed by relationship of moment - curvature and load - deflection. Simple modeling of stress-strain of UHPFRC was proposed. Based on the proposed constituted, the flexural moment-curvature relationship was calculated and compared with experimental data on prestressed UHPFRC beams. Good agreement between calculated strengths and experimental data is obtained.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.3
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• pp.339-354
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• 2019

Reusing building materials and concrete of old buildings can be a promising strategy for sustained development. In buildings, the performance of materials under elevated temperatures is of particular interest for determining fire resistance. In this study, the effect of pozzolan and aggregate type on properties of concrete exposed to fire was investigated. In doing so, nanosilica with cement-replacement levels of 0, 2, and 4% as well as silica fume and ultrafine fly ash with cement-replacement levels of 0, 7.5, and 15% were used to study effect of pozzolan type, and recycled refractory brick (RRB) fine aggregate replacing natural fine aggregate by 0 and 100% was utilized to explore effect of aggregate type. A total of 126 cubic concrete specimens were manufactured and then investigated in terms of compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, and weight loss at $23^{\circ}C$ and immediately after exposure to 400 and $800^{\circ}C$. Results show that replacing 100% of natural fine aggregate with recycled refectory brick fine aggregate in the concretes exposed to heat was desirable, in that it led to a mean compressive strength increase of above 25% at $800^{\circ}C$. In general, among the pozzolans used here, silica fume demonstrated the best performance in terms of retaining the compressive strength of heated concretes. The higher replacement level of silica fume and ultrafine fly ash pozzolans in the mixes containing RRB fine aggregate led to a greater weight loss rate, while the higher replacement level of nanosilica reduced the weight loss rate.