• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.475-488
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• 2020

The recent increase in the use of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) geofoam in construction and geotechnical projects has driven researchers to investigate its behavior, more deeply. In this paper, a series of experimental tests to investigate the stress-strain behavior and the mechanical properties of EPS blocks, under monotonic axial loading are presented. Four different densities of cylindrically shaped EPS with different dimensions are used to investigate the effects of loading rate, height and diameter, as well as the influence of the density of EPS on the stress-strain response. The results show that increasing the height of the EPS samples leads to instability of the sample and consequent lower resistance to the applied pressure. Large EPS samples show higher Young's modulus and compressive resistance due to some boundary effects. An increase in the rate of loading can increase the elastic moduli and compressive resistance of the EPS geofoam samples, which also varies depending on the density of the samples. It was also determined that the elastic modulus of EPS increases with increasing EPS density. By implementing an efficient numerical procedure, the stress-strain response of EPS geofoam samples can be reproduced with great accuracy. The numerical analysis based on the proposed method can used to evaluate the effect of different factors on the behavior of EPS geofoam.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.51-63
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• 2024

Polypropylene (PP) is a commodity plastic that is widely used owing to its cost-effectiveness, lightweight nature, easy processability, and outstanding chemical and thermomechanical characteristics. However, the imperative to address energy and environmental crises has spurred global initiatives toward a circular economy, necessitating sustainable alternatives to traditional fossil-fuel-derived plastics. In this study, we conducted a series of comparative investigations of bio-based polypropylene (bio-PP) blends with current PP of the same and different grades. An extrusion-based processing methodology was employed for the bio-PP composites. Talc was used as an active filler for the preparation of the composites. A comparative analysis with the current petroleum-based PP indicated that the thermal properties and tensile characteristics of the bio-PP blends and composites remained largely unaltered, signifying the feasibility of bio-PP as a potential substitute for the current PP. To achieve a higher Young's modulus, elongation at break (EAB), and melt flow index (MFI), we prepared different composites of PP of different grades and bio-PP with varying talc contents. Interestingly, at higher biomass contents, the composites exhibited higher MFI and EAB values with comparable Young's moduli. Notably, the impact strengths of the composites with various biomass and talc contents remained unaltered. In-depth investigations through surface analysis confirmed the uniform dispersion of talc within the composite matrix. Furthermore, the moldability of the bio-PP composites was substantiated by comprehensive rheological property assessments encompassing shear rate and shear viscosity. Thus, from these outcomes, the fabricated bio-PP-based composites could be an alternative to petroleum-based PP composites for sustainable automobile applications.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2010

In this study, the equivalent elastic modulus of flexible textile composites was predicted by nonlinear finite element analysis. The analysis was carried out considering the material nonlinearity of fiber tows and the geometrical nonlinearity during large deformation using commercial analysis software, ABAQUS. To account for the geometrical nonlinearity due to the large shear deformation of fiber tows, a user defined material algorithm was developed and inserted in ABAQUS. In results, nonlinear stress-strain curve for the flexible textile composites under uni-axial tension was predicted from which effective elastic modulus was obtained and compared to the test result. The effective elastic moduli were calculated for the various finite element models with different waviness ratio of fiber tow.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2010

A commercially available soft PZT wafer that is poled in thickness direction is subjected to longitudinal tensile stress loading in both short and open-circuit conditions. Variations of electric displacement in thickness direction and in-plane strains are measured over time during the loading. Different material responses in the two electrical boundary conditions are explained by the effects of piezoelectrically produced internal electric field on linear material moduli and domain switching mechanisms. Finally, a free energy model of normal distribution is introduced to explain the observed creep behavior, and its predictions are compared with experimental observations.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.496-499
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• 2007

Dynamic rheological properties of hot pepper-soybean paste (HPSP) samples mixed with guar gum and xanthan gum were evaluated at different storage temperatures (5, 15, and $25^{\circ}C$) by using a dynamic rheometer. Magnitudes of storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G"), and complex viscosity (${\eta}^*$) in the HPSP-gum mixtures increased with an increase in storage temperature from 5 to $25^{\circ}C$. After 3-month storage at 5 and $15^{\circ}C$ there were no significant changes in dynamic rheological properties. The increase in dynamic moduli (G', G", and ${\eta}^*$) with storage temperature is less pronounced at HPSP-xanthan gum mixtures in comparison to HPSP-guar gum mixtures. The slopes of G' (0.16-0.18) of HPSP-guar gum mixtures at 3-month storage were much higher than that (0.10) at 0-month storage, indicating that the elastic properties of the HPSP-guar gum mixtures can be decreased after 3-month storage. However, there were not much differences between the slopes of G' in HPSP-xathan gum mixtures. Xanthan gum was observed to be better structure stabilizer for HPSP during storage.

• Journal of KSNVE
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1093-1102
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• 1998

The success of controllability of smart structures depends on the quality of the bonding along the interface between the main structure and the attached sensing and acuating elements. Generally, the analysis procedures neglect the effect of the interfacial bond layer or assume that this bond layer behaves like viscoelastic material. Three different bond layers. two modified epoxy adhesives, and one isocyanate adhesive were prepared for their toughness and moduli. Bond layer of the chosen adhesive provides an almost perfect bonding condition between the composite structure and the PZT while bended significantly like arrow-shape. The perfect bonding condition is tested by considering various material properties of the bond layers. and based on this perfect bonding condition, the effects of the interfacial bond layer on the dynamic behavior and controllability of the test structure is experimentally studied. Once the perfect bonding condition is achieved. dynamic effects of the bond layer itself on the dynamic characteristics of the main structure is negligible. but the contribution of the attached PZT elements on the stiffness of the multi-layered structure becomes significant when the thickness of the bond layer increased.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2011

Five all-lightweight alkali-activated (AA) slag concrete mixes were tested according to the variation of water content to examine the significance and limitation on the development of cementless structural concrete using lightweight aggregates. The compressive strength development rate and shrinkage strain measured from the concrete specimens were compared with empirical models proposed by ACI 209 and EC 2 for portland cement normal weight concrete. Splitting tensile strength, and moduli of elasticity and rupture were recorded and compared with design equations specified in ACI 318-08 or EC 2, and a database compiled from the present study for ordinary portland cement (OPC) lightweight concrete, wherever possible. Test results showed that the slump loss of lightweight AA slag concrete decreased with the increase of water content. In addition, the compressive strength development and different mechanical properties of lightweight AA slag concrete were comparable with those of OPC lightweight concrete and conservative comparing with predictions obtained from code provisions. Therefore, it can be proposed that the lightweight AA slag concrete is practically applicable as an environmental-friendly structural concrete.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.817-821
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• 2007

The effect of acetylated rice (AR) starch at different concentrations (0, 4, 6, and 8%) on rheological properties of surimi sols and gels was studied. Dynamic frequency sweeps of surimi-AR starch sols at $10^{\circ}C$ showed that the magnitudes of storage moduli (G') decreased with an increase in starch concentration while those of tan ${\delta}$ increased, indicating that the effect of AR starch on the viscoelastic properties of surimi sols depended on starch concentration. In general, the G' thermograms of surimi sols showed the similar sol-gel transition pattern and they were also influenced by the addition of AR starch. The presence of AR starch in the surimi gel system reduced the gel strength and expressible moisture content (EMC). Surimi-AR starch gels showed better freeze-thaw stability compared to the control (0% starch concentration). The effect of AR starch on the rheological properties of surimi sols and gels appeared to be related to the swelling ability of starch granules in the presence of limited water available for starch.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.261-271
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• 2000

Physical properties of NR vulcanizates cured by both sulfur and resole were studied. Cure characteristics of the compounds were also investigated. Two types of resoles with different molecular weight distributions were employed. The scorch time of the NR compound containing the resole with a low molecular weight distribution was shorter than that of the compound containing the resole with a high one. Crosslink densities of the NR vulcanizates with a high resole content after the thermal aging at $95^{\circ}C$ decreased, while that of the vulcanizate without resole after the thermal aging at $95^{\circ}C$ increased. Though crosslink densities of the NR vulcanizates with a high resole content decreased with increasing the aging time, the moduli increased while the tensile strength and tear strength decreased.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2000

A dual-modulus prescaler divides the input signal by one of the moduli according to the control signal. In this paper, a new fast dual-modulus prescaler is proposed. The proposed prescaler has a ratioed-NOR structure different from a conventional ratioed-NAND structure. The proposed one can operate at a higher speed by using parallely connected NMOSs instead of using series-connected ones. HSPICE simulation results using HYUNDAI 0.65(m 2-poly 2-metal CMOS process parameters show that the maximum operating frequency of the proposed dual-modulus prescaler is 2.8㎓ with power consumption of 40.7㎽ at 5V supply voltage at $25^{\circ}C$. The proposed dual-modulus prescaler can be utilized for the frequency-synthesis in cellular radio front-ends.