• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.96-107
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• 1993

This paper deals with the analysis of rock slope stability using the distinct element method. This method consists in analysis of the interaction of discrete block assemblage delimited by elementary joints, which permits to consider the heterogeneous, anisotropic and discontinuous features of the rock mass. In particular, we were able to show that this method, and especially the BRIG3D software, is an outstanding tool which gives informations of greatest interest in order to analyze the toppling mechanisms. We have confirmed the fundamental role of the rock mass structure with different simulations. In the case of toppling phenomena, the essential parameter is the dip of major discontinuities. It has an influence on the intensity and volume of deformations. The anisotropic and heterogeneous features of the rock mass play also an important role. It is proved by insertion of thick rock bars in the structure or varying rock block sizes in the mass. These models modified considerably the stress distribution and the deformation distribution. Finally, we have analyzed the influence of mechanical parameters such as friction angle and tangential stiffness.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.413-415
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• 1999

Our previous report demonstrated that the rhp51$^＋$, a recA and RAD51 homolog of the fission yeast, encodes three transcripts of 1.9, 1.6 and 1.3 kb which have at least six polyadenylation sites. The 3'-end of the gene alone can direct the formation of multiple, discrete 3'ends of the transcripts. To identify the regulatory element required for the 3'-end formation of -rhp51$^＋$ deletion mapping analysis was performed. Northern blot analysis revealed that the 254-bp DNA fragment including 4 distinct poly (A) sites downstream from the Hindlll site, is crucial for normal 3'-end formation. Deletion of the 3'-terminal AU rich region caused appearance of read-through RNA, leading to enhancement of survival rate of the rhp51 deletion mutant in response to DNA damaging agent, methylmethane sulfonate (MMS). The results imply that the rhp51$^＋$ system may be useful for molecular analysis of the 3'-end formation of RNA in the fission yeast.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.14 no.6 s.78
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• pp.547-552
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• 2005

In general, the sheet metal and die are described by finite elements for the simulation of the metal forming processes. Because the characteristics as continuum of the sheet metal are represented with triangles and rectangles, the errors occur inevitably in finite element analysis. Many contact schemes to describe the deformation modes exactly have been introduced in order to decrease these errors. In this study, a scheme for continuous contact treatment is proposed in order to consider the realistic behavior of contact phenomena during the forming process. The discrete mesh causes stepwise propagation of contact nodes of the sheet even though the contact region of the real forming process is altered very smoothly. It gives rise to convergence problem in case that the process, for example bending process, is sensitive to the contact between the sheet and the tools. The analysis of the unconstrained cylindrical bending process without blank holder is also presented in order to investigate the effect of the proposed algorithm.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1029-1044
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• 2017

The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is one of the useful numerical methods to analyze the behavior of the ground formation by computing the motion and interaction using particles. The DEM has not been applied in civil engineering but also a wide range of industrial fields, such as chemical engineering, pharmacy, material science, food engineering, etc. In this study, to review a performance of the spoke-type earth pressure balance (EPB) shield TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), the commercial software based on the DEM technology was used. An analysis of the TBM during excavation was conducted according to two pre-defined excavation conditions with the different rotation speed of a cutterhead. During the analysis, the resistant torque at the face of the cutterhead, the compressive force at the cutterhead and shield surface, the muck discharge at the screw auger were measured and compared. Upon the two kinds of excavation conditions, the applicability of the DEM analysis was reviewed as a modelling method for the TBM.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.455-470
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• 2016

In ballasted railway tracks, ballast fouling due to finer material intrusion has been identified as a challenging issue in track maintenance works. In this research, deformation characteristics of crushed stone-sand mixtures, simulating fresh and fouled ballasts were studied from laboratory and a 3-D discrete element method (DEM) triaxial compression tests. The DEM simulation was performed using a recently developed DEM approach, named, Yet Another Dynamic Engine (YADE). First, void ratio characteristics of crushed stone-sand mixtures were studied. Then, triaxial compression tests were conducted on specimens with 80 and 50% of relative densities simulating dense and loose states respectively. Initial DEM simulations were conducted using sphere particles. As stress-strain behaviour of crushed stone-sand mixtures evaluated by sphere particles were different from laboratory specimens, in next DEM simulations, the particles were modeled by a clump particle. The clump shape was selected using shape indexes of the actual particles evaluated by an image analysis. It was observed that the packing behaviour of laboratory crushed stone-sand mixtures were matched well with the DEM simulation with clump particles. The results also showed that the strength properties of crushed stone deteriorate when they are mixed by 30% or more of sand, specially under dense state. The results also showed that clump particles give closer stress-strain behaviour to laboratory specimens than sphere particles.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.715-722
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• 2016

Most of the domestic railroad tracks are ballast track and repetitive maintenance is required in this track. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize maintenance process for maintenance cost reduction and more effective maintenance. For this, it is important to develop a reasonable settlement progressive model of ballast layer. However, the behavior of ballast is different to that of soils, since ballast is composed of large coarse gravel. Thus, in this study, we carried out numerical analysis by using the discrete element method (PFC 2D) for better understanding of ballast settlement and development of reasonable settlement progressive model. And, we evaluated the settlement of ballast according to particles shape, porosity and loading conditions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.243-257
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• 2016

The aim of this study is to investigate the seismic resistance of dry stone arches under in-plane seismic loading. For that purpose, several numerical analyses were performed using the combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM). Twelve types of arches with different ratios of a rise at the mid-span to the span, different thicknesses of stone blocks and different numbers of stone blocks in the arch were subjected to an incremental dynamic analysis based on excitation from three real horizontal and vertical ground motions. The minimum value of the failure peak ground acceleration that caused the collapse of the arch was adopted as a measure of the seismic resistance. In this study, the collapse mechanisms of each type of stone arch, as well as the influence of the geometry of stone blocks and stone arches on the seismic resistance of structures were observed. The conclusions obtained on the basis of the performed numerical analyses can be used as guidelines for the design of dry stone arches.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.379-386
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• 2018

The present study addresses the direct and indirect methods of determining the mode-I fracture toughness of concrete using experimental tests and particle flow code. The direct method used is compaction tensile test and the indirect methods are notched Brazilian disc test, semi-circular bend specimen test, and hollow center cracked disc. The experiments were carried out to determine which indirect method yields the fracture toughness closer to the one obtained by the direct method. In the numerical analysis, the PFC model was first calibrated with respect to the data obtained from the Brazilian laboratory test. The crack paths observed in the simulated tests were in reasonable accordance with experimental results. The discrete element simulations demonstrated that the macro fractures in the models are caused by microscopic tensile breakages on large numbers of bonded particles. The mode-I fracture toughness in the direct tensile test was smaller than the indirect testing results. The fracture toughness obtained from the SCB test was closer to the direct test results. Hence, the semi-circular bend test is recommended as a proper experiment for determination of mode-I fracture toughness of concrete in the absence of direct tests.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.49-62
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• 1995

Soil nailing has been widely rosed during the last two decades to stabilize sheep excavated slopes in several countries. In thin study, the discrete element method has been applied to evaluate the stability of the reiuorced slope. This method is capable of not only estimat ins tensile and sheer stresses mobilized in nails but also providing individual safety factors of soil and nails, It has been assumed that the nailed slope be comprised of slices connected with elastoplastic twinkler springs. A reasonable mechanism is applied for representing the behavior between nails and adj scent soils. Taking into account for the bequence of construction the developed method well predicts the measured tensile forces developed in nails so that it is possible to appropriately evaluate the overall safety factor.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.300-304
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• 2020

In this paper, a durability study is presented to enhance the mechanical properties of an Fe-Si-Al powder-based magnetic core, through the addition of graphite. The compressive properties of Fe-Si-Al-graphite powder mixtures are explored using discrete element method (DEM), and a powder compaction experiment is performed under identical conditions to verify the reliability of the DEM analysis. Important parameters for powder compaction of Fe-Si-Al-graphite powder mixtures are identified. The compressibility of the powders is observed to increase as the amount of graphite mixture increases and as the size of the graphite powders decreases. In addition, the compaction properties of the Fe-Si-Al-graphite powder mixtures are further explored by analyzing the transmissibility of stress between the top and bottom punches as well as the distribution of the compressive force. The application of graphite powders is confirmed to result in improved stress transmission and compressive force distribution, by 24% and 51%, respectively.