• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1990.10a
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• pp.95-100
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• 1990

An optimization method has been developed to find the minimum weight design of steel building structures which consist of the commercially available discrete sections. In this study, an emphasis was particularly placed on the practical applicability of optimization algorithm in engineering practice. The structure Is optimized through element optimization under the element level constraints first and then, if there is any violation of structural level constraints, it is adequately compensated by the constraint error correction vector obtained through the sensitivity analysis. A scaling procedure is introduced for the problems of large violated displacement constraint. The oscillation control in the objective function is also discussed. By dividing the available H-sections into two groups based on their section characteristics, much improved relationships between section variables were obtained and used efficiently in searching the optimum section in the section table.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.115-124
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• 2000

An efficient multi-level (EML) optimization algorithm using discrete variables of framed structures is proposed in this paper. For the efficiency of the proposed algorithm multi-level optimization techniques using a decomposition method that separates both system-level and element-level are incorporated in the algorithm In the system-level, to save the numerical efforts an efficient reanalysis technique through approximated structural responses such as moments and frequencies with respect to intermediate variables is proposed in the paper. Sensitivity analysis of dynamic structural response is executed by automatic differentiation (AD) that is a powerful technique for computing complex or implicit derivatives accurately and efficiently with minimal human effort. In the element-level, to use AISC W-sections a section search algorithm is introduced. The efficiency and robustness of the EML algorithm, compared with a conventional multi-level (CML) algorithm and single-level genetic algorithm is successfully demonstrated in the numerical examples.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.161-176
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• 2010

Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations were developed to investigate the effectiveness of geosynthetic reinforcement and the effectiveness of maintenance techniques performed on a simulated ballast bed subjected to dynamic loading. The results from four samples subjected each one to a total of 425 load cycles are presented: one unreinforced and unmaintained sample, one unmaintained but reinforced sample, one unreinforced sample subjected to maintenance in the form of stoneblowing after 200 load cycles, and one unreinforced sample subjected to maintenance in the form of tamping after 200 load cycles. The obtained values of permanent deformation as a function of the applied number of load cycles for the four cases are presented together allowing a comparison of the effectiveness of each technique. Moreover, snapshots of the simulated track sections are presented at different moments of the simulations. The simulations indicated that the geosynthetic reinforcement may not be beneficial for the analyzed case while stoneblowing was the most effective maintenance technique.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.475-480
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• 2008

A pre/post processor program based GUI(Graphic User Interface) by using the MFC and OpenGL library in the Windows OS have been developed for the analysis of the passenger flow. Using this program, users are able to generate and modify the meshes of multi-storied subway station, set all the parameters for the solver, and obtain the results of the simulation such as transient passenger motions and passenger streak lines in 3-dimensional graphic view.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.233-247
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• 2016

The vibration characteristic analysis of sandwich cylindrical shells subjected with magnetorheological (MR) elastomer and constraining layer are considered in this study. And, the discrete finite element method is adopted to calculate the vibration and damping characteristics of the sandwich cylindrical shell system. The effects of thickness of the MR elastomer, constraining layer, applied magnetic fields on the vibration characteristics of the sandwich shell system are also studied in this paper. Additionally, the rheological properties of the MR elastomer can be changed by applying various magnetic fields and the properties of the MR elastomer are described by complex quantities. The natural frequencies and modal loss factor of the sandwich cylindrical shells are calculated for many designed parameters. The core layer of MR elastomer is found to have significant effects on the damping behavior of the sandwich cylindrical shells.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.921-932
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• 2016

This paper presents a theoretical analysis for determining the transverse deflection of simply supported battened beams subjected to a uniformly distributed transverse quasi-static load. The analysis considers not only the shear effect but also the discrete effect of battens on the transverse deflection of the battened beam. The analytical solution is obtained using the principle of minimum potential energy. Numerical validation of the present analytical solution is accomplished using finite element methods. The present analytical solution shows that the shear effect on the transverse deflection of battened beams increases with the cross-section area of the main member but decreases with the cross-section area of the batten. The longer the battened beam is, or the larger the moment of inertia of the main member is, the smaller the shear effect will be.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.311-320
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• 2019

Obelisks are historical monuments. There are several obelisks dating from ancient Egyptian period, located around various parts of the world. The city of Istanbul is a home to the Obelisk of Theodosius at the Hippodrome. Due to the expectation of a large event in the near future, the evaluation of seismic response of the Obelisk gets importance. Therefore, in this study structural dynamic behavior of the Obelisk was investigated using discrete element approach. Nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed using real and synthetic time series. Real and synthetic ground motions analyzed from this study seems consistent with the earthquake hazard levels that would be expected at the site of the Obelisk in the occurrence of an event of moment magnitude above 7.0 near Istanbul. Results are evaluated in terms of variation of displacement, relative displacement of adjacent blocks, normal stress and shear stress in time.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.71 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2019

In this article, the dynamic fracture instability characteristics, including dynamic crack propagation and crack branching, in PMMA brittle solids under dynamic loading are investigated using the discrete element method (DEM) simulations. The microscopic parameters in DEM are first calibrated using the comparison with the previous experimental results not only in the field of qualitative analysis, but also in the field of quantitative analysis. The calibrating process illustrates that the selected microscopic parameters in DEM are suitable to effectively and accurately simulate dynamic fracture process in PMMA brittle solids subjected to dynamic loads. The typical dynamic fracture behaviors of solids under dynamic loading are then reproduced by DEM. Compared with the previous experimental and numerical results, the present numerical results are in good agreement with the existing ones not only in the field of qualitative analysis, but also in the field of quantitative analysis. Furthermore, effects of dynamic loading magnitude, offset distance of the initial crack and initial crack length on dynamic fracture behaviors are numerically discussed.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2021

Accurate and effective powder compaction analyses are performed for brittle materials such as graphite, utilized as a solid lubricant, by using the discrete element method (DEM). The reliability of the DEM analysis is confirmed by comparing the results of graphite powder compaction analyses using the DEM particle bonding contact model and particle non-bonding contact model with those from the powder compaction experiment under the same conditions. To improve the characteristics, the parameters influencing the compaction properties of the metal-graphite mixtures are explored. The compressibility increases as the size distribution of the graphite powder increases, where the shape of the graphite particles is uniform. The improved compaction characteristics of the metal-graphite (bonding model) mixtures are further verified by the stress transmission and compressive force distribution between the top and bottom punches. It is confirmed that the application of graphite (bonding model) powders resulted in improved stress transmission and compressive force distribution of 24% and 85%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.63-69
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• 2006

In this paper, a method is presented for estimating the bearing capacity of shallow foundations based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM). By applying Winkler-springs for accounting for the compatibility between soil blocks, the proposed method can estimate the state of stress at failure surface and the ultimate bearing capacity. For the investigation of the application of the method, example problems about shallow foundations on the single layer and two layers soil are analyzed.