• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.495-501
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• 2018

Geogrid application that has proved to be an effective and economic method of reinforcing particles, is widely used in geotechnical engineering. The discrete element method (DEM) has been used to investigate the micro mechanics of the geogrid deformation and also the interlocking mechanism that cannot be easily studies in laboratory tests. Two types of realistically shaped geogrid models with square and triangle apertures were developed using parallel bonds in PFC3D. The calibration test simulations have demonstrated that the precisely shaped triangular geogrid model is also able to reproduce the deformation and strength characteristics of geogrids. Moreover, the square and triangular geogrid models were also used in DEM pull-out test simulations with idealized shape particle models for validation. The simulation results have been shown to provide good predictions of pullout force as a function of displacement especially for the initial 30 mm displacement. For the granular material of size 40 mm, both the experimental and DEM results demonstrate that the triangular geogrid of size 75 mm outperforms the square geogrid of size 65 mm. Besides, the simulations have given valuable insight into the interaction between particle and geogrid and also revealed similar deformation behavior of geogrids during pullout. Therefore, the DEM provides a tool which enable to model other possible prototype geogrid and investigate their performance before manufacture.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.41-50
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• 2019

The stone pagoda continued to be damaged by weathering and corrosion over time, and natural disasters such as earthquake are accelerating the destruction of cultural properties. Stone pagoda has discontinuous structure behavior and is very vulnerable to the seismic load acting in lateral direction. It is necessary to analyze various design variables as the contact surface characteristics play an important role in the dynamic behavior of stone pagodas. For this purpose, contact surface characteristics of stone pagoda can be classified according to surface roughness and filler type, and representative model is selected and structural modeling and analysis are performed using the discrete element method. Also, the seismic load according to the repetition period is calculated and the dynamic analysis is performed considering the discontinuous characteristics of the stone pagoda. Finally, the seismic behavior characteristics can be analyzed by the evaluation of stresses, displacements and structural safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.34-41
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• 2020

Ready-mixed concrete is unconsolidated concrete typically transported to construction sites by using mixer trucks. A proper rotation of concrete is necessary to prevent its solidification in mixer trucks during transport: in accordance with the manufacturing method and quality inspection prescribed in KSF4009, this movement is maintained after the manufacturing of concrete in professional production plants and the addition of water, solid materials, and admixtures. Unfortunately, mixer truck parts wear out over long periods of time. In order to improve the wear resistance of the main part of mixer trucks, we used a steel plate with good wear resistance or partially added a reinforcement plate. In this study, we first tested the properties of concrete (as required for the DEM), and then carried out mixing and discharge simulations to define the actual operating conditions of mixer trucks. For each condition, we calculated the amount and location of wear. The reliability of our results was finally verified by comparing them with the measurement values. Overall, this study provided basic data for an optimal design of mixer trucks: one that would reduce the vehicles' weight and production costs.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2021

Composite nature of the masonry structures in general causes complex and non-linear behaviour, especially in intense vibration conditions. The presence of different types and forms of structural elements and different materials is a major problem for the analysis of these type of structures. For this reason, the analysis of the behaviour of masonry structures requires a combination of experimental tests and non-linear mathematical modelling. The famous UNESCO Heritage Old Bridge in Mostar was selected as an example for the analysis of the global behaviour of reinforced stone arch masonry bridges. As part of the experimental research, a model of the Old Bridge was constructed in a scale of 1:9 and tested on a shaking table platform for different levels of seismic excitation. Non-linear mathematical modelling was performed using a combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM), including the effect of connection elements. The paper presents the horizontal displacement of the top of the arch and the failure mechanism of the Old Bridge model for the experimental and the numerical phase, as well as the comparison of the results. This research provided a clearer insight into the global behaviour of stone arch masonry structures reinforced with steel clamps and steel dowels, which is significant for the structures classified as world cultural heritage.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.28-34
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• 2022

The flow at the top surface of the hopper is of particular industrial interest. Previously, the velocity distribution inside the hopper was predicted using the simple, void and spot models, which are equations for the particle flow field. However, because these equations cannot predict the velocity distribution at the top surface, a new equation has been recently proposed. This study employed the discrete element method with the changed shape of the particles. Based on the results, the shape of the particle had no effect on the discharge angle and shape of the velocity distribution; however, it greatly affected the size of the velocity distribution and bed thickness of the flowing particles. Therefore, in the future, it is necessary to modify the theoretical equation by considering the shape of the particles.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.313-330
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• 2021

In this study, the dynamic interaction between an Arctic Spar and drifting level ice is examined in time domain using the newly developed ice-hull-mooring coupled dynamics program. The in-house program, CHARM3D, which is the hull-riser-mooring coupled dynamic simulator is extended by coupling with the open-source discrete element method (DEM) simulator, LIGGGHTS. In the LIGGGHTS module, the parallel-bonding method is implemented to model the level ice using an assembly of multiple bonded spherical particles. As a case study, a spread-moored Artic Spar platform, whose hull surface near waterline is the inverted conical shape, is chosen. To determine the breaking-related DEM parameter (the critical bonding strength), the four-point numerical bending test is used. A series of numerical simulations is systematically performed under the various ice conditions including ice drift velocity, flexural strength, and thickness. Then, the effects of these parameters on the ice force, platform motions, and mooring tensions are discussed. The simulations reveal various features of dynamic interactions between the drifting ice and moored platform for various ice conditions including the novel synchronous resonance at low ice speed. The newly developed simulator is promising and can repeatedly be used for the future design and analysis including ice-floater-mooring coupled dynamics.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.80 no.5
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• pp.523-538
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• 2021

The mechanical behaviour and stability of coal mining engineering underground is significantly affected by ground water. In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) technique was employed to determine the water distribution characteristics in coal specimens during saturation process, based on which the functional rule for water distribution was proposed. Then, using discrete element method (DEM), an innovative numerical modelling method was developed to simulate water-weakening effect on coal behaviour considering moisture content and water distribution. Three water distribution numerical models, namely surface-wetting model, core-wetting model and uniform-wetting model, were established to explore the water distribution influences. The feasibility and validity of the surface-wetting model were further demonstrated by comparing the simulation results with laboratory results. The investigation reveals that coal mechanical properties are affected by both water saturation coefficient and water distribution condition. For all water distribution models, micro-cracks always initiate and nucleate in the water-rich area and thus lead to distinct macro fracture characteristics. With the increase of water saturation coefficient, the failure of coal tends to be less violent with less cracks and ejected fragments. In addition, the core-wetting specimen is more sensitive to water than specimens with other water distribution models.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.361-374
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• 2022

On the premise of ensuring that the automatic and quantitative discharging function of concrete conveyors is met, the accuracy of the weight forecast by the mathematical model of the screw conveying volume is improved, and the error of the weight of the concrete parts and the accumulation thickness is reduced. In this paper, the discrete element method (DEM) is used to simulate the macroscopic flow of concrete. Using the concrete discrete element model, the size of the screw conveyor is set, and establish the response model between the influencing factors (process and structure) and the concrete mass flow rate according to the design points of the screw discharging experiment. The nonlinear data fitting method is used to obtain the volumetric efficiency function under the influence of process and structural factors, and the traditional screw conveying volume model is improved. The mass flow rate of concrete predicted by the improved mathematical model of screw conveying volume is consistent with the test results. The model can accurately describe the conveying process of concrete and achieve the purpose of improving the accuracy of forecasting the weight of discharged concrete.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.435-449
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• 2022

In this paper, unreinforced and geogrid-reinforced soil foundations were modeled by discrete element method and this performed under surface strip footing loads. The effects of horizontal position of geogrid, vertical position, thickness, number, confining pressure have been investigated on the footing settlement and propagation of tensile force along the geogrids. Also, interaction between rectangular tunnel and strip footing with and without presence of geogrid layer has been analyzed. Experimental results of the literature were used to validation of relationships between the numerically achieved footing pressure-settlement for foundations of reinforced and unreinforced soil. Models and micro input parameters which used in the numerical modelling of reinforced and unreinforced soil tunnel were similar to parameters which were used in soil foundations. Model dimension was 1000 mm* 600 mm. Normal and shear stiffness of soils were 5*10⁵ and 2.5 *10⁵ N/m, respectively. Normal and shear stiffness of geogrid were 1*10⁹ and 1*10⁹ N/m, respectively. Loading rate was 0.001 mm/sec. Micro input parameters used in numerical simulation gain by try and error. In addition of the quantitative tensile force propagation along the geogrids, the footing settlements were visualized. Due to collaboration of three layers of geogrid reinforcements the bearing capacity of the reinforced soil tunnel was greatly improved. In such practical reinforced soil formations, the qualitative displacement propagations of soil particles in the soil tunnel and the quantitative vertical displacement propagations along the soil layers/geogrids represented the geogrid reinforcing impacts too.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.66-81
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• 2021

The effects of directional fracture tensor components and first invariant of fracture tensor on deformation moduli and shear moduli of fractured rock masses is analyzed based on regression analysis performed between 3-D fracture tensor parameters and deformability of DFN blocks. Using one or two deterministic joint sets, a total of 224 3-D discrete fracture network (DFN) cube blocks were generated with various configurations of deterministic density and probabilistic size distribution. The fracture tensor parameters were calculated for each generated DFN systems. Also, deformability moduli with respect to three perpendicular direction of the DFN cube blocks were estimated based on distinct element method. The larger the first invariant of fracture tensor, the smaller the values for the deformability moduli of the DFN blocks. These deformability properties present an asymptotic pattern above the certain threshold. It is found that power-law function describes the relationship between the directional deformability moduli and the corresponding fracture tensor components estimated in same direction.