• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.25-32
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• 2004

The use of a gym ball is becoming more popular for dynamic balance exercises. However, little is known about the effects of the dynamic ball exercises in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to compare balance and functional mobility after dynamic balance exercises using a gym ball to reduce the risk factorfor falls. All of the 15 subjects were women between the ages of 68 and 91 (mean age=79.9 yrs, SD=5.87) at anursing home in Wonju. Seven of fifteen subjects were placed in the experimental group and the others in the control group. Three clinical tests were used to determine the degree of balance and functional mobility before beginning the exercise program, after 4 weeks of gym ball exercise, and after 8 weeks of gym ball exercise. These three tests included Timed Up & Go (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Dynamic ball exercises training for 8 weeks (5 days per week) included side stretching, prone walking, bridging, marching and opposite arm and leg lifting. There were significant differences found before the gym ball exercise program began and after 4 weeks and then 8 weeks in the experimental group (p<.05). Significant differences between the groups were shown for TUG and BBS (p<.05). No significant difference was noted between the groups for FIM. Therefore, gym ball exercises can improve dynamic balance and may be recommended to include in a therapeutic program to help the elderly reduce their risk of a fall.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.541-561
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• 2010

This paper presents finite element analyses, experimental measurements and finite element model updating of an arch type steel laboratory bridge model using semi-rigid connections. The laboratory bridge model is a single span and fixed base structure with a length of 6.1 m and width of 1.1m. The height of the bridge column is 0.85 m and the maximum arch height is 0.95 m. Firstly, a finite element model of the bridge is created in SAP2000 program and analytical dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies and mode shapes are determined. Then, experimental measurements using ambient vibration tests are performed and dynamic characteristics (natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios) are obtained. Ambient vibration tests are performed under natural excitations such as wind and small impact effects. The Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition method in the frequency domain and the Stochastic Subspace Identification method in the time domain are used to extract the dynamic characteristics. Then the finite element model of the bridge is updated using linear elastic rotational springs in the supports and structural element connections to minimize the differences between analytically and experimentally estimated dynamic characteristics. At the end of the study, maximum differences in the natural frequencies are reduced on average from 47% to 2.6%. It is seen that there is a good agreement between analytical and experimental results after finite element model updating. Also, connection percentages of the all structural elements to joints are determined depending on the rotational spring stiffness.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2018

This paper presents structural assessment of a steel railway bridge for current condition using modal parameter to upgrade finite element modeling in order to gather accurate result. An adequate monitoring, such as acceleration, displacement, strain monitoring, is important tool to understand behavior and to assess structural performance of the structure under surround vibration by means of the dynamic analysis. Evaluation of conditions of an existing steel railway bridge consist of 4 decks, three of them are 14 m, one of them is 9.7 m, was performed with a numerical analysis and a series of dynamic tests. Numerical analysis was performed implementing finite element model of the bridge using SAP2000 software. Dynamic tests were performed by collecting acceleration data caused by surrounding vibrations and dynamic analysis is performed by Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) using collected acceleration data. The acceleration response of the steel bridge is assumed to be governing response quantity for structural assessment and provide valuable information about the current statute of the structure. Modal identification determined based on response of the structure play significant role for upgrading finite element model of the structure and helping structural evaluation. Numerical and experimental dynamic properties are compared and finite element model of the bridge is updated by changing of material properties to reduce the differences between the results. In this paper, an existing steel railway bridge with four spans is evaluated by finite element model improved using operational modal analysis. Structural analysis performed for the bridge both for original and calibrated models, and results are compared. It is demonstrated that differences in natural frequencies are reduced between 0.2% to 5% by calibrating finite element modeling and stiffness properties.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2014

Objective: This study aims to analyze the factors that affect the ability to maintain dynamic sitting balance (DSB), biomechanical characteristics, and physical characteristics in spinal cord injuries (SCI) patients. Background: Virtual ski training systems, ski equipment, and training protocols for disabled skiers are being studied to spread awareness. However, few studies have been reported on the sitting balance ability associated with chair mono skiing. Method: A dynamic sitting balance border system was built to investigate the ability to maintain dynamic sitting balance in SCI patients. Trunk muscle activity was evaluated by electromyogram while conducting dynamic sitting balance tests. The trunk muscle strength was tested with a portable handheld dynamometer. Physical activity scores were measured with the physical activity recall assessment. Results: There were high levels of correlation between the ability to maintain DSB and trunk flexor strength, extensor strength, rotator strength, and physical activity score. However, height, weight, and injury level in SCI patients were not correlated with the ability to maintain DSB. Additionally, strong negative correlations were found between muscle activities of the external oblique and lumbar erector spinae muscles and the ability to perform the backward tilt test. Trunk extensor muscle activity during the ball lifting test was significantly higher than in other tests. Conclusion: The results indicate that improving trunk muscle strength and physical activity can increase the ability to maintain DSB. Application: The findings of a close relationship between trunk strength, physical activity, and the ability to maintain DSB need to be reflected in the chair mono ski training program.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.17-33
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• 2022

This study describes the effect of ground water table on the dynamic analysis of single piles subjected to earthquake loading. The dynamic numerical analysis was performed for different dry and saturated soils with varying the relative densities of surrounding weathered soils (SM). The test soil was a weathered soil encountered in the engineering field and bender element tests were conducted to estimate the dynamic properties of test soil. The Mohr-Coulomb model and Finn model were used for soil, dry and saturated conditions, respectively. These models validated with results of centrifuge tests. When compared with the results from the soil conditions, saturated cases showed more lateral displacement and bending moment of piles than dry cases, and this difference caused from the generation of excess porewater pressure. It means that the kinematic effect of the soil decreased as the excess pore water pressure was generated, and it was changed to the inertial behavior of the pile.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.67-75
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• 2010

In this study, a series of 1 g shaking table tests were carried out for a single pile in soft clay with various input acceleration amplitudes and frequencies. Based on the results, dynamic p-y curves were drawn and, in turn, the dynamic p-y backbone curve was formed by connecting the peak points, corresponding to the maximum soil resistance, of the dynamic p-y curves. In order to represent the p-y backbone curve numerically, Matlock's p-y formulations for clay was used to find the initial stiffness ($k_{ini}$) and the ultimate capacity ($p_u$) of the clay, both of which are required to formulate the p-y backbone curve as a hyperbolic function. The suggested p-y backbone curve was verified through comparisons with currently available p-y curves as well as other researchers' centrifuge test results and numerical analysis results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.461-472
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• 2017

The dynamic tests of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) are carried out, the rate-dependent mechanical models of RAC are proposed. The dynamic mechanical behaviors of RAC frame structure are investigated by adopting the numerical simulation method of the finite element. It is indicated that the lateral stiffness and the hysteresis loops of RAC frame structure obtained from the numerical simulation agree well with the test results, more so for the numerical simulation which is considered the strain rate effect than for the numerical simulation with strain rate excluded. The natural vibration frequency and the lateral stiffness increase with the increase of the strain rate. The dynamic model of the lateral stiffness is proposed, which is reasonably applied to describe the effect of the strain rate on the lateral stiffness of RAC frame structure. The effect of the strain rate on the structural deformation and capacity of RAC is analyzed. The analyses show that the inter-story drift decreases with the increase of the strain rate. However, with the increasing strain rate, the structural capacity increases. The dynamic models of the base shear coefficient and the overturning moment of RAC frame structure are developed. The dynamic models are important and can be used to evaluate the strength deterioration of RAC structure under dynamic loading.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.411-426
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• 2023

Soft clay is widely distributed in the southeast coastal areas of China. Many large underground structures, such as subway stations and underground pipe corridors, are shallow buried in the soft clay foundation, so the dynamic characteristics of the soft clay must be considered to the seismic design of underground structures. In this paper, the dynamic characteristics of saturated soft clay in Shanghai under the bidirectional excitation for earthquake loading are studied by dynamic triaxial tests, comparing the backbone curve and hysteretic curve of the saturated soft clay under different confining pressures with those under different vibration frequencies. Considering the coupling effects of the confining pressure and the vibration frequency, a fitting model of the maximum dynamic shear modulus was proposed by the multiple linear regression method. The M-D model was used to fit the variations of the dynamic shear modulus ratio with the shear strain. Based on the Chen model and the Park model, the effects of the consolidation confining pressure and the vibration frequency on the damping ratio were studied. The results can provide a reference to the earthquake prevention and disaster reduction in soft clay area.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.61-70
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• 2020

In dynamic centrifuge tests, equivalent shear beam (ESB) container minimizes the boundary effect between the soil model and the wall of the container so as to effectively simulate the boundary conditions of real field state. The ESB container at KAIST was evaluated to be performing properly by Lee et al. (2013). However, it is necessary to re-evaluate the performance of ESB container since the ESB container may have deteriorated over time. Thus, the performance of eight-year-old ESB container was re-evaluated through dynamic centrifuge tests. Firstly, the natural period of the empty ESB container was compared with the results of Lee et al. (2013). Then the boundary effect of sand-filled ESB container was evaluated. Results show that the dynamic behavior of the sand-filled ESB container was similar to that of the ground, despite a decrease in the natural period of the empty ESB container over time. In addition, the dynamic response of the ground built in the ESB container and the same ground simulated through numerical analysis with free-field boundary conditions were similar. Therefore, it was found that the boundary effect of the ESB container due to the decrease in the natural period was not significant.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2012

In this study, a series of centrifuge shaking-table tests for a $3{\times}3$ group pile and a single pile applied by sinusoidal wave was performed in dry sand for various pile spacings, ranging from three to seven times the pile diameter. A comparison of centrifuge tests of both single pile and group pile showed that the lateral ground response of the group pile was smaller than that of the single pile. In addition, the reduction in subgrade reaction for the group pile increased with decreasing pile spacing. The side piles, that is, the 1st row and 3rd row piles showed identical dynamic p-y behavior and the center pile in the 2nd row caused a lower reduction effect compared with the 1st and 3rd row piles. From the comparison between the p-y curves of the 2nd row piles, it was found that the lateral ground response of the outer pile in the 2nd row was less than that of the center pile in the 2nd row. The p-multipliers for the side piles, for the center pile and for the outer pile ranged from 0.28 to 0.77, from 0.55 to 1.0 and from 0.39 to 0.87, respectively.