• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2020

This paper presents experimental and numerical studies on effects of local damages on the in-plane elastic-plastic buckling and strength of a fixed parabolic steel tubular arch under a vertical load distributed uniformly over its span, which have not been reported in the literature hitherto. The in-plane structural behaviour and strength of ten specimens with different local damages are investigated experimentally. A finite element (FE) model for damaged steel tubular arches is established and is validated by the test results. The FE model is then used to conduct parametric studies on effects of the damage location, depth and length on the strength of steel arches. The experimental results and FE parametric studies show that effects of damages at the arch end on the strength of the arch are more significant than those of damages at other locations of the arch, and that effects of the damage depth on the strength of arches are most significant among those of the damage length. It is also found that the failure modes of a damaged steel tubular arch are much related to its initial geometric imperfections. The experimental results and extensive FE results show that when the effective cross-section considering local damages is used in calculating the modified slenderness of arches, the column bucking curve b in GB50017 or Eurocode3 can be used for assessing the remaining in-plane strength of locally damaged parabolic steel tubular arches under uniform compression. Furthermore, a useful interaction equation for assessing the remaining in-plane strength of damaged steel tubular arches that are subjected to the combined bending and axial compression is also proposed based on the validated FE models. It is shown that the proposed interaction equation can provide lower bound assessments for the remaining strength of damaged arches under in-plane general loading.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.88-104
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• 1988

The FUel Rod Analysis(FURA) code is developed using two-dimensional finite element methods for axisymmetric and plane stress analysis of fuel rod. It predicts the thermal and mechanical behavior of fuel rod during normal and load follow operations. To evaluate the exact temperature distribution and the inner gas pressure, the radial deformation of pellet and clad, the fission gas release are considered over the full-length of fuel rod. The thermal element equation is derived using Galerkin's techniques. The displacement element equation is derived using the principle of virtual works. The mechanical analysis can accommodate various components of strain: elastic, plastic, creep and thermal strain as well as strain due to swelling, relocation and densification. The 4-node quadratic isoparametric elements are adopted, and the geometric model is confined to a half-pellet-height region with the assumption that pellet-pellet interaction is symmetrical. The pellet cracking and crack healing, pellet-cladding interaction are modelled. The Newton-Raphson iteration with an implicit algorithm is applied to perform the analysis of non-linear material behavior accurately and stably. The pellet and cladding model has been compared with both analytical solutions and experimental results. The observed and predicted results are in good agreement. The general behavior of fuel rod is calculated by axisymmetric system and the cladding behavior against radial crack is used by plane stress system. The sensitivity of strain aging of PWR fuel cladding tube due to load following is evaluated in terms of linear power, load cycle frequency and amplitude.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.593-609
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• 2021

We proposed a numerical method for the thermo-mechanical behavior of rock fracture using a grain-based distinct element model (GBDEM) and simulated thermally induced fracture slip. The present study is the benchmark simulation performed as part of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G, which aims to develop a numerical method to estimate the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes within the crystalline rock fracture network. We represented the rock sample as an assembly of Voronoi grains and calculated the interaction of the grains (blocks) and their interfaces (contacts) using a distinct element code, 3DEC. Based on an equivalent continuum approach, the micro-parameters of grains and contacts were determined to reproduce rock as an elastic material. Then, the behavior of the fracture embedded in the rock was characterized by the contacts with Coulomb shear strength and tensile strength. In the benchmark simulation, we quantitatively examined the effects of the boundary stress and thermal stress due to heat conduction on fracture behavior, focusing on the mechanism of thermally induced fracture slip. The simulation results showed that the developed numerical model reasonably reproduced the thermal expansion and thermal stress increment, the fracture stress and displacement and the effect of boundary condition. We expect the numerical model to be enhanced by continuing collaboration and interaction with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G and validated in further study experiments.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2006

In this study, liquid crystal (LC) aligning properties for homeotropic alignment on the $SiO_x$ thin film by electron beam evaporation method with electron beam system in accordance with the evaporation angles were investigated. Also, the control of pretilt angles homeotropic aligned LC on $SiO_x$ thin film as the function of the evaporation angles were studied. The uniform vertical LC alignment on the $SiO_x$ thin film surfaces with electron beam evaporation was achieved with all of the thin film angle conditions. It is considerated that the LC alignment on the $SiO_x$ thin film by electron beam evaporation is attributed to elastic interaction between LC molecules and micro-grooves at the $SiO_x$ thin film surface created by evaporation. The values of the pretilt angles according to the evaporation angle were from about $0.7^{\circ}$ to about $3.4^{\circ}$. The highest pretilt angles of about $3.4^{\circ}$ in aligned NLC on the $SiO_x$ thin film surfaces by electron beam evaporation were measured under the condition of $45^{\circ}$. Also, good LC alignment states on the treated $SiO_x$ thin film layer by electron beam evaporation were observed at annealing temperature of $250^{\circ}C$. Consequently, the high pretilt angle and the good thermal stability of LC alignment on the $SiO_x$ thin film by electron beam evaporation can be achieved.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2013

To investigate the effect of the flexible artery wall on the blood flow, three-dimensional numerical simulations were carried out for analyzing the time-dependent incompressible flows of Newtonian fluids constrained by a flexible wall. The Navier-Stokes equations for fluid flow were solved using the P2P1 Galerkin finite element method, and mesh movement was achieved using an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian formulation. The Newmark method was employed for solving the dynamic equilibrium equations for the deformation of a linear elastic solid. To avoid complexity due to the necessity of additional mechanical constraints, we used a combined formulation that includes both the fluid and structure equations of motion to produce a single coupled variational equation. The results showed that the flexibility of the carotid wall significantly affects flow phenomena during the pulse cycle. The flow field was also found to be strongly influenced by the bifurcation angle.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.211-230
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• 2008

Owing to the growing size of the eigenvalue problem and the growing number of eigenvalues desired, solution methods of iterative nature are becoming more popular than ever, which however suffer from low efficiency and lack of proper convergence criteria. In this paper, three efficient iterative eigenvalue algorithms are considered, i.e., subspace iteration method, iterative Ritz vector method and iterative Lanczos method based on the cell sparse fast solver and loop-unrolling. They are examined under the mode error criterion, i.e., the ratio of the out-of-balance nodal forces and the maximum elastic nodal point forces. Averagely speaking, the iterative Ritz vector method is the most efficient one among the three. Based on the mode error convergence criteria, the eigenvalue solvers are shown to be more stable than those based on eigenvalues only. Compared with ANSYS's subspace iteration and block Lanczos approaches, the subspace iteration presented here appears to be more efficient, while the Lanczos approach has roughly equal efficiency. The methods proposed are robust and efficient. Large size tests show that the improvement in terms of CPU time and storage is tremendous. Also reported is an aggressive shifting technique for the subspace iteration method, based on the mode error convergence criteria. A backward technique is introduced when the shift is not located in the right region. The efficiency of such a technique was demonstrated in the numerical tests.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.17 no.1 s.74
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• pp.13-21
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• 2005

Advanced analysis and optimal design of steel arch bridges is presented. In the design method using an advanced analysis, separate member capacity checks after analysis are not required because the stability and strength of the structural system and its component members can be rigorously treated in the analysis. The geometric nonlinearity is considered by using the stability function. The Column Research Council tangent modulus is used to account for gradual yielding due to residual stresses. A parabolic function is used to represent the transition from elastic to zero stiffness associated with a developing hinge. An optimization technique used is a modified section increment method. The member with the largest unit value evaluated by AASHTO-LRFD interaction equation is replaced one by one with an adjacent larger member selected in the database. The objective function is taken as the weight of the steel arch bridge and the constraint functions account for load-carrying capacities and deflection requirements. Member sizes determined by the proposed method are compared with those given by other approaches.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1101-1111
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• 2018

This study aims to present accurate soil modeling and validation of a single roadside guardrail post as well as a single concrete pile installed near cut slopes or compacted sloping embankment. The conventional Winkler's elastic spring model and p-y curve approach for horizontal ground cannot directly be applied to sloping ground where ultimate soil resistance is significantly dependent on ground inclination. In this study, both grid-based 3-D FE model and particle-based SPH (smoothed particle hydrodynamics) model available in LS-DYNA have been adopted to predict the static behavior of a laterally loaded guardrail post. The SPH model has potential to eliminate any artificial soil stiffness due to the deterioration of the node-connected Lagrangian soil mesh. For this purpose, this study comprises two parts. Firstly, only 3-D FE modeling has been tested to show the numerical validity for a single concrete pile in sloping ground using Mohr-Coulomb material. However, this material option cannot be implemented for SPH elements. Nevertheless, Mohr-Coulomb model has been used since this material model requires six input soil data that can be obtained from the comparative papers in literatures. Secondly, this work is extended to compute the lateral resistance of a guardrail post located near the slope using the hybrid approach that combines Lagrange FE elements and SPH elements by the suitable node-merging option provided by LS-DYNA. For this analysis, the FHWA soil material developed for application to road-base soils has been used and also allows the application of SPH element.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2011

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the pelvic compression belt (PCB) on the thickness of the transversus abdominis (TrA) during active straight leg raising (ASLR). Methods: Thirty healthy subjects (10 men and 20 women) volunteered to participate in this study. The thickness of TrA was measured using a real-time ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system. Subjects were instructed to rest in a resting (hook-lying) position and to perform ASLR with and without the PCB. The PCB was positioned below the anterior superior iliac spine with stabilizing pressure from elastic bands. Results: In the resting position and during ASLR, the thickness of the TrA significantly differed between subjects with and without PCB (p<.05). In addition, there was a significant interaction between the measurement position and the presence or absence of PCB (p<.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the PCB may affect deep core muscles such as TrA during various activities. Further studies are required to generalize the results of the present study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.182-193
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• 1997

The interaction of monochromatic incident waves with a horizontal flexible membrane is investigated in the context of two-dimensional linear hydro-elastic theory. First, analytic diffraction and radiation solutions for a submerged impermeable horizontal membrane are obtained. Second, the theoretical prediction was compared with a series of experiments conducted in a two-dimensional wave tank at Texas A & M University. The measured reflection and transmission coefficients reasonably follow the trend of predicted values. Using the developed computer program, the performance of surface-mounted or submerged horizontal membrane wave barriers is tested with various system parameters and wave characteristics. It is found that the properly designed horizontal flexible membrane can be an effective wave barrier.