• International Journal of CAD/CAM
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2009

This paper presents a topology optimization approach using element-free Galerkin method (EFGM) for the optimal design of compliant mechanisms with geometrically non-linearity. Meshless method has an advantage over the finite element method(FEM) because it is more capable of handling large deformation resulted from geometrical nonlinearity. Therefore, in this paper, EFGM is employed to discretize the governing equations and the bulk density field. The sensitivity analysis of the optimization problem is performed by incorporating the adjoint approach with the meshless method. The Lagrange multipliers method adjusted for imposition of both the concentrated and continuous essential boundary conditions in the EFGM is proposed in details. The optimization mathematical formulation is developed to convert the multi-criteria problem to an equivalent single-objective problem. The popularly applied interpolation scheme, solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP), is used to indicate the dependence of material property upon on pseudo densities discretized to the integration points. A well studied numerical example has been applied to demonstrate the proposed approach works very well and the non-linear EFGM can obtain the better topologies than the linear EFGM to design large-displacement compliant mechanisms.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.2_3
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• pp.123-144
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• 2006

Reinforced concrete corbels are structural elements widely used in practical engineering. The complex response of these elements is described in design codes in a simplified manner. These formulations are not sufficient to show the real behavior, which, however, is an essential prerequisite for the manufacturing of numerous elements. Therefore, a deterministic and probabilistic study has been performed, which is described in this contribution. Real complex structures have been modeled by means of the finite element method supported primarily by experimental works. The main objective of this study was the detection of uncertainties effects and safety margins not captured by traditional codes. This aim could be fulfilled by statistical considerations applied to the investigated structures. The probabilistic study is based on advanced Monte Carlo simulation techniques and sophisticated nonlinear finite element formulations.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.40-52
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• 1998

A good grasp of the failure mechanisms of resistance spot weld, widely used in joining the auto-panels, in essential to the structural/crashworthy analyses and integrity assessment of the whole auto-body. In this study, We provide an estimative model describing the failure behavior of resistance spotf weld, and apply the model to the finite element analysis of crashworthiness. First, in "Part 1-Failure Criteria", to be used for the finite element analysis of spot-welded structural panels of an auto-body, (i) a methodology for quantifying the spot weld failure and the accompanying failure criteria are presented, and (ii) the coefficients of the failure equation are determined by a munimum number of appropriate experimental tests. To achieve these, we derive the functional form of the failure envelop by limit analysis, and correlate it with the form in PAM-$CRASH^{TM}$ code, and also investigate the effect of the failure coefficients on the failure envelop form. An estimative model obtained in this Part1, as spot weld failure criteria is applied to the Macroscopic finite element analysis of autobody structural panels using PAM-$CRASH^{TM}$ code in Part 2.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.647-656
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• 2021

Knowing a material's true stress-strain curve is essential for performing a nonlinear finite element analysis to solve an elastoplastic problem. This study presents a simple methodology to determine the true stress-strain curve of type 304 and 316 austenitic stainless steels in the full range of strain from a typical tensile test. Before necking, the true stress and strain values are directly converted from engineering stress and strain data, respectively. After necking, a true stress-strain equation is determined by iteratively conducting finite element analysis using three pieces of information at the necking and the fracture points. The Hockett-Sherby equation is proposed as an optimal stress-strain model in a non-uniform deformation region. The application to the stainless steel under different temperatures and loading conditions verifies that the strain hardening behavior of the material is adequately described by the determined equation, and the estimated engineering stress-strain curves are in good agreement with those of experiments. The presented method is intrinsically simple to use and reduces iterations because it does not require much experimental effort and adopts the approach of determining the stress-strain equation instead of correcting the individual stress at each strain point.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.731-753
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• 2018

The recent seismic events have led to concerns on safety and vulnerability of Reinforced Concrete Moment Resisting Frame "RC-MRF" buildings. The seismic design demands are greatly dependent on the computational tools, the inherent assumptions and approximations introduced in the modeling process. Thus, it is essential to assess the relative importance of implementing different modeling approaches and investigate the computed response sensitivity to the corresponding modeling assumptions. Many parameters and assumptions are to be justified for generation effective and accurate structural models of RC-MRF buildings to simulate the lateral response and evaluate seismic design demands. So, the present study aims to develop reliable finite element model through many refinements in modeling the various structural components. The effect of finite element modeling assumptions, analysis methods and code provisions on seismic response demands for the structural design of RC-MRF buildings are investigated. where, a series of three-dimensional finite element models were created to study various approaches to quantitatively improve the accuracy of FE models of symmetric buildings located in active seismic zones. It is shown from results of the comparative analyses that the use of a calibrated frame model which was made up of line elements featuring rigid offsets manages to provide estimates that match best with estimates obtained from a much more rigorous modeling approach involving the use of shell elements.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.200-206
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• 2022

The finite element analysis is one of the representative methods for predicting the materials behavior for experiments that are difficult to perform empirically. Constitutive equations are essential for reducing computation time and sharing data because they enable finite element analysis simulations through simple formulae. However, it is difficult to derive accurate flow curves for all materials as most constitutive equations are not formulated based on their physical meaning. Also, even if the constitutive equation is a good representation of the flow curve to the experimental results, some fundamental issues remain unresolved, such as the effect of mesh size on the calculation results. In this study, a new constitutive equation was proposed to predict various materials by modifying the combined Swift-Voce model, and the calculation results with various mesh sizes were compared to better simulate the experimental results.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.329-338
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• 2007

The PSC box bridge constructed of concrete, reinforcing bar and tendon is a complex structure that exhibits tension cracks, nonlinear behaviour of steel and time dependent behaviour of concrete. The frame element is commonly used for construction stage analysis PSC bridges. However, the frame element does not show sufficient information when in the curved PSC box bridges. For the case of curved PSC bridges, the deformations in the inner and outer web are different. In this case, different jacking forces are required in the inner and outer webs. However, it is impossible to calculate different jacking forces if we use the frame element for construction stage analysis. In order to overcome this problem, the use of the shell element is essential for a three-dimensional construction stage analysis of PSC bridges. In the following, the formulation of a Quasi-conforming shell element and its application of PSC box girder bridge analysis are presented.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2010

Reliable dynamic analysis is essential in order to properly maintain structures so that structural hazards may be minimized. The finite element method (FEM) is proven to be an affective approximate method of structural analysis if proper element types and meshes are chosen. When the method is applied to dynamics analyzed in time domain, the meshes may need to be modified at each time step. As many meshes need to be generated, adaptive mesh generation schemes have become an important part in complex time domain dynamic finite element analyses of structures. In this paper, an adaptive mesh generation scheme for dynamic finite element analyses of structures is described. The concept of representative strain value is used for error estimates and the refinements of meshes use combinations of the h-method (node movement) and the r-method (element division). The validity of the scheme is shown through a cantilever beam example under a concentrated load with varying values. The example shows reasonable accuracy and efficient computing time. Furthermore, the study shows the potential for the scheme's effective use in complex structural dynamic problems such as those under seismic or erratic wind loads.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.83-100
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• 1980

This study was intended to computerize the structural analysis of two-dimensional continuum by finite element method, and to provide a preparatory basis for more sophisticated and more generalized computer programs of this kind. A computer program, applicable to any shape of two-dimensional continuum, was formulated on the basis of 16-degree-of- freedom rectangular element. Various computational aspects pertaining to the implementation of finite element method were reviewed and settled in the course of programming. The validity of the program was checked through several case studies. To assess the accuracy and the convergence characteristics of the method, the results computed by the program were compared with solutions by other methods, namely the analytical Navier's method and the framework method. Through actual programming and analysis of the computed results, the following facts were recognized; 1) The stiffness matrix should necessarily be assembled in a condensed form in order to make it possible to discretize the continuum into practically adequate number of elements without using back-up storage. 2) For minimization of solution time, in-core solution of the equilibrium equation is essential. LDLT decomposition is recommended for stiffness matrices condensed by the compacted column storage scheme. 3) As for rectangular plates, the finite element method shows better performances both in the accuracy and in the rate of convergence than the framework method. As the number of elements increases, the error of the finite element method approaches around 1%. 4) Regardless of the structural shape, there is a uniform tendency in convergence characteristics dependent on the shape of element. Square elements show the best performance. 5) The accuracy of computation is independent of the interpolation function selected.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2000

This paper is for the first essential study on the development of unified finite element formulations for solving problems related to the dynamics/thermoelastics behavior of solids. In the first part of formulations, the finite element method is based on the introduction of a new quantity defined as heat displacement, which allows the heat conduction equations to be written in a form equivalent to the equation of motion, and the equations of coupled thermoelasticity to be written in a unified form. The equations obtained are used to express a variational formulation which, together with the concept of generalized coordinates, yields a set of differential equations with the time as an independent variable. Using the Laplace transform, the resulting finite element equations are described in the transform domain. In the second, the Laplace transform is applied to both the equation of heat conduction derived in the first part and the equations of motions and their corresponding boundary conditions, which is referred to the transformed equation. Selections of interpolation functions dependent on only the space variable and an application of the weighted residual method to the coupled equation result in the necessary finite element matrices in the transformed domain. Finally, to prove the validity of two approaches, a comparison with one finite element equation and the other is made term by term.