• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4D
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• pp.485-492
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• 2008

This study presents a viscoelastic characterization of flexible pavement subjected to moving loads. A series of field tests have been conducted on three pavement sections (A2, A5, and A8) at the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) test road. The effect of vehicle speed on the responses of each test section was investigated at three speeds: 25 km/hr, 50 km/hr, and 80 km/hr. During the test, both longitudinal and lateral strains were measured at the bottom of asphalt layers and in-situ measurements were compared with the results of finite element (FE) analyses. A commercial FE package, ABAQUS was used to model each test section and a step loading approximation has been adopted to simulate the effect a moving vehicle. For viscoelastic analysis, relaxation moduli of asphalt mixtures were obtained from laboratory test. Field responses reveals the strain anisotropy (i.e., discrepancy between longitudinal and lateral strains) and the amplitude of strain normally decreases as the vehicle speed increases. In most cases, lateral strain was smaller than longitudinal strain, and strain reduction was more significant in lateral direction.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.53-64
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• 2003

Many transmission towers, high-rise buildings and bridges are constructed near steep slopes and are supported by large-diameter piles. These structures may be subjected to large lateral loads, such as violent winds and earthquakes. Widely used types of foundations for these structures are pier foundations, which have large-diameters with high stiffness. The behavior of a pier foundation subjected to lateral loads is similar to that of a short rigid pile because both elements seem to fail by rotation developing passive resistance on opposite faces above and below the rotation point, unlike the behavior of a long flexible pile. This paper describes the results of several numerical studies performed with a three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) of model tests of a laterally loaded short pile located near slopes, respectively. In this paper, the results of model tests of single piles and pile groups subjected to lateral loading, in homogeneous sand with 30$^{\circ}$ slopes and horizontal ground were analyzed by the 3-D FE analyses. The pile was assumed to be linearly elastic. The sand was assumed to have non-associative characteristics, following the MC-DP model. The failure criterion is governed by the Mohr-Coulomb equation and the plastic potential is given by the Drucker-Prager equation. The main purpose of this paper is the validation of the 3-D elasto-plastic FEM by comparisons with the experimental data.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.33-47
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• 2017

A self-supported temporary excavation method called IER is normally applicable to excavation depth ranging from 6.0 m to 7.0 m though the method depends on ground condition and overburden load. Combining IER with another method is required in deeper excavation depth in order to maintain the structural stability of the IER. In this study, we performed model tests and 3D FE analysis to check the stability of the IER adopting soil nailing method, and to propose its effective installation method. The lateral displacement of the IER using soil nailing decreased by 92% of that of IER without soil nailing. Optimum design is possible for both economic feasibility and stability when interval spacing and length of soil nails is $1.5m(S_h){\times}0.75m(S_v)$ and 86% of excavation depth, respectively. Excavation depth using IER increases 1.71 times by adopting soil nailing in increment of lateral displacement of IER right before the last excavation stage.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.199-209
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• 2010

The locking compression plates-distal femur(LCP-DF) are being widely used for surgical management of the extra-articular complex fractures of the distal femur. They feature locking mechanism between the screws and the screw holes of the plate to provide stronger fixation force with less number of screws than conventional compression bone plate. However, their biomechanical efficacies are not fully understood, especially regarding the number of the screws inserted and their optimal configurations. In this study, we investigated effects of various screw configurations in the shaft and the condylar regions of the femur in relation to structural stability of LCP-DF system. For this purpose, a baseline 3-D finite element (FE) model of the femur was constructed from CT-scan images of a normal healthy male and was validated. The extra-articular complex fracture of the distal femur was made with a 4-cm defect. Surgical reduction with LCP-DF and bone screws were added laterally. To simulate various cases of post-op screw configurations, screws were inserted in the shaft (3~5 screws) and the condylar (4~6 screws) regions. Particular attention was paid at the shaft region where screws were inserted either in clustered or evenly-spaced fashion. Tied-contact conditions were assigned at the bone screws-plate whereas general contact condition was assumed at the interfaces between LCP-DF and bone screws. Axial compressive load of 1,610N(2.3 BW) was applied on the femoral head to reflect joint reaction force. An average of 5% increase in stiffness was found with increase in screw numbers (from 4 to 6) in the condylar region, as compared to negligible increase (less than 1%) at the shaft regardless of the number of screws inserted or its distribution, whether clustered or evenly-spaced. At the condylar region, screw insertion at the holes near the fracture interface and posterior locations contributed greater increase in stiffness (9~13%) than any other locations. Our results suggested that the screw insertion at the condylar region can be more effective than at the shaft during surgical treatment of fracture of the distal femur with LCP-DF. In addition, screw insertion at the holes close to the fracture interface should be accompanied to ensure better fracture healing.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.705-720
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• 2024

Analyzing the collapse behavior of thin-walled steel structures holds significant importance in ensuring their safety and longevity. Geometric imperfections present on the surface of metal materials can diminish both the durability and mechanical integrity of steel shells. These imperfections, encompassing local geometric irregularities and deformations such as holes, cavities, notches, and cracks localized in specific regions of the shell surface, play a pivotal role in the assessment. They can induce stress concentration within the structure, thereby influencing its susceptibility to buckling. The intricate relationship between the buckling behavior of these structures and such imperfections is multifaceted, contingent upon a variety of factors. The buckling analysis of thin-walled steel shell structures, similar to other steel structures, commonly involves the determination of crucial material properties, including elastic modulus, shear modulus, tensile strength, and fracture toughness. An established method involves the emulation of distributed geometric imperfections, utilizing real test specimen data as a basis. This approach allows for the accurate representation and assessment of the diversity and distribution of imperfections encountered in real-world scenarios. Utilizing defect data obtained from actual test samples enhances the model's realism and applicability. The sizes and configurations of these defects are employed as inputs in the modeling process, aiding in the prediction of structural behavior. It's worth noting that there is a dearth of experimental studies addressing the influence of geometric defects on the buckling behavior of cylindrical steel shells. In this particular study, samples featuring geometric imperfections were subjected to experimental buckling tests. These same samples were also modeled using Finite Element Analysis (FEM), with results corroborating the experimental findings. Furthermore, the initial geometrical imperfections were measured using digital image correlation (DIC) techniques. In this way, the response of the test specimens can be estimated accurately by applying the initial imperfections to FE models. After validation of the test results with FEA, a numerical parametric study was conducted to develop more generalized design recommendations for the stainless-steel shell structures with the initial geometric imperfection. While the load-carrying capacity of samples with perfect surfaces was up to 140 kN, the load-carrying capacity of samples with 4 mm defects was around 130 kN. Likewise, while the load carrying capacity of samples with 10 mm defects was around 125 kN, the load carrying capacity of samples with 14 mm defects was measured around 120 kN.