• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.419-424
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• 2014

In order to improve efficiency, an outdoor unit using a refrigerant cooling method is designed into many air conditioner systems. The heat exchanger is composed of a Cu tube and an plate. The optimal design for the cold plate is very important because the efficiency of the heat transfer depends on the contact area between the Cu tube and the cold plate. The current study focused on the design of the cold plate to obtain a uniform contact between the Cu tube and the cold plate. Both FE(finite element) analysis and optimization were used in the design. The contact area between the tube and plate was predicted and improved by 16% through the press forming simulations. The springback after press forming was also reduced when the optimized design parameters were used. To verify the validity of the optimal cold plate design, a verification test was conducted. As a result, the performance of the heat exchanger improved by 34% when compared to benchmarked products.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.99-114
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• 2017

In cognitive science, it is illustrated how the collective opinions of a group of individuals answers to questions involving quantity estimation. One example of this approach is introduced in this article as Star Graph (SG) algorithm. This graph describes the details of communication among individuals to share their information and make a new decision. A new labyrinthine network of neighbors is defined in the decision-making process of the algorithm. In order to prevent getting trapped in local optima, the neighboring networks are regenerated in each iteration of the algorithm. In this algorithm, the normal distribution is utilized for a group of agents with the best results (guidance group) to replace the existing infeasible solutions. Here, some new functions are introduced to provide a high convergence for the method. These functions not only increase the local and global search capabilities but also require less computational effort. Various benchmark functions and engineering problems are examined and the results are compared with those of some other algorithms to show the capability and performance of the presented method.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.555-581
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• 2018

The moment-resistant steel frames are frequently used as a load-bearing structure of buildings. Global response of a moment-resistant frame structure strongly depends on connections behavior, which can significantly influence the response and load-bearing capacity of a steel frame structure. The analysis of a steel frame with included joints behavior is the main focus of this work. In particular, we analyze the behavior of two connection types through experimental tests, and we propose numerical beam model capable of representing connection behavior. The six experimental tests, under monotonic and cyclic loading, are performed for two different types of structural connections: end plate connection with an extended plate and end plate connection. The proposed damage-plasticity model of Reissner beam is able to capture both hardening and softening response under monotonic and cyclic loading. This model has 18 constitutive parameters, whose identification requires an elaborate procedure, which we illustrate in this work. We also present appropriate loading program and arrangement of measuring equipment, which is crucial for successful identification of constitutive parameters. Finally, throughout several practical examples, we illustrate that the steel structure connections are very important for correct prediction of the global steel frame structure response.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1183-1192
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• 1993

Since the punching time is strongly related to the productivity in sheet metal stamping, there have been a lot of efforts to obtain the optimal tool path. However, most of the conventional efforts have the basic limitations to provide the global optimal solution because of the inherent difficulties of the NP hard combinatorial optimization problem. The existing methods search the optimal tool path with limiting tool changes to the minimal number, which proves not to be a global optimal solution. In this work, the turret rotation time is also considered in addition to the bed translation time of the NCT machine, and the total punching time is minimized by the simulated annealing algorithm. Some manufacturing constraints in punching sequences such as punching priority constraint and punching accuracy constraint are incorporated automatically in optimization, while several user-interactions to edit the final tool path are usually required in commercial systems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2017

A nonlinear static procedure considering work-energy principle and global failure mechanism to estimate base shears of reinforced concrete (RC) frame-type structures is presented. The relative energy equation comprising of elastic vibrational energy, plastic strain energy and seismic input energy is obtained. The input energy is modified with a factor depending on damping ratio and ductility, and the energy that contributes to damage is obtained. The plastic energy is decreased with a factor to consider the reduced hysteretic behavior of RC members. Given the pre-selected failure mechanism, the modified energy balance equality is written using various approximations for modification factors of input energy and plastic energy in scientific literature. External work done by the design lateral forces distributed to story levels in accordance with Turkish Seismic Design Code is calculated considering the target plastic drift. Equating the plastic energy obtained from energy balance to external work done by the equivalent inertia forces considering, a total of 16 energy-based base shears for each frame are derived considering different combinations of modification factors. Ductility related parameters of modification factors are determined from pushover analysis. Relative input energy of multi degree of freedom (MDOF) system is approximated by using the modal-energy-decomposition approach. Energy-based design base shears are compared with those obtained from nonlinear time history (NLTH) analysis using recorded accelerograms. It is found that some of the energy-based base shears are in reasonable agreement with the mean base shear obtained from NLTH analysis.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.699-712
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• 2017

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a newly developed retrofitting scheme for masonry-infilled non-ductile RC frames experimentally and by numerical simulation. The technique focuses on modifying the load path and yield mechanism of the infilled frame to enhance the ductility. A vertical gap between the column and the infill panel was strategically introduced so that no shear force is directly transferred to the column. Steel brackets and small vertical steel members were then provided to transfer the interactive forces between the RC frame and the masonry panel. Wire meshes and high-strength mortar were provided in areas with high stress concentration and in the panel to further reduce damage. Cyclic load tests on a large-scale specimen of a single-bay, single-story, masonry-infilled RC frame were carried out. Based on those tests, the retrofitting scheme provided significant improvement, especially in terms of ductility enhancement. All retrofitted specimens clearly exhibited much better performances than those stipulated in building standards for masonry-infilled structures. A macro-scale computer model based on a diagonal-strut concept was also developed for predicting the global behavior of the retrofitted masonry-infilled frames. This proposed model was effectively used to evaluate the global responses of the test specimens with acceptable accuracy, especially in terms of strength, stiffness and damage condition.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.707-719
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• 2018

In this article, a new method is introduced to improve the local search capability of meta-heuristic algorithms using the projection of the path on the border of constraints. In a mathematical point of view, the Gradient Projection Method is applied through a new approach, while the imposed limitations are removed. Accordingly, the gradient vector is replaced with a new meta-heuristic based vector. Besides, the active constraint identification algorithm, and the projection method are changed into less complex approaches. As a result, if a constraint is violated by an agent, a new path will be suggested to correct the direction of the agent's movement. The presented procedure includes three main steps: (1) the identification of the active constraint, (2) the neighboring point determination, and (3) the new direction and step length. Moreover, this method can be applied to some meta-heuristic algorithms. It increases the chance of convergence in the final phase of the search process, especially when the number of the violations of the constraints increases. The method is applied jointly with the authors' newly developed meta-heuristic algorithm, entitled Star Graph. The capability of the resulted hybrid method is examined using the optimal design of truss and frame structures. Eventually, the comparison of the results with other meta-heuristics of the literature shows that the hybrid method is successful in the global as well as local search.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.37-55
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• 2010

For large-scale structures, the calculation of the eigensolution and the eigensensitivity is usually very time-consuming. This paper develops the Kron's substructuring method to compute the first-order derivatives of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors with respect to the structural parameters. The global structure is divided into several substructures. The eigensensitivity of the substructures are calculated via the conventional manner, and then assembled into the eigensensitivity of the global structure by performing some constraints on the derivative matrices of the substructures. With the proposed substructuring method, the eigenvalue and eigenvector derivatives with respect to an elemental parameter are computed within the substructure solely which contains the element, while the derivative matrices of all other substructures with respect to the parameter are zero. Consequently this can reduce the computation cost significantly. The proposed substructuring method is applied to the GARTEUR AG-11 frame and a highway bridge, which is proved to be computationally efficient and accurate for calculation of the eigensensitivity. The influence of the master modes and the division formations are also discussed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.311-325
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• 2011

Nowadays, many engineers believe that hybrid structures with reinforced concrete central core walls and perimeter steel frames offer an economical method to develop the strength and stiffness required for seismic design. As a result, a variety of such structures have recently been applied in actual construction. However, the performance-based seismic design of such structures has not been investigated systematically. In the performance-based seismic design, quantifying the seismic damage of complete structures by damage indices is one of the fundamental issues. Four damage states and the final softening index at each state for high-rise hybrid structures are suggested firstly in this paper. Based on nonlinear dynamic analysis, the relation of the maximum inter-story drift, the main structural characteristics, and the final softening index is obtained. At the same time, the relation between the maximum inter-story drift and the maximum roof displacement over the height is also acquired. A double-variable index accounting for maximum deformation and cumulative energy is put forward based on the pushover analysis. Finally, a case study is conducted on a high-rise hybrid structure model tested on shaking table before to verify the suggested quantities of damage indices.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 1996

Vector algorithms and the relative importance of the four basic modules (computation of element stiffness matrices, assembly of the global stiffness matrix, solution of the system of linear simultaneous equations, and calculation of stresses and strains) of a finite element computer program for inelastic analysis of reinforced concrete shells are presented. Performance of the vector program is compared with a scalar program. For a cooling tower problem, the speedup factor from the scalar to the vector program is 34 for the element stiffness matrices calculation, 25.3 for the assembly of global stiffness matrix, 27.5 for the equation solver, and 37.8 for stresses, strains and nodal forces computations on a Gray Y-MP. The overall speedup factor is 30.9. When the equation solver alone is vectorized, which is computationally the most intensive part of a finite element program, a speedup factor of only 1.9 is achieved. When the rest of the program is also vectorized, a large additional speedup factor of 15.9 is attained. Therefore, it is very important that all the modules in a nonlinear program are vectorized to gain the full potential of the supercomputers. The vector finite element computer program for inelastic analysis of RC shells with layered elements developed in the present study enabled us to perform mesh convergence studies. The vector program can be used for studying the ultimate behavior of RC shells and used as a design tool.