• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.5
• /
• pp.1712-1725
• /
• 2022

For improving the seismic performance of the nuclear power plant (NPP) piping system, attempts have been made to apply a dynamic absorber (DA). However, the current piping DA design method is limited because it cannot provide the globally optimum values for the target design seismic loading. Therefore, this study proposes a seismic time history analysis-based DA optimal design method for piping. To this end, the Kriging approach is introduced to reduce the numerical cost required for seismic time history analyses. The appropriate design of the experiment method is used to increase the efficiency in securing response data. A gradient-based method is used to efficiently deal with the multi-dimensional unconstrained optimization problem of the DA optimal design. As a result, the proposed method showed an excellent response reduction effect in several responses compared to other optimal design methods. The proposed method showed that the average response reduction rate was about 9% less at the maximum acceleration, about 5% less at the maximum value of the response spectrum, about 9% less at the maximum relative displacement, and about 4% less at the maximum combined stress compared to existing optimal design methods. Therefore, the proposed method enables an effective optimal DA design method for mitigating seismic response in NPP piping in the future.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.461-477
• /
• 2022

Dynamic Positioning (DP) is a system that uses computer-controlled thrusters, propellers, and other propulsion devices to automatically maintain a vessel's position and heading. In this study, a wind turbine installation vessel with DP capabilities was proposed for use in mild environmental conditions in the Yellow Sea. The thruster arrangements of the vessel were analyzed in relation to wind and current loads, and it was found that a four-corner arrangement of thrusters provided the best position-keeping performance. The vessel's DP control performance was also analyzed in relation to the increased environmental load caused by the presence of a wind turbine, using a capability plot. The vessel's performance was evaluated in three different states: floating with no load, during the loading of a wind turbine and suction buckets, and after the wind turbine has been installed. The use of 750 kW and 1,000 kW thrusters was also considered, and the environmental loads in the Saemangeum coastal area and the environmental load when a 5-Megawatt wind turbine is on board were assessed. The study concluded that at least four thrusters should be used for DP to safely manage the installation process of wind turbines.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.55-66
• /
• 2022

To develop high-efficiency lateral force resistance components for high-rise buildings, a novel energy dissipation shear wall with concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) column elements was proposed. An energy dissipation shear wall specimen with CFST column elements (GZSW) and an ordinary reinforced concrete shear wall (SW) were constructed, and experimented by low-cycle reversed loading. The mechanical characteristics of these two specimens, including the bearing capacity, ductility, energy dissipation, and stiffness degradation process, were analyzed. The finite-element model of the GZSW was established by ABAQUS. Based on this finite-element model, the effect of the placement of steel-plate energy dissipation connectors on the seismic performance of the shear wall was analyzed, and optimization was performed. The experiment results prove that, the GZSW exhibited a superior seismic performance in terms of bearing capacity, ductility, energy dissipation, and stiffness degradation, in comparison with the SW. The results calculated by the ABAQUS finite-elements model of GZSW corresponded well with the results of experiment, and it proved the rationality of the established finite-elements model. In addition, the optimal placement of the steel-plate energy dissipation connectors was obtained by ABAQUS.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.82 no.3
• /
• pp.313-323
• /
• 2022

Steel laminated elastomeric bearings are commonly used in bridge structures to control displacements and rotations and transfer forces from the superstructure to the substructure. Proper knowledge of design, fabrication and erection procedures is important to ensure stability and adequate structural performance during the lifetime of the bridge. Difference in elevations sometimes leads to large size gaps between the bearing and the girder which makes the grout thickness that is commonly used for leveling deviate beyond standards. This paper investigates the structural response of High Strength Fiber Reinforced Cementitious (HSFRC) thin plinths that are used to close gaps between bearing pads and precast girders. An experimental program was developed for this purpose where HSFRC plinths of different size were cast and tested under vertical loads that simulate bridge loading in service. The structural performance of the plinths was closely monitored during testing, mainly crack propagation, vertical reaction and displacement. Analytically, the HSFRC plinth was analyzed using the beam on elastic foundation theory as the supporting elastomeric bearing pads are highly compressible. Closed form solutions were derived for induced displacement and forces and comparisons were made between analytical and experimental results. Finally, recommendations were made to facilitate the practical use of HSFRC plinths in bridge construction based on its enhanced load carrying capacity in shear and flexure.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2022

In this study, an incremental loading test of the HRS(Hybrid Rubber Slit) damper was additionally performed to define the physical characteristics according to the incremental test results, and an analytical study was performed according to the damping design procedure by selecting an example structure. As a result of performing seismic performance evaluation before reinforcement by selecting a RC structure similar to an actual school structure as an example structure, the story drift ratio was satisfied, but some column members collapsed due to bending deformation. In order to secure the seismic performance, the damping design procedure of the HRS damper was presented and performed. As a result of calculating the amount of damping device according to the expected damping ratio and applying it to the example structure, the hysteresis behavior was stable without decrease in strength, and the story drift ratio and the shear force were reduced according to the damping effect. Finally the column members that had collapsed before reinforcement satisfied the LS Level.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.101-118
• /
• 2022

The seismic performance of the reinforced concrete (RC) special-shaped column to steel beam connections with steel jacket used in the RC column to steel beam fabricated frame structures was investigated in this study. The three full-scale specimens were subjected to cyclic loading. The failure mode, ultimate bearing capacity, shear strength capacity, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capacity, and strain distribution of the specimens were studied by varying the steel jacket thickness parameters. Test results indicate that the RC special-shaped column to steel beam connection with steel jacket is reliable and has excellent seismic performance. The hysteresis curve is full and has excellent energy dissipation capacity. The thickness of the steel jacket is an important parameter affecting the seismic performance of the proposed connections, and the shear strength capacity, ductility, and initial stiffness of the specimens improve with the increase in the thickness of the steel jacket. The calculation formula for the shear strength capacity of RC special-shaped column to steel beam connections with steel jacket is proposed on the basis of the experimental results and numerical simulation analysis. The theoretical values of the formula are in good agreement with the experimental values.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.571-585
• /
• 2023

The application of relatively low volumes of fibres in normal strength concrete has been shown to be of significant benefit when applied to composite slabs with profiled sheet decking. This paper reports on an experimental study aimed at quantifying further potential benefits that may arise from applying ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete. To assess performance six simply supported beams were tested under hogging and sagging loading configurations along with three two span continuous beams. Fibre contents are varied from 0% to 2% and changes in strength, deformation, crack width and moment redistribution are measured. At the serviceability limit state, it is shown that the addition of high fibre volumes can significantly enhance member stiffness and reduce crack widths in all beams. At the ultimate limit state it is observed that a transition from 0% to 1% fibres significantly increases strength but that there is a maximum fibre volume beyond which no further increases in strength are possible. Conversely, member ductility and moment redistribution are shown to be strongly proportional to fibre volume.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this study is to experimentally analyze the seismic performance of column with RSB (Replaceable Steel Brace), a steel brace system with slot length as a variable. To evaluate the seismic performance of the RSB, three specimens were manufactured and subjected to cyclic loading tests. The length of the sliding slots were considered to be 5 mm and 10mm to enable the brace to resist the load from the initiation of flexural crack and shear crack. As a result of the test, the specimen reinforced with the RSB showed improved maximun load and effective stiffness, and energy dissipation capacity compared to the non-reinforced specimens. The specimens with 5mm sliding slot showed little difference in test result compared to the specimen with a 10mm sliding slot, indicating that the length of sliding slot has little influence on the effectiveness of RSB.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 2007

This research presents two methods to prevent local buckling from circular tube brace and then verify their performance capacity through a cyclic loading test. As control methods on local buckling, one is to restrict local buckling as attaching cover plate at range of buckling. And the another is to exclude danger of buckling as inserting contraction device with rod and spring at the center of brace. The purpose of this research is to develop structural device for restriction of local buckling or for exclusion of its. And we investigate appliance of suggested methods through an experiment. We also estimate the improvement of performance capacity in a quantitative respect.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.1638-1653
• /
• 2024

Given the unpredictability of the occurrence of the earthquake and other potential disasters into consideration, the nuclear power plant may be confronted with beyond design-basis earthquake load in the future. The containment structure may be severely damaged under such severe earthquake loading, increasing the risk of containment concrete cracking and potential radioactive materials leaking. Moreover, initial damage caused by the earthquake may significantly alter the pressure performance of the containment under follow-up internal pressure. To compromise the dangers of beyond design-basis earthquake to the containment, an alternative of replacing the conventional concrete with fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) to upgrade the seismic resistance capacity of the containment is attempted and thoroughly researched. In this study, the influence of various fiber types such as rigid fiber and mixed fiber is regarded to constitute fiber-reinforced PCCVs. The physical properties of traditional and fiber-reinforced PCCVs under earthquake ground motions are scientifically compared and identified by using traditional and proposed evaluation indices. The results indicate that both the traditional evaluation index (i.e. top displacement, stress, strain) and the proposed damage index are greatly reduced by the practice of fiber strengthening under earthquake ground motions.