• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.95.2-95.2
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• 2011

In order to achieve high performance and low cost for commercial applications, the development of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), in which the electrochemical reactions actually occur, must be optimized. Expensive platinum is currently used as an electrochemical catalyst due to its high activity. Although various platinum alloys and non-platinum catalysts are under development, their stabilities and catalytic activities, especially in terms of the oxygen reduction (ORR), render them currently unsuitable for practical use. Therefore, it is important to decrease platinum loading by optimizing the catalysts and electrode microstructure. In this study, we prepared several different MEAs (non-uniform Nafion$^{(R)}$ ionomer loading electrode) which have dual catalyst layers to find the optimal Nafion$^{(R)}$ ionomer distribution in the electrodes. We changed Nafion$^{(R)}$ ionomer content in the layers to find the ideal composition of the binder and Pt/C in the electrode. For MEAs with various ionomer contents in the anodes and cathodes, the electrochemical activity (activation overpotential) and the mass transport properties (concentration overpotential) were analyzed and correlated with the single cell performance. The dual catalyst layers MEA showed higher cell performance than uniformly fabricated MEA, especially at the high current density region.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.809-825
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• 2013

In the present study, in reinforced concrete structures, beam-column connections are one of the most critical regions in areas with seismic susceptibility. Proper anchorage of reinforcement is vital to enhance the performance of beam-column joints. Congestion of reinforcement and construction difficulties are reported frequently while using conventional reinforcement detailing in beam-column joints of reinforced concrete structures. An effort has been made to study and evaluate the performance of beam-column joints with joint detailing as per ACI-352 (mechanical anchorage), ACI-318 (conventional hooks bent) and IS-456(full anchorage conventional hooks bent) along with confinement as per IS-13920 and without confinement. Apart from finding solutions for these problems, significant improvements in seismic performance, ductility and strength were observed while using mechanical anchorage in combination with X-cross bars for less seismic prone areas and X-cross bar plus hair clip joint reinforcement for higher seismic prone areas. To evaluate the performances of these types of anchorages and joint details, the specimens were assembled into four groups, each group having three specimens have been tested under reversal loading and the results are presented in this paper.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.233-244
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• 2018

This study aims at evaluating the performance of repairing technique with CFRPs in recovering cyclic performance of damaged columns in flexure in terms of structural response parameters such as strength, dissipated energy, stiffness degradation. A 2/3 scaled substandard reinforced concrete frame was constructed to represent the substandard RC buildings especially in developing countries. These substandard buildings have several structural deficiencies such as strong beam-weak column phenomenon, improper reinforcement detailing and poor material properties. Flexural plastic hinges occurred at the columns ends after testing the substandard specimen under both constant axial load and reversed cyclic lateral loading. Afterwards, the damaged columns were externally wrapped with CFRP sheets both in transverse and longitudinal directions and then retested under the same loading protocol. In addition, ambient vibration measurements were taken from the undamaged, damaged and the repaired specimens at each structural repair steps to identify the effectiveness of each repairing step by monitoring the change in the natural frequencies of the tested specimen. The ambient vibration test results showed that the applied repairing technique with external CFRP wrapping was proved to recover stiffness of the pre-damaged specimen. Moreover, the lateral load capacity of the pre-damaged substandard RC frame was restored with externally bonded CFRP sheets.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2018

The present study focuses on the performance of basalt fiber reinforced concrete (BFRC) lining in tunnel situated in sandstone rock when subjected to internal blast loading. The blast analysis of the lined tunnel is carried out using the three-dimensional (3-D) nonlinear finite element (FE) method. The stress-strain response of the sandstone rock is simulated using a crushable plasticity model which can simulate the brittle behavior of rock and that of BFRC lining is analyzed using a damaged plasticity model for concrete capturing damage response. The strain rate dependent material properties of BFRC are collected from the literature and that of rock are taken from the authors' previous work using split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The constitutive model performance is validated through the FE simulation of SHPB test and the comparison of simulation results with the experimental data. Further, blast loading in the tunnel is simulated for 10 kg and 50 kg Trinitrotoluene (TNT) charge weights using the equivalent pressure-time curves obtained through hydrocode simulations. The analysis results are studied for the stress and displacement response of rock and tunnel lining. Blast performance of BFRC lining is compared with that of plain concrete (PC) and steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) lining materials. It is observed that the BFRC lining exhibits almost 65% lesser displacement as compared to PC and 30% lesser displacement as compared to SFRC tunnel linings.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.29 no.9A
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• pp.998-1004
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• 2004

In this paper we propose a discrete bit-loading algorithm that maximizes the transmit bit rate using the channel information. to optimize the performance of the very high-speed digital subscriber line(VDSL) system under the constraint of a maximum transmit power for each user. When the power level of crosstalk is high, the power allocation of a user changes the crosstalk experienced by the other users in the same binder. In this case, the performance of DSL modems can be improved by jointly considering the bit and power allocation of all users Simulation results shows that the proposed method improves the performance compared With that of iterative water-filling method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.105-120
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• 2011

The strengthening and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete structures with externally bonded carbon fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates has shown excellent performance and, as a result, this technology is rapidly replacing steel plate bonding techniques. This paper addresses this issue, and presents results deals with the influence of external bonded CFRP-reinforcement on the time-dependent behavior of reinforced concrete beams. A total of eight reinforced concrete beams with cracked and un-cracked section, with and without externally bonded CFRP laminates, were investigated for their creep and shrinkage behavior. All the beams considered in this paper were simply supported and subjected to a uniform sustained loading for the period of six months. The main parameters of this study are two types of sustained load and different degrees of strengthening scheme for both cracked and un-cracked sections of beams. Both analytical and experimental work has been carried out on strengthened beams to investigate the cracking and deflection performance. The applied sustained load was 56% and 38% of the ultimate static capacities of the un-strengthened beams for cracked and un-cracked section respectively. The analytical values based on effective modulus method (EMM) are compared to the experimental results and it is found that the analytical values are in general give conservative estimates of the experimental results. It was concluded that the attachment of CFRP composite laminates has a positive influence on the long term performance of strengthened beams.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 1999

Wind effects are critical considerations in the design of topside structures, overall structural systems, or both, depending on the water depth and type of offshore platform. The reliable design of these facilities for oil fields in regions of hostile environment can only be assured through better understanding of the environmental load effects and enhanced response prediction capabilities. This paper summarizes the analysis and performance of offshore platforms under extreme wind loads, including the quantification of wind load effects with focus on wind field characteristics, steady and unsteady loads, gust loading factors, application of wind tunnel tests, and the provisions of the American Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 2A - Working Stress Design (API RP 2A-WSD) for the construction of offshore structures under the action of wind. A survey of the performance of platforms and satellite structures is provided, and failure mechanisms concerning different damage scenarios during Hurricane Andrew are examined. Guidelines and provisions for improving analysis and design of structures are addressed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.379-393
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• 2012

Of the various methods of splicing reinforcing bar in reinforced concrete structure, mortar-filled sleeve reinforcement splice offers diverse benefits, not only in terms of structural performance but also for the construction process. Consequently, after the mortar-filled sleeve splices have been developed in recent years, research and development on these splices has been actively carried out, in order to evaluate its macro structural performance, such as its strength and stiffness, with the aim of enabling this system to be applied to construction in the field as early as possible. However, to make a proper evaluation on the overall structural performance of the mortar-filled sleeve reinforcing bar splice, it is of critical importance to understand the lateral confining action of the sleeve, which is known to affect the bond strength between the embedded bar and mortar in the sleeve. Accordingly, in this study, an experiment of monotonic loading and cyclic loading was conducted with a full-sized mortar-filled sleeve splice attaching strain gauges on the sleeve surface with experimental variables such as development length of bar, etc. Based on the test results, the effect of the lateral confining action of the sleeve was analyzed and considered in terms of the bond strength between the bar and mortar in this splice.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.91-104
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• 2012

There is relatively little numerical study on the behavior of eccentrically loaded high strength rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) slender beam-columns with large depth-to-thickness ratios, which may undergo local and global buckling. This paper presents a multiscale numerical model for simulating the interaction local and global buckling behavior of high strength thin-walled rectangular CFST slender beam-columns under eccentric loading. The effects of progressive local buckling are taken into account in the mesoscale model based on fiber element formulations. Computational algorithms based on the M$\ddot{u}$ller's method are developed to obtain complete load-deflection responses of CFST slender beam-columns at the macroscale level. Performance indices are proposed to quantify the performance of CFST slender beam-columns. The accuracy of the multiscale numerical model is examined by comparisons of computer solutions with existing experimental results. The numerical model is utilized to investigate the effects of concrete compressive strength, depth-to-thickness ratio, loading eccentricity ratio and column slenderness ratio on the performance indices. The multiscale numerical model is shown to be accurate and efficient for predicting the interaction buckling behavior of high strength thin-walled CFST slender beam-columns.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2019

In a cryogenic storage structure, the insulation system is in an environment in which fluid impact loads occur throughout the lifetime of the structure. In this study, we investigated the effect of repetitive impact loading on the mechanical performance of glass fiber-reinforced polyurethane foam. The repeated impact loading test was conducted in accordance with the required impact energy and the required number of repetitive impacts. The impact behavior of glass fiber-reinforced polyurethane foam was analyzed in terms of stress and displacement. After the impact test, the specimen was subjected to a compression test to evaluate its mechanical performance. We analyzed the critical impact energy that affected mechanical performance. For the impact conditions that were tested, the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the polyurethane foam can be degraded significantly.