• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.519-538
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• 2013

The design optimization of a cold-formed steel portal frame building is considered in this paper. The proposed genetic algorithm (GA) optimizer considers both topology (i.e., frame spacing and pitch) and cross-sectional sizes of the main structural members as the decision variables. Previous GAs in the literature were characterized by poor convergence, including slow progress, that usually results in excessive computation times and/or frequent failure to achieve an optimal or near-optimal solution. This is the main issue addressed in this paper. In an effort to improve the performance of the conventional GA, a niching strategy is presented that is shown to be an effective means of enhancing the dissimilarity of the solutions in each generation of the GA. Thus, population diversity is maintained and premature convergence is reduced significantly. Through benchmark examples, it is shown that the efficient GA proposed generates optimal solutions more consistently. A parametric study was carried out, and the results included. They show significant variation in the optimal topology in terms of pitch and frame spacing for a range of typical column heights. They also show that the optimized design achieved large savings based on the cost of the main structural elements; the inclusion of knee braces at the eaves yield further savings in cost, that are significant.

• Proceedings of the Korean Operations and Management Science Society Conference
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.514-517
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• 1996

In solving multi-level knapsack problems, conventional heuristic approaches often assume a short-sighted plan within a static decision enviornment to find a near optimal solution. These conventional approaches are inflexible, and lack the ability to adapt to different problem structures. This research approaches the problem from a totally different viewpoint, and a new method is designed and implemented. This method performs intelligent actions based on memories of historic data and learning. These actions are developed not only by observing the attributes of the optimal solution, the solution space, and its corresponding path to the optimal solution, but also by applying human intelligence, experience, and intuition with respect to the search strategies. The method intensifies, or diversifies the search process appropriately in time and space. In order to create a good neighborhood structure, this method uses two powerful choice rules that emphasize the impact of candidate variables on the current solution with respect to their profit contribution. A side effect of so-called "pseudo moves", similar to "aspirations", supports these choice rules during the evaluation process. For the purpose of visiting as many relevant points as possible, strategic oscillation between feasible and infeasible solutions around the boundary is applied for intensification. To avoid redundant moves, short-term (tabu-lists), intermediate-term (cycle detection), and long-term (recording frequency and significant solutions for diversification) memories are used. Test results show that among the 45 generated problems (these problems pose significant or insurmountable challenges to exact methods) the approach produces the optimal solutions in 39 cases.lutions in 39 cases.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.291-300
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• 1994

It is desired to operate tractor engines at or near maximum torque much of the time in field operation to increase fuel efficiency. To do this it is necessary to reduce engine speed and to shift gears to higher ratios as frequently as possible. Because of load variations in most drawbar work and inconvenience in gear shift, however, gear-type transmission are usually set in one ratio at unnecessarily high engine speeds, and engine-torque variations are used to compensate for changes in drawbar load. As a result, the most of time the tractor is not operated efficiently in terms of fuel consumption and work output. The objective of this study was to develop an automatic control system which is able to operate a tractor equipped with gear transmission under the optimal condition in terms of fuel efficiency with automatic governor setting and gear shift. An indoor experimental test set which can be used to simulate tractor operation, control engine speed and transmission ratio was developed in the previous paper. In this paper, the performance of the optimal operation system is reported. Through a series of tests, it was found that the automatic control system for optimal operation of tractors with gear transmission had a satisfactory performance.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1163-1170
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• 2014

Due to global environmental regulations and policies with rapid advancement of renewable energy technologies, the development type of renewable energy sources (RES) in power systems is expanding from small-scale distributed generation to large-scale grid-connected systems. In the near future, it is expected that RES achieves grid parity which means the equilibrium point where the power cost of RES is equal to the power costs of conventional generators. However, although RES would achieve the grid parity, the cost related with development of large-scale RES is still a big burden. Furthermore, it is hard to determine a suitable capacity of RES because of their output characteristics affected by locations and weather effects. Therefore, to determine an optimal capacity for RES becomes an important decision-making problem. This study proposes a method for determining an optimal installed capacity of RES from the business viewpoint of an independent power plant (IPP). In order to verify the proposed method, we have performed case studies on real power system in Incheon and Shiheung areas, South Korea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.206-209
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• 2005

Optimal path search systems to take continuously changed traffic flows into consideration is necessary in order to reduce the cost to get destination. However, to search optimal path in client terminals with low computing power yields high computational cost. Thus, a method with low cost and near optimal path as well is required. In this paper, we propose a path search method using variable heuristic for the sake of reducing operation time. The heuristic is determined by the change of the average speeds of cars located in grid which means a rectangle region.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.1104-1111
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• 2009

In the low altitude, mission of the aircraft is restricted by a variety of threats such as anti-air missiles and terrain obstacles. Especially, aircraft have always a risk of ground collision near terrain. In this study, to effectively solve this problem, we developed the flight path generation algorithm that is considered the terrain avoidance. In this flight path generation algorithm, waypoints that should be passed by the UAV are selected first. The waypoints are located in the middle of the terrain obstacles. Then, physically meaningful waypoints sets are classified by Dijkstra algorithm. The optimal waypoint guidance law based on the optimal control theory is applied to produce trajectory candidates. And finally the minimum control energy trajectory is determined.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.609-617
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• 2013

This paper presents a near-minimum time path planning algorithm for autonomous driving. The problem of near-minimum time path planning is an optimization problem in which it is necessary to take into account not only the geometry of the circuit but also the dynamics of the vehicle. The path planning algorithm consists of a candidate path generation and a velocity optimization algorithm. The candidate path generation algorithm calculates the compromises between the shortest path and the path that allows the highest speeds to be achieved. The velocity optimization algorithm calculates the lap time of each candidate considering the vehicle driving performance and tire friction limit. By using the calculated path and velocity of each candidate, we calculate the lap times and search for a near-minimum time path. The proposed algorithm was evaluated via computer simulation using CarSim and Matlab/Simulink.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.701-721
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• 2016

Base isolation is a well-established passive strategy for seismic response control of buildings. In this paper, an efficient framework is proposed for reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) of isolated buildings subjected to uncertain earthquakes. The framework uses reduced function evaluations method, as an efficient tool for structural reliability analysis, and an efficient optimization algorithm for optimal structural design. The probability of failure is calculated considering excessive base displacement, superstructure inter-storey drifts, member stress ratios and absolute accelerations of floors of the isolated building as failure events. The behavior of rubber bearing isolators is modeled using nonlinear hysteretic model and the variability of future earthquakes is modeled by applying a probabilistic approach. The effects of pulse component of stochastic near-fault ground motions, fixity-factor of semi-rigid beam-to-column connections, values of isolator parameters, earthquake magnitude and epicentral distance on the performance and safety of semi-rigidly connected base-isolated steel framed buildings are studied. Suitable RBDO examples are solved to illustrate the results of investigations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.621-642
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• 2011

Passive tuned mass dampers (TMDs) efficiently suppress vibrations induced by quasi-stationary dynamic inputs, such as winds, sea waves or traffic loads, but may prove of little use against pulse-like excitations, such as near-field (NF) ground motions. The extent of such impairment is however controversial, partly due to the different evaluation criteria adopted within the literature, partly to the limited number of seismic records used in most investigations. In this study, three classical techniques and two new variants for designing a TMD on an SDOF structure are tested under 338 NF records from the PEER NGA database, including 156 records with forward-directivity features. Percentile response reduction spectra are introduced to statistically assess TMD performance, and TMD robustness is verified through Monte Carlo simulations. The methodology is extended to a variety of MDOF bending-type and shear-type frames, and simulated on a case study building structure recently constructed in Central Italy.Results offer an interesting insight into the performance of TMDs against NF earthquakes, ultimately showing that, if properly designed and sufficiently massive, TMDs are effective and robust even in the face of pulse-like ground motions. The two newly proposed design techniques are shown to generally outperform the classical ones.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.511-521
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• 2022

Decommissioning of nuclear power plants generates a large amount of radioactive waste in a short period. Moreover, Radioactive waste has various forms including a large volumes of metal, concrete, and solid waste. The disposal of decommissioning waste using 200 L drums is inefficient in terms of economics, work efficiency, and radiation safety. Therefore, The Korea Radioactive Waste Agency is developing large containers for the packaging, transportation, and disposal of decommissioning waste. Assessing disposability considering the characteristics of the radioactive waste and facility, convenience of operation, and safety of workers is necessary. In this study, the exposure dose rate of workers during the disposal of new containers was evaluated using Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport code. Six normal and four abnormal scenarios were derived for the assessment of the dose rate in a near surface disposal facility operation. The results showed that the calculated dose rates in all normal scenarios were lower than the direct exposure dose limitation of workers in the safety analysis report. In abnormal scenarios, the work hours with dose rates below 20 mSv·y^-1 were calculated. The results of this study will be useful in establishing the optimal radiation work conditions.