• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.711-731
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• 2020

This paper deals with free vibration of FG sandwich annular sector plates on Pasternak elastic foundation with different boundary conditions, based on the three-dimensional theory of elasticity. The plates with simply supported radial edges and arbitrary boundary conditions on their circular edges are considered. The influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) waviness, aspect ratio, internal pores and graphene platelets (GPLs) on the vibrational behavior of functionally graded nanocomposite sandwich plates is investigated in this research work. The distributions of CNTs are considered functionally graded (FG) or uniform along the thickness of upper and bottom layers of the sandwich sectorial plates and their mechanical properties are estimated by an extended rule of mixture. In this study, the classical theory concerning the mechanical efficiency of a matrix embedding finite length fibers has been modified by introducing the tube-to-tube random contact, which explicitly accounts for the progressive reduction of the tubes' effective aspect ratio as the filler content increases. The core of structure is porous and the internal pores and graphene platelets (GPLs) are distributed in the matrix of core either uniformly or non-uniformly according to three different patterns. The elastic properties of the nanocomposite are obtained by employing Halpin-Tsai micromechanics model. A semi-analytic approach composed of 2D-Generalized Differential Quadrature Method (2D-GDQM) and series solution is adopted to solve the equations of motion. The fast rate of convergence and accuracy of the method are investigated through the different solved examples. Some new results for the natural frequencies of the plate are prepared, which include the effects of elastic coefficients of foundation, boundary conditions, material and geometrical parameters. The new results can be used as benchmark solutions for future researches.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.5-20
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• 2022

To analyze the flow and density variations in debris flows, a two-phase finite volume model simplified with momentum equations was constructed in this study. The Hershel-Buckley rheology model was employed in this model to account for the internal and basal friction of debris flows and was utilized to analyze complex topography and entrainments of basal soil beds. In order to numerically solve the debris flow analysis model, a finite volume model with the Harten-Lax-van Leer-Contact method was used to solve the conservation equation for the debris flow interface. Case studies of circular dam failure, non-Newtonian fluid dam failure, and multiple debris flows were analyzed using the proposed model to evaluate shock absorption capacity, numerical isotropy, model accuracy, and mass conservation. The numerical stability and correctness of the debris flow analysis of this analysis model were proven by the analysis results. Additionally, the rate of debris flow with various rheological properties was systematically simulated, and the effect of debris flow rheological properties on behavior was analyzed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.3310-3316
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• 2022

Owing to the rising concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants (NPP), it is essential to study the venturi scrubber in detail, which is a key component of the filtered containment venting system (FCVS). FCVS alleviates the pressurein containment byfiltering and venting out the contaminated air. Themain objective of this research was to perform a CFD investigation of different configurations of a circular, non-submerged, self-priming venturi scrubber to estimate and improve the performance in the removal of elemental iodine from the air. For benchmarking, a mass transfer model which is based on two-film theory was selected and validated by experimental data where an alkaline solution was considered as the scrubbing solution. This mass transfer model was modified and implemented on a unique formation of two self-priming venturi scrubbers in series. Euler-Euler method was used for two-phase modeling and the realizable K-ε model was used for capturing the turbulence. The obtained results showed a remarkable improvement in the removal of radioactive iodine from the air using a series combination of venturi scrubbers. The removal efficiency was improved at every single data point.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.131-142
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• 2021

For old piers constructed when seismic design code had not been developed, lap splices usually exist in plastic hinge region. Corrosion of rebars causes decreasement in cross-sectional area of rebar and deterioration of lap-splice behaviour, thereby reducing the seismic performance of the old piers. In this research, according to these characteristics of old piers, test specimens are designed and manufactured considering rebar corrosion, lap splice, seismic design details, and seismic reinforcement. These effects are investigated through experiments. As a result of these experiment, rebar corrosion as well as lap splice reduces displacement ductility. When seismic design details or steel-plate reinforcement are applied, sufficient displacement ductility is expressed. For non-seismically designed specimens, loosening of the lap splice of transverse rebars caused buckling of longitudinal rebars and crushing of core concrete in plastic hinge region . For seismically designed specimen, area-reducing and untying of transverse rebars due to corrosion of rebars caused buckling of longitudinal rebars and crushing of core concrete.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2022

To assess the feasibility of silk sericin for non-textile application, the storage stability and biological safety of sericin were examined. It was extracted at 37℃, 70℃, 100℃, and 121℃ for 1, 3, and 5 h to elucidate the effect of extraction condition on the stability and safety of silk sericin. The solubility was increased till approximately 26% with extraction temperature of 121℃ for 1 h. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that the molecular weight distribution depended on the extraction conditions. Extracted sericin displayed typical UV absorption bands upon spectrometric analysis. To examine the reproducibility of its obtained conformation, sericin was extracted thrice and its circular dichroism (CD) spectra was measured each time. Most CD spectra showed reproducibility regardless of temperature and time except under 100℃ extraction condition. The diversity of CD spectrum showed gradual reduction and was finally coincident with extraction time from 1 to 5 h. Notably, sericin has a negative peak of approximately 200 nm attributed to random coil conformation, regardless of extraction condition. However, at the 100℃ extraction condition, sericin showed both bands to be negative bands of approximately 200 and 220 nm, respectively. Sericin was centrifuged to determine the stability of storage conditions. The sericin extracted at 100℃ and 121℃ for 1 h was found to form gel rapidly within 1 h, but at 121℃ condition, the gel fraction was approximately 20% within 1 h which retained its phase regardless of storage time. The gel fraction of sericin extracted at 100℃ for 5 h increased with time, however at the 121℃ for 5 h condition, the gel fraction was measured to be less than 10% regardless of increase in storage time. Petriflim^TM AC plates test showed that sericin was safe from aerobic bacteria activity by extraction under high temperature.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.491-505
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• 2023

The practical usage of underground space and demand for vehicular tunnels necessitate the construction of non-circular wide rectangular tunnels. However, constructing large tunnels in soft clayey soil conditions with no ground improvement can lead to excessive ground deformations and collapse. In recent years, in situ ground improvement techniques such as jet grouting and deep cement mixing are often utilized to perform cement-stabilisation around the tunnel boundary to prevent large deformations and failure. This paper discusses the stability characteristics and failure behaviour of a wide rectangular tunnel in cement-treated soft clays. First, the plane strain finite element model is developed and validated with the results of centrifuge model tests available in the past literature. The critical tunnel support pressures computed from the numerical study are found to be in good agreement with those of centrifuge model tests. The influence of varying strength and thickness of improved soil surround, and cover depth are studied on the stability and failure modes of a rectangular tunnel. It is observed that the failure behaviour of the tunnel in improved soil surround depends on the ratio of the strength of improved soil surround to the strength of surrounding soil, i.e., q_ui/q_us, rather than just q_ui. For low q_ui/q_us ratios,the stability increases with the cover; however, for the high strength improved soil surrounds with q_ui >> q_us, the stability decreases with the cover. The failure chart, modified stability equation, and stability chart are also proposed as preliminary design guidelines for constructing rectangular tunnels in the improved soil surrounded by soft clays.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2010

This paper presents both numerical and physical modeling approaches for the dilation and spalling of rock recognized as typical process of rock around an underground opening at depth. For physical approach, laboratory testing of rectangular beams using a synthetic rock was used to investigate the onset of dilation and spalling. The beams are axially compressed and subjected to 4-point bending to provide non-uniform compressive stresses which are similar to the maximum tangential stress distribution around circular openings. Discrete element numerical analyses using commercial code $PFC^{2D}$ (Particle Flow Code) were performed to evaluate the stress path at various locations in the beams. The findings from these approaches suggest that the onset of dilation in laboratory tests appears to be a good indicator for assessing the stress magnitudes required to initiate spalling.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.34.1-34.10
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• 2023

Nosocomial infections, commonly referred to as healthcare-associated infections, are illnesses that patients get while hospitalized and are typically either not yet manifest or may develop. One of the most prevalent nosocomial diseases in hospitalized patients is pneumonia, among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. Viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens cause pneumonia. More severe introductions commonly included Staphylococcus aureus, which is at the top of bacterial infections, per World Health Organization reports. The staphylococci, S. aureus, strain RMI-014804, mesophile, on-sporulating, and non-motile bacterium, was isolated from the sputum of a pulmonary patient in Pakistan. Many characteristics of S. aureus strain RMI-014804 have been revealed in this paper, with complete genome sequence and annotation. Our findings indicate that the genome is a single circular 2.82 Mbp long genome with 1,962 protein-coding genes, 15 rRNA, 49 tRNA, 62 pseudogenes, and a GC content of 28.76%. As a result of this genome sequencing analysis, researchers will fully understand the genetic and molecular basis of the virulence of the S. aureus bacteria, which could help prevent the spread of nosocomial infections like pneumonia. Genome analysis of this strain was necessary to identify the specific genes and molecular mechanisms that contribute to its pathogenicity, antibiotic resistance, and genetic diversity, allowing for a more in-depth investigation of its pathogenesis to develop new treatments and preventive measures against infections caused by this bacterium.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.963-977
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• 2009

The purpose of this paper is to identify college students' conceptions of the earth system cycles as learners of earth science education (ESE) and draw educational implications. An eight-week creative story writing project was held with 62 non-science students taking a general course on earth science. Their creative stories were categorized by analyzing the conceptions and types of cycle with a story mapping technique. The cycle conceptions of earth systems were expressed diversely into 32; most of the cycle types were circular and complex, while the others were branch-shaped and linear types that fail to complete the cycles. College students' conceptions of the earth system cycles is biased toward natural-abiotic systems; less than 30% of them are shown to be aware of all three categories: natural-abiotic, natural-biotic, and human systems. It is essential to diversify the content of education on earth system cycles and help learners develop systematic methods of thinking so that they will be able to recognize the impacts of feedback from human activities through ESE.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.101-126
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• 2024

To avoid irregularities in buildings, design codes worldwide have introduced detailed guidelines for their check and rectification. However, the criteria used to define and identify each of the plan and vertical irregularities are specific and may vary between codes of different countries, thus making their implementation difficult. This short communication paper proposes a novel approach for quantifying different types of structural irregularities using a common parameter named as unified identification factor, which is exclusively defined for the columns based on their axial loads and tributary areas. The calculation of the identification factor is demonstrated through the analysis of rectangular and circular reinforced concrete models using ETABS v18.0.2, which are further modified to generate plan irregular (torsional irregularity, cut-out in floor slab and non-parallel lateral force system) and vertical irregular (mass irregularity, vertical geometric irregularity and floating columns) models. The identification factor is calculated for all the columns of a building and the range within which the value lies is identified. The results indicate that the range will be very wide for an irregular building when compared to that with a regular configuration, thus implying a strong correlation of the identification factor with the structural irregularity. Further, the identification factor is compared for different columns within a floor and between floors for each building model. The findings suggest that the value will be abnormally high or low for a column in the vicinity of an irregularity. The proposed factor could thus be used in the preliminary structural design phase, so as to eliminate the complications that might arise due to the geometry of the structure when subjected to lateral loads. The unified approach could also be incorporated in future revisions of codes, as a replacement for the numerous criteria currently used for classifying different types of irregularities.