• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.323-339
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• 2024

If the pressure exerted on the face of a tunnel excavated by TBM exceeds a threshold, it leads to failure of the soil or rock masses ahead of the tunnel face, which results in heaving the ground surface. In the current research, the upper bound method of limit analysis was employed to calculate the blow-out pressure of tunnels excavated in rock masses obeying the Hoek-Brown nonlinear criterion. The results of the proposed method were compared with three-dimensional finite element models, as well as the available methods in the literature. The results show that when σ_ci, m_i, and GSI increase, the blow-out pressure increases as well. By doubling the tunnel diameter, the blow-out pressure reduces up to 54.6%. Also, by doubling the height of the tunnel cover and the surcharge pressure exerted on the ground surface above the tunnel, the blow-out pressure increased up to 74.9% and 5.4%, respectively. With 35% increase in the unit weight of the rock mass surrounding the tunnel, the blow-out pressure increases in the range of 14.8% to 19.6%. The results of the present study were provided in simple design graphs that can easily be used in practical applications in order to obtain the blow-out pressure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.475-487
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• 2024

Many uncertainties affect the stability assessment of rock structures. Some of these factors significantly influence technology decisions. Some of these factors belong to the geological domain, and spatial uncertainty measurements are useful for structural stability analysis. This paper presents an integrated approach to study the stability of rock structures, including spatial factors. This study models two main components: discrete structures (fault zones) and well known geotechnical parameters (rock quality indicators). The geostatistical modeling criterion are used to quantify geographic uncertainty by producing simulated maps and RQD values for multiple equally likely error regions. Slope stability theorem would be demonstrated by modeling local failure zones and RQDs. The approach proided is validated and finally, the slope stability analysis method and fuzzy Laypunov criterion are applied to mining projects with limited measurement data. The goals of this paper are towards access to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services, promotion of inclusive and sustainable urbanization and participation, implementation of sustainable and disaster-resilient buildings, sustainable human settlement planning and manage. Simulation results of linear and nonlinear structures show that the proposed method is able to identify structural parameters and their changes due to damage and unknown excitations. Therefore, the goal is believed to achieved in the near future by the ongoing development of AI and fuzzy theory.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.225-241
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• 2024

For several reasons, cold-formed steel (CFS) beams are often manufactured with holes. Nevertheless, because of holes, the reduction in the web area causes a decrease in the bending strength. Edge stiffeners are presently added around the holes to improve the bending strength of flexural members. Therefore, this research studies CFSZ-beams with stiffened holes and investigates how edge stiffener affects bending strength and failure modes. Nonlinear analysis was carried out using ABAQUS software and the developed finite element (FE) model was verified against tests from previous studies. Using the verified FE model, a parametric study of 104 FE models was conducted to investigate the influence of key parameters on bending strength of Z- sections. The results indicated that the effect of holes is less noticeable in very thin Z-sections. Moreover, adding edge stiffeners around the holes improves the flexural capacity of Z-beams and sometimes restores the original bending capacity. Because the computational techniques used to solve the CFS buckling mode with stiffened holes are still unclear, a numerical method using constrained and unconstrained finite strip method (CUFSM) software was proposed to predict the elastic distortional buckling moment for a wide variety of CFSZ-sections with stiffened holes. A numerical method with two procedures was applied and validated. Upon comparison, the numerical method accurately predicted the distortional buckling moment of CFS Z-sections with stiffened holes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.57-76
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• 2024

The management of waste tire rubber has become a pressing environmental and health issue, requiring sustainable solutions to mitigate fire hazards and conserve natural resources. The performance of waste materials in structural components needs to be investigated to fabricate sustainable structures. This study aims to investigate the behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforced rubberized concrete (GRRC) compressive components under compressive loads. Nine GRRC circular compressive components, varying in longitudinal and transverse reinforcement ratios, were constructed. A 3D nonlinear finite element model (FEM) was proposed by means of the ABAQUS software to simulate the behavior of the GRRC compressive components. A comprehensive parametric analysis was conducted to assess the impact of different parameters on the performance of GRRC compressive components. The experimental findings demonstrated that reducing the spacing of GFRP stirrups enhanced the ductility of GRRC compressive components, while the addition of rubberized concrete further improved their ductility. Failure in GRRC compressive components occurred in a compressive columnar manner, characterized by vertical cracks and increased deformability. The finite element simulations closely matched the experimental results. The proposed empirical model, based on 600 test samples and considering the lateral confinement effect of FRP stirrups, demonstrated higher accuracy (R² = 0.835, MSE = 171.296, MAE = 203.549, RMSE = 195.438) than previous models.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.385-399
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• 2023

A collision between a ship and an offshore platform may result in structural damage and closure; therefore, damage analysis is required to ensure the platform's integrity. This paper presents a damage assessment of a three-legged jacket platform subjected to ship collisions using the industrial finite element program Bentley SACS. This study considers two ships with displacements of 2,000 and 5,000 tons and forward speeds of 2 and 6.17 meters per second. Ship collision loads are applied as a simplified point load on the center of the platform's legs at inclinations of 1/7 and 1/8; diagonal bracing is also included. The jacket platform is modelled as beam elements, with the exception of the impacted jacket members, which are modelled as nonlinear shell elements with elasto-plastic material and constant isotropic hardening to provide realistic dented behavior due to ship collision load. The structural response is investigated, including kinetic energy transfer, stress distribution, and denting damage. The simulation results revealed that the difference in leg inclination has no effect on the level of localized denting damage. However, it was discovered that a leg with a greater inclination (1/8) resists structural displacement more effectively and absorbs less kinetic energy. In this instance, the three-legged platform collapses due to the absorption of 27.30 MJ of energy. These results provide crucial insights for enhancing offshore platform resilience and safety in high-traffic maritime regions, with implications for design and collision mitigation strategies.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.91 no.3
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• pp.301-313
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• 2024

Plastic buckling of tubular columns has been attributed to rotational instability of plastic hinges. The present study aimed to characterize the plastic hinges for two different grades of strain-hardening, examined in mild-steel (MS) and stainless-teel (SS) tubes with un-strengthened and strengthened conditions. At the primary stage, the formerly tested experimental specimens were simulated using full-scale FE models considering nonlinear response of the materials, then to estimate the characteristics of the plastic hinges, a meso model was developed from the critical region of the tubes and the moment-rotation diagrams were depicted under pure bending conditions. By comparison of the relative rotation diagram obtained by the full-scale models with the critical rotation under pure bending, the length and critical rotation of the plastic hinges under eccentric axial load were estimated. The stress and displacement diagrams indicated the mechanism of higher energy absorption in the strengthened tubes, compared to unstrengthened specimens, due to establishment of stable wrinkles along the tubes. The meso model showed that by increasing the critical rotation in the strengthened MS tube equal to 1450%, the energy absorption of the tube has been enhanced to 2100%, prior to collapse.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.92 no.2
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• pp.133-147
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• 2024

Composite beams of steel and concrete strengthened with fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) may exhibit considerably enhanced flexural behaviour, but the combination of three materials with different characteristics and the various possible failure mechanisms that may govern performance make their analysis quite demanding. Previous studies provided significant insights into this problem and several methods were proposed for calculating flexural stiffness and strength, but these studies are restricted to the single member level of a simply supported composite beam section. However, the problem considerably changes when the beam is part of a frame system due to the degree of continuity provided by the surrounding structure, which represents the most common situation in practice. This paper explores the behaviour of semi-continuous FRP-strengthened composite beams, by considering the response characteristics of their end connections and their effects on overall performance. A novel analytical model is derived, which enables a step-by-step representation of the nonlinear relationship between an incremental mid-span design bending moment and corresponding connection rotations. After verification against finite element analyses, a parametric study is conducted which shows that the substantially increased bending moment resistance of FRP-strengthened composite beams can hardly be fully utilized due to a deficiency of corresponding large deformation capacity available in the connections. The extent to which the presence FRP strengthening can be exploited to enhance the beam flexural response depends on the interplay between various structural parameters, including the connection rotation capacity, the beam span, and the FRP modulus of elasticity and ultimate strength.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.129-145
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• 2019

For the design of composite breakwater as representative one of the coastal and harbor structures, it has been widely discussed by the researchers about the relation between the behavior of excess-pore-water pressure inside the rubble mound and seabed caused by the wave load and its structural failure. Recently, the researchers have tried to verify its relation through the numerical simulation technique. The above researches through numerical simulation have been mostly applied by the linear and nonlinear analytic methods, but there have been no researches through the numerical simulation by the strongly nonlinear mutiphase flow analytical method considering wave-breaking phenomena by VOF method and turbulence model by LES method yet. In the preceding research of this study, olaFlow model based on the mutiphase flow analytical method was applied to the nonlinear interaction analysis of regular wave-composite breakwater-seabed. Also, the same numerical techniques as preceding research are utilized for the analysis of irregular wave-composite breakwater-seabed in this study. Through this paper, it is investigated about the horizontal wave pressures, the time variations of excess-pore-water pressure and their frequency spectra, mean flow velocities, mean vorticities, mean turbulent kinetic energies and etc. around the caisson, rubble mound of the composite breakwater and seabed according to the changes of significant wave height and period. From these results, it was found that maximum nondimensional excess-pore water pressure, mean turbulent kinetic energy and mean vorticity come to be large equally on the horizontal plane in front of rubble mound, circulation of inflow around still water level and outflow around seabed is formed in front of rubble caisson.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.579-584
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• 2017

The damper oil seal of a high-speed railway vehicle is made from nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) in order to prevent lubricant from leaking into the damper and to stop harmful contaminants from entering the external environment while in service. Oil leakage through the seal primarily occurs from fatigue failure of the damper. Cumulative damage of the seal occurs due to the contact force between the rod and the rubber during movement due to track irregularities and cants, among other factors. Thus, the design of the oil seal should minimize the maximum principal strain at weak points. In this study, the optimal cross section of the damper oil seal was found using the multi-island genetic algorithm method to improve the durability of the damper. The optimal shape of the oil seal was derived using process automation and design optimization software. Nonlinear material properties for finite element analysis (FEA) of the rubber were determined by Marlow's model. The nonlinear FEA confirmed that the maximum principal strain at the oil leakage point was decreased 24% between the initial design and the optimum design.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.467-474
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• 2007

In this paper, a total of 13 beams with bonding, anchorage system, amount of prestressing and span length as variables of experiment were tested in flexural test and analyzed in finite element analysis; one control beam, two simplified FRP-boned beams, four prestressed FRP-unbonded beams and four prestressed FRP-bonded beams. Also, a nonlinear finite element analysis of beams in the flexural test is performed by DIANA program considered material nonlinear of concrete, reinforcement and the interfacial bond-slip model between concrete and CFRP plates. The failure mode of prestressed CFRP plated-beams is not debonding but FRP rupture. RC members strengthened with external bonded prestressed CFRP plates occurred 1st and 2nd debonding of the composite material. After the debonding of CFRP plates occurs in bonded system, behavior of bonded CFRP-plated beams change into that of unbonded CFRP-plated beams due to fix of the anchorage system. Also, It was compared flexural test results and analytical results of RC members strengthened with CFRF plates. The ductility of beams strengthened by CFRP plates with the anchorage system is considered high with the ductility index of above 3. Analysis results showed a good agreement with experiment results in the debonding load, yield load and ultimate load.