• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1305-1322
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• 2016

This paper presents the results of experimental and numerical model analyses on partially encased composite columns under concentric loads. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of replacing the conventional longitudinal and transverse steel bars by welded wire mesh on the structural behavior of these members under concentric loads. To achieve these goals experimental tests on four specimens of partially encased composite columns submitted to axial loading were performed and the results were promising in terms of replacing the traditional reinforcement by steel meshes. In addition, a numerical FE model was developed using the software DIANA$^{(R)}$ with FX+. The experimental results were used to validate the numerical model. Satisfactory agreement between experimental and numerical results was observed in both capacity and deformability of the composite columns. Despite of the simplifying assumptions of perfect bond between steel and concrete, the numerical model adequately represented the columns behavior. A finite element parametric study was performed and parameters including thickness of the steel profile and the concrete and steel strengths were evaluated. The parametrical study results found no significant changes in the partially encased columns behavior due to variations of the steel profile thickness or yield strength. However, significant changes in the post peak behavior were observed when using high strength concrete and these results suggest a change in the failure mode.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.433-445
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• 2021

Artificial ground freezing (AGF) is a commonly used geotechnical support technique that can be applied in any soil type and has low environmental impact. Experimental and numerical investigations have been conducted to optimize AGF for application in diverse scenarios. Precise simulation of groundwater flow is crucial to improving the reliability these investigations' results. Previous experimental research has mostly considered horizontal seepage flow, which does not allow accurate calculation of the groundwater flow velocity due to spatial variation of the piezometric head. This study adopted vertical seepage flow-which can maintain a constant cross-sectional area-to eliminate the limitations of using horizontal seepage flow. The closure time is a measure of the time taken for an impermeable layer to begin to form, this being the time for a frozen soil-ice wall to start forming adjacent to the freeze pipes; this is of great importance to applied AGF. This study reports verification of the reliability of our experimental apparatus and measurement system using only water, because temperature data could be measured while freezing was observed visually. Subsequent experimental AFG tests with saturated sandy soil were also performed. From the experimental results, a method of estimating closure time is proposed using the inflection point in the thermal conductivity difference between pore water and pore ice. It is expected that this estimation method will be highly applicable in the field. A further parametric study assessed factors influencing the closure time using a two-dimensional coupled thermo-hydraulic numerical analysis model that can simulate the AGF of saturated sandy soil considering groundwater flow. It shows that the closure time is affected by factors such as hydraulic gradient, unfrozen permeability, particle thermal conductivity, and freezing temperature. Among these factors, changes in the unfrozen permeability and particle thermal conductivity have less effect on the formation of frozen soil-ice walls when the freezing temperature is sufficiently low.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2012

This paper presents numerical studies of stiff fiber pullout behaviors of fiber reinforced cementitious composites based on a progressive damage model. The ongoing debonding process is simulated. Interfacial stress distribution for different load levels is analyzed. A parametric study, including bond strength and the homogeneity index on the pullout behaviors is carried out. The numerical results indicate that the bond stress decreases gradually from loaded end to embedded end along fiber-cement interface. The debonding initially starts from loaded end and propagates to embedded end as load increasing. The embedded length and bond strength affect the load-loaded end displacement curves significantly. The numerical results have a general agreement with the experimental investigation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.5
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• pp.607-620
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• 2020

A numerical study is carried out to assess the dynamic response and damage level of one- and two-way reinforced concrete (RC) panels subjected to explosive loads by using finite element LS-DYNA software. The precision of the numerical models is validated with the previous experimental test. The calibrated models are used to conduct a series of parametric studies to evaluate the effects of panel wall dimensions, concrete strength, and steel reinforcement ratio on the blast-resistant capacity of the panel under various magnitudes of blast load. The results are used to develop pressure-impulse (P-I) diagrams corresponding to the damage levels defined according to UFC-3-340-02 manual. Empirical equations are proposed to easily construct the P-I diagrams of RC panels that can be efficiently used to assess its safety level against blast loads.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.679-695
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• 2015

A numerical solution using finite difference method to evaluate the thermal buckling of simply supported FGM plate with variable thickness is presented in this research. First, the governing differential equation of thermal stability under uniform temperature through the plate thickness is derived. Then, the governing equation has been solved using finite difference method. After validating the presented numerical method with the analytical solution, the finite difference formulation has been extended in order to include variable thickness. The accuracy of the finite difference method for variable thickness plate has been also compared with the literature where a good agreement has been found. Furthermore, a parametric study has been conducted to analyze the effect of material and geometric parameters on the thermal buckling resistance of the FGM plates. It was found that the thickness variation affects isotropic plates a bit more than FGM plates.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.405-420
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• 2005

In this paper, a hybrid/mixed nonlinear shell element is developed in polar coordinate system based on Hellinger/Reissner variational principle and the large-deflection theory of plate. A numerical solution scheme is formulated using the hybrid/mixed finite element method (HMFEM), in which the nodal values of bending moments and the deflection are the unknown discrete parameters. Stability of the present element is studied. The large-deflection analyses are performed for simple supported and clamped circular plates under uniformly distributed and concentrated loads using HMFEM and the traditional displacement finite element method. A parametric study is also conducted in the research. The accuracy of the shell element is investigated using numerical computations. Comparisons of numerical solutions are made with theoretical results, finite element analysis and the available numerical results. Excellent agreements are shown.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.496-507
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• 2020

A prediction of the performance of EPB TBM is significant for improving the constructability of tunnels. Thus, various attempts to simulate TBM excavation by the numerical method have been made until these days. In this paper, to evaluate the performance of TBM with different operating conditions, a parametric study was carried out using coupled discrete element method (DEM) and finite difference method (FDM) EPB TBM driving model. The analysis was conducted by changing the penetration rate (0.5 and 1.0 mm/sec) and the rotational speed of screw conveyor (5, 15, and 25 rpm) while the rotation velocity of the cutter head kept constant at 2 rpm. The torque, thrust force, chamber pressure, and discharging with different TBM operating conditions were compared. The result of parametric study shows that the optimum driving condition can be determined by the coupled DEM-FDM numerical model.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.25-40
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• 2022

In this study, 3D coupled-consolidation numerical parametric study was conducted to predict the deformation mechanism of a 20 storey building sitting on (4×4) piled raft (with length of piles, L_p=30 m) to adjacent 6 m diameter (D) tunnelling in stiff clay. The influences of different tunnel locations relative to piles (i.e., z_t/L_p) were investigated in this parametric study. In first case, the tunnel was excavated near the pile shafts with depth of tunnel axis (z_t) of 9 m (i.e., z_t/L_p). In second and third cases, tunnels were driven at z_t of 30 m and 42 m (i.e., z_t/L_p = 1.0 and 1.4), respectively. An advanced hypoplastic clay model (which is capable of taking small-strain stiffness in account) was adopted to capture soil behaviour. The computed results revealed that tunnelling activity adjacent to a building resting on piled raft caused significant settlement, differential settlement, lateral deflection, angular distortion in the building. In addition, substantial bending moment, shear forces and changes in axial load distribution along pile length were induced. The findings from the parametric study revealed that the building and pile responses significantly influenced by tunnel location relative to pile.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.235-240
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• 2004

This paper deals with the performance analysis of impulse turbine for owe type wave energy conversion device. Numerical analysis was performed using a commercially-available software FLUENT. This parametric study includes the variation of the setting angle of guide vane. Since parametric study at various flaw coefficients requires tremendous amounts of computing time, two-dimensional cascade flaw approximation was employed to find out optimum principal particulars in rather simple manner. Full three-dimensional calculation was also performed for several cases to confirm the validity of two-dimensional approach. Results were compared to other experimental data, for instance Setoguchi et al (2001)'s extensive set of data, and found to be well demonstrating the usefulness of 2-D analysis. Advantages and disadvantages of each method were also evaluated.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.81-86
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• 2003

This paper deals with the performance analysis and design of impulse turbine for OWC type wave energy plant. Numerical analysis was performed using a commercially-available software FLUENT. This parametric study includes the variation of several important parameters such as the number and shape of blades, hub ratio and tip clearance. Since parametric study at various flow coefficients requires considerable amount of computing tim, two-dimensional analysis was employed to find out optimum principal particulars in rather simple manner. Full three-dimensional calculation was also performed for several test cases to confirm the validity of two-dimensional approach. Up to the present stage, tentative result is well demonstrating the usefulness of 2-D analysis.