• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.271-294
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• 2014

In recent years, along with the advances made in performance-based design optimization, the need for fast calculation of response parameters in dynamic analysis procedures has become an important issue. The main problem in this field is the extremely high computational demand of time-history analyses which may convert the solution algorithm to illogical ones. Two simplifying strategies have shown to be very effective in tackling this problem; first, simplified nonlinear modeling investigating minimum level of structural modeling sophistication, second, wavelet analysis of earthquake records decreasing the number of acceleration points involved in time-history loading. In this paper, we try to develop an efficient framework, using both strategies, to solve the performance-based multi-objective optimal design problem considering the initial cost and the seismic damage cost of steel moment-frame structures. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is employed as the optimization algorithm to search the Pareto optimal solutions. The constraints of the optimization problem are considered in accordance with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommended design specifications. The results from numerical application of the proposed framework demonstrate the capabilities of the framework in solving the present multi-objective optimization problem.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.935-941
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• 2009

In competitive society, performance management is an essential element of business success. Despite the importance of performance management, it has not been widely implemented in construction companies. In the recent years, construction companies have become more aware of its need to identify, implement, and sustain performance improvements more systematically. Thus, the objective of this paper is to develop performance management system (PMS) for construction companies. The roles of performance management system is not only measuring performance but also offering guidance to improve performance. Therefore, PMS needs benchmarking process that provides Best Practice and new knowledge. This paper investigates the case of PMSs in UK, USA, Brazil, and Chile and discusses the lessons learned. To overcome the limitations of existing PMSs, new performance measurement framework, in form of 'Construction' BSC, is proposed. Based on the 'Construction' BSC, key performance indicators are derived and methodology of performance management is suggested. This paper concludes by developing PMS for benchmarking in construction companies and recommending some further directions on this research topic.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.5 s.54
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• pp.57-65
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• 2003

This paper proposes an optimum design method of structural and control systems, using a 2-D truss structure as an example. The structure is subjected to initial static loads and disturbances. For the structure, a FEM model is formed. Using modal transformation, the equation of motion is transformed into modal coordinates, in order to decrease D.O.F. of the FEM model. To suppress the effect of the disturbances, the structure is controlled by an output feedback $H_{\infty}$ controller. The design variables of the combined optimal design of the control-structure systems are the cross sectional areas of truss members. The structural objective function is the structural weight. The control objective function is the $H_{\infty}$ norm, the performance index of control. The second structural objective function is the energy of the response related to the initial state, which is derived from the time integration of the quadratic form of the state in the closed-loop system. In a numerical example, simulations have been perform. Through the consideration of structural weight and $H_{\infty}$ norm, an advantage of the combined optimum design of structural and control systems is shown. Moreover, since the performance index of control is almost nearly optimiz, we can acquire better design of structural strength.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2018

This study proposes a new vibration control approach for adjacent twin structures, which is termed as viscous damper asymmetric coupling system in this paper. The proposed system takes a concept that the diagonal bracing viscous dampers are asymmetrically distributed in two buildings to break the behavior symmetry of the twin buildings and then the coupling viscous damper is additionally installed at the top floor of the two buildings to couple both buildings and interactively transfer the asymmetric behavior-caused damping forces into both buildings. These asymmetric damping distributions and interacting damping forces of the connection damper efficiently suppress the overall vibration of the damper-coupled adjacent twin buildings efficiently. Genetic algorithm (GA) based multi-objective optimization technique is adopted for optimal design of the proposed system. In the numerical example of adjacent twin 10-story building structures, the conventional control approach, that is, uniform damping distribution system (UDS) is also taken into account for comparison purpose. The optimization results verify that the proposed system either can improve the control performance over the UDS with the same damping capacity, or can save the damping capacity significantly while maintaining the similar level of control performance to the UDS.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.4
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• pp.445-454
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• 2020

Structural damage identification (SDI) is a crucial step in structural health monitoring. However, some of the existing SDI methods cannot provide enough identification accuracy and efficiency in practice. A novel whale optimization algorithm (WOA) based method is proposed for SDI by weighting modal data and flexibility assurance criterion in this study. At first, the SDI problem is mathematically converted into a constrained optimization problem. Unlike traditional objective function defined using frequencies and mode shapes, a new objective function on the SDI problem is formulated by weighting both modal data and flexibility assurance criterion. Then, the WOA method, due to its good performance of fast convergence and global searching ability, is adopted to provide an accurate solution to the SDI problem, different predator mechanisms are formulated and their probability thresholds are selected. Finally, the performance of the proposed method is assessed by numerical simulations on a simply-supported beam and a 31-bar truss structures. For the given multiple structural damage conditions under environmental noises, the WOA-based SDI method can effectively locate structural damages and accurately estimate severities of damages. Compared with other optimization methods, such as particle swarm optimization and dragonfly algorithm, the proposed WOA-based method outperforms in accuracy and efficiency, which can provide a more effective and potential tool for the SDI problem.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.527-537
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• 2013

Improving resource utilization has been a hot issue in heterogeneous wireless networks (HWNs). This paper proposes a radio resource management (RRM) method based on access proportion optimization. By considering two or more wireless networks in overlapping regions, users in these regions must select one of the networks to access when they engage in calls. Hence, the proportion of service arrival rate that accesses each network in the overlapping region can be treated as an optimized factor for the performance analysis of HWNs. Moreover, this study considers user mobility as an important factor that affects the performance of HWNs, and it is reflected by the handoff rate. The objective of this study is to maximize the total throughput of HWNs by choosing the most appropriate factors. The total throughput of HWNs can be derived on the basis of a Markov model, which is determined by the handoff rate analysis and distribution of service arrival rate in each network. The objective problem can actually be expressed as an optimization problem. Considering the convexity of the objective function, the optimization problem can be solved using the subgradient approach. Finally, an RRM optimization scheme for HWNs is proposed. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme can effectively enhance the throughput of HWNs, i.e., improve the radio resource utilization.

• International Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology Speciallssue:Selected Papers
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2003

This paper proposes an optimum design method of structural and control systems, using a 2-D truss structure as an example. The structure is subjected to initial static loads and disturbances. For the structure, a FEM model is formed. Using modal transformation, the equation of motion is transformed into modal coordinates, in order to decrease D.O.F. of the FEM model. To suppress the effect of the disturbances, the structure is controlled by an output feedback $H_{\infty}$ controller. The design variables of the combined optimal design of the control-structure systems are the cross sectional areas of truss members. The structural objective function is the structural weight. The control objective function is the $H_{\infty}$ norm, the performance index of control. The second structural objective function is the energy of the response related to the initial state, which is derived from the time integration of the quadratic form of the state in the closed-loop system. In a numerical example, simulations have been perform. Through the consideration of structural weight and $H_{\infty}$ norm, an advantage of the combined optimum design of structural and control systems is shown. Moreover, since the performance index of control is almost nearly optimiz, we can acquire better design of structural strength.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 2009

Purpose: Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a good way to evaluate clinical skills of nursing students. To do this, we need modules, evaluators, persons to run the examination, as well as models and standardized patient care if necessary. The main purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the OSCE method on nursing skills performance of students enrolled in a core skill lab of nursing courses. Method: Eight items were developed for the examination. Five minutes was allowed for each item. Two married women and third-year students played patient's roles. The participants were 2nd-year nursing students and the OSCE program was performed on December, 2008. Data analysis was done using SPSS WIN 12.0. Result: The evaluation score for BP check skill was 1.68 and hand washing skill was 1.87 by evaluators. Response of examinees to OSCE was favorable. Examinees did not express resistance for evaluation by OSCE run by SPs and students. Conclusion: The OSCE method is an effective tool for evaluating clinical nursing skills performance in student nurses. It is necessary to explore more efficient ways to develop OSCE cases in wider areas of nursing education. It is also recommended to replicate similar studies in nursing education.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.6
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• pp.163-179
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• 1999

For the set up, management and repair of a mobile communication system, continuous estimation of speech quality is required. Speech quality measurement can be conducted by listener's judgement in a subjective test such as MOS (Mean Opinion Score) test. However, this method is laborious, expensive and time-consuming, it is advisable to predict subjective speech quality via objective measures. This paper presents a robust objective speech quality measure, PLP-CMS (Perceptual Linear Predictive-Cepstral Mean Subtraction), which can predict subjective speech quality in mobile communication systems. PLP-CMS has a high correlation with subjective quality owing to PLP (Perceptual Linear Predictive) analysis and shows a robust performance not being influenced by PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) channel effects due to CMS (Cepstral Mean Subtraction). To prove the performance of our proposed algorithm, we carried out subjective and objective quality estimation on speech samples which are variously distorted in a real mobile communication system. As a result, we demonstrated that PLP-CMS has a higher correlation with subjective quality than PSQM (Perceptual Speech Quality Measure) and PLP-CD (Perceptual Linear Predictive-Cepstral Distance).

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2011

By having accurate knowledge of the magnetic field distribution and the thrust calculation in linear synchronous motors, assessing the performance and optimization of the motor design are possible. In this paper, after carrying out a performance analysis of a single-sided wound secondary linear synchronous motor by varying the motor design parameters in a layer model and a d-q model, machine single- and multi-objective design optimizations are carried out to improve the thrust density of the motor based on the motor weight and the motor efficiency multiplied by its power factor by defining various objective functions including a flexible objective function. A genetic algorithm is employed to search for the optimal design. The results confirm that an overall improvement in the thrust mean, efficiency multiplied by the power factor, and thrust to the motor weight ratio are obtained. Several design conclusions are drawn from the motor analysis and the design optimization. Finally, a finite element analysis is employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the employed machine models and the proposed optimization method.