• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.627-641
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• 2024

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study to investigate the behavior of the precast segmental concrete beams (PSCBs) utilizing high-strength concrete (HSC) connected in the zone of the maximum bending moment using steel extended endplate connections (EECs). The experimental study consisted of five beams as follows: The first beam was the control beam for comparison, which was an unconnected one-piece beam made of HSC. The other four other beams consisted of two identical pieces of precast concrete. An important point to be noted is that at the end of each piece, a steel plate was used with a thickness of 10 mm. Moreover, this steel plate was welded to the lower and upper reinforcing bars of the beam. Furthermore, the steel plate was made to connect the two pieces using the technique of EECs. Several variables were taken in these four beams, whether from the shape of the connection or enhancing the behavior of the connection using the post-tensioning technique. EECs without stiffeners were used for some of the tested beams. The behavior of these connections was improved using stiffeners and shear bolts. To get accurate results, a comparison was made between the behaviors of the five beams. Another important point to be noted is that Abaqus and SAP2000 programs were used to investigate the behavior of PSCBs and to ensure the accuracy of the modeling process which showed a good agreement with the experimental results. Additionally, the simplified modeling using SAP2000 was able to model the nonlinear behavior of PSCBs connected using steel EECs. It was found that the steel pre-tensioned bolted EECs, reinforced with steel stiffeners and shear anchors, could be used to connect the precast HSC segmental beams via the internal pre-stressing technique.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.233-241
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• 2024

Quantitative analysis of the Zingiber Officinale sample using subcritical water extraction (SWE) was developed employing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to bolster the advancement of this innovative green extraction process. This research focuses on three principal ginger bioactive compounds: 6-gingerol, 6-shagoal, and 10-gingerol. Various stages were undertaken to establish the quantitative analysis method, encompassing the optimisation of HPLC operating conditions and the formulation of standard calibration curves, yielding individual compound equations. A robust correlation within the calibration curve was achieved, exhibiting an r² value of 0.9814 and an RSD of 5.00%. A simultaneous, swift, and dependable method was established with an injection time of 20 minutes and an 8-minute delay between injections, in contrast to the previous HPLC analysis requiring a 45-minute injection time for detecting and quantifying all components. Notably, no post-treatment was applied after the SWE process. This advancement allows for potential future online measurement of Zingiber Officinale bioactive compounds extracted using subcritical water extraction through this technology.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

The design of disturbed regions in reinforced concrete structures usually applies the well known Strut and Tie Method (STM). As an alternative, the Stringer-Panel Method (SPM), an intermediate model between STM and the Finite Element Method (FEM), consists in dividing a structure into two distinct elements: the stringers (which carry axial forces) and panels (which carry shear forces). SPM has already showed good applicability in manual calculations and computer implementations, and its most known application was SPanCAD, an AutoCAD plugin for linear and nonlinear analysis by SPM. Unfortunately, SPanCAD was discontinued by the developers, and it's not compatible with the most recent versions of AutoCAD. So, this paper aims to present a computer program that was developed as an upgrade to the latter: the Stringer Panel Modelling Tool (SPMTool), which is intended to be an auxiliary design tool and it presents improvements, in comparison to SPanCAD. It is possible to execute linear and nonlinear analysis by three distinct formulations: Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT), Disturbed Stress Field Model (DSFM) and Softened Membrane Model (SMM). The nonlinear results were compared to experimental data of reinforced concrete elements that were not designed by SPM; these elements were also analyzed in SPanCAD. On overall, SPMTool made more realistic predictions to the behavior of the analyzed structures than SPanCAD. Except for DSFM predictions for corbels (1.24), in overall average, the ultimate load predictions were conservative (0.85 to 0.98), which is a good aspect for a design tool. On the other hand, the cracking load predictions presented overestimations (1.06 to 1.47) and higher variations (25.59% to 34.25%) and the post-cracking behavior could not be accurately predicted; for this use case, a more robust finite element software is recommended.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.233-243
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• 2024

The behavior of confined steel fiber-reinforced concrete (including confinement models) with compressive strengths ranging from normal to high strength is still rarely studied. This paper presents the results of an investigation of fifteen confined concrete cylinders containing steel fiber. The design parameters evaluated in the experiment included concrete compressive strength (covers normal to high strength), volume fraction of steel fiber and hoop spacing. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of confined steel fiber concrete by reviewing several design parameters, such as concrete strength (normal to high strength). It is then developed to be an analytical stress-strain expression for confined steel fiber concrete. The experimental program was carried out by making cylindrical specimens with a diameter of 100 mm and a height of 200 mm. The cylindrical test object is compressed in a monotonic uniaxial loading. Experimental results have shown steel fiber in concrete has an important role in increasing the compressive strength and strain of cylindrical concrete without steel fiber. In addition, the value of strength enhancement of confined concrete (K) along with increasing fiber fraction volume; which applies to normal to high-strength concrete. The value of K also increases if the compressive strength of the concrete tends to decrease and the spacing of the hoops is closer. The comparison of stress-strain behavior between the confined steel fiber concrete proposed by other researchers and the experimental results in general significantly different in post-peak response. The statistical analysis indicates that the value of Coefficient of Variation for the confinement model by Campione is the closest compared to other existing confinement models in predicting the values of K and Toughness Index. Furthermore, the analytic stress-strain expression of confined steel fiber concrete was developed by adopting and modifying several equations from the present models. The proposed analytical expression is then verified with the experimental results. The results of the verification show that the stress-strain behavior of confined steel fiber concrete is relatively close.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2024

To investigate the compressive behavior of partially encased recycled aggregate concrete (PERAC) stub columns after exposed to elevated temperatures, 22 specimens were tested. The maximum temperature suffered, the replacement ratio of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA), the endurance time and the spacing between links were considered as the main parameters. It was found that the failure mode of post-heated PERAC columns generally matched that of traditional partially encased composite (PEC) columns, but the flange of specimens appeared premature buckling after undergoing the temperature of 400℃ and above. Additionally, the ultimate strength and ductility of the specimens deteriorated with the elevated temperatures and extended heating time. When 400℃< T ≤ 600℃, the strength reduction range is the largest, about 11% ~ 17%. The higher the replacement ratio of RCA, the lower the ultimate strength of specimens. At the temperature of 600℃, the ultimate strength of specimens with the RCA replacement ratio of 50% and 100% is 0.94 and 0.91 times than that of specimens without RCA, respectively. But the specimen with 50% replacement ratio of RCA showed the best ductility performance. And the bearing capacity and ductility of PERAC stub columns were changed for the better due to the application of links. When the RCA replacement ratio is 100%, the ultimate strength of specimens with the link spacing of 100 mm and 50 mm increased 14% and 25% than that of the specimen without links, respectively. Based on the results above, a formula for calculating the ultimate strength of PERAC stub columns after exposure to high temperatures was proposed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.379-391
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• 2024

The ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) mixed with hybrid fibers has excellent mechanical properties and durability, and the hybrid fibers have a certain impact on the bearing capacity, deformation capacity, and crack propagation of beams. Many scholars have conducted a series of studies on the bending performance of prestressed UHPC beams, but there are few studies on prestressed UHPC beams mixed with hybrid fibers. In this study, five bonded post-tensioned partially prestressed UHPC beams mixed with steel fibers and macro-polyolefin fibers were poured and subjected to four-points symmetric loading bending tests. The effects of different prestressing degrees and prestressing levels on the load-deflection curves, crack propagation, failure modes and ultimate bearing capacity of beams were discussed. The results showed that flexural failure occurred in the prestressed UHPC beams with hybrid fibers, and the integrity of specimens was good. When the prestressing degree was the same, the higher the prestressing level, the better the crack resistance capacity of UHPC beams; When the prestressing level was 90%, increasing the prestressing degree was beneficial to improve the crack resistance and ultimate bearing capacity of UHPC beams. When the prestressing degree increased from 0.41 to 0.59, the cracking load and ultimate load increased by 66.0% and 41.4%, respectively, but the ductility decreased by 61.2%. Based on the plane section assumption and considering the bridging effect of short fibers, the cracking moment and ultimate bearing moment were calculated, with good agreement between the test and calculated values.

• Advances in materials Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.391-416
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• 2024

Hybrid composite materials are widely used in various load-bearing structural components of micro - mini UAVs. However, the design of thin laminates for better impact resistance remains a challenge, despite the strong demand for lightweight structures. This work aims to assess the low-velocity impact (LVI) behaviour of thin quasi-isotropic woven carbon/ aramid epoxy hybrid laminates using experimental and numerical techniques. Drop tower impact test with 10 J and 15 J impact energies is performed on carbon/epoxy laminates having aramid layers at different sequences and locations. The impact behaviour is experimentally evaluated using force-time, force-deformation, and energy-time histories considering delamination threshold load, peak load, and laminate deflection. Ultrasonic C-scan is performed on the post-impact samples to analyse the insidious damage profile at different impact energies. The experimental data is further utilized to numerically simulate LVI behaviour by employing the representative volume element model. The numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental data. Numerical and experimental approach predicts that the hybrid laminates with aramid layers at both impact and non-impact sides of the laminate exhibits significant improvement in the overall impact behaviour by having a subcritical damage morphology compared to carbon/epoxy laminate. A combined numerical-experimental approach is proposed for evaluating the effective impact performance.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.65-76
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• 2018

Purpose - This paper investigates how the market value of the firms are impacted by distribution information technology investment in Korea over time and across markets, industries and project characteristics. This is the first empirical study on the market payoffs from the RFID investment in Korea. The purpose of this study is to provide a appropriate guideline for investors and practitioners with respect to the announcement representing RFID adoption in Korea. This reaction guideline will stimulate the practitioners to monitor and evaluate the benefits and costs of the innovative RFID technology. Research design, data, and methodology - This paper employs event study methodology to analyze the payoffs from distribution information technology investment announcements over a fifteen-year period from 2003 to 2017. Event study method is based on the assumptions such as market efficiency, unanticipated RFID invest announcements and no confounding effects in the data. This study collected the information on RFID investment announcements by using a full text search engine Bigkinds provided by Korea Press Foundation over a fifteen-year period from January 2003 through December 2017. This paper selected 88 announcements representing RFID adoption by 46 firms. This paper estimated the payoffs from RFID investment announcement through events windows by using the market model of Mcwilliams and Siegel (1997) and calculated the Z-values. Using this test statistics we could infer if RFID adoption make large differences in abnormal returns across various classifications of the firms. Results - There is significant positive market returns from the announcement representing distribution information technology investment in the pre-2009 time period, the significances of payoffs disappear in the post-2009 time period. For this reason investors or practitioners can understand the importance of market entry time and the fact that the greater rewards may belong to early innovators while late imitators cannot reap such a rewards. This paper also find that there is a large differences in the payoffs from the announcement across markets, industries and project characteristics. Conclusions - Analysing the selected sample of 88 announcements representing RFID Adoption over fifteen-year period from 2003 to 2017, this study find that there is not only significant abnormal excess returns from RFID investment announcements but also there is great differences in the abnormal returns over time and across firm sizes or affiliated markets, industries, and project characteristics. This means that there are considerable values for the investors across various firm classifications. The findings of this paper provide useful implications for the practitioners to make judicious decisions whether to adopt the innovative technologies in general or not considering the various concrete circumstances in Korea.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.43
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• pp.7-46
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• 2008

The purpose of this essay explores a critical review of the Korean critical communication studies focused on the problematic of cultural studies and political economy in 2000s. The findings are as follows; The 'consumer turn' or 'audience turn' in new revisionism modelling John Fiske's cultural studies has been interpreted not to complement but to substitute the necessary criticism of the post-authoritarian media establishment of Korea at that time, arising identity crisis of Korean cultural studies as one of the critical camp. On other side, however, some political economy studies close to the unilinear theses of orthodox marxism has been appraised to neglect the complex process and structure of media and cultural production as well. While the press war between the market-dominant dailies and some progressive dailies has given rise to a whole debate as expected in consolidating period of Korean emerging democracy, the conjucturalism as modelled by Hall's 'authoritarian populism' failed to initiate a new theo tical practice in Korea. Finally, this review essay propose the some new research issues that would converge cultural studies and political economy, modernism and postmodernism; citizenship vs 'cultural citizenship'(valuing the private identity and gender) or Habermasian public sphere vs 'cultural public sphere', the culture of production, (modern)citizen/(postmodern)consumer(recently debated in English media policy), 'differentiation' in capitalist production and 'difference' in consumer sovereignty, 21c future vision of public service broadcasting as one of the 20c institutions.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.69-89
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• 2009

Reinforced and prestressed concrete (RC and PC) thin walls are crucial to the safety and serviceability of structures subjected to shear. The shear strengths of elements in walls depend strongly on the softening of concrete struts in the principal compression direction due to the principal tension in the perpendicular direction. The past three decades have seen a rapid development of knowledge in shear of reinforced concrete structures. Various rational models have been proposed that are based on the smeared-crack concept and can satisfy Navier's three principles of mechanics of materials (i.e., stress equilibrium, strain compatibility and constitutive laws). The Cyclic Softened Membrane Model (CSMM) is one such rational model developed at the University of Houston, which is being efficiently used to predict the behavior of RC/PC structures critical in shear. CSMM for RC has already been implemented into finite element framework of OpenSees (Fenves 2005) to come up with a finite element program called Simulation of Reinforced Concrete Structures (SRCS) (Zhong 2005, Mo et al. 2008). CSMM for PC is being currently implemented into SRCS to make the program applicable to reinforced as well as prestressed concrete. The generalized program is called Simulation of Concrete Structures (SCS). In this paper, the CSMM for RC/PC in material scale is first introduced. Basically, the constitutive relationships of the materials, including uniaxial constitutive relationship of concrete, uniaxial constitutive relationships of reinforcements embedded in concrete and constitutive relationship of concrete in shear, are determined by testing RC/PC full-scale panels in a Universal Panel Tester available at the University of Houston. The formulation in element scale is then derived, including equilibrium and compatibility equations, relationship between biaxial strains and uniaxial strains, material stiffness matrix and RC plane stress element. Finally the formulated results with RC/PC plane stress elements are implemented in structure scale into a finite element program based on the framework of OpenSees to predict the structural behavior of RC/PC thin-walled structures subjected to earthquake-type loading. The accuracy of the multiscale modeling technique is validated by comparing the simulated responses of RC shear walls subjected to reversed cyclic loading and shake table excitations with test data. The response of a post tensioned precast column under reversed cyclic loads has also been simulated to check the accuracy of SCS which is currently under development. This multiscale modeling technique greatly improves the simulation capability of RC thin-walled structures available to researchers and engineers.