• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.639-652
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• 2012

A three-dimensional discrete fracture network model was developed in order to simulate the hydraulic characteristics of a granitic rock mass at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Underground Research Tunnel (KURT). The model used a three-dimensional discrete fracture network (DFN), assuming a correlation between the length and aperture of the fractures, and a trapezoid flow path in the fractures. These assumptions that previous studies have not considered could make the developed model more practical and reasonable. The geologic and hydraulic data of the fractures were obtained in the rock mass at the KURT. Then, these data were applied to the developed fracture discrete network model. The model was applied in estimating the representative elementary volume (REV), the equivalent hydraulic conductivity tensors, and the amount of groundwater inflow into the tunnel. The developed discrete fracture network model can determine the REV size for the rock mass with respect to the hydraulic behavior and estimate the groundwater flow into the tunnel at the KURT. Therefore, the assumptions that the fracture length is correlated to the fracture aperture and the flow in a fracture occurs in a trapezoid shape appear to be effective in the DFN analysis used to estimate the hydraulic behavior of the fractured rock mass.

• Advances in biomechanics and applications
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-40
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• 2014

This paper examines the blood chamber of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) under static loading conditions and standard operating temperatures. The LVAD's walls are made of a temperature-sensitive polymer (ChronoFlex C 55D) and are covered with a titanium nitride (TiN) nano-coating (deposited by laser ablation) to improve their haemocompatibility. A loss of cohesion may be observed near the coating-substrate boundary. Therefore, a micro-scale stress-strain analysis of the multilayered blood chamber was conducted with FE (finite element) code. The multi-scale model included a macro-model of the LVAD's blood chamber and a micro-model of the TiN coating. The theories of non-linear elasticity and elasto-plasticity were applied. The formulated problems were solved with a finite element method. The micro-scale problem was solved for a representative volume element (RVE). This micro-model accounted for the residual stress, a material model of the TiN coating, the stress results under loading pressures, the thickness of the TiN coating and the wave parameters of the TiN surface. The numerical results (displacements and strains) were experimentally validated using digital image correlation (DIC) during static blood pressure deformations. The maximum strain and stress were determined at static pressure steps in a macro-scale FE simulation. The strain and stress were also computed at the same loading conditions in a micro-scale FE simulation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.2823-2834
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• 2023

Austenitic stainless steel welds (ASSWs) of nuclear components undergo aging-related degradations caused by high temperature and neutron radiation. Since irradiation leads to the change of material characteristics, relevant quantification is important for long-term operation, but limitations exist. Although ion irradiation is utilized to emulate neutron irradiation, its penetration depth is too shallow to measure bulk properties. In this study, a systematic approach was suggested to estimate mechanical properties of ion irradiated 308 ASSW. First of all, weld specimens were irradiated by 2 MeV proton to 1 and 10 dpa. Microstructure evolutions due to irradiation in δ-ferrite and austenite phases were characterized and micropillar compression tests were performed. In succession, dislocation density based stress-strain (S-S) relationships and quantification models of irradiation defects were adopted to define phases in finite element analyses. Resultant microscopic S-S curves were compared to verify material parameters. Finally, macroscopic behaviors were calculated by multiscale simulations using real microstructure based representative volume element (RVE). Validity of the approach was verified for the unirradiated specimens such that the estimated S-S curves and 0.2% offset yield strengths (YSs) which was 363.14 MPa were in 10% agreement with test. For irradiated specimens, the estimated YS were 917.41 MPa in 9% agreement.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2023

In this research, a representative volume element (RVE)-based FE Model is presented to estimate the mechanical properties of additively manufactured continuous fiber-reinforced composites with different fiber orientations. To construct the model, an ABAQUS Python script has been implemented to produce matrix and fiber in the desired orientations at the RVE. A script has also been developed to apply the periodic boundary conditions to the RVE. Experimental tests were conducted to validate the numerical models. Tensile specimens with the fiber directions aligned in the 0, 45, and 90 degrees to the loading direction were manufactured using a continuous fiber 3D printer and tensile tests were performed in the three directions. Tensile tests were also simulated using the RVE models. The predicted Young's moduli compared well with the measurements: the Young's modulus prediction accuracy values were 83.73, 97.70, and 92.92 percent for the specimens in the 0, 45, and 90 degrees, respectively. The proposed method with periodic boundary conditions precisely evaluated the elastic properties of additively manufactured continuous fiber-reinforced composites with complex microstructures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.301-312
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• 2006

Experimental research revealed that the spatial dispersion of aggregate grains exerts pronounced influences on the mechanical and durability properties of concrete. Therefore, insight into this phenomenon is of paramount importance. Experimental approaches do not provide direct access to three-dimensional spacing information in concrete, however. Contrarily, simulation approaches are mostly deficient in generating packing systems of aggregate grains with sufficient density. This paper therefore employs a dynamic simulation system (with the acronym SPACE), allowing the generation of dense random packing of grains, representative for concrete aggregates. This paper studies by means of SPACE packing structures of aggregates with a Fuller type of size distribution, generally accepted as a suitable approximation for actual aggregate systems. Mean free spacing $\bar{\lambda}$, mean nearest neighbour distance (NND) between grain centres $\bar{\Delta}_3$, and the probability density function of ${\Delta}_3$ are used to characterize the spatial dispersion of aggregate grains in model concretes. Influences on these spacing parameters are studied of volume fraction and the size range of aggregate grains. The values of these descriptors are estimated by means of stereological tools, whereupon the calculation results are compared with measurements. The simulation results indicate that the size range of aggregate grains has a more pronounced influence on the spacing parameters than exerted by the volume fraction of aggregate. At relatively high volume density of aggregates, as met in the present cases, theoretical and experimental values are found quite similar. The mean free spacing is known to be independent of the actual dispersion characteristics (Underwood 1968); it is a structural parameter governed by material composition. Moreover, scatter of the mean free spacing among the serial sections of the model concrete in the simulation study is relatively small, demonstrating the sample size to be representative for composition homogeneity of aggregate grains. The distribution of ${\Delta}_3$ observed in this study is markedly skew, indicating a concentration of relatively small values of ${\Delta}_3$. The estimate of the size of the representative volume element (RVE) for configuration homogeneity based on NND exceeds by one order of magnitude the estimate for structure-insensitive properties. This is in accordance with predictions of Brown (1965) for composition and configuration homogeneity (corresponding to structure-insensitive and structure-sensitive properties) of conglomerates.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.869-872
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• 2003

This paper presents a geometric machining simulation algorithm to enhance the reliability and user-friendliness of a comprehensive computer aided process planning (CAPP) system by verifying generated NC data. In order to represent the complex machining geometry with high accuracy, the proposed algorithm is developed based on a boundary representative (B-rep) solid modelling kernel. Solid models are used to represent the part geometry. tool swept volume and material removal volume by Boolean unite and subtract operations. By integrating a machining simulation procedure into the CAPP system, the systematic analysis of the tool path can be implemented synthetically. To demonstrate and check the validity of suggested system, a simple example of simulation is represented and the result is discussed.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2018

Background: This study investigates the potential volume and outcome association of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a large and representative sample. Methods: We used a National Health Insurance Service-Cohort Sample Database from 2002 to 2013 released by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. A total of 8,908 subjects were analyzed. The primary analysis was based on Cox proportional hazards models to examine our hypothesis. Results: After adjusting for confounders, the hazard ratio of thirty-day and 1-year mortality in hospitals with a low volume of CHD patients with PCI was 2.8 and 2.2 times higher (p=0.00) compared to hospitals with a high volume of CHD patients with PCI, respectively. Thirty-day and 1-year mortality of CHD patients with PCI in low-volume hospitals admitted through the emergency room were 3.101 (p=0.00) and 2.8 times higher (p=0.01) than those in high-volume hospitals, respectively. Only 30-day mortality in low-volume hospitals of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction patients with PCI was 5.3 and 2.4 times those in high-volume hospitals with PCI, respectively. Conclusion: Mortality was significantly lower when PCI was performed in a high-volume hospital than in a low-volume hospital. Among patients admitted through the emergency room and diagnosed with angina pectoris, total PCI volume (low vs. high) was associated with significantly greater cardiac mortality risk of CHD patients. Thus, There is a need for better strategic approaches from both clinical and health policy standpoints for treatment of CHD patients.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.76-85
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• 2014

In this paper, the equivalent coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of fiber reinforced plastic composite material is investigated with various CTE prediction schemes. Although there are several methods for predicting the equivalent CTEs, most of them have some limitations of are not much accurate when comparing prediction results with test results. In the framework of computational homogenization, a representative volume element is taken from the predefined fiber-volume ratio, and modelled with finite element mesh. Finally, the equivalent CTEs are obtained by applying periodic boundary condition. To verify the performance of the proposed method, the results obtained are compared with those by the existing methods and test results. Additionally, the thermal pointing error analysis for star tracker support structure is conducted and its accuracy is estimated according to CTE prediction schemes.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.48-56
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• 2013

In this paper, the equivalent elastic properties of fiber reinforced plastic laminar are investigated using various homogenization schemes. Although there are several methods for predicting the equivalent elastic properties such as analytical formula or semi-empirical formula, most of them have some limitations or are not much accurate when handling new composite material consisting of various fiber, matrix and fiber-volume fraction ratio. To resolve the issues, computational homogenization scheme is adopted with a representative volume element (RVE) comprised of a set of finite elements. Finally, the equivalent elastic properties are obtained by applying periodic boundary conditions. The obtained results are compared with those by the existing methods and test results. Also its effect on structural analysis results of the composite satellite panel is investigated.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 1992

This paper presents the method of numerical analysis concerned with the hydropdynamic forces and moments of the floating bodies exerted by waves. The analytic methods of hydrodynamic wave forces and moments for large volume structures are generally classified into four categories ; the strip method, the boundary element method, the finite element method, and the potential matching method. In the case of the comparatively large structures, diffraction theory can be applied. However, there are no application limits of diffraction theory which have been known concerning with the analytic method of the rectangular structures. In this paper, the two-dimensional B.E.M. is treated for a moored small rectangular structure in order to evaluate applicability of diffraction theory. Numerical calculation is carried out for the structure. The results are compared with some other ones for verification. The result shows that diffraction theory is applicable to structures smaller than 0.15 in the ratio of the representative structure length d to wave length L for rectangular ones.