• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 2017

Recently, there has been significant interest in structural health monitoring for civil engineering applications. In this research, a specially designed tendon, proposed by embedding FBG sensors into the center king cable of a 7-wire strand tendon, was applied for long-term health monitoring of tensile forces on a ground anchor. To make temperature independent sensors, the effective temperature compensation of FBG sensors must be considered. The temperature sensitivity coefficient ${\beta}^{\prime}$ of the FBG sensors embedded tendon was successfully determined to be $2.0{\times}10^{-5}^{\circ}C^{-1}$ through calibrated tests in both a model rock body and a laboratory heat chamber. Furthermore, the obtained result for ${\beta}^{\prime}$ was formally verified through the ground temperature measurement test, expectedly. As a result, the ground temperature measured by a thermometer showed good agreement compared to that measured by the proposed FBG sensor, which was calibrated considering to the temperature sensitivity coefficient ${\beta}^{\prime}$. Finally, four prototype ground anchors including two tension ground anchors and two compression ground anchors made by replacing a tendon with the proposed smart tendon were installed into an actual slope at the Yeosu site. Tensile forces, after temperature compensation was taken into account using the verified temperature sensitivity coefficient ${\beta}^{\prime}$ and ground temperature obtained from the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA) have been monitored for over one year, and the results were very consistent to those measured from the load cell, interestingly.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.415-433
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• 2015

Tendon failures in bonded post-tensioned bridges over the last two decades have motivated ongoing investigations on various aspects of unbonded tendons and their monitoring methods. Recent research shows that change of strain distribution in anchor heads can be useful in detecting wire breakage in unbonded construction. Based on this strain variation, this paper develops a damage detection model that enables an automated tendon monitoring system to identify and locate wire breaks. The first part of this paper presents an experimental program conducted to study the strain variation in anchor heads by generating wire breaks using a mechanical device. The program comprised three sets of tests with fully populated 19-strand anchor head and evaluated the levels of strain variation with number of wire breaks in different strands. The sensitivity of strain variation with wire breaks in circumferential and radial directions of anchor head in addition to the axial direction (parallel to the strand) were investigated and the measured axial strains were found to be the most sensitive. The second part of the paper focuses on formulating the wire breakage detection framework. A finite element model of the anchorage assembly was created to demonstrate the algorithm as well as to investigate the asymmetric strain distribution observed in experimental results. In addition, as almost inevitably encountered during tendon stressing, the effects of differential wedge seating on the proposed model have been analyzed. A sensitivity analysis has been performed at the end to assess the robustness of the model with random measurement errors.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.599-611
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• 2022

Tendon reinforced cemented soil is applied extensively in foundation stabilisation and improvement, especially in areas with soft clay. To solve the deterioration problem led by steel corrosion, the glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) tendon is introduced to substitute the traditional steel tendon. The interface bond strength between the cemented soil matrix and GFRP tendon demonstrates the outstanding mechanical property of this composite. However, the lack of research between the influence factors and bond strength hinders the application. To evaluate these factors, back propagation neural network (BPNN) is applied to predict the relationship between them and bond strength. Since adjusting BPNN parameters is time-consuming and laborious, the particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm is proposed. This study evaluated the influence of water content, cement content, curing time, and slip distance on the bond performance of GFRP tendon-reinforced cemented soils (GTRCS). The results showed that the ultimate and residual bond strengths were both in positive proportion to cement content and negative to water content. The sample cured for 28 days with 30% water content and 50% cement content had the largest ultimate strength (3879.40 kPa). The PSO-BPNN model was tuned with 3 neurons in the input layer, 10 in the hidden layer, and 1 in the output layer. It showed outstanding performance on a large database comprising 405 testing results. Its higher correlation coefficient (0.908) and lower root-mean-square error (239.11 kPa) were obtained compared to multiple linear regression (MLR) and logistic regression (LR). In addition, a sensitivity analysis was applied to acquire the ranking of the input variables. The results illustrated that the cement content performed the strongest influence on bond strength, followed by the water content and slip displacement.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2024

Purpose: Achilles tendon rupture is a frequently encountered ankle pathology associated with a substantial burden of intense pain and functional deficits. Chronic Achilles tendon ruptures with considerable defects pose intricate repair challenges that are often marred by complications such as re-rupture and persistent pain. Various treatment methods, including allograft transplantation, have been proposed, but the literature on this technique is limited. In this study, we propose a surgical approach utilizing allotendon transplantation and a calcaneal tunneling technique and provide clinical evaluation details. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with chronic Achilles tendon ruptures treated with allotendon between 2020 and 2022 were included in the study. Patients were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Scores (ATRSs). Complications were assessed postoperatively. Results: The average VAS score was 7 before surgery, 7.3 immediately after surgery, and 4.3 at 1 month, 2.5 at 3 months, and 1.3 at 6 months after surgery. Because the sample was limited to 15 individuals and distributions were non-normal, the analysis was conducted using the non-parametric Wilcoxon's signed-rank test, and statistical significance was accepted for p-values<0.05. Results showed a significant improvement in ATRS and VAS scores versus preoperative and immediate postoperative values. VAS scores showed a decreasing trend after surgery, whereas average ATRS scores increased from 14 before surgery, 33.8 at 1 month, 82.7 at 3 months, and 93.9 at 6 months. Conclusion: This study suggests that allograft transplantation using the described calcaneal tunnel technique provides an effective treatment for chronic Achilles tendon ruptures. However, extensive research and long-term clinical trials are required to validate and better understand the technique's efficacy.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.1461-1466
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• 2008

In the case of Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), the most frequent mechanism is the dashboard injury, which is directly pressurized to the anterior of the proximal tibia in the state of the knee hyperflexion. The PCL associated ligament damage happens when the posterior injury, the varus, the valgus, the hyperextension and the severe vagus torque are out of the critical value of PCL. After the successful operation cases of Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction using the allograft were informed from 1986, a number of results kept over the maximum 10 years were reported. Unfortunately, PCL reconstruction are crowded the surgery techniques such as the graft, the tibia fixing method, the fixation device, the location of the femoral tunnel, the number of the graft bundles and PCL reconstruction to access to the stability of the normal joint is being developed. Therefore, this study is the basic research of these above facts. The current transtibial tunnel surgery using the cadaveric Achilles tendon grafts is chosen for the various PCL reconstruction. The initial extension of the Achilles tendon by the fixing device and its location under the cyclic loading, were observed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.30-38
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• 2006

This study was to investigate the influence of cooling on muscle force and viscoelastic properties of tendon structures in themedial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle. The subject was instructed to gradually increase force (10% MVC step) from a relaxed state to MVC within 3 s. At this time, it was measured by an ultrasonographic probe was attached and that an electrode was attached to monitor EMG. The F values at 50 100% of MVC were significantly greater under the cold condition than under the non-cold condition (p<.05). The ${\Delta}F/{\Delta}L$ values at 80~100% of MVC were significantly higher under the cold condition than under the non-cold condition (p<.05). The elongation under the non-cold condition had a tendency to be greater than that under the cold condition. The results suggest that cooling results in an increase in the stiffness of tendon structures with a reduction of muscle force and elongation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2021

The influence of prestress force on the fundamental frequency and static deflection shape of uncracked Prestressed Concrete (PC) beams with a parabolic bonded tendon was examined in this paper. Due to the conflicts among existing theories, the analytical solutions for properly considering the dynamic and static behavior of these members is not straightforward. A series of experiments were conducted for a total period of approximately 2.5 months on a PC beam made with high strength concrete, subsequently and closely to the 28 days of age of concrete. Specifically, the simply supported PC member was short term subjected to free transverse vibration and three-point bending tests during its early-age. Subsequently, the experimental data were compared with a model that describes the dynamic behavior of PC girders as a combination of two substructures interconnected, i.e., a compressed Euler-Bernoulli beam and a tensioned parabolic cable. It was established that the fundamental frequency of uncracked PC beams with a parabolic bonded tendon is sensitive to the variation of the initial elastic modulus of concrete in the early-age curing. Furthermore, the small variation in experimental frequency with time makes doubtful its use in inverse problem identifications. Conversely, the relationship between prestress force and static deflection shape is well described by the magnification factor formula of the "compression-softening" theory by assuming the variation of the chord elastic modulus of concrete with time.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4A
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• pp.537-548
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• 2008

Recently, the prestressed unbonded concrete structures are increasingly being built. The mechanical behavior of prestressed concrete beams with unbonded tendon is different from that of normal bonded PSC beams in that the increment of tendon stress was derived by whole member behavior. The purpose of the present paper is therefore to evaluate the flexural behavior and to propose the equation of ultimate tendon stress by performing static flexural test according to span/depth, concrete compression strength, reinforcement ratio and the effect of existing bonded tendon. From experimental results, for cracking, yielding and ultimate load, the effect of reinforcement ratio was more effective than concrete compression strength, and the beams having high strength concrete had a good performance than having low concrete, but there was no difference between high strength and low strength. And as L/dp was larger, test beams had a long region of ductility. This means that unbonded tendon has a large contribution after reinforcement yielding. Especially, the equation of ACI-318 was not match with test results and had no correlations. After analysis of test results, the equation of ultimate unbonded tendon stress without slip was proposed, and the proposed equation was well matched with test results. So the proposed equation in this paper will be a effective basis for the evaluation of unbonded tendons without slip, analysis and design.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.936-942
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• 2005

Recently the exoskeletal power assistive equipment which is a kind of wearable robot has been widely developed to help the human body motion. For the elderly people and patients, however, some limits exist due to the weight and volume of the equipments. As a feasible solution, a tendon-driven exoskeletal power assistive device fur the lower body, and caster walker are proposed in this research. Since the caster walker carries the heavy items, the weight and volume of the wearable exoskeleton are minimized. The key control is used to generate the joint torque required to assist motions such as sitting, standing and walking. Experiments were performed for several motions and the EMG sensors were used to measure the magnitude of assistance. When the motion of sitting down and standing up was compared with and without wearing the proposed device, the $25\%$ assistance was acquired.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.639-644
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• 2000

Prestressing steels are susceptible to corrosion, which is considered the major reason in the deterioration of prestressed concrete structures. To solve this problem, many research have been made to utilize new type of tendons. FRP tendons have many advantages compared to steel tendons. However, FRP tendons have some disadvantages, such as no plastic behavior. This study focused on the flexural behavior of prestresssed concrete beams which is fabricated by post-tensioning method with CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) tendons. Th results drawn from the study, prestressed concrete beams with CFRP tendons have higher flexural cracking load, flexural yielding load, and flexural fracture load. While displacement at the fracture stage is lower compared to prestressed concrete beams with steel tendon. Excessive steel reinforcement lead lower ductility index. So, appropriate reinforcement guideline is needed. Further more, prestressed concrete beams with CFRP tendons can have sufficient ductility index when ruptured by crushing of concrete or used unbonded tendon. Therefore, the best design method for prestressed concrete beams with CFRP tendons is over-reinforcement, and use of unbonded tendon.