• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.515-529
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• 2024

Cold-formed steel (CFS) is a popular choice for construction due to its low cost, durability, sustainability, resistance to high environmental and seismic pressures, and ease of installation. The beam-column connections in residential and medium-rise structures are formed using self-drilling screws that connect two CFS channel sections and a gusset plate. In order to increase the moment capacity of these CFS screwed beam-column connections, stiffeners are often placed on the web area of each single channel. However, there is limited literature on studying the effects of stiffeners on the moment capacity of CFS screwed beam-column connections. Hence, this paper proposes a new test approach for determining the moment capacity of CFS screwed beam-column couplings. This study describes an experimental test programme consisting of eight novel experimental tests. The effect of stiffeners, beam thickness, and gusset plate thickness on the structural behaviour of CFS screwed beam-column connections is investigated. Besides, nonlinear elasto-plastic finite element (FE) models were developed and validated against experimental test data. It found that there was reasonable agreement in terms of moment capacity and failure mode prediction. From the experimental and numerical investigation, it found that the increase in gusset plate or beam thickness and the use of stiffeners have no significant effect on the structural behaviour, moment capacity, or rotational capacity of joints exhibiting the same collapse behaviour; however, the capacity or energy absorption capacities have increased in joints whose failure behaviour varies with increasing thickness or using stiffeners. Besides, the thickness change has little impact on the initial stiffness.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.132-142
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• 2009

The Tamar rift valley runs through the City of Launceston, Tasmania. Damage has occurred to city buildings due to earthquake activity in Bass Strait. The presence of the ancient valley, the Tamar valley, in-filled with soft sediments that vary rapidly in thickness from 0 to 250mover a few hundreds metres, is thought to induce a 2D resonance pattern, amplifying the surface motions over the valley and in Launceston. Spatially averaged coherency (SPAC), frequency-wavenumber (FK) and horizontal to vertical spectrum ratio (HVSR) microtremor survey methods are combined to identify and characterise site effects over the Tamar valley. Passive seismic array measurements acquired at seven selected sites were analysed with SPAC to estimate shear wave velocity (slowness) depth profiles. SPAC was then combined with HVSR to improve the resolution of these profiles in the sediments to an approximate depth of 125 m. Results show that sediments thicknesses vary significantly throughout Launceston. The top layer is composed of as much as 20m of very soft Quaternary alluvial sediments with a velocity from 50 m/s to 125 m/s. Shear-wave velocities in the deeper Tertiary sediment fill of the Tamar valley, with thicknesses from 0 to 250m vary from 400 m/s to 750 m/s. Results obtained using SPAC are presented at two selected sites (GUN and KPK) that agree well with dispersion curves interpreted with FK analysis. FK interpretation is, however, limited to a narrower range of frequencies than SPAC and seems to overestimate the shear wave velocity at lower frequencies. Observed HVSR are also compared with the results obtained by SPAC, assuming a layered earth model, and provide additional constraints on the shear wave slowness profiles at these sites. The combined SPAC and HVSR analysis confirms the hypothesis of a layered geology at the GUN site and indicates the presence of a 2D resonance pattern across the Tamar valley at the KPK site.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.493-502
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• 2011

We study the deep structure of Korean Peninsula by estimating Moho depth and crustal thickness from using land and oceanic topography and free-air gravity anomaly data. Based on Airy-Heiskanen isostatic hypothesis, the correlated components between the terrain gravity effects and free-air gravity anomalies by wavenumber correlation analysis(WCA) are extracted to estimate the gravity effects that will be resulted from isostatic compensation for the area. With the resulting compensated gravity estimates, Moho depth that is a subsurface between the crust and mantle is estimated by the inversion in an iterative method with the constraints of 20 seismic depth estimates by the receiver function analysis, to minimize the uncertainty of non-uniqueness. Consequently, the average of the resulting crustal thickness estimate of Korean Peninsula is 32.15 km and the standard deviation is 3.12 km. Moho depth of South Korea estimated from this study is compared with the ones from the previous studies, showing they are approximately consistent. And the aspects of Moho undulation from the respective study are in common deep along Taebaek Mountains and Sobaek Mountains and low depth in Gyeongsang Basin relatively. Also, it is discussed that the terrain decorrelated free-air gravity anomalies inferring from the intracrustal characteristics of the crust are compared to the heat flow distributions of South Korea. The low-frequency components of terrain decorrelated Free-air gravity anomalies are highly correlated with the heat flow data, especially in the area of Gyeongsang basin where high heat flow causes to decrease the density of the rocks in the lower crust resulting in lowering the Moho depth by compensation. This result confirms that the high heat sources in this area coming from the upper mantle by Kim et al. (2008).

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.593-604
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• 2007

Although composite construction has more mechanical advantages compared to noncomposite construction, the design of noncomposite construction for skew bridges with large skew angels has been often checked because composite construction may cause large stresses in the bridge deck. In this study, the analytical model considered dynamic behaviors for noncomposite skew bridges was proposed. Using the proposed analytical model, the validity of the application of noncomposite construction to skew bridges was checked. Also, the effects of interactions between the concrete deck and steel girders such as composite construction, partial composite construction, and noncomposite construction on the dynamic characteristics and dynamic behaviors of simply supported skew bridges were investigated. A series of parametric studies for the total 27 skew bridges was conducted with respect to parameters such as girder spacing, skew angle, and deck aspect ratio. Although the slip at the interfaces between the concrete deck and steel girders results in the reduction of seismic total base shear in the transverse direction due to period elongation, it causes an undesirable behavior of skew bridges by the modification in mode shapes and distributions of stiffness. Shear connectors placed by minimum requirements for partial composite action have an effect on reducing the girder stresses and deck stresses; except case of some skew bridges, the magnitude of the girder stresses and deck stresses obtained from partial composite skew bridges is similar to or slightly more than those acquired from composite skew bridges.

• Proceedings of the Technology Innovation Conference
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• 1997.12a
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• pp.159-176
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• 1997

This paper deals with demand surveys for big science and technology research facilities and equipments to advance national S'||'&'||'T research infrastructure. We perform surveys thrice based on applied Delphi method on the future demand of big S'||'&'||'T research facilities and equipments among Korean scientists and engineers. We employ the concept of big S'||'&'||'T research facilities and equipments as follows: \circled1 The operating size of it is equivalent to that of an institute or research center, and/or \circled2 The users in various disciplines are many, and/or \circled3 The application areas or spill-over effects are large, and/or \circled4 The scale and scope of research objects is equivalent to that of mega science area such as earth.oceanography.space, and/or \circled5 The expenses for installing and operating it are to be supported by government, and/or \circled5 The facilities are expected as necessary for international joint research, and/or \circled7 It is necessary for promoting creative basic science and developing creative technology. We ask the respondents to answer the following questionnaire: - How to prioritize the equipments according to the degree of importance\ulcorner $\square$ Promotion of basic science and mega science, the development of the technologies to enhance the public welfare, the competitiveness of industrial technologies, the job creation for the S'||'&'||'T personnel, and international cooperation. - Who should be in charge of acquisition and operation of the equipments\ulcorner $\square$ Industry, Government Research Institutes, Academy, ERC and SRC. - When shall we acquire the equipment\ulcorner $\square$ Within 2000, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017. - How shall we acquire the equipments\ulcorner $\square$ International Joint Development, Domestic Development, Acquisition from Overseas, - How much will the equipment generate spill-over effects to national competitiveness\ulcorner $\square$ Promotion of basic science, contribution to the economy, supply of S'||'&'||'T personnel, and international cooperation. We suggest the following equipments as prioritized candidates after consulting the officers from MOST, MOE, MIC, MOEN and experts from KBSI and STEPI:(table omitted) where, #1, Korea Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor, #2. 800 MHz Superconduction Fourier-Transform Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer, #3. Ion Accelerator, #4. Seismic Test Facility, #5. Transonic Wind Tunnel, #6. Radio Telescope for Very Long Baseline Interferometer, #7. 3000t Universal(or Large Structure) Testing Machine, #8. Compost Facility or Plasma Pyrolysis Facility.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.198-206
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• 2018

In this preliminary study, dehydration of the subducting slab and behavior of the expelled water are numerically modeled using 2-dimensional model scheme. The hydrated minerals in the oceanic crust of the subducting slab experience dehydration by increases in temperature and pressure and expel their water into the overlying mantle wedge. Behavior of the expelled water is governed by both the corner flow in the mantle wedge and porous flow of the expelled water through the pores of the mantle minerals. The effects of convergence rate and age of the subducting slab as well as grain size of the minerals on the dehydration of the subducting slab and behavior of the expelled water are evaluated. The water solubility of the oceanic crust measured from the laboratory experiments is considered for modeling dehydration of the oceanic crust. The model calculations show most of the hydrated minerals in the oceanic crust is dehydrated by a depth of 100 km and the effects of the convergence rate and age of the subducting slab on the dehydration of the subducting slab and behavior of the expelled water are not significant. The larger grain size allows faster porous flow of the expelled water through the oceanic crust, mantle wedge and overlying continental crust and reduces the volume fraction of the expelled water there. The developed technique will be used for future studies on arc volcanism and has a potential implication for the other fields such as seismic tomographic study.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the application of various numerical models and frequency contents of earthquakes on the performances of the reactor containment building (RCB) in a nuclear power plant (NPP) equipped with an advanced power reactor 1400. Two kinds of numerical models are developed to perform time-history analyses: a lumped-mass stick model (LMSM) and a full three-dimensional finite element model (3D FEM). The LMSM is constructed in SAP2000 using conventional beam elements with concentrated masses, whereas the 3D FEM is built in ANSYS using solid elements. Two groups of ground motions considering low- and high-frequency contents are applied in time-history analyses. The low-frequency motions are created by matching their response spectra with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1.60 design spectrum, whereas the high-frequency motions are artificially generated with a high-frequency range from 10Hz to 100Hz. Seismic responses are measured in terms of floor response spectra (FRS) at the various elevations of the RCB. The numerical results show that the FRS of the structure under low-frequency motions for two numerical models are highly matched. However, under high-frequency motions, the FRS obtained by the LMSM at a high natural frequency range are significantly different from those of the 3D FEM, and the largest difference is found at the lower elevation of the RCB. By assuming that the 3D FEM approximates responses of the structure accurately, it can be concluded that the LMSM produces a moderate discrepancy at the high-frequency range of the FRS of the RCB.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2008

We present a method for interpreting seismic records with arrivals and waveforms having characteristics which could be generated by extremely inhomogeneous velocity structures, such as non-typical oceanic crust, decollement at subduction zones, and seamounts in oceanic regions, by comparing them with synthetic waveforms. Recent extensive refraction and wide-angle reflection surveys in oceanic regions have provided us with a huge number of high-resolution and high-quality seismic records containing characteristic arrivals and waveforms, besides first arrivals and major reflected phases such as PmP. Some characteristic waveforms, with significant later reflected phases or anomalous amplitude decay with offset distance, are difficult to interpret using only a conventional interpretation method such as the traveltime tomographic inversion method. We find the best process for investigating such characteristic phases is to use an interactive interpretation method to compare observed data with synthetic waveforms, and calculate raypaths and traveltimes. This approach enables us to construct a reasonable structural model that includes all of the major characteristics of the observed waveforms. We present results here with some actual observed examples that might be of great help in the interpretation of such problematic phases. Our approach to the analysis of waveform characteristics is endorsed as an innovative method for constructing high-resolution and high-quality crustal structure models, not only in oceanic regions, but also in the continental regions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.6 s.73
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• pp.793-805
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• 2004

The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the ductility and strength factors that are key components of the response modification factor for special steel moment-resistant frames. The ductility factors for special steel moment-resistant frames were calculated by multiplying the ductility factor for SDOF systems and the MDOF modification factors. Ductility factors were computed for elastic and perfectly plastic SDOF systems undergoing different levels of inelastic deformation and periods when subjected to a large number of recorded earthquake ground motions. Based on the results of the regression analysis, simplified expressions were proposed to compute the ductility factors. Based on previous studies, the MDOF modification factors were also proposed to account for the MDOF systems. Strength factors for special steel moment resisting frames were estimated from the results of the nonlinear static analysis. A total of 36 sample steel frames were designed to investigate the ductility and strength factors considering design parameters such as number of stories (4, 8, and 16 stories), seismic zone factors (Z = 0.075, 0.2, and 0.4), framing system (Perimeter Frames, PF and Distributed Frames, DF), and failure mechanism (Strong-Column Weak Beam, SCWB, and Weak-Column Strong-Beam, WCSB). The effects of these design parameters on the ductility and strength factors for special steel moment-resisting frames were investigated.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.633-641
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• 2012

In this study, the effects of the inelastic shear behavior of beam-column joint on the response of RC OMRF are evaluated in the inelastic time history analysis. For an example, a 5-story structure for site class SB and seismic design category C was designed in accordance with KBC2009. Bending moment-curvature relationship for beam and column was evaluated using fiber model and bending moment-rotation relationship for beam-column joint was calculated using simple and unified joint shear behavior model and moment equilibrium relationship. The hysteretic behavior was simulated using three-parameter model suggested in IDARC program. The inelastic time history analysis with PGA for return period of 2400 years showed that the model with inelastic beam-column joint yielded smaller maximum base shear force but nearly equivalent maximum roof displacement and maximum story drift as those obtained from analysis using rigid joint. The maximum story drift satisfied the criteria of KBC2009. Therefore, the inelastic shear behavior of beam-column joint could be neglected in the structural design.