• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.262-268
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• 2022

This paper introduces a novel concept of the pulsed neutron facility (PNF) for maximizing the production of the thermal neutrons and its application to medical use based on prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) using Monte Carlo simulations. The PNF consists of a compact D-T neutron generator, a graphite pile, and a detection system using Cadmium telluride (CdTe) detector arrays. The configuration of fuel pins in the graphite monolith and the design and materials for the moderating layer were studied to optimize the thermal neutron yields. Biological samples - normal and cancerous breast tissues - including chlorine, a trace element, were used to investigate the sensitivity of the characteristic γ-rays by neutron-trace material interactions and the detector responses of multiple particles. Around 90 % of neutrons emitted from a deuterium-tritium (D-T) neutron generator thermalized as they passed through the graphite stockpile. The thermal neutrons captured the chlorines in the samples, then the characteristic γ-rays with specific energy levels of 6.12, 7.80 and 8.58 MeV were emitted. Since the concentration of chlorine in the cancerous tissue is twice that in the normal tissue, the count ratio of the characteristic g-rays of the cancerous tissue over the normal tissue is approximately 2.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.621-640
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• 2022

In the present article, the vibration response of a geometrically imperfect bi-directional functionally graded plate (2D-FGP) with geometric discontinuities and micro-structural defects (porosities) has been investigated. A porosity model has been developed to incorporate the effective material properties of the bi-directional FGP which varies in two directions i.e. along the axial and transverse direction. The geometric discontinuity is also introduced in the plate in the form of a circular cut-out at the center of the plate. The structural kinematic formulation is based on the non-polynomial trigonometric higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT). Finite element formulation is done using C° continuous Lagrangian quadrilateral four-noded element with seven degrees of freedom per node. The equations of motion have been derived using a variational approach. Convergence and validation studies have been documented to confirm the accuracy and efficiency of the present formulation. A detailed investigation study has been done to evaluate the influence of the circular cut-out, geometric imperfection, porosity inclusions, partial supports, volume fraction indexes (along with the thickness and length), and geometrical configurations on the vibration response of 2D-FGP. It is concluded that after a particular cut-out dimension, the vibration response of the 2D FGP exhibits non-monotonic behavior.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.651-676
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• 2022

Most of the experimental, theoretical, and numerical studies on the stability of functionally graded composites are deterministic, while there are full of complex interactions of variables with an inherently probabilistic nature, this paper presents a non-intrusive framework to investigate the stochastic nonlinear buckling behaviors of porous functionally graded cylindrical shells exposed to inevitable source-uncertainties. Euler-Lagrange equations are theoretically derived based on the three variable refined shear deformation theory. Closed-form solutions for the shell buckling loads are achieved by solving the deterministic eigenvalue problems. The analytical results are verified with numerical results obtained from finite element analyses that are conducted in the commercial software ABAQUS. The non-intrusive framework is completed by integrating the Monte Carlo simulation with the verified closed-form solutions. The convergence studies are performed to determine the effective pseudorandom draws of the simulation. The accuracy and efficiency of the framework are verified with statistical results that are obtained from the first and second-order perturbation techniques. Eleven cases of individual and compound uncertainties are investigated. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to figure out the five cases that have profound perturbative effects on the shell buckling loads. Complete probability distributions of the first three critical buckling loads are completely presented for each profound uncertainty case. The effects of the shell thickness, volume fraction index, and stochasticity degree on the shell buckling load under compound uncertainties are studied. There is a high probability that the shell has non-unique buckling modes in stochastic environments, which should be known for reliable analysis and design of engineering structures.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2023

Lithium-ion batteries are predominantly employed in electric vehicles and energy storage devices, offering the advantage of high energy density. However, they are susceptible to efficiency degradation when operated at high temperatures due to their sensitivity to the external environment. In this study, we conducted experiments using an indirect cooling method to prevent thermal runaway and explosions in lithium-ion batteries. The results were validated by comparing them with heat transfer simulations conducted through a commercial finite element analysis program. The experiments included single-cell exothermic tests and cooling experiments on a battery pack with 10 cells connected in series, utilizing 21700 lithium-ion batteries. To block external temperature influences, the experimental environment featured an extrusion method insulation in the environmental chamber. The cooling system, suitable for indirect cooling, was constructed with copper tubes and pins. The heat transfer analysis began by presenting a single-cell heating model using commercial software, which was then employed to analyze the heating and cooling of the battery pack.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2024

Development of pressure sensors for harsh environments with high pressure, humidity, and temperature is essential for many applications in the aerospace, marine, and automobile industries. However, existing materials such as polymers, adhesives, and semiconductors are not suitable for these conditions and require materials that are less sensitive to the external environment. This study proposed a pressure sensor that could withstand harsh environments and had high durability and precision. The sensor comprised a piezoresistor pattern and an insulating film directly formed on a stainless-steel membrane. To achieve the highest sensitivity, a pattern design method was proposed that considered the stress distribution in a circular membrane using finite element analysis. The manufacturing process involved depositing and etching a dielectric insulating film and metal piezoresistive material, resulting in a device with high linearity and slight hysteresis in the range of a maximum of 40 atm. The simplicity and effectiveness of this sensor render it a promising candidate for various applications in extreme environments.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5A
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• pp.649-656
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• 2008

The enhancement of the service life of damaged or cracked structures is a major issue for researchers and engineers. The hierarchic void element based on the integrals of Legendre polynomials is used to characterize the fracture behaviour of unpatched crack as well as repaired crack with bonded composite patches by computing the stress intensity factors and stress contours at the crack tip. Since the equivalent single layer approach is adopted in this study, the proposed element is necessary to represent a discontinuous crack part as a continuum body with zero stiffness. Thus the aspect ratio of this element to represent the crack should be extremely slender. The sensitivity of numerical solution with respect to energy release rate, displacement and stress has been tested to show the robustness of zero stiffness element as the aspect ratio is increased up to 2000. The stiffness derivative method and displacement extrapolation method have been applied to calculate the stress intensity factors of Mode I problem. It is noted that the proposed hierarchical void element can be one of alternatives to analyze the patched crack problems.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 1998

The exchange anisotropy is the unidirectional magnetic anisotropy which comes from exchange interaction between antiferromagnetic layer and ferromagnetic layer. The application of this phenomenon to MR read head and spin-valve type GMR (Giant Magnetoresistance) head has been studied extensively. In our study, we intended to apply exchange anisotropy of NiO/NiFe bilayer to spin-valve type GMR element. Above all, we studied the exchange anisotropy of NiO/NiFe bilayer, and focused especially on the effect of NiO deposition condition. And we found that Ar pressure during NiO deposition was crucial factor for the exchange anisotropy of NiO/NiFe bilayer. The lower the Ar pressure is, the better the characteristics of exhange anisotropy is. Then, we applied this optimum condition of NiO/NiFe bilayer to spin-valve type GMR element. Finally we got spin-valve type GMR element which had 3.6 % MR ratio, 16 Oe switching field, and 0.25 %/Oe sensitivity.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.479-490
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• 2005

The thermalhydraulic performance of a CANDU-6 reactor loaded with various CANFLEX fuel bundles is evaluated by the NUCIRC code, which is incorporated with recent models of pressure drop and critical heat flux (CHF) predictions based on high-pressure steam-water tests for the CANFLEX bundle as well as a 37-element bundle. The distributions of channel flow rate, channel exit quality, critical channel power (CCP), and critical power ratio (CPR) for the CANFLEX bundles (with natural or recycled uranium fuel) in the CANDU-6 reactor fuel channel are calculated by the code. The effects of axial and radial heat flux on CCP are evaluated by assuming that the recycled uranium fuel (CANFLEX-RU) has the same geometric data as the natural uranium fuel bundle (CANFLEX-NU), but a different power distribution due to different fuel composition and refueling scheme. In addition, the effects of pressure tube creep and bearing-pad height are examined by comparing various results of uncrept, and $3.3\%\;and\;5.1\%$ crept channels loaded with CANFLEX bundles with 1.4 mm or 1.7 mm high bearing-pads with those of the 37-element bundle. The distributions of the channel flow rate and CCP for the CANFLEX-NU or -RU bundle show a typical trend for a CANDU-6 reactor channel, and the CPRs are maintained above at least 1.444 (NU) or 1.455 (RU) in the uncrept channel. The enhanced CHF of the CANFLEX bundle (particularly with 1.7mm height bearing-pads) produces a higher thermal margin and considerably less sensitivity to CCP reduction due to the pressure tube creep than the 37-element bundle. The CCP enhancement due to the raised bearing-pads is estimated to be about $3\%\~5\%$ for the CANFLEX-NU and $2\%\~6\%$ for the CANFLEX-RU bundle, respectively.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1471-1478
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• 2010

Microforming processes have recently attracted considerable attention from industry and academia since they enable the production of microscale parts using various materials at a high production rate, minimize material loss, and provide parts with excellent mechanical properties. However, for successful development and applications of the microforming process it is critical to take the tribological size effect into consideration because previous studies have shown that traditional friction models for macroscale forming generate significantly erroneous results in the case of microforming. In this paper, we performed scaled ring compression experiments to investigate the tribological size effect of aluminum and brass materials in microforming. The sensitivity of the interfacial friction to the deformation characteristics of the ring was quantitatively analyzed by the finite element analysis. In addition, a friction model based on slip line field and upper boundary techniques was used to theoretically explain the friction mechanism in microforming.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1835-1843
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• 2003

This paper introduces the development of the caliper system for a geometry PIG (Pipeline Inspection Gauge). The objective of the caliper system is to detect and measure dents, wrinkles, and ovalities affect the pipe structural integrity. The developed caliper system consists of a finger arm, an anisotropic permanent magnet, a back yoke, pins, pinholes and a linear hall effect sensor. The angle displacement of the finger arm is measured by the change of the magnetic field in sensing module. Therefore the sensitivity of the caliper system mainly depends on the magnitude of the magnetic field inside the sensing module. In this research, the ring shaped anisotropic permanent magnet and linear hall effect sensors were used to produce and measure the magnetic field. The structure of the permanent magnet, the back yoke and pinhole positions were optimized that the magnitude of the magnetic field range between a high of 0.1020 Tesla and a low of zero by using three dimensional nonlinear finite element methods. A simulator was fabricated to prove the effectiveness of the developed caliper system and the computational scheme using the finite element method. The experimental results show that the developed caliper system is quite efficient for the geometry PIG with good performance.