• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2024

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has received remarkable attentions in civil infrastructure due to its unique mechanical characteristics and durability. UHPC gains increasingly dominant in essential structural elements, while its unique properties pose challenges for traditional inspection methods, as damage may not always manifest visibly on the surface. As such, the need for robust inspection techniques for detecting cracks in UHPC members has become imperative as traditional methods often fall short in providing comprehensive and timely evaluations. In the era of artificial intelligence, computer vision has gained considerable interest as a powerful tool to enhance infrastructure condition assessment with image and video data collected from sensors, cameras, and unmanned aerial vehicles. This paper presents a computer vision-based approach employing deep learning to detect cracks in UHPC beams, with the aim of addressing the inherent limitations of traditional inspection methods. This work leverages computer vision to discern intricate patterns and anomalies. Particularly, a convolutional neural network architecture employing transfer learning is adopted to identify the presence of cracks in the beams. The proposed approach is evaluated with image data collected from full-scale experiments conducted on UHPC beams subjected to flexural and shear loadings. The results of this study indicate the applicability of computer vision and deep learning as intelligent methods to detect major and minor cracks and recognize various damage mechanisms in UHPC members with better efficiency compared to conventional monitoring methods. Findings from this work pave the way for the development of autonomous infrastructure health monitoring and condition assessment, ensuring early detection in response to evolving structural challenges. By leveraging computer vision, this paper contributes to usher in a new era of effectiveness in autonomous crack detection, enhancing the resilience and sustainability of UHPC civil infrastructure.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2007

Recently structures become longer and higher because of the developments of new materials and construction techniques. However, such modern structures are susceptible to excessive structural vibrations, which may induce problems of serviceability and structural damages. In this paper we attempt to control structural vibration using the probabilistic neural network(PNN) and the artificial neural network(ANN) based on the training pattern that consist of only the structural state vector and the control force. The state vectors of the structure and control forces made by linear quadratic regulator(LQR) algorithm are used for training pattern of PNN and ANN. The proposed algorithm is applied for the vibration control of the three story shear building under Northridge earthquake. Control results by the proposed PNN and ANN are compared with each other.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.344-357
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• 2020

Strain improvement and bioprocess development were undertaken to enhance hyaluronic acid(HA) production by Streptococcus zooepidemicus cells. Using a high-yielding mutant strain, statistical medium optimization was carried out in shake flask cultures, resulting in 52% increase in HA production (5.38 g/l) at the optimal medium composition relative to the parallel control cultures. For sufficient supply of dissolved oxygen (DO), which turned out to be crucial for enhanced production of HA, agitation system and speed were intensively investigated in 5 L bioreactor cultures. Increase in oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k_La) through increment of agitation speed (rpm) and 35% expansion of diameter of the newly-designed impellers showed significantly positive effects on HA production. By installing an expanded Rushton-turbine impeller for efficient break-down of sparged air, and an extended marine impeller above the Rushton-turbine impeller for efficient mixing of the air-born viscous fermentation broth, maximum amount of HA (9.79 g/l) was obtained at 450 rpm, 1.8 times higher level than that of the corresponding flask culture. Subsequently, the possibility of bioprocess scale-up to a 50 L bioreactor was investigated. Despite almost identical maximum HA production (9.11 vs 9.25 g/l), the average HA volumetric productivity (r_p) of the 50 L culture turned out only 74% compared to the corresponding 5 L culture during the exponential phase, possibly caused by shear damages imposed on the producing cells at the high stirring in the 50 L culture. The scale-up process could be successfully achieved if a scale-up criterion of constant oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k_La) is applied to the 50 L pilot-scale bioreactor system.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.377-387
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• 2014

This study mainly treats a new type of the bracing friction damper system, which is able to minimize structural damage under earthquake loads. The slotted bolt holes are placed on the shear faying surfaces with an intention to dissipate considerable amount of friction energy. The superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) wire strands are installed crossly between two plates for the purpose of enhancing recentering force that are able to reduce permanent deformation occurring at the friction damper system. The smart recentering friction damper system proposed in this study can be expected to reduce repair cost as compared to the conventional damper system because the proposed system mitigates the inter-story drift of the entire frame structure. The response mechanism of the proposed damper system is firstly investigated in this study, and then numerical analyses are performed on the component spring models calibrated to the experimental results. Based on the numerical analysis results, the seismic performance of the recentering friction damper system with respect to recentering capability and energy dissipation are investigated before suggesting optimal design methodology. Finally, nonlinear dynamic analyses are conducted by using the frame models designed with the proposed damper systems so as to verify superior performance to the existing damper systems.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.29-39
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• 2015

The vertical load imposed on the bucket foundation is transferred from the soil inside the bucket to the bottom of the foundation, and also to the outer surface of the skirt. For the design of a bucket foundation installed in sand, the vertical load transfer characteristics have to be clearly identified. However, the response of bucket foundations in sand subjected to a vertical load has not been investigated. In this study, we performed two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element analyses and investigated the vertical load transfer mechanism of bucket foundation installed in sand. The end bearing capacity of bucket foundation is shown to be larger than that of the shallow foundation, whereas the frictional resistance is smaller than that for a pile. The end bearing capacity of the bucket foundation is larger than the shallow foundation because the shear stress acting on the skirt pushes down and enlarges the failure surface. The skin friction is smaller than the pile because the settlement induces horizontal movement of the soil below the tip of the foundation and reduces the normal stress acting at the bottom part of the skirt. The calculated bearing capacity of the bucket foundation is larger than the sum of end bearing capacity of shallow foundation and skin friction of pile. This is because the increment of the end bearing capacity is larger than the reduction in the skin friction.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 2014

Recently, much attention has been paid to nonlinear ultrasonic technology as a potential tool to assess hidden damages that cannot be detected by conventional ultrasonic testing. One nonlinear ultrasonic technique is measurement of the resonance frequency shift, which is based on the hysteresis of the material elasticity. Sophisticated measurement of resonance frequency is required, because the change in resonance frequency is usually quite small. In this investigation, the nonlinear electromagnetic acoustic resonance (NEMAR) method was employed. The NEMAR method uses noncontact electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) in order to minimize the effect of the transducer on the frequency response of the object. Aluminum plate specimens that underwent three point bending fatigue were tested with a shear wave EMAT. The hysteretic nonlinear parameter ${\alpha}$, a key indicator of damage, was calculated from the resonance frequency shift at several levels of input voltage. The hysteretic nonlinear parameter of a damaged sample was compared to that of an intact one, showing a difference in the values.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to investigated the effect of the addition of the fruit and powder (0, 5, 10, 15, 20％) from the fruit of paper mulberry (Broussonetia kazinoki Siebold) on the tenderness and palatability of Jangchorim. When up to 20％ of the fruit of paper mulberry contributes to 6.2∼7.0％ decreasing rate in shear force while its powder, a 10.2∼18.4％ reduction rate. And according to the increasing of fruits of paper mulberry added, regardless of its types, cooking loss was somewhat decreased, redness of surface of cooked beef and free amino acid content extractes in the liquid part of Jangchorim was generally increased. Na, K, P, Ca, and Mg was so forth in quantity order. In sensory characteristics, the 15％ fruit of paper mulberry additive group and the 10％ additive group in the its powder type showed the most favorable response.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.535-544
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• 2016

This paper aims at examining the effects of sustained load and elevated temperature on the time-dependent deformation of a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets bonded to concrete as well as the pull-off strength of single-lap shear specimens after the sustained loading period using digital images. Elevated temperature during the sustained loading period resulted in increased slip of the CFRP composites, whereas increased curing time of the polymer resin prior to the sustained loading period resulted in reduced slip. Pull-off tests conducted after sustained loading period showed that the presence of sustained load resulted in increased pull-off strength and interfacial fracture energy. This beneficial effect decreased with increased creep duration. Based on analysis of digital images, results on strain distributions and fracture surfaces indicated that stress relaxation of the epoxy occurred in the 30 mm closest to the loaded end of the CFRP composites during sustained loading, which increased the pull-off strength provided the failure locus remained mostly in the concrete. For longer sustained loading duration, the failure mode of concrete-CFRP bond region can change from a cohesive failure in the concrete to an interfacial failure along the concrete/epoxy interface, which diminished part of the strength increase due to the stress relaxation of the adhesive.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1345-1352
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• 2012

This paper aims to evaluate the low-velocity impact responses and mechanical properties of balsa-wood and urethane-foam core materials and their sandwich panels, which are applied as the impact limiter of a nuclear spent fuel shipping cask. For the urethane-foam core, which is isotropic, tensile, compressive, and shear mechanical tests were conducted. For the balsa-wood core, which is orthotropic and shows different material properties in different orthogonal directions, nine mechanical properties were determined. The impact test specimens for the core material and their sandwich panel were subjected to low-velocity impact loads using an instrumented testing machine at impact energy levels of 1, 3, and 5 J. The experimental results showed that both the urethane-foam and the balsa-wood core except in the growth direction (z-direction) had a similar impact response for the energy absorbing capacity, contact force, and indentation. Furthermore, it was found that the urethane-foam core was suitable as an impact limiter material owing to its resistance to fire and low cost, and the balsa-wood core could also be strongly considered as an impact limiter material for a lightweight nuclear spent fuel shipping cask.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.337-353
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• 2018

The present study focuses on examining the structural behaviour of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams under high rates of loading largely associated with impact problems. Fibres are added to the concrete mix to enhance ductility and energy absorption, which is important for impact-resistant design. A simple, yet practical non-linear finite-element analysis (NLFEA) model was used in the present study. Experimental static and impact tests were also carried out on beams spanning 1.3 meter with weights dropped from heights of 1.5 m and 2.5 m, respectively. The numerical model realistically describes the fully-brittle tensile behaviour of plain concrete as well as the contribution of steel fibres to the post-cracking response (the latter was allowed for by conveniently adjusting the constitutive relations for plain concrete, mainly in uniaxial tension). Suitable material relations (describing compression, tension and shear) were selected for SFRC and incorporated into ABAQUS software Brittle Cracking concrete model. A more complex model (i.e., the Damaged Plasticity concrete model in ABAQUS) was also considered and it was found that the seemingly simple (but fundamental) Brittle Cracking model yielded reliable results. Published data obtained from drop-weight experimental tests on RC and SFRC beams indicates that there is an increase in the maximum load recorded (compared to the corresponding static one) and a reduction in the portion of the beam span reacting to the impact load. However, there is considerable scatter and the specimens were often tested to complete destruction and thus yielding post-failure characteristics of little design value and making it difficult to pinpoint the actual load-carrying capacity and identify the associated true ultimate limit state (ULS). To address this, dynamic NLFEA was employed and the impact load applied was reduced gradually and applied in pulses to pinpoint the actual failure point. Different case studies were considered covering impact loading responses at both the material and structural levels as well as comparisons between RC and SFRC specimens. Steel fibres were found to increase the load-carrying capacity and deformability by offering better control over the cracking process concrete undergoes and allowing the impact energy to be absorbed more effectively compared to conventional RC members. This is useful for impact-resistant design of SFRC beams.