• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.493-516
• /
• 2019

This paper is dedicated to nonlinear static and free vibration analysis of Uniform Distributed Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Composite (UD-CNTRC) structures under in-plane loading. The authors have suggested an efficient six-node triangular element. Mixed Interpolation of Tensorial Components (MITC) approach is employed to alleviate the membrane locking phenomena. Moreover, the behavior of the well-known LST element is considerably improved by applying an additional linear interpolation on the strain fields. Based on the rule of mixture, the properties of CNTRC are obtained. In this study, only the uniform distributed CNTs are employed through the thickness direction of element. To achieve the natural frequencies and shape modes, the eigenvalue problem is also solved. Using Total Lagrangian Principles, large amplitude free vibration is considered based on the first normalized mode shape of structure. Different well-known plane problem benchmarks and some proposed ones are studied to validate the accuracy and capability of authors' formulations. In addition, the effects of length to the height ratio of beam, CNT's characteristics, support conditions and normalized amplitude parameter on the linear and nonlinear vibration parameters are investigated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.141-156
• /
• 2019

This paper presents the flexural behaviour of stainless steel beam-to-tubular column joints with extended endplates subjected to static loading. Moment-rotation relationships were investigated numerically by using Abaqus software with geometric and material nonlinearity considered. The prediction of damages among components was achieved through ductile damage models, and the influence of initial geometric imperfections and residual stresses was evaluated in large fabricated stainless steel joints involving hollow columns and concrete-filled columns. Parametric analysis was subsequently conducted to assess critical factors that could affect the flexural performance significantly in terms of the initial stiffness and moment resistance. A comparison between codes of practice and numerical results was thereafter made, and design recommendations were proposed for further applications. Results suggest that the finite element model can predict the structural behaviour reasonably well with the component damage consistent with test outcomes. Initial geometric imperfections and residual stresses are shown to have little effect on the moment-rotation responses. A series of parameters that can influence the joint behaviour remarkably include the strain-hardening exponents, stainless steel strength, diameter of bolts, thickness of endplates, position of bolts, section of beams and columns. AS/NZS 2327 is more reliable to predict the joint performance regarding the initial stiffness and moment capacity compared to EN 1993-1-8.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.2824-2837
• /
• 2019

Container technologies are widely used in infrastructures to deploy and manage applications in cloud computing environment. As containers are light-weight software, the cluster of cloud applications can easily scale up or down to provide Internet-based services. Container-based applications can well deal with fluctuate workloads by dynamically adjusting physical resources. Current works of scheduling applications often construct applications' performance models with collected historical training data, but these works with static models cannot self-adjust physical resources to meet the dynamic requirements of cloud computing. Thus, we propose a self-adaptive automatic container scheduling framework AutoScale for cloud applications, which uses a feedback-based approach to adjust physical resources by extending, contracting and migrating containers. First, a queue-based performance model for cloud applications is proposed to correlate performance and workloads. Second, a fuzzy Kalman filter is used to adjust the performance model's parameters to accurately predict applications' response time. Third, extension, contraction and migration strategies based on predicted response time are designed to schedule containers at runtime. Furthermore, we have implemented a framework AutoScale with container scheduling strategies. By comparing with current approaches in an experiment environment deployed with typical applications, we observe that AutoScale has advantages in predicting response time, and scheduling containers to guarantee that response time keeps stable in fluctuant workloads.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.702-708
• /
• 2019

This paper deals with break size estimation of loss of coolant accidents (LOCA) using a nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous inputs (NARX) neural network. Previous studies used static approaches, requiring time-integrated parameters and independent firing algorithms. NARX neural network is able to directly deal with time-dependent signals for dynamic estimation of break sizes in real-time. The case studied is a LOCA in the primary system of Bushehr nuclear power plant (NPP). In this study, number of hidden layers, neurons, feedbacks, inputs, and training duration of transients are selected by performing parametric studies to determine the network architecture with minimum error. The developed NARX neural network is trained by error back propagation algorithm with different break sizes, covering 5% -100% of main coolant pipeline area. This database of LOCA scenarios is developed using RELAP5 thermal-hydraulic code. The results are satisfactory and indicate feasibility of implementing NARX neural network for break size estimation in NPPs. It is able to find a general solution for break size estimation problem in real-time, using a limited number of training data sets. This study has been performed in the framework of a research project, aiming to develop an appropriate accident management support tool for Bushehr NPP.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.71 no.3
• /
• pp.317-327
• /
• 2019

The aim of this paper is to present the most important issues on the implementation, operation and maintenance of foundation for machines. The article presents the newest solutions both in terms of technology implementation as well as materials used in construction of such structures. Foundations for machines are special building structures used to transfer loads from an operating machine to the subsoil. The purpose of these foundations is not just to transfer loads, but also to reduce vibrations occurring during operation of the machine, i.e. their damping and preventing redistribution to other elements of the building. It should be noted that foundations for machines (particularly foundations for hammers) are the most dynamically loaded building structures. For these reasons, they require precise static and dynamic calculations, accuracy in their implementation and care for them after they have been made. Therefore, the paper in detail present the guidelines regarding: design, construction and maintenance of structures of this type. Furthermore, the most important parameters and characteristics of materials used for the construction of these foundations are described. As a result of the conducted analyzes, it was found that the concrete mix, in foundations for machines, should have a low water/binder ratio. For its execution, it is necessary to use broken aggregates from igneous rocks and binders modified with mineral additives and chemical admixtures. On the other hand, the reinforcement of composites should contain a large amount of structural reinforcement to prevent shrinkage cracks.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.57-67
• /
• 2019

This paper deals with the static analysis of axially functionally graded rectangular plates. It is assumed that the flexural rigidity of the plate varies exponentially along one of the plate's in-plane dimensions. Both an analytical approach and a numerical method are utilized to solve the problem. The analytical solution is obtained by using the Green's function method. To employ this approach, the adjoint boundary value problem is established. Then, exact solutions for deflection of the plate for different boundary conditions are found. In another way, a finite element formulation for the problem is developed. In order to demonstrate the validity of the Authors' formulation, the results obtained via both mentioned schemes are compared with each other for functionally graded plates and with results of previously published works for homogeneous plates. The effect of plate parameters on the response of the plate is also investigated. To remind the research background, a brief review on the application of Green's function method in plates' analysis and functionally graded plates is also presented.

• Journal of Power Electronics
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.89-98
• /
• 2019

This paper analyzes the input side performance of a conventional three-phase to single-phase matrix converter (3-1MC). It also presents the input-side waveform quality under this topology. The suppression of low-frequency input current harmonics is studied using the 3-1MC plus capacitance compensation unit. The constraint between the modulation function of the output and compensation sides is analyzed, and the relations among the voltage utilization ratio and the output compensation capacitance, filter capacitors and other system parameters are deduced. For a 3-1MC without large-capacity energy storage, the system performance is susceptible to input voltage imbalance. This paper decouples the inner current of the 3-1MC using a Lyapunov function in the input positive and negative sequence bi-coordinate axes. Meanwhile, the outer loop adopts a voltage-weighted synthesis of the output and compensation sides as a cascade of control objects. Experiments show that this strategy suppresses the low-frequency input current harmonics caused by input voltage imbalance, and ensures that the system maintains good static and dynamic performances under input-unbalanced conditions. At the same time, the parameter selection and debugging methods are simple.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology
• /
• v.5 no.5
• /
• pp.605-612
• /
• 2018

This work investigates the relationships between the static mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V manufactured through selective laser melting (SLM) and post-process heat treatments, namely stress relieve, annealing and hot isostatic pressing (HIP). In particular, Ti-6Al-4V parts were fabricated in three different build orientations of X, Z, and $45^{\circ}$ to investigate the multi-directional mechanical properties. The results showed that fully densified Ti-6Al-4V parts with densities of up to 99.5% were obtained with optimized SLM parameters. The microstructure of stress relieved and mill annealed samples was dominated by fine ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ martensitic needles. After HIP treatment, the martensite structure was fully transformed into ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ phases (${\alpha}+{\beta}$ lamellar). Within the realm of tensile properties, the yield and ultimate strength values were found statistically similar with respect to the built orientation for a given heat treatment. However, the ductility was found orientation dependent for the HIP samples, where a lower value was observed for samples built in the X direction.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.527-538
• /
• 2018

Buckling of longitudinal bars is a brittle failure mechanism, often recorded in reinforced concrete (RC) structures after an earthquake. Studies in the literature highlights that it often occurs when steel is in the post elastic range, by inducing a modification of the engineered stress-strain law of steel in compression. A proper evaluation of this effect is of fundamental importance for correctly evaluating capacity and ductility of structures. Significant errors can be obtained in terms of ultimate bending moment and curvature ductility of an RC section if these effects are not accounted, as well as incorrect evaluations are achieved by non-linear static analyses. This paper presents a numerical investigation aiming to evaluate the engineered stress-strain law of reinforcing steel in compression, including second order effects. Non-linear FE analyses are performed under the assumption of local buckling. A role of key parameters is evaluated, making difference between steel with strain hardening or with perfectly plastic behaviour. Comparisons with experimental data available in the literature confirm the accuracy of the achieved results and make it possible to formulate recommendations for design purposes. Finally, comparisons are made with analytical formulations available in the literature and based on obtained results, a modification of the stress-strain law model of Dhakal and Maekawa (2002) is proposed for fitting the numerical predictions.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.45-55
• /
• 2019

More than 76% of the detached houses in Korea are over 20 years old. These old detached houses have poor energy efficiency. According to the 2017 Housing Census (Statistics Korea), more than 50% of low-income families live in detached houses. Therefore, the improvement of energy efficiency in old detached houses is needed from the viewpoint of energy welfare. The general method of building energy modelling for the verification of energy efficiency is based on the construction year data of "Building Design Criteria for Energy Saving" due to the cost and time involved in collecting the thermal performance data of buildings. There is poor accuracy with the deterioration of long-term aging of building materials. Also, the selection of alternatives for energy performance improvement is based on the items to be applied, not a performance improvement goal. It is difficult to calculate energy performance that reflects variations in various parameters with dynamic energy simulations. In this study, the influence of long-term aging is used to accurately predict the energy performance of old detached houses. The building energy modelling method is called ENERGY#, which is a static analysis method based on ISO13790. Energy performance is evaluated by a combination of input variables including building orientation, insulation of walls and roof, thermal performance of windows and window/wall ratio, and infiltration rate. Finally, this study provides a way to determine alternatives that meet energy performance improvement goals.