• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.731-744
• /
• 2023

Vehicle load information is an important role in operating and ensuring the structural health of cable-stayed bridges. In this regard, an efficient and economic method is proposed for vehicle load detection based on the observed cable tension and vehicle position using a graph neural network (GNN). Datasets are first generated using the practical advanced analysis program (PAAP), a robust program for modeling and considering both geometric and material nonlinearities of bridge structures subjected to vehicle load with low computational costs. With the superiority of GNN, the proposed model is demonstrated to precisely capture complex nonlinear correlations between the input features and vehicle load in the output. Four popular machine learning methods including artificial neural network (ANN), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), and support vector machines (SVM) are refereed in a comparison. A case study of a cable-stayed bridge with the typical truck is considered to evaluate the model's performance. The results demonstrate that the GNN-based model provides high accuracy and efficiency in prediction with satisfactory correlation coefficients, efficient determination values, and very small errors; and is a novel approach for vehicle load detection with the input data of the existing monitoring system.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.65-79
• /
• 2023

This paper presents a development of empirical evaluations, which can be used to evaluate the damage of fiber-reinforced concrete composites (FRC) wall subjected to close-in blast loads. For this development, a combined application of numerical simulation and machine learning approaches are employed. First, finite element modeling of FRC wall under blast loading is developed and verified using experimental data. Numerical analyses are then carried out to investigate the dynamic behavior of the FRC wall under blast loading. In addition, a data set of 384 samples on the damage of FRC wall due to blast loads is then produced in order to develop machine learning models. Second, three robust machine learning models of Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) are employed to propose empirical evaluations for predicting the damage of FRC wall. The proposed empirical evaluations are very useful for practical evaluation and design of FRC wall subjected to blast loads.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.645-666
• /
• 2023

Due to the steadily declining supply of natural coarse aggregates, the concrete industry has shifted to substituting coarse aggregates generated from byproducts and industrial waste. Oil palm shell is a substantial waste product created during the production of palm oil (OPS). When considering the usage of OPSC, building engineers must consider its uniaxial compressive strength (UCS). Obtaining UCS is expensive and time-consuming, machine learning may help. This research established five innovative hybrid AI algorithms to predict UCS. Aquila optimizer (AO) is used with methods to discover optimum model parameters. Considered models are artificial neural network (AO - ANN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (AO - ANFIS), support vector regression (AO - SVR), random forest (AO - RF), and extreme gradient boosting (AO - XGB). To achieve this goal, a dataset of OPS-produced concrete specimens was compiled. The outputs depict that all five developed models have justifiable accuracy in UCS estimation process, showing the remarkable correlation between measured and estimated UCS and models' usefulness. All in all, findings depict that the proposed AO - XGB model performed more suitable than others in predicting UCS of OPSC (with R², RMSE, MAE, VAF and A_15-index at 0.9678, 1.4595, 1.1527, 97.6469, and 0.9077). The proposed model could be utilized in construction engineering to ensure enough mechanical workability of lightweight concrete and permit its safe usage for construction aims.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.713-728
• /
• 2023

This paper aims to investigate the free vibration analysis of FG plates, taking into account the effects of even and uneven porosity. The study employs the Hellinger-Reisner functional and obtains the element's bending stress and membrane stress fields from the analytical solution of the governing equations of the thick plate and plane problem, respectively. The displacement field serves as the second independent field. While few articles on free vibration analysis of circular plates exist, this paper investigates the free vibration of both rectangular and circular plates. After validating the proposed element, the paper investigates the effects of porosity distributions on the natural frequency of the FG porous plate. The study calculates the natural frequency of thin and thick bending plates with different aspect ratios and support conditions for various porosity and volume fraction index values. The study uses three types of porosity distributions, X, V, and O, for the uneven porosity distribution case. For O and V porosity distribution modes, porosity has a minor effect on the natural frequency for both circular and rectangular plates. However, in the case of even porosity distribution or X porosity distribution, the effect of porosity on the natural frequency of circular and rectangular plates increases with an increase in the volume fraction index.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.189-195
• /
• 2024

Buried pipelines can be classified as continuous and segmented pipelines. These infrastructures can be damaged either by ground movement or by seismic wave propagation during an earthquake. Permanent ground deformations (PGD) include surface faulting, liquefaction-induced lateral spreading and landslide. Liquefaction is a major problem for both superstructures and infrastructures. Buyukcekmece lake zone, which is the studied region in this paper, is a liquefaction prone area located near the North Anatolian Fault Line. It is an active fault line in Turkey and a major earthquake with a magnitude of around 7.5 is expected in this investigated region in Istanbul. It is planned to be constructed a new 12" steel natural gas pipeline from one side of the lake to the other side. In this study, this case has been examined in terms of two different support conditions. Firstly, it has been defined as a beam in liquefied soil and has built-in supports at both ends. In the other approach, this case has been modeled as a beam in liquefied soil and has vertical elastic pinned supports at both ends. These models have been examined and some solution proposals have been produced according to the obtained results. In this study, based on this sample, it is aimed to determine the behaviors of buried continuous pipelines subject to liquefaction effects in terms of buoyancy.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.688-706
• /
• 2024

Austenitic stainless steels (ASS) are extensively employed in various sectors such as nuclear, power, petrochemical, oil and gas because of their excellent structural strength and resistance to corrosion. SS304 and SS316 are the predominant choices for piping, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, nuclear reactor core components and support structures, but they are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in chloride-rich environments. Over the course of several decades, extensive research efforts have been directed towards evaluating SCC using diverse methodologies and models, albeit some uncertainties persist regarding the precise progression of cracks. This review paper focuses on the application of Acoustic Emission Technique (AET) for assessing SCC damage mechanism by monitoring the dynamic acoustic emissions or inelastic stress waves generated during the initiation and propagation of cracks. AET serves as a valuable non-destructive technique (NDT) for in-service evaluation of the structural integrity within operational conditions and early detection of critical flaws. By leveraging the time domain and time-frequency domain techniques, various Acoustic Emission (AE) parameters can be characterized and correlated with the multi-stage crack damage phenomena. Further theories of the SCC mechanisms are elucidated, with a focus on both the dissolution-based and cleavage-based damage models. Through the comprehensive insights provided here, this review stands to contribute to an enhanced understanding of SCC damage in stainless steels and the potential AET application in nuclear industry.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2024

Restraints of Branch Lines are used as earthquake-resistant support devices for fire-fighting pipes along with sway brace devices. The central types are aligned and fixed in a straight line with center of the pipe, but the eccentric types are fixed to on side of the pipe, so a bending moment occurs. In this study, three specimens each of central type and eccentric type were installed at an angle of 45° from the vertical and a monotonic compression load of 1340N was applied. All central type samples satisfied 17.8mm of the allowable displacement, but all eccentric type samples failed to meet the target load and buckled. Therefore, when considering the performance of eccentric type restraints, both compressive load and bending moment must be considered. Even through material mechanics calculations, the yield stress of eccentric type - 3/8 inch all threaded steel bolt - exceeds 320Mpa of the allowable stress. A experiment standards need to be established for eccentric type restraints.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.77-87
• /
• 2024

Analytical methods for assessment of the out-of-plane buckling of unbraced top chords of truss bridges may look obsolete while comparing them to finite element analysis. However they are, usually, superior when rapid assessment is necessary. Analytical methods consider the top chord as a bar on elastic supports provided by bracing (Holt, Timoshenko). Correct assessment of the support elasticity (stiffness) is crucial. In the case of truss bridge spans of traditional structural layout (cross-beams at the truss chord nodes only), the elasticity may be set based on the analysis of the, so called, U-frame stiffness. Here the analyses consider the U-frame itself (a pair of verticals and a cross-beam) or the U-frame with adjacent diagonals or the pair of diagonals (in the absence of verticals) and the members of the bottom chord in the adjacent panels. For all the cases, the stability analysis of the chord as a bar in compression is necessary. Unfortunately, the method cannot be applied to contemporary truss bridges without verticals, that usually have independent cross-beam decks (the cross-beams attached to truss chords at their nodes and between them). This is the motivation for the analysis resulting in the method of setting the stiffness of the equivalent U-frame for the aforementioned truss bridges. Truss girders of both, gussetless and gusseted, joints are taken into account.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.425-431
• /
• 2015

LNG (liquefied natural gas) is considered the best alternative eco-fuel, and many studies on the LNG fuel system have been performed to use LNG as the fuel for ships. For the LNG fuel supply system, natural gas transfers from the vaporizer to the engine in the gaseous state with a temperature of $50^{\circ}C$ and a pressure of 35MPa. Therefore, a structural safety evaluation of the double-walled pipelines considering thermal load is essential. In this article, an uniaxial tensile test for super duplex stainless steel, material for double-walled pipe, according to the annealing time was carried out to analyze the thermal effect. In addition, thermo-structural analysis of the high temperature-high pressure double-walled pipe with fixed supports that are now used widely was carried out to evaluate the structural safety. To minimize stress concentration of the connection point between the support and inner pipe, the shapes of the new type support that can slip through inner pipe were proposed, and the supports which has best structural performance was selected using the results from the thermo-structural analyses of new supports and an analysis of the whole double-walled pipeline was performed to ensure structural safety. These results can be used as a database for the design of double-walled pipelines and sliding support.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.606-612
• /
• 2019

The main causes of subsidence and sinkholes in the lower part of urban roads are sewage line foundation and inadequate compaction of backfill material. This leads to many problems, such as the breakage of joints in sewer pipes, poor connection, pipe breakage, and cracks. To solve this problem, the support factor related to the sewer foundation and the safety factor according to the excavation depth were evaluated. For the foundation of rigidity tolerance, crushed stone foundation, and abandoned concrete foundation, a recently newly developed site assembly-type lightweight plastic foundation were used. Backfill materials were applied on site (sandy soil and clayey soil) and fluid backfill was recycled onsite. To evaluate the depth of excavation and the safety factor of each sewer pipe foundation, the design load considering the load factor and the support factor was evaluated. The support coefficients were 0.377 for a crushed stone foundation, 0.243 and 0.220 for an abandoned concrete foundation ($180^{\circ}$ and $120^{\circ}$), and 0.231 for a lightweight plastic foundation and fluid backfill. Overall, the safety factor was low when using the crushed stone foundation, and the safety rate was the highest when the foreclosed concrete foundation ($180^{\circ}$) was used. In addition, when the combination of lightweight plastic and fluid backfill materials was used, the safety factor was higher than that of abandoned concrete foundation ($120^{\circ}$), which means that the newly developed lightweight plastic foundation can be used as another alternative base of a steel pipe.