• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.32-43
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• 2023

The worldwide use of polyurethane foam products generates large amounts of waste, which in turn has detrimental effects on the surroundings. Hence, finding an economical and environmentally friendly way to dispose of or recycle foam waste is an utmost priority for researchers to overcome this problem. In that sense, the glycolysis of waste flexible polyurethane foam (WFPF) from automotive seat cushions using different industrial-grade glycols and potassium hydroxide as a catalyst to produce recovered polyol was investigated. The effect of different molecular weight polyols, catalyst concentration, and material ratio (PU foam: Glycols) on the reaction conversion and viscosity of the recovered polyols was determined. The obtained recovered polyols are obtained as single or split-phase reaction products. Besides, the foaming characteristics and physical properties such as cell morphology, thermal stability, and compressive stress-strain nature of the regenerated flexible foams based on the recovered polyols were discussed. It was observed that the regenerated flexible foams displayed good seating comfort properties as a function of hardness, sag factor, and hysteresis loss compared to the reference virgin foam. With the growing demand for a sustainable and circular economy, a global valorization of glycolysis products from polyurethane scraps can be realized by transforming them into profitable substances.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2023

The free vibration of temperature-dependent functionally graded plates (FGPs) resting on a viscoelastic foundation is investigated in this paper using a newly developed simple first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). Unlike other first order shear deformation (FSDT) theories, the proposed model contains only four variables' unknowns in which the transverse shear stress and strain follow a parabolic distribution along the plates' thickness, and they vanish at the top and bottom surfaces of the plate by considering a new shape function. For this reason, the present theory requires no shear correction factor. Linear steady-state thermal loads and power-law material properties are supposed to be graded across the plate's thickness. Uniform, linear, non-linear, and sinusoidal thermal rises are applied at the two surfaces for simply supported FGP. Hamilton's principle and Navier's approach are utilized to develop motion equations and analytical solutions. The developed theory shows progress in predicting the frequencies of temperature-dependent FGP. Numerical research is conducted to explain the effect of the power law index, temperature fields, and damping coefficient on the dynamic behavior of temperature-dependent FGPs. It can be concluded that the equation and transformation of the proposed model are as simple as the FSDT.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.25-35
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• 2006

This paper investigates the mechanical characteristics of reinforced lightweight soil (RLS) using waste fishing net. RLS used in this experiment consists of dredged soil taken from construction site of Busan New Port, cement, air foam and waste fishing net. Several series of laboratory tests were performed to compare behavior characteristics between RLS and unreinforced lightweight soil, in which the reinforced effect by waste fishing net on RLS was evaluated. The experimental results of RLS indicated that the stress-strain relationship and the unconfined compressive strength are strongly influenced by the content of waste fishing net. Compressive strength of RLS Increased with the increase in curing time and generally increased by adding waste fishing net, but the amount of increase in compressive strength was not proportional to the content of waste fishing net. In this test, the maximum increase in compressive strength was obtained at 0.25% content of waste fishing net. On the other hand, water content of RLS rapidly decreased up to 7 days of curing time and converged to constant value.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 2022

This study investigated the effect of artesian pressure on mechanical properties of deep cement mixing (DCM)-improved specimens. Various laboratory tests such as unconfined compression test and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were conducted on DCM specimens which curied in a water tank with different artesian pressures. The artesian pressure was determined in consideration of the laboratory scale and the hydraulic gradient in field conditions. Results of experimental tests indicated that unconfined compressive strength, secant modulus, and unit weight of specimen decreased and water content tended to increase as an artesian pressure increased. The stress-strain behavior changed brittle to ductile behaviors as an artesian pressure increased. The outflow water from the water tank reacted with the phenolphthalein solution due to the leaching phenomenon of the improved specimen. SEM analysis also confirmed that a small amount of ettringite was formed between soil particles in the specimens with artesian pressure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.597-609
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• 2023

The instability and failure of engineered rock masses are influenced by crack initiation and propagation. Uniaxial compression and acoustic emission (AE) experiments were conducted on cracked sandstone. The effect of the crack's dip on the crack initiation was investigated using fracture mechanics. The crack propagation was investigated based on stress-strain curves, AE multi-parameter characteristics, and failure modes. The results show that the crack initiation occurs at the tip of the pre-fabricated crack, and the crack initiation angle increases from 0° to 70° as the dip angle increases from 0° to 90°. The fracture strength k_cr is derived varies in a U-shaped pattern as β increased, and the superior crack angle β_m is between 36.2 and 36.6 and is influenced by the properties of the rock and the crack surface. Low-strength, large-scale tensile cracks form during the crack initiation in the cracked sandstone, corresponding to the start of the AE energy, the first decrease in the b-value, and a low r-value. When macroscopic surface cracks form in the cracked sandstone, high-strength, large-scale shear cracks form, resulting in a rapid increase in the AE energy, a second decrease in the b-value and an abrupt increase in the r-value. This research has significant theoretical implications for rock failure mechanisms and establishment of damage indicators in underground engineering.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.540-551
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the quality characteristics of mungbean starch gels containing various hydrocolloids (carrageenan, locust bean gum and xanthan gum) during room temperature storage ($25^{\circ}C$ for 24, 48 and 72 hours). Carrageenan and xanthan gum reduced the pasting viscosity of mungbean starch, whereas the locust bean gum increased the viscosity. The melting characteristics, as assessed by DSC, showed that carrageenan and xanthan gum delayed gelatinization of mungbean starch and the locust bean gum had no effect on this property. The lightness (L) of the gels with the locust bean gum was similar to that without the additive during storage, whereas that with carrageenan and xanthan gum was higher than that without the additive. Hardness, chewiness and gumminess of the gels with the locust bean gum was higher than that without the additive during storage, whereas that with carrageenan and xanthan gum was lower than that without the additive. The rupture stress, rupture strain and rupture energy of the gels with carrageenan and xanthan gum was lower than that without the additive during storage, whereas that with the locust bean gum was similar to that without the additive. In the sensory evaluation, springiness and cohesiveness of the gels with carrageenan and xanthan gum were lower than those without the additive, whereas springiness, brittleness and hardness of the gels with the locust bean gum were higher than those without the additive. In addition, the overall acceptability of the gels with the locust bean gum improved. The above results showed that carrageenan and xanthan gum lowered the quality characteristics of the mungbean starch gel and the locust bean gum improved them. Thus, the addition of 0.5% locust bean gum is an appropriate method for improving the quality characteristics of mungbean starch gel.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.1A
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• pp.45-54
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• 2006

To obtain realistic stress-strain relation in concrete, it is necessary to improve the constitutive model for creep and shrinkage of concrete. This study is made up with predicting model of creep using rheological approach and mathematical development which is solution for phenomenon of concrete creep. Long-term deformation components are combined based on traditional 4-parameters model. Creep deformation is obtained adequately using 4-parameters determined by considering aging effect and microprestress among gels. And coefficient of effective viscosity is able to represent both basic creep and total creep included drying creep. This study attempt to establish mathematical model considering effects of aging, hydration, and variations of pore humidity. It can predict both basic creep and total creep. Values of result between prediction and experiment have greater than correlation factor 99%. Additionally experimental results report bad consentaneity with highway design specification adopting FIB MC 90. Rather than those are similar to FIB MC 90 rev.99.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.27-36
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• 2024

This study established a BIM procedure considering manufacturing errors in the production process, and evaluated the flexural ductility of precast all-lightweight aggregate concrete special shear walls (PLASWs) with spliced sleeve technique. In the production process, the concrete cover thickness of PALSW was on average 1.28 times greater than the cross-sectional details of the specimen modeled with Revit BIM program. In particular, the bending inner radius of the hoop and inner-cross tie were greater than the designed details. Consequently, the confinement effect of core concrete reduced from 64% to 54% due to the manufacturing errors in the transverse reinforcing bars, resulting in a decrease in the ductility of PALSW by approximately 4.91%. Considering these findings, the BIM of PLASW with spliced sleeve technique should compliment the bending inner radius of the transverse reinforcing bars, and the defined brittleness increase coefficient reflecting the decreased core concrete confining pressure in the stress-strain relationship of confined concrete should be evaluated as 1.8.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

The objective of this research is to study experimentally and numerically the behavior of steel beam columns with openings. Although the presence of openings in the beam columns is inevitable, finding ways to maintain strength is crucial. The studied parameters are opening shape, the ratio between opening height to specimen height, the percentage of opening location from support to beam column length, and web slenderness. Experimental tests are conducted including twelve specimens to study the effect of these parameters and record failure load, load deflection curve, and stress strain curve. Two failure modes are observed: local and flexural buckling. Interaction curves plotted from finite element model analysis are also used to expand the parametric study. Changing the location of the opening can decrease failure load by up to 7% and 60% in both normal and moment ratios respectively. Increasing the opening dimension can lead to a drop in the axial ratio by up to 29% and in the moment ratio by up to 74%. The weakest beam column behavior is noticed in specimens with rectangular openings which results from uneven and concentrated stresses around the opening. The main results of this research illustrate that the best location for opening is at 40% - 50% from beam column support. Also, it is advisable to use circular openings instead of rectangular openings in specimens having slender webs because moment ratios are raised by 85% accompanied by a rise in normal ratios by 9%.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.509-519
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• 2024

In this study, the static analysis of carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (CNTRC) beams resting on a Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation is presented. The developed theories account for higher-order variation of transverse shear strain through the depth of the beam and satisfy the stress-free boundary conditions on the top and bottom surfaces of the beam. To study the effect of carbon nanotubes distribution in functionally graded (FG-CNT), we introduce in the equation of CNT volume fraction a new exponent equation. The SWCNTs are assumed to be aligned and distributed in the polymeric matrix with different patterns of reinforcement. The rule of mixture is used to describe the material properties of the CNTRC beams. The governing equations were derived by employing Hamilton's principle. The models presented in this work are numerically provided to verify the accuracy of the present theory. The analytical solutions are presented, and the obtained results are compared with the existing solutions to verify the validity of the developed theories. Many parameters are investigated, such as the Pasternak shear modulus parameter, the Winkler modulus parameter, the volume fraction, and the order of the exponent in the volume fraction equation. New results obtained from bending and stresses are presented and discussed in detail. From the obtained results, it became clear the influence of the exponential CNTs distribution and Winkler-Pasternak model improved the mechanical properties of the CNTRC beams.