Module-level design and characterization of thermoelectric power generator

Thermoelectric power generation provides us the unique capability to explore the deep space and holds promise for harvesting the waste heat and providing a battery-free power supply for IoTs.The past years have witnessed massive progress in thermoelectric materials,while the module-level development is still lagged behind.We would like to shine some light on the module-level design and characterization of thermoelectric power generators(TEGs).In the module-level design,we review material selection,thermal management,and the determination of structural parameters.We also look into the module-level characterization,with particular attention on the heat flux measurement.Finally,the challenge in the optimal design and reliable characterization of thermoelectric power generators is discussed,together with a calling to establish a standard test procedure.

An Experimental Study on the Behavior of Shear Keys According to the Curing Time of UHPC

Precast segmental construction has been recently developed to reduce the construction cost and shorten the construction term as compared to the cast-in-place method in a will to establish the design and erection system of structures using Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC). However, this method requires the presence of segmental joints to transfer the loads between neighboring segments, which stresses the importance of securing structural safety and serviceability. Therefore, need is for research on the behavior of the segmental joint for the structures erected by the precast segmental construction method. To that goal, this paper presents an experimental study on the behavior of shear keys with respect to the curing time of UHPC in the segmental joint. Analysis is done on the load-displacement relation according to the curing time of the shear keys and on the failure modes of the shear keys according to the cracking pattern at failure.

Conceptual Design of Hybrid Cable-Stayed Bridge with Central Span of 1000 m Using UHPC

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is featured by a compressive strength 5 times higher than that of ordinary concrete and by a high durability owing to the control of the chloride penetration speed by its dense structure. The high strength characteristics of UHPC offer numerous advantages like the reduction of the quantities of cables and foundations by the design of a lightweight superstructure in the case of the long-span bridge preserving its structural performance through axial forces and structures governed by compression. This study conducted the conceptual design of a hybrid cable-stayed bridge with central span of 1000 m and exploiting 200 MPa-class UHPC. The economic efficiency of the conceptual design results of the hybrid cable-stayed bridge with central span of 1000 m and of Sutong Bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, was analyzed.

A Study on the Characteristics for the Ground Vibration Due to the Travelling Tilting Train

The development of the tilting train can contribute to solve the economic burden and enhance the transportation means of areas that did not share the benefits of the high speed railway. But the dynamic behavior caused by the interaction between the train and the track as well as the environmental vibrations along the railway should be evaluated to secure the safety of the train and riding comfort. In this paper a study on the characteristics for ground vibration due to the tilting train travelling in the conventional line are carried out. The transmitted load into the ground is computed through a study on the interrelation between the tilting car and the line. This load is applied into the numerical model which is one for the analysis of ground vibration due to the travelling tilting car. The far fields on the numerical model are formed by the absorbing boundary using dashpot, one of the most widely used absorbing boundary in finite element analysis. Using this numerical model, the analysis of the ground vibration characteristics caused by travelling tilting car is performed. From the analysis, it is shown that the transferred load due to the tilting train is larger than that of the conventional train.

Development of Optimal Structural System for Hybrid Cable-Stayed Bridges Using Ultra High Performance Concrete

This study developed an optimal structural system for the hybrid cable-stayed bridge expected to have a durable lifetime of 200 years and of which major structural members are made of ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) with 200 MPa-class compressive strength. This innovative cable-stayed bridge system makes it possible to reduce each of the construction and maintenance costs by 20% compared to the conventional concrete cable-stayed bridge by improving significantly the weight and durability of the bridge. Therefore, detail design is carried out considering a real 800 m cable-stayed bridge and the optimal structure of the hybrid cable-stayed bridge is proposed and verified.

Development of Highly Efficient Construction Technologies for Super Long Span Bridge

This paper presents highly efficient cable erection equipments and methods related to the construction of super-long-span bridges, construction technology of high towers and, technology for offshore foundations currently developed through a R&D on accelerated and cost-saving construction technology for long-span cable bridges to secure our international competitiveness. In the field of cable erection technology, AS and PPWS equipments for highly efficient erection of cable longer than 2000 m, world-class clamping bolt tensioning equipment and shape control system for super-long cable are under development. The technologies developed in the domain of construction of towers are tapered slip form system for the construction of 400 m high tower, shape and erection precision control of elevated tower and, lightweight and modular formwork for slip form system. In the domain of foundation construction, remote controlled survey equipment and analysis system for water-depth of 100 m and depth of 50 m, prediction and evaluation technology of optimal load carrying capacity and settlement complying with international standard and, highly efficient hybrid foundation construction technology suitable for ground acceleration of 0.5 g and deep soft soil are currently developed.

Experimental Study on Innovative Slip Form Method for the Construction of Tapered Concrete Pylon of Long-Span Cable Bridge

The construction of the three-dimensionally shaped pylons higher than 400 m requires a very high technological degree. It is known that the application of the tapered slip form method for the erection of the concrete pylon of long-span cable bridges offers the advantage of being significantly faster than applying the auto-climbing system (ACS) form method. Therefore, this study presents the development of an innovative slip form system for pylons with tapered cross-section. Surface wave inspection system is applied for the determination of slip-up time, wireless hydraulic control system is applied for auto rising, GPS system is used to manage the pylon configuration, and lightweight GFRP (Grass Fiber Reinforced Plastic) panels are applied in the slip form system. Small-scale tests were conducted three times to validate the performance of the developed core technologies, and full-scale tests were conducted twice to validate and verify the developed innovative slip form. The full-scale tapered concrete pylons have hollow shafts and a height of 10 m. The sectional dimensions are varied according to the construction height. The experimental constructions of the tapered pylons using the innovative slip form were conducted successfully. This system is the world’s first application of GFRP slip form panel.

A Study on the Characteristics and the Effective Reduction Methods for the Ground Vibration Due to the Travelling Tilting Train

In this paper, a study on the characteristics and the reduction methods of ground vibration due to the tilting train travelling in the conventional line is carried out. The load transmitted into the ground is computed considering the interaction between the tilting car and the line. This load is then applied in the numerical model for the analysis of ground vibration due to the travelling tilting car. The far-fields of the numerical model are modeled using the dashpot, as one of the most widely used absorbing boundaries in finite element analysis. Using this numerical model, the analysis of the ground vibration characteristics caused by the travelling tilting car and the analysis of the blocking effect of the ground vibration by wave barriers are performed. From the numerical analysis, it is shown that the blocking effect of the trench and the barrier filled with soft material is more effective than that of the barrier filled with hard material.

Development of an Efficient Tapered Slip-Form System Applying BIM Technology

Slip-form system constitutes the latest technology for the erection of elevated concrete pylons. This paper investigates the design of slip-form system applying BIM technology for the efficient development of the slip-form system. The considered pylon has a height of 10 m and presents the rectangular hollow section generally adopted in cable-supported bridges. The slip-form was thus designed to accommodate the tapered cross-section and changing thickness considering the continuous placing of concrete. In addition, the safety of the system was examined with regard to the various loads applied on the slip form along the construction. The design results could be verified visually through BIM and the applicability of the designed slip-form was validated in advance through virtual assembly and construction.

A Study on the Quality Control of Concrete during the Slip Form Erection of Pylon

The construction market of super-high-rise buildings and long-span bridges has recognized unprecedented expansion owing to the development of high performance and high strength materials and the advances achieved in the design and construction technologies. In parallel to the lengthening and enlargement in scale of the structures, securing quality control technology of concrete while reducing the construction duration using improved construction methods emerges as a critical problem for concrete structures. In the erection of concrete pylons, slip forming represents the latest method offering the advantage of reducing drastically the construction duration compared to other methods by adopting automated slip-up of the forms and enabling 24-hour continuous placing. This study determines the slip-up time of the slip form by evaluating the early strength through the surface wave velocity and develops lightweight GFRP form in order to secure the quality of concrete during the slip form erection of pylons. A slip form system is fabricated and mockup test is conducted to verify the performances of the developed techniques through the construction of 10 m-high pylon with a hollow section.

A Study on the Wave Screening Effectiveness According to Trench Dimensions Using Ultrasonic Waves

In this study numerical and experimental studies are conducted to examine the wave screening effectiveness of trenches. The numerical study relies on the finite element model of a sandbox with Lysmer-Kuhlemeyer absorbing boundaries. This model is used to examine the screening ef-fectiveness of trench studied for different trench dimensions and distances from the source and receiver to the trench. The results of the numerical analysis are compared with the results of the ultrasonic experiment performed on an acrylic block drilled with a rectangular cut. The comparison shows that the screening effectiveness of the trench is nearly equal if the depth of trench is larger than 60% of the surface wave length. It is also shown that if the distance between the trench and the source is longer than twice the surface wave length, the thickness of the trench does not affect the screening effectiveness.

Finite Element Analysis with Paraxial &Viscous Boundary Conditions for Elastic Wave Propagation

In this study, two studies are performed. One is to apply paraxial boundary conditions which are local boundary conditions based on paraxial approximations of the one-way wave equations to finite element analysis. To do this, a penalty functional is proposed and the existence and uniqueness of the extremum of the proposed functional is demonstrated. The other is to improve the capacity of viscous boundary conditions using dashpots. To do this, customary viscous boundary conditions are modified to maximize the efficiency according to angles of incidence and materials. For the numerical analysis of elasticity with paraxial boundary conditions and the modified viscous boundary conditions, the coding of the finite element models is implemented, and the efficiency of those boundary conditions is investigated.

A Study on the Performance of Absorbing Boundaries Using Dashpot

In this paper an analytical study is carried out to examine the effectiveness of absorbing boundaries using dashpot. Validity of the absorbing boundary conditions suggested by Lysmer-Kuhle- meyer and White et al. is investigated by adopting the solution of Miller and Pursey. The Miller and Pursey’s problem is then numerically simulated using the finite element method. The absorption ratios are calculated by comparing the displacements at the absorbing boundary to those at the free field without the absorbing boundary. The numerical verification is carried out through comparison of displacement at the boundary.