In this study, tensile stresses of partially delaminated CFRP sheets were analytically evaluated. The analytical model is a 15-m long concrete beam with a rectangular cross-section of 2×3 m and uses 480 2D-plate elements and 5760 3D-solid elements for mesh construction. The elastic modulus of concrete and CFRP sheet used in the analysis are 27,536 MPa and 200,000 MPa, respectively, and the compressive strength of concrete and tensile strength of CFRP sheet are 30.0 MPa and 4,000 MPa, respectively. In order to evaluate the change of the tensile stress due to the delamination of the CFRP sheet, the whole attached model and the partially delaminated model according to the position of delamination were considered. As a result of the finite element analysis, the tensile stress of the entire attached CFRP sheet showed a constant tensile stress on the whole cross section, and the tensile stress of the partially delaminated CFRP sheet showed the maximum tensile stress on the position of delamination. Based on the results of this study, future research will be carried out to optimize the layout and shape of CFRP sheets embedded with optical fiber sensors.

In this study, the long-term performance of FRP Hybrid Bar made by hybridizing FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer) with ordinary reinforcing steel bars was experimentally examined as a part of the development of alternative materials for RC (reinforced concrete) structures especially located in marine or harbor areas. In order to evaluate the field exposure of the FRP Hybrid Bar, the specimen was prepared and the corrosion behavior was evaluated by letting the specimen exposed to the field conditions in the west coast of South Korea. The purpose of this study is to provide important data as a material countermeasure to reduce corrosion of reinforcing steel in future marine port concrete structures based on the results obtained through this study.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of various roughage sources on nutrient digestibility and enteric methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) production in goats. Four castrated black goats (48.5 ± 0.6 kg) were individually housed in environmentally controlled respiration-metabolism chambers. The experiment design was a 4 × 4 balanced Latin square design with 4 roughage types and 4 periods. Alfalfa, tall fescue, rice straw, and corn silage was used as representative of legume, grass, straw, and silage, respectively. Dry matter digestibility was higher (p < 0.001) in corn silage than in alfalfa hay. Dry matter digestibility of alfalfa hay was higher than those of tall fescue or rice straw (p < 0.001). Neutral detergent fiber digestibility of tall fescue was lower (p < 0.001) than those of alfalfa, rice straw, or corn silage. Daily enteric CH4 production and the daily enteric CH4 production per kilogram of BW0.75, dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), digested DMI, and digested OMI of rice straw did not differ from those of tall fescue but were higher (p < 0.001) than those of alfalfa or corn silage. Roughage type had no effect on enteric CO2 emission in goats. Straw appeared to generate more enteric CH4 production than legume or silage, but similar to grass.

Recently, interest in the development of alternative water resources has been increasing rapidly due to environmental pollution and depletion of water resources. In particular, seawater desalination has been attracting the most attention as alternative water resources. As seawater desalination consumes a large amount of energy due to high operating pressure, many researches have been conducted to improve energy efficiency such as energy recovery device (ERD). Consequently, this study aims to compare the energy efficiency of RO process according to ERD of isobaric type which is applied in scientific control pilot plant process of each 100 m3/day scale based on actual RO product water. As a result, it was confirmed that efficiency, mixing rate, and permeate conductivity were different depending on the size of the apparatus even though the same principle of the ERD was applied. It is believed that this is caused by the difference in cross-sectional area of the contacted portion for pressure transfer inside the ERD. Therefore, further study is needed to confirm the optimum conditions what is applicable to the actual process considering the correlation with other factors as well as the factors obtained from the previous experiments.

This paper presents experimental and analytical results for predicting tensile behavior of FRP Hybrid Bar(HYB). In order to confirm the tensile behavior of HYB wrapped with glass fiber reinforced polymer(GFRP) on deformed rebar, direct tensile tests were performed on 8 specimens. The diameter of the HYB was considered as a test variable and the tensile load, displacement, and tensile strain of each specimen were measured by tensile test. In order to predict the tensile behavior of HYB, numerical analysis based on tensile model of each material was performed. The tensile models of reinforcing bar, glass fiber, and resin, which are the constituent materials of HYB, are assumed to be simple shapes according to their material properties. The results of the numerical analysis through the strain compliance condition of each material were compared with the experimental results and both results showed consistent trends. The experimental and analytical ratios for yield and ultimate loads were 1.02 and 1.00, respectively, and the coefficient of variation were 3.61 and 2.54, respectively. However, a maximum of about 9 mm error occurred due to the slip generated by the direct tensile test in the comparison between the experimental results and the analytical results for the tensile displacement.

Numerical analysis was performed to evaluate for reinforcing performance of RC beams in flexure strengthened with Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) in this study. New bond strength model for TRM based on the model proposed by Teng et al. was suggested to predict the flexural behavior of RC beams and effective stress in accordance with debonding of TRM. And reduce factor of 0.729 was suggested by investigation of results on the bending test of RC beams strengthened with TRM. Reliability of proposed bond strength model was verified through the comparisons between collected test results and predicted results about the ultimate load of RC beams occurred by debonding of TRM. The ratios of predicted results on the total experimental results, the average and coefficient of variation were 1.00 and 0.094, respectively. Also, nonlinear analysis method proposed by Cho et al. was used to predict the displacement at the cross-section of mid-span for RC beams in flexure strengthened with TRM. At the three state of the RC beams such as occurrence of initial flexural crack in tensile concrete, yield of tensile rebar, and ultimate in accordance with debonding of TRM. Displacements of beams were calculated at the three state and load-displacement curves by predicted results were compared to the collected test results.

In this paper, we investigate the characteristics of membrane fouling caused by water temperature in the Membrane bioreactor(MBR) process and try to derive the membrane fouling control by chemical enhanced backwashing(CEB). The extracellular polymeric substances(EPS) concentration was analyzed according to the water temperature in the MBR, and the membrane fouling characteristics were investigated according to the conditions, with sludge & without sludge, through a lab-scale reactor. As shown in the existing literature the fouling resistance rate was increased within sludge with the water temperature was lowered. However, in the lab-scale test using the synthetic wastewater, the fouling resistance increased with the water temperature. This is because that the protein of the EPS was more easily adsorbed on the membrane surface due to the increase of entropy due to the structural rearrangement of the protein inside the protein as the water temperature increases. In order to control membrane fouling, we tried to derive the cleaning characteristics of CEB by using sodium hypochlorite(NaOCl). We selected the condition with the chemicals and the retention time, and the higher the water temperature and the chemical concentration are the higher the efficiencies. It is considered that the increasing temperature accelerated the chemical reaction such as protein peptide binding and hydrolysis, so that the attached proteinaceous structure was dissolved and the frequency of the reaction collision with the protein with the chemical agent becomes higher. These results suggest that the MBRs operation focus on the fouling control of cake layer on membrane surface in low temperatures. On the other hand, the higher the water temperature is the more the operation strategies of fouling control by soluble EPS adsorption are needed.

ber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars for concrete structure have been extensively investigated and a number of FRP bars are commercially available. However, major shortcoming of the existing FRP bars is low elastic modulus compared to conventional steel bars. Because of these reasons, FRP Hybrid Bar which have the concept of material hybridization(synthetic resins, deformed bar, glass fiber etc) for concrete structures have been developed. One of main features of this bar is corrosion resistance and this is important to confirm this anti-corrosion capacity of FRP Hybrid Bar. In this study, galvanic corrosion current behavior of 3 types of specimens, including two types of FRP Hybrid Bars and one conventional steel rebar, was investigated under the 0%, 1.5%, 3% and 6% salt water ratio condition. The result of this study can be used to evaluate the applicability of FRP Hybrid Bar to concrete structures.

GFRP(Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Plastic) has a superior corrosion resistance, high specific strength/stiffness, etc. Therefore, such properties can be used to mitigate the problems associated with the use of conventional construction materials. In this study, the various rib and pitch distance of hybrid fiber GFRP bars were evaluated by experimental method. From the test result, thirty two types of FRP hybrid bars such as spiral type with the dimension of rib geometry were fabricated. To evaluate the bond properties of them, direct pull-out test was performed. All testing procedures including specimen preparation, set-up of test equipment and measuring devices were made in accordance with the recommendations of ASTM D 7913. From the test results, it was found that cross type hybrid GFRP reinforcing bars showed the highest bond strength than that of the others due to the higher relative rib area.

HYB(FRP Hybrid Bar) is composite structural material that combines reinforced bar and FRP. HYB has high elastic modulus and after-yield-hardening properties, despite its corrosion resistance and light weight. HYB under development has relatively stable corrosion durability. This study performs fundamental experiments for the long period UV exposed HYB, and carries out pull-out test for the freezing-thawing exposed specimens of ordinary reinforced bar, HYB, and UV exposed HYB. The effect of UV exposure and freezing-thawing did not affect the tensile property and strength of HYB. However, the bond strength reduction on the environment of accelerated corrosion should be considered in further study.

Tensile strength was investigated for hybrid bar (HYB), in this study. HYB is made of both steel reinforcement and glass fiber. Cross section of HYB has a shape in which steel reinforcement wrapped with glass fiber. For the production of HYB, rebar of SD400 class and glass fiber of E class are used as main materials. Vinyl ester resin is used to harden a glass fiber. In order to evaluate for tensile strength of HYB, the direct tensile test was performed about total ten specimens. The length of total specimens is 2,200 mm including the grip. Diameter of HYB according to core diameter was considered as a test variable. Direct tensile test for HYB was performed using a UTM with a capacity of maximum 1,000 kN. Tensile strength and strain were measured for each specimen during the test. From the test results, tensile strength and elastic modulus were 317 ~ 341 MPa, 103 ~ 107 GPa, respectively. Especially, elastic modulus of HYB was improved in comparison with usual GFRP bars such as the Aslan 100 or the V-rod.

During the last two decades, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars for concrete structure have been extensively investigated and a number of FRP bars are commercially available. However, major shortcomings of the existing FRP bars are its high initial cost and low elastic modulus compared to conventional steel bars. Because of these reasons, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT) in Korea has developed the FRP Hybrid Bar which have the concept of material hybridization for concrete structures, especially for marine and waterfront concrete structures. This developed bar is new type material in construction field, verification of long term performance is very important for commercialization. In this paper, verification methodology on long term performance(corrosion, flexural behavior etc) of FRP Hybrid Bar is suggested.

To overcome shortcomings of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP), a hybridized FRP rebar was developed by the authors. This hybrid bar herein called “FRP Hybrid Bar” was fabricated by adopting advantages from two different materials, including glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP). Corrosion resistant characteristics of FRP Hybrid Bar were evaluated and the test results were explained in this paper. The use of the alternative reinforcement could allow concrete structures to extend life-span, to save maintenance and repair costs, etc. if the FRP Hybrid Bar was applied to RC structures located in a very corrosive environment, such as marina or harbor areas.

In this paper, synthesis of terephthalate intercalated Zn-Al: Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) was studied. We designed freestanding Zn-Al: carbonate LDH nanosheets for a facile exchange technique. The as-prepared Zn-Al carbonate LDHs were converted to terephthalate intercalated Zn-Al:LDHs by ion exchange method. Initially, Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films were deposited on p-Si (001) by facing target sputtering. For synthesis of free standing carbonate Zn-Al:LDH, we dipped the AZO thin film in naturally carbonated water for 3 hours. Further, Zn-Al: carbonate LDH nanosheets were immersed in terepthalic acid (TA) solution. The ion exchange phenomena in the terephthalate assisted Zn-Al:LDH were confirmed using FTIR analysis. The crystal structure of terephthalate intercalated Zn-Al:LDH was investigated by XRD pattern analysis with different mole concentrations of TA solution and reaction times. The optimal conditions for intercalation of terephthalate from carbonated Zn-Al LDH were established using 0.3 M aqueous solution of TA for 24 hours.

GFRP(Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Plastic) has a superior corrosion resistance, high specific strength/stiffness, etc. Therefore, such properties can be used to mitigate the problems associated with the use of conventional construction materials. In this study, the various rib and pitch distance of hybrid fiber GFRP bars were evaluated by experimental method. From the test result, thirty two types of FRP hybrid bars such as spiral and cross type with the dimension of rib geometry were fabricated. To evaluate the bond properties of them, direct pull-out test was performed. All testing procedures including specimen preparation, set-up of test equipment and measuring devices were made in accordance with the recommendations of ASTM D 7913. From the test results, it was found that cross type hybrid GFRP reinforcing bars showed the highest bond strength than that of the others due to the higher relative rib area.

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars have advantages as a construction material, including corrosion resistance, lightweight and high tensile strength. However, FRP rebars have shortcomings, such as low elastic modulus comparing to the steel rebar. With these reasons, FRP bars have not been widely used to reinforced-concrete (RC) structures. To overcome these shortcomings, the steel-hybrid GFRP rebars were developed by the authors at Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT). Mechanical properties of the developed steel-hybrid GFRP rebars were experimentally evaluated through this study. Both tensile and bonding tests were conducted and the mechanical performance was investigated as well as corrosion resistance. As a result of all tests, elastic modulus, tensile strength and boding strength of the steel-hybrid GFRP rebars were all improved in comparison with fully GFRP rebars.

Sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) copolymers are prepared by an aromatic substitution polymerization reaction as polymer electrolyte membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Thin, ductile films are fabricated by the solution casting method, which resulted in membranes with a thickness of approximately 50μm. The synthesized copolymers and membranes are characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR, TGA, ion exchange capacity, water uptake and proton conductivity measurements. The prepared membranes are tested in a 9 cm2 commercial single cell at 80 ℃ and 120 ℃ in humidified H2/air under different relative humidity conditions. The prepared membrane is found to perform better than the commercial Nafion 112 membrane at 120℃ under low humidity condition.

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) employ a process of biological treatment that is based on a membrane that has the advantages of producing high-quality treated water and possessing a compact footprint. However, despite these advantages, the occurrence of “fouling” during the operation of these reactors causes the difficulty of maintenance.Hence, in this study, three physical cleaning methods, namely, backwashing, air scrubbing, and mechanical cleaning ball was performed to identify optimum operating conditions through laboratory scale experiments, and apply them in a pilot plant. Further, the existing MBR process was compared with these methods, and the field applicability of a combination of these physical cleaning methods was investigated.Consequently, MCB, direct control of cake fouling on the membrane surface was found to be the most effective. Moreover, as a result of operating with combination of the physical cleaning process in a pilot plant, the TMP increasing rate was found to be – 0.00007 MPa/day, which was 185% higher than that obtained using the existing MBR process. Therefore, assuming fouling only by cake filtration, about one year of operation without chemical cleaning is considered to be feasible through the optimization of the physical cleaning methods.

This study compares characteristic of membrane fouling in MBR-RO systems. In lab. scale MBRs test, MBRs were operated at different Flux(10, 20, 30 & 40 LMH) and temperature(10, 15, 20, 25 & 30°C). The results show that MBR permeate was measured lower amounts of organic substances in Higher flux and lower temperature and led to lower RO fouling rates. The main cause was that due to cake fouling formed on membrane surfaces in MBRs. Under both cases, Cake layer of membrane surfaces formed in MBRs removed RO fouling factors, polysaccharide and protein, because of cake layer attached on membrane surfaces greater amounts of organic substances. This study implies that optimization of MBR with operating conditions is a crucial strategy to RO membrane fouling control.