• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2018

Objective: The human body is often modelled as a spring-mass system. Lower extremity stiffness has been considered to be one of key factor in the performance enhancement of running, jumping, and hopping involved sports activities. There are several different classification of lower extremity stiffness consisting of vertical stiffness, leg stiffness, joint stiffness, as well as muscle and tendon stiffness. The primary purpose of this paper was to review the literature and describe different stiffness models and discuss applications of stiffness models while engaging in sports activities. In addition, this paper provided a current update of the lower extremity literature as it investigates the relationships between lower extremity stiffness and both functional performance and injury. Summary: Because various methods for measuring lower extremity stiffness are existing, measurements should always be accompanied by a detailed description including type of stiffness, testing method and calculation method. Moreover, investigator should be cautious when comparing lower extremity stiffness from different methods. Some evidence highlights that optimal degree of lower extremity stiffness is required for successful athletic performance. However, the actual magnitude of stiffness required to optimize performance is relatively unexplored. Direct relationship between lower extremity stiffness and lower extremity injuries has not clearly been established yet. Overall, high stiffness is potentially associate risk factors of lower extremity injuries although some of the evidence is controversial. Prospective injures studies are necessary to confirm this relationship. Moreover, further biomechanical and physiological investigation is needed to identify the optimal regulation of the lower limb stiffness behavior and its impact on athletic performance and lower limb injuries.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.5 no.8
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• pp.977-989
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to analyze how the human body having more muscles than its degree-of-freedom modulates an effective stiffness using redundant actuation, and to apply this concept to the design and control of advanced machines which requires adaptable spring. To investigate the adaptable stiffness phenomenon due to redundant actuation in the human body, this paper derives a general stiffness model of the Human body. In particular, for a planar 1 DOF human arm model, a planar 2 DOF human arm model, a spherical 3 DOF shoulder model, a 4 DOF human arm model, and a 7 DOF human arm model, the required nonlinear geometry ad the number of required actuator for successful modulation of the effective stiffness are analyzed along with a load distribution method for modulation of the required stiffness of such systems. Secondly, the concept of motion frequency modulation is introduced to show the usefulness of adaptive stiffness modulation. The motion frequency modulation represents a control of stiffness and / or inertia properties of systems. To show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, simulations are performed for 2 DOF anthropomorphic robot.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.16 no.9 s.114
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• pp.919-925
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• 2006

An accurate mathematical model for complex stiffness of the pneumatic spring would be necessary for an efficient design of a pneumatic spring used in vibration isolation tables for precision instruments such as optical devices or nano-scale equipments. A diaphragm, often employed for prevention of air leakage, plays a significant role of complex stiffness element as well as the pressurized air itself Therefore, effects of the diaphragm need to be included in the dynamic model for a more faithful description of dynamic behavior of pneumatic spring. But the complex stiffness of diaphragm is difficult to predict In an analytical way, since it is a rubber membrane of complicated shape in itself. Moreover, the diaphragm should be expandable in response to pressurization inside a chamber, which makes direct measurement of complex stiffness of diaphragm extremely difficult. In our earlier research, the complex stiffness of diaphragm was indirectly measured, which was just to eliminate the theoretical stiffness of pressurized air from the measured complex stiffness of the pneumatic spring. In order to reflect complex stiffness of inflated diaphragm on the total stiffness at the initial design or design improvement stage, however. it is required to be able to predict beforehand. In this paper, how to predict the complex stiffness of inflated rubber diaphragm by commercial FE codes (e.g. ABAQUS) will be discussed and the results will be compared with the indirectly measured values.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.846-855
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• 1994

An effective stiffness, analogous to that of a wound spring, can be created by antagonistic redundant actuation of general closed-chain mechanisms. The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the effective stiffness are investigated through a Four-bar mechanism, and a load distribution method is introduced which simultaneously guarantees the required system motion and the effective stiffness of the Four-bar mechanism. Furthermore, a simulation is performed to understand the inter-relationship among the effective stiffness, the Four-bar geometry, and the actuation effort. Based on this analysis, the Four-bar synthesis problem for effective stiffness generation is discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.844-849
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• 2006

Accurate modeling of complex dynamic stiffness of the pneumatic springs is crucial for an efficient design of vibration isolation tables for precision instruments such as optical devices or nano-technology equipments. Besides pressurized air itself, diaphragm made of rubber materials, essentially employed for prevention of air leakage, plays a significant contribution to the total complex stiffness. Therefore, effects of the diaphragm should be taken care of precisely. The complex stiffness of an inflated diaphragm is difficult to predict or measure, since it is always working together with the pressurized air. In our earlier research, the complex stiffness of a diaphragm was indirectly estimated simply by subtracting stiffness of the pressurized air from measurement of the total complex stiffness for a single chamber pneumatic spring. In order to reflect dynamic stiffness of inflated diaphragm on the total stiffness at the initial design or design improvement stage, however, it is required to be able to predict beforehand. In this presentation, how to predict the complex stiffness of inflated rubber diaphragm by commercial FE codes(e.g. ABAQUS) will be discussed and the results will be compared with the indirectly measured values.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2016

A numerical study on required stiffness of the longitudinal stiffener in the webs stiffened with flat plate at one-side of the web was conducted. The longitudinal stiffeners are commonly placed around 0.2D, i.e., 1/5 the web depth due to fabrication convenience although most plate girders for bridges are unsymmetric section. Considering asymmetry of section, aspect ratio of web and the rigidity ratio of longitudinal stiffener(${\gamma}^*$), eigenvalue analysis were performed to evaluate the buckling strength for the webs with a stiffener located at 0.16D~0.24D. Based on the parametric analysis, the required stiffness of the longitudinal stiffener to satisfy the buckling strength specified in AASHTO LRFD specifications was presented.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.34-39
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• 2006

High-precision centerless grinding machines are emerging as a means of finishing the outer diameter grinding process required for ferrules, which are widely used as fiber optic connectors. In this study, a structural characteristic analysis and evaluation were carried out using a virtual prototype of a centerless grinding machine to realize systematic design technology and performance improvements required to manufacture ferrules. The prototype consisted of a concrete-filled bed, hydrostatic grinding wheel (GW) and regulating wheel (RW) spindle systems, a hydrostatic RW feed mechanism, a RW swivel mechanism, and on-machine GW and RW dressers. The loop stiffness values of the centerless grinding machine were estimated based on the relative displacements between the GW and RW caused by grinding forces. The simulated results illustrated that a concrete-filled bed considerably improved the structural stiffness and accuracy of a high-precision centerless grinding machine.

• International Journal of Fuzzy Logic and Intelligent Systems
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.333-338
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• 2009

This paper presents a task-based analysis on the number of independent robotic fingers required for compliant manipulations. Based on the stiffness relation between operational space and fingertip space of a multi-fingered object manipulating system, we describe a technique for modulation of the fingertip stiffness without inter-finger coupling so as to achieve the desired stiffness specified in the operational space. Thus, we provides a guide line how many fingers are basically required for successful multi-fingered compliant tasks. Consequently, this paper enables us to assign effectively the number of fingers for various compliant manipulations by robot hands.

• Journal of KSNVE
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.141-148
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• 1999

Resilient mounting is effective measures to reduce the structure-borne noise and radiated noise for many applications. The acoustic stiffness (frequency-dependent stiffness) of resilient mounts is an important parameter required in order to model vibration isolation with high accuracy. It is general to use measurement method for obtaining acoustic stiffness of complex resilient mounts under static preload. In this paper, the principles of measuring acoustic stiffness were described and the developed test apparatus was introduced. Also, the feasibility of the test apparatus is illustrated by measurement results of a resilient mount.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.35-44
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• 2019

In this study, the axial stiffness of reinforcing piles (K_vr) for the vertical extension remodeling structures was estimated through 3D finite element analysis. In the computation of the minimum required axial stiffness of reinforcing piles, proposed maximum axial stiffness of old and deteriorated existing piles (K_ve) based on theoretical and experimental approaches will be applied. Through this, the required increase rate of axial stiffness of reinforcing piles in order to support the increased structural loading was proposed for end-bearing and friction piles by different slenderness ratio (L/D). The numerical model was validated by comparing the computed results with actual field measurements. Based on the computed results, it was concluded that the end-bearing reinforcing pile needs 44% - 67% increase in axial stiffness to deal with the deterioration of existing piles and support the additional structural load due to vertical extension remodeling.