• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.117-127
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• 2010

Gound excavation is frequently executed in unsaturated soil conditions. In this paper, the effect of apparent cohesion in unsaturated soils on the ground behavior during underground excavation is studied. The VPPE (Volumetric Pressure Plate Extractor) test, the unsaturated triaxial test and the trap-door test were carried out to figure out how the behavior of soils varies depending on the variation of apparent cohesion. The test results show that the ground behavior is almost identical if the soil is either fully dry or fully saturated. However, if the soil is partially-saturated with the increase of water content, the ground behaves quite differently. In summary, the apparent cohesion in unsaturated soils plays key roles when excavating underground structures.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.31-39
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• 2006

In this study, modified triaxial compression tests were carried out to investigate the characteristics of shear strength of unsaturated dredged soils. The variation of shear strength generally depends on more matric suction than drained conditions, and then is gradually converged in matric suction 100kPa. It indicates that the effective angle of internal friction and effective cohesion in unsaturated conditions increase due to degree of saturation, namely, matric suction than those of saturated conditions. Therefore, it shows that apparent friction angle, ${\phi}^b$ due to the variation of matric suction to evaluate reasonable shear strength parameters in unsaturated soils should be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.31-37
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• 2011

In order to evaluate the effect of matric suction on the strength and deformation characteristics, the unsaturated unconfined compression test is performed for the statical1y compacted silty sand. Specimens used were made under conditions with various initial degrees of saturation. The initial matric suction, matric suction at the peak shear strength and the volumetric deformation during the shear process were measured. From these results, it was found that the initial degree of saturation exerts the influence on the behaviors of suction, peak shear strength and the volumetric deformation. Furthermore, the suction stress($P_s$) which means the apparent cohesion due to matric suction in the unsaturated shear strength could be derived.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.69-75
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• 2014

The shear strength characteristics of an unsaturated earth material are highly important not only for evaluating the seepage characteristics but also the stability of levee for a lifelong. In this study, unsaturated strength characteristics of Nak-dong river sand and clay that frequently used for the levee construction in southern province of Korea were analyzed using unsaturated triaxial compressive test. The strength characteristics due to the variation of matric suction were analyzed using multi-stage compression technique and the results were directly compared with the non-linear formulation for the apparent cohesion ($C_{max}$), and the friction component ${\varphi}^b$ were determined and evaluated from the test for the application of linear Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria. Cohesion and friction characteristics of the unsaturated levee material under various suction phases were also explored during this study.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.6C
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• pp.285-293
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• 2012

The surface tension, which is generated in the unsaturated soils, increases the stiffness of the soils. The objective of this study is to estimate the effect of the surface tension, which varies according to the temperature, on the shear wave velocity. Nine specimens, which have the different degree of saturation (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%), are prepared by using sand-silt mixtures. Experiments are carried out in a nylon cell designed for the measurement of shear waves. A pair of bender elements, which are used for the generation and detection of shear waves, is installed as a cross-hole type. The shear waves are continuously monitored and measured as the temperature of specimens decreases from $15^{\circ}C$ to $1^{\circ}C$. The results show that shear wave velocities of the fully saturated and fully dried specimens change a little bit as the temperatures of specimens decrease. However, the shear wave velocities of the specimens with the degree of saturations of 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% continuously increase as temperature decreases from $15^{\circ}C$ to $1^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, a fully saturated specimen is dried at the temperature of $70^{\circ}C$ in order to observe the shear waves according to degree of saturation. The shear wave velocities measured at the temperature of $70^{\circ}C$ are generally lower than those measured at temperature of $15^{\circ}C$. This study demonstrates that the dependence of shear wave velocities on the temperature according to the degree of saturation should be taken into account in both laboratory and field tests.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.129-144
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• 2010

The earth pressure acting on the vertical shaft is less than that acting on the retaining wall due to three dimensional arching effect. Thus, it might be essential to estimate the earth pressure actually acting on the shaft when designing the vertical shaft. In this paper, large-sized model tests were conducted as Part II of companion papers to verify the newly suggested earth pressure equation proposed by Kim et al. (2009: Part I of companion papers) that can be used when designing the vertical shaft in cohesionless soils as well as in c-$\phi$ soils and multi-layered soils. The newly developed model test apparatus was designed to be able to simulate staged shaft excavation. Model tests were performed by varying the radius of vertical shaft in dry soil. Moreover, tests on c-$\phi$ soils and on multi-layered soils were also performed; in order to induce apparent cohesion to the cohesionless soil, we add some water to the dry soil to make the soil partially-saturated before depositing by raining method. Experimental results showed a load transfer from excavated ground to non-excavated zone below dredging level due to arching effect when simulating staged excavation. It was also found that measured earth pressure was far smaller than estimated if excavation is done at once; the final earth pressure measured after performing staged excavation was larger and matched with that estimated from the newly proposed equation. Measured results in c-$\phi$ soils and in multi-layered soils showed reduction in earth pressures due to apparent cohesion effect and showed good matches with analytical results.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.5-13
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• 2022

The unsaturated behavior of sandy silt (SM soil) was investigated experimentally. Special attention was given to the stress-strain behavior of unsaturated weathered soil (SM) prior to failure and behavior at failure under monotonic loading. A sandy silt (SM) weathered soil containing a certain amount of fine contents distributed in Korea, was chosen to form samples with different densities of Dr=25%, 60%, and 75%. and matric suctions. The isotopically Consolidated Drain test (CD-test) was performed to maintain a constant matric suction during the shearing process. Based on the experimental results, it was qualitatively identified that the higher the relative density, the greater the virtual friction angle (ϕ^b) value and AEV (Air Entry Value) were induced. Also it is found that the internal friction angle (ϕ') is more or less constant. even if the matric suction is increased.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.63-69
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• 2016

In this paper, shear strength characteristics of an unsaturated soil were compared using triaxial compression tests(CD) and modified direct shear tests and thus feasibility of the newly modified direct shear testing apparatus was confirmed. The shear strength tests of unsaturated state with a soil sample, obtained from a slope where debris flow occurred at Yangpyeong in Kyeunggi province during 2010, were performed. Both tests showed a linear relationship of matric suction with the shear strength under low level of matric suction. The apparent cohesion of the unsaturated soil was also increased linearly with increase of matric suction. As results of comparing two different testing apparatus, estimated values of shear strength parameters of unsaturated soil($c^{\prime}$, ${\phi}^b$) were slightly larger in the modified direct shear tests due to constraint effect of shear box.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of soft ground improvement by dynamic replacement with utilizing crushed rock. In order to understand the ground improvement effect when applying dynamic replacement method with crushed rock, the laboratory test and field test were performed. The internal friction angle and apparent cohesion were derived through direct shear test. The dynamic replacement characteristics were identified by analyzing the weight, drop, and number of blows needed for dynamic replacement. Through the field plate bearing test and density test, the bearing capacity and settlement of the improved ground were measured, and the numerical analysis were conducted to analyze the behavior of the improved ground. In this study, it proposes modified soil experimental coefficient(C_DR) to 0.3~0.5 in the dynamic replacement method with crushed rock. Also when applying the dynamic replacement method using crushed rock, the particle size range is less than 100 mm, D₉₀ is less than 80 mm and D₁₅ is more than 30 mm.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.33-41
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• 2017

In this study, the increment effect of safety factor according to increasing of horizontal permeability coefficient is analyzed when geocell is installed on the slope for protection. To evaluate the horizontal permeability and reinforcement effect, the laboratory tests such horizontal permeability test were conducted. According to the laboratory test results, as the porosity rate of geocell increases, the coefficient of horizontal permeability is also increased. And also, regardless of the different types of filled materials, the coefficient of horizontal permeability is improved in a geocell reinforced ground compare with the non-reinforced ground. Laboratory test results and the rainfall intensity were applied to the numerical modeling of slope for seepage analysis and stability analysis of slope by using Soilworks, numerical analysis program. As a result of the slope stability analysis, it is confirmed that the installed geocell on the slope facilitates the drainage of water on the surface of slope. Hence, the ground water elevation is suppressed. Therefore, the safety factor of the slope is increased by the increasing of the internal friction angle, apparent cohesion, and coefficient of horizontal permeability by reinforcing the slope with geocell.