• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.101-115
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• 2005

For the site characterization at two inland areas, Gyeongju and Hongsung, which represent geomorphic and geologic characteristics of inland region in Korea, in-situ seismic tests containing borehole drilling investigations and resonant column tests were peformed and site-specific seismic response analyses were conducted using equivalent linear as well as nonlinear scheme. The soil deposits in Korea were shallower and stiffer than those in western US, from which the site coefficients and site classification system in Korea were derived. Most sites were categorized as site classes C and D based on the mean shear wave velocity $(V_s)$ of the upper 30 m $(V_s30)$, ranging between 250 and 650 m/s. According to the acceleration response spectra determined from the site response analyses, the site coefficients specified in the current Korean seismic design guide underestimate the ground motion in the short-period band and overestimate the ground motion in mid-period band. These differences can be explained by the differences in the bedrock depth and the soil stiffness profile between Korea and western US. The site coefficients, $F_a$ for short-period and $F_v$ for mid-period, were re-evaluated and the site classification system, in which sites C and D were subdivided according to $V_s20,\;V_s15,\;and\;V_s10$ together with the existing $V_s30$ was introduced accounting for the local geologic conditions at inland region of the Korean peninsula. The proposed site classification system in this paper is still rudimentary and requires modification.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.315-323
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• 2015

Damage level of coastal structures has been scaled up according to increase of wave height and duration of the storm due to the abnormal global climate change. So, the design criteria for new breakwaters is being intensified and structural strengthening is also conducted for the existing breakwaters. Recently, interlocking concept has been much attention to enhance the structural stability of the conventional caisson structure designed individually to resist waves. The interlocking caisson breakwater may be survival even if unusual high wave occurs because the maximum wave force may be reduced by phase lags among the wave forces acting on each caisson. In this study, the dispersion characteristics of wave forces using interlocking system that connect the upper part of caisson with cable in the normal direction of breakwater was investigated. A simplified linear model was developed for computational efficiency, in which the foundation and connection cables were modelled as linear springs, and caisson structures were assumed to be rigid. From numerical experiments, it can be found that the higher wave forces are transmitted through the cable as the angle of incident wave is larger, and the larger the stiffness of the interlocking cable makes larger wave dispersion effect.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2020

The lateral bearing characteristics of large diameter drilled shaft depend greatly on the stiffness of the pile, horizontal subgrade reaction of adjacent ground. In particular, the empirical evaluation results of the horizontal subgrade reaction coefficient which are widely used in pile design are very important factors in evaluating the lateral bearing capacity of drilled shaft because the difference in bearing capacity depends on the estimated result. Nevertheless, the evaluation of the horizontal subgrade reaction coefficient on the large diameter drilled shaft is insufficient. In addition, although the range of influence and the location of the maximum moment which is the weaken zone on the pile may be correlated and relationship of these are major consideration in determining the reinforced zone of drilled shaft, the previous studies have not been evaluated it. In this study, the field test and nonlinear analysis of large diameter drilled shaft were performed to evaluate the horizontal subgrade reaction coefficient and to investigate the relationship between the influence range 1/β of the pile and the location of the maximum moment z_m. In the result, the lateral bearing capacity of drilled shaft showed a difference in results by about 190% according to the empirical equation on the horizontal subgrade reaction coefficient. And the relationship between the influence range of the pile and the location of the maximum moment was evaluated as a linear relationship depending on the soil density.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.49-58
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• 2010

This paper presents experimental results of a series of 1-g shaking table model tests performed on end-bearing single piles and pile groups to investigate the effect of particle size on the dynamic behavior of soil-pile systems. Two soil-pile models were tested twice: first using Jumoonjin sand, and second using Australian Fine sand. In the case of single-pile models, the lateral displacement was almost within 1% of pile diameter which corresponds to the elastic range of the pile. The back-calculated p-y curves show that the subgrade reaction of the Jumoonjin-sand-model ground was larger than that of the Australian Fine-sand-model ground at the same displacement. This phenomenon means that the stress-strain behavior of Jumoonjin sand was initially stiffer than that of Australian Fine sand. This difference was also confirmed by resonant column tests and compression triaxial tests. And the single pile p-y backbone curves of the Australian fine sand were constructed and compared with those of the Jumoonjin sand. As a result, the stiffness of the p-y backbone curves of Jumunjin sand was larger than those of Australian fine sand. Therefore, using the same p-y curves regardless of particle size can lead to inaccurate results when evaluating dynamic behavior of soil-pile system. In the case of the group-pile models, the lateral displacement was much larger than the elastic range of pile movement at the same test conditions in the single-pile models. The back-calculated p-y curves in the case of group pile models were very similar in both sands because the stiffness difference between the Jumoonjin-sand-model ground and the Australian Fine-sand-model ground was not significantly large at a large strain level, where both sands showed non-linear behavior. According to a series of single pile and group pile test results, the evaluation group pile effect using the p-multiplier can lead to inaccurate results on dynamic behavior of soil-pile system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.6 s.73
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• pp.769-780
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• 2004

This paper's objective is to evaluate the experimental behavior of gap N-joints made of cold-formed, square, hollow steel sections, with a connection plate as a tension member. The principal parameters for testing included the ratio of chord width to thickness, the ratio of brace width to chord width, eccentric ratio, the shape of the compression member, the branch angle, and the stiffening plate of the chord flange. The strength and failure mode were examined through the test for the gap N-joint, consisting of several parameters. Based on the results of the test, the gap N-joints were determined according to the capacity preceding the displacement of the tension, regardless of the width ratio, and the split failure mode-connected surface for a chord in joints. The strength of the gap N-joints increased proportionally as the $2\gamma$(B/T) ratio decreased, and as the width ratio(${\beta}$) of branch to chord increased. Particularly, $2\gamma$(B/T) decreased as the capacity of gap N-joint increased. The results of the test were summarized for the capacity, initial stiffness, ductility, and change of the failure mode of each gap N-joint.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2014

This study investigates the relationship between the performance of fresh and hardened Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) without heat treatment. The performance of fresh UHPC is determined by the slump flow test related to the fluidity of concrete mixtures, and the air content test. The variables of these tests are the water to binder ratio, superplasticizer dosages and volume fractions of steel fiber. Generally, insufficient fluidity and excessive air contents in concrete mixtures lead to the insufficient packing density related to the performance of harden concrete. The performance of hardened UHPC is determined by the compressive and flexural tensile tests. The results of the fresh UHPC tests show that there is the linear correlation between each variable and the slump flow diameter, and that the slump flow diameter is linearly decreased as the air content ratio increase. Using these results, the formula is developed to predict the fresh performance before mixing UHPC. The results of the hardened UHPC tests show that the hardened performance is not influenced by the air content ratio in the range of 3.2 to 4.2 per cent. However, the flexural tensile strength dominantly influenced by the volume fractions of steel fiber.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.303-311
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• 2016

From having an experimental study of physical and consolidation characteristics of soft clay in Nakdong river lower basin, we come to the conclusion as follow. Clay minerals in Nakdong river lower basin are classified into Kaolinite and Illite. Water content($W_n$) is similarly distributed in a range of 50.4% to 92.8% in Noksan and 46.6% to 99.0% in Jangyu, and liquid limit(LL) of both areas appears lower than water content. In the case of compression index, the index of jangyu is a little higher than that of Noksan because Jangyu is in a range of 0.67 to 1.94 and Noksan in a range of 0.44 to 1.5. The second compression index of Jangyu in a range of 0.027 to 0.092 is also higher than Noksan in a range of 0.024 to 0.075. As a result of regression analysis, a relation between water content and compression index is linear, and between initial void ratio and compression index is shown to $C_c=0.80e_o-0.58$. The ratio of $C_{\alpha}/C_c$ in a range of 0.03 to 0.08 expresses a wide range.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.203-218
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• 2010

The site categorization and corresponding site amplification factors in the current Korean seismic design guideline are based on provisions for the western United States (US), although the site effects resulting in the amplification of earthquake ground motions are directly dependent on the regional and local site characteristic conditions. In these seismic codes, two amplification factors called site coefficients, $F_a$ and $F_v$, for the short-period band and midperiod band, respectively, are listed according to a criterion, mean shear wave velocity ($V_S$) to a depth of 30 m, into five classes composed of A to E. To suggest a site classification system reflecting Korean site conditions, in this study, systematic site characterization was carried out at four regional areas, Gyeongju, Hongsung, Haemi and Sacheon, to obtain the $V_S$ profiles from surface to bedrock in field and the non-linear soil properties in laboratory. The soil deposits in Korea, which were shallower and stiffer than those in the western US, were examined, and thus the site period in Korea was distributed in the low and narrow band comparing with those in western US. Based on the geotechnical characteristic properties obtained in the field and laboratory, various site-specific seismic response analyses were conducted for total 75 sites by adopting both equivalent-linear and non-linear methods. The analysis results showed that the site coefficients specified in the current Korean provision underestimate the ground motion in the short-period range and overestimate in the mid-period range. These differences can be explained by the differences in the local site characteristics including the depth to bedrock between Korea and western US. Based on the analysis results in this study and the prior research results for the Korean peninsula, new site classification system was developed by introducing the site period as representative criterion and the mean $V_S$ to a depth of shallower than 30 m as additional criterion, to reliably determine the ground motions and the corresponding design spectra taking into account the regional site characteristics in Korea.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.455-462
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• 2013

The effects of earthquakes can be devastating especially to existing structures that are not based on earthquake resistant design. This study proposes a steel grid shear wall that can provide a sufficient lateral resistance and can be used as a seismic retrofit method. The pushover analysis was performed on RC structure with and without the proposed steel grid shear wall. Obtain the performance point that the target structure for seismic loads applied to evaluate the response and performance levels. The capacity spectrum at performance point is nearly elastic range, so satisfied the performance objectives(LS level). And response modification factor(R factor) were calculated from the pushover analysis. The R factor approach is currently implemented to reflect inelastic ductile behavior of the structures and to reduce elastic spectral demands from earthquakes to the design level. The R factor increases from 2.17 to 3.25 was higher than the design criteria. As a result, according to reinforcement by steel grid shear wall, strength, stiffness, and ductility of the low-rise RC structure has been appropriately improved.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.85-94
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• 2011

Mixtures of sand and rubber particles ($D_{sand}/D_{rubber}=1$) are investigated to explore their characteristics under different stain level. Mixtures are prepared with different volumetric sand fractions ($sf=V_{sand}/V_{total}$). Experimental data are gathered from a resonant column, an instrumented oedometer, and a direct shear tests. Results show that sand and rubber differently control the behavior of the whole mixture with strain level. Non-linear degradation of small strain stiffness is observed for the mixtures with $sf{\geq}0.4$, while the mixtures with low sand fraction ($sf{\leq}0.2$) show significantly high elastic threshold strain. Vertical stress-deformation increases dramatically when the rubber particle works as a member of force chain. The strength of the mixtures increases as the content of rubber particle decreases, and contractive behavior is observed in the mixtures with $sf{\leq}0.8$. Rubber particle plays different roles with strain level in the mixture: it increases a coordination number and controls a plasticity of the mixture in small strain; it prevents a buckling of force chain in intermediate strain; it leads a contractive behavior in large strain.