• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.469-484
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• 2021

Rock mass classification results have a great influence on construction schedule and budget as well as tunnel stability in tunnel design. A total of 3,526 tunnels have been constructed in Korea and the associated techniques in tunnel design and construction have been continuously developed, however, not many studies have been performed on how to assess rock mass quality and grade more accurately. Thus, numerous cases show big differences in the results according to inspectors' experience and judgement. Hence, this study aims to suggest a more reliable rock mass classification (RMR) model using machine learning algorithms, which is surging in availability, through the analyses based on various rock and rock mass information collected from boring investigations. For this, 11 learning parameters (depth, rock type, RQD, electrical resistivity, UCS, V_p, V_s, Young's modulus, unit weight, Poisson's ratio, RMR) from 13 local tunnel cases were selected, 337 learning data sets as well as 60 test data sets were prepared, and 6 machine learning algorithms (DT, SVM, ANN, PCA & ANN, RF, XGBoost) were tested for various hyperparameters for each algorithm. The results show that the mean absolute errors in RMR value from five algorithms except Decision Tree were less than 8 and a Support Vector Machine model is the best model. The applicability of the model, established through this study, was confirmed and this prediction model can be applied for more reliable rock mass classification when additional various data is continuously cumulated.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.59-78
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• 2024

In tunnel construction, the stability is evaluated by the settlement of adjacent structures and ground, but the shear strain of the ground is the main factor that determines the failure mechanism of the ground due to the tunnel excavation and the change of the operating load, and can be used to review the stability of the tunnel excavation and to calculate the reinforcement area. In this study, a twin tunnel excavation was simulated on a soft ground in an urban area through a laboratory model test to analyze the behavior of the twin tunnel excavation on the adjacent pile grouped foundation and adjacent ground. Both the displacement and the shear strain of ground were obtained using a close-range photogrammetry during laboratory model test. In addition, two-dimensional finite element numerical analysis was performed based on the model test. The results of a back-analysis showed that the maximum shear strain rate tends to decrease as the horizontal distance between the pillars of the twin tunnel and the vertical distance between the toe of the pile group and the crown of the tunnel were decreased. The impact of the second tunnel on the first tunnel and pile group was decreased as the horizontal distance between the pillars of the twin tunnel was increased. In addition, the vertical distance between the toe of the pile group and the crown of the tunnel had a relatively greater impact on the shear strain results than the horizontal distance of the pillars between the twin tunnels. According to the results of the close-range photogrammetry and numerical analysis, the settlement of adjacent pile group and adjacent ground was measured within the design criteria, but the shear strain of the ground was judged to be outside the range of small strain in all cases and required reinforcement.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.293-300
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• 2012

This study was to investigate the unsuitable rate of the storage facilities, the changes in corrosion process over time after installation according to the status, the time to install the facilities, years elapsed after facilities installation, inspection of methods and motivation, and so on, based on the results of the inspection at the petroleum storage facilities conducted by domestic soil-relate specialized agency to derive optimal management plans which meet the status of soil contamination facilities. The results showed that the facilities more than 5 years after the initial leak test at the time of the installation need to be inspected periodically by considering costs of leak test and remediation of polluted soil. The inspection period can be decided by cost and leak test methods showing discrepancies for the results obtained from individual test whether it was direct or indirect. To compensate these matters, we suggested that the direct inspection method on regular schedule is recommended. On the other hand, the inspection can be voluntarily completed to ease burden of the results by inspection or equivalent level to this inspection method. Also, it may need improved construction supervision and performance test system to minimize the occurrence of the nature defects in installing the facilities as well as the upgrade program for the facilities during intervals of inspection period.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.61-72
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• 2001

A barrier liner system is placed at the bottom and side slope in landfill to protect a leaking of leachate that the hydraulic conductivity of this system should be less than It 107cm/sec. In this study, the soil-bentonite mixture for the bottom liner system was evaluated in two point of views : changing characteristics of the hydraulic conductivity according to the different mixing ratio of soil-bentonite with the effect of bentonite swelling and the difference method (A & D type) of compaction on the hydraulic conductivity. As the results, maximum dry density (${\gamma}$$_{dmax}$) of SC group mixture was higher than of CL group mixture. However, the result of optimum moisture contents(OMC) of both groups were the contrary. In case of ${\gamma}$$_{dmax}$ by different compaction method, D type was higher than A. But the OMC were the contrary. The difference of ${\gamma}$$_{dmax}$ according to the Compaction energy, “SC” group mixture W3S higher than the “CL” group. In case of OMC of “CL” group was higher than “SC” group. The effecting of swelling was a little bit different on the two factors. According to the result of compaction test, the use of site soil only could not meet the criteria on hydraulic conductivity, but could find a solution for the mixing ratio of bentonite mixture were satisfied to the standard of barriation. The increased in bentonite mixing ratio and degree of swelling, the values of hydraulic conductivity were decreased. Especially the “CL” group with “D” type compaction measured the lowest value with the same conditions. Also, the bentonite mixing ratio has more influenced on the hydraulic conductivity compare with swelling effect. The “SC” group mixture with “A” typo compaction got a big difference from others. The evaluation of economic for the construction cost on the two cases, the lower bentonite mixing ratio of soil-bentonite mixed soil is more economically because of bentonite cost.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to fabricate a full scale road embankment using lightweight air foamed soil as a soil material on soft ground and to investigate its material characteristics and behavior in order to promote dredged soil utilization and minimize ground improvement. As a result of the laboratory test of the onsite mixed samples, the total unit weight of the specimens decreased almost linearly until curing 28 days. In particular, the total unit weight after 28 days of curing was reduced to about 81% of the slurry state before curing, which will be useful in the formulation of similar native soil materials in the future. The unconfined compressive strength began to decrease with the 14th day of curing as shown in the previous study. When the cement content is increased, the strength decreases sharply at a small strain change after the occurrence of the maximum compressive strength, and the maximum strength is exhibited in a range of a smaller axial strain than normal range. The settlement at the surface layer of the ground due to the lightweight embankment was about 1 / 2.75 of the soil embankment and was in agreement with the unit weight ratio (1 / 2.7) of the embankment materials. This indicates the cause and effect of the settlement due to the difference in self weight of the embankments. Also, the difference in settlement between soil and lightweight embankment increased with increasing depth. This shows that the difference in the point at which the settlement is terminated is clear. The ground horizontal displacement under the lightweight embankment was about 15~20% smaller than that of the soil embankment and the depth of occurrence was also 4.5~5.0m shallower in the lightweight embankment.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.8 no.2 s.28
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• pp.63-74
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• 2006

During the construction of circular underground pipe, the non-proper compaction along the pipe and the decrease of compaction efficiency have been the main problems to induce the failure of underground pipe or facility. The use of CLSM (controlled low strength materials) should be one of the possible applications to overcome those problems. In this research, the full-scaled field test and the numeric analysis using PENTAGON-3D FEM program were carried out for three different cases on the change of backfill materials, including the common sand, the soil from construction site, and the CLSM. From the full-scaled test in field, the use of in-situ CLSM as backfill materials reduced the vertical and lateral deformation of the pipe, as well as the deformation of the ground surface. The main reason for reducing the deformation would be the characteristics of the CLSM, especially self-leveling and self-hardening properties. The measured earth pressure at the surround of the corrugated pipe using the CLSM backfills was the smaller than the other cases, and the absolute value was almost zero. Judging from the full-scaled field test and FEM analysis, the use of CLSM as backfill materials should be one of the best choices reducing the failure of the underground pipes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.139-151
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• 2007

To protect the surface of ground-cutting slopes and ground-raised slopes and to recover environment-friendly slopes at the national road expansion construction between Gamchon and Yaechon, test-construction work was done using several modes of hydro-seeding measures to select a suitable construction method through the field survey; the results were as follows : As a result of survey on physio-chemical characteristics of soil, the average soil inclination on ground-raised slopes was from 4.73 mm to 5.37 mm; the average soil acidity was from pH 6.47 to 6.73; the average soil humidity was within the scope of 0.57~1.70 %,; the average soil inclination on ground-cutting slopes was 9.17~10.43mm; the average soil acidity was pH 6.67~6.77 and the average soil humidity was within the scope of 0.53~1.27 %; considered overall, they showed generally satisfactory base materials for plant breeding. As a result of the number of sprouting individuals, the average sprouting number of individuals on test spots executed by Coir net with Seed spray construction methods and the average number of sprouting individuals on other test spots executed by furrow-digging with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures were 1,172 number of per square meter and 970 number of per square meter respectively; thus they showed higher numerical value comparing with other test spots. Likewise, the average number of sprouting individuals on test spots of the ground-cutting slopes executed by Coir net with Seed spray method and the average number of sprouting individuals on other test spot executed by furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures were found to be 1,107 number of per square meter and 1,105 number of per square meter respectively, whose numerical value showed rather higher other test spots. As a result of a survey on living plants' breeding index [dried weight], the weight in dried state on test spots executed by Coir net with Seed spray method and other test spots executed by furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures on both ground-raised and ground-cutting slopes was found to be higher and showed similar characteristics statistically. As a result of survey on the surface-covering degree of ground-raised slopes, nine weeks after test construction, test spots executed by Coir net with Seed spray method and other test spots executed by furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures showed commonly more than 70% of surface-covering degree, but other test spots showed only below 35% of surface covering degree; especially in case of test spots by Verdvol seed spray measures, they showed 10% of the lowest surface-covering. Surface-covering degree on the test spot of ground-cutting slopes nine weeks after test construction showed more than 75% both executed by Coir net with Seed spray construction method and executed by furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures. As a result of survey on appearing plants on the test spots, there dominates Eragrostis curvula both on ground-raised slopes and on ground-cutting slopes with other seeding plant life's lower breeding and there appear intruders, such as Setaria viridis Beauv, Digitaria sanguinalis Scop, and Chenopodium album var.centrorubrum Makino. As for water-borne excavation and soil's washing-away on the slopes, there happened less washing-away and water-borne excavation with good breeding of plant life on test spots executed both by Coir net with Seed spray construction method and by furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures, but there happened much more soil's washing-away along with water-home excavation at the test spot executed by Seed spray with measures. After the research results of test construction sites are examined overall, it's presumed that furrow-digger with Seed spray and Straw mat-mulching measures [interval between lines is 40cm, 5cm in depth] will be preferred to prevent erosion and water-home excavation of slopes located within the construction sites.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate a stability trend within 6 above average and 4 blow average erosion control dams, which were selected by The Korean Association of Soil and Water Conservation and were built in 1990s in Gyeonggi and Gangwon Province. The study was aimed to measure rebound hardness of upstream face, flood way and downstream face from those dams selected by using 'Concrete Test Hammer'. The main purposes of the study are selection of compression strength prediction equation and scope of wavelength, which successfully demonstrate non-destructive test results for erosion control dams. There is an opportunity to increase disaster prevention ability when stability vulnerability of concrete erosion control dam is detected in a timely manner. Results of the compression strength investigation express that there is a consistency with visual inspection of stability that has been processed by The Korean Association of Soil and Water Conservation. We concluded that a prediction equation, which was developed by Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ), shows highest suitability in Korean erosion control dams when stability investigation is performed. The detailed criteria for the test result are 'stable', 'detail inspection required' and 'poor' for over 300 $kgf/cm^2$, 250~300 $kgf/cm^2$ and below 250 $kgf/cm^2$ respectively. Standards for stability of Korean erosion control dam and a compression strength prediction equation (that corresponds to the standards of the stability) should be established on the basis of chronological data of erosion control dam compression strength. Systematical approach for stability inspection that carries out remodeling or repair when problem on erosion control structures are detected through visual inspection and simple stability test, is necessary for the future disaster prevention.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.5-19
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• 2019

Considering the natural phenomenon in which steep slopes ($65^{\circ}{\sim}85^{\circ}$) consisting of rock mass remain stable for decades, slopes steeper than 1:0.5 (the standard of slope angle for blast rock) may be applied in geotechnical conditions which are similar to those above at the design and initial construction stages. In the process of analysing the stability of a good to fair continuum rock slope that can be designed as a steep slope, a general method of estimating rock mass strength properties from design practice perspective was required. Practical and genealized engineering methods of determining the properties of a rock mass are important for a good continuum rock slope that can be designed as a steep slope. The Genealized Hoek-Brown (H-B) failure criterion and GSI (Geological Strength Index), which were revised and supplemented by Hoek et al. (2002), were assessed as rock mass characterization systems fully taking into account the effects of discontinuities, and were widely utilized as a method for calculating equivalent Mohr-Coulomb shear strength (balancing the areas) according to stress changes. The concept of calculating equivalent M-C shear strength according to the change of confining stress range was proposed, and on a slope, the equivalent shear strength changes sensitively with changes in the maximum confining stress (${{\sigma}^{\prime}}_{3max}$ or normal stress), making it difficult to use it in practical design. In this study, the method of estimating the strength properties (an iso-angle division method) that can be applied universally within the maximum confining stress range for a good to fair continuum rock mass slope is proposed by applying the H-B failure criterion. In order to assess the validity and applicability of the proposed method of estimating the shear strength (A), the rock slope, which is a study object, was selected as the type of rock (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary) on the steep slope near the existing working design site. It is compared and analyzed with the equivalent M-C shear strength (balancing the areas) proposed by Hoek. The equivalent M-C shear strength of the balancing the areas method and iso-angle division method was estimated using the RocLab program (geotechnical properties calculation software based on the H-B failure criterion (2002)) by using the basic data of the laboratory rock triaxial compression test at the existing working design site and the face mapping of discontinuities on the rock slope of study area. The calculated equivalent M-C shear strength of the balancing the areas method was interlinked to show very large or small cohesion and internal friction angles (generally, greater than $45^{\circ}$). The equivalent M-C shear strength of the iso-angle division is in-between the equivalent M-C shear properties of the balancing the areas, and the internal friction angles show a range of $30^{\circ}$ to $42^{\circ}$. We compared and analyzed the shear strength (A) of the iso-angle division method at the study area with the shear strength (B) of the existing working design site with similar or the same grade RMR each other. The application of the proposed iso-angle division method was indirectly evaluated through the results of the stability analysis (limit equilibrium analysis and finite element analysis) applied with these the strength properties. The difference between A and B of the shear strength is about 10%. LEM results (in wet condition) showed that Fs (A) = 14.08~58.22 (average 32.9) and Fs (B) = 18.39~60.04 (average 32.2), which were similar in accordance with the same rock types. As a result of FEM, displacement (A) = 0.13~0.65 mm (average 0.27 mm) and displacement (B) = 0.14~1.07 mm (average 0.37 mm). Using the GSI and Hoek-Brown failure criterion, the significant result could be identified in the application evaluation. Therefore, the strength properties of rock mass estimated by the iso-angle division method could be applied with practical shear strength.