• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2C
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• pp.95-103
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• 2008

Seismic piezocone penetration tests (SCPTu) can be used to obtain dynamic properties of soils as well as cone resistance and penetration pore pressure. However, the SCPTu system can be hardly utilized in marine soils because it is difficult to install the source apparatus which generates the shear wave in offshore site. The authors developed an inhole type piezocone penetration test (CPTu) equipment which both source and receiver composed of bender elements were installed inside the rod located behind the cone. Therefore, it can be applicable to even an offshore site without any additional source apparatus. The objective of this paper is to investigate the practical application of inhole type CPTu by performing laboratory model tests using kaolinite as soft clay. The shear wave velocities of kaolinite soil were measured with time, and the effects of soil disturbance due to the installation of source and receiver were also examined for various distance between source and receiver.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.907-917
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• 2014

When conducting excavations after burying the soft ground, even if the retaining walls are installed, failure often occurs within backfill. In order to minimize the occurrences of failures, model test was performed after the installation of stabilizing piles to investigate the stabilizing effects. The model chamber is set up with clay foundation reinforced with and without stabilizing piles. During the excavation of clay foundation, the subsidence, pore water pressure, and soil pressure along the excavation were measured. As a result of the model test, the increase of excavation levels and the reduction of subsidence of back ground were observed with the stabilizing piles, compared to those without the stabilizing piles. The installation of stabilizing piles does not influence the pore water pressure change, but induces less subsidence rate. In addition, the depth of excavation has a significant effect on the back ground and it was evaluated that the maximum subsidence occurs as it is closer to the excavation point.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.117-128
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• 2000

Sand compaction pile(SCP) is one of the ground improvement techniques which is being used for not only accelerating consolidation but also increasing bearing capacity of loose sands or soft clay grounds. In this study, laboratory model test and large-scale direct shear test were performed to investigate the effects of area replacement ratio of composite ground in order to find out the optimum value of area replacement ratio for the ground improvement purpose. Area replacement ratios of 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% were chosen respectively in the model tests to study the effects of area replacement ratio on variations of stress concentration ratio, settlement and shear strength characteristics of composite ground. In large-scale direct she4ar tests, area replacement ratios of 20%, 30%, 46% were applied to study their effects on shear strength characteristics of composite ground.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.39-46
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• 2019

Most of the soil used for reclamation is marine clay generated from dredging construction.The soft ground made of dredged clay has high water content and high compressibility, so the bearing capacity of the ground is very weak and it is difficult to enter the ground improvement equipment. Therefore, surface hardening treatment method is used to enter equipment prior to full-scale civil engineering work, and stabilizer is mainly used for cement series. Cement-based stabilizers have the advantage of improving the ground in a short period of time and have excellent economic efficiency, but they are disadvantageous in that they cause environmental problems due to leaching of heavy metals such as hexavalent chromium. In this study, environmental effects evaluation of dredged clay mixed with normal portland cement and environmentally friendly stabilizer was evaluated, and uniaxial compressive strength test and indoor model test were conducted to confirm the bearing capacity characteristics of the solidified layer.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.209-219
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• 2022

To experimentally investigate the variation of soil characteristics in slope during rainfall and the shape of slope failure, the model test was performed using soil box and artificial rainfall simulator. The model test of slope formed by the homogenous sand was performed, and the saturation pattern in the model slope due to rainfall infiltration was observed. The slope model with the inclination of 35° was set up on the slope of 30°, and the rainfall intensity of 50 mm/hr was applied in the test. The soil depth of 35 cm was selected by considering the size of soil box, and the TDR (time domain reflectometry) sensors were installed at various depths to investigate the change of soil characteristics with time. As the result of model test, the slope model during rainfall was saturated from the soil surface to the subsurface, and from the toe part to the crest part due to rainfall infiltration. That is, the toe part of slope was firstly saturated by rainfall infiltration, and then due to continuous rainfall the saturation range was enlarged from the toe part to the crest part in the slope model. The failure of slope model was started at the toe part of slope and then enlarged to the crest part, which is called as the retrogressive failure. At the end of slope failure, the collapsed area increased rapidly. Also, the mode of slope failure was rotational. Meanwhile, the slope failure was occurred when the matric suction in the slope was reached to the air entry value (AEV) estimated in soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC).

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.55-60
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• 2010

This study are carried out to an lab model tests to develop a construction method that solidifies high-water content cohesive soil by using filter type drain and vacuum pressure, and that stabilizes the ground by accelerating horizontal drain at incline or in tunnel. The calibration chamber was designed within length of 1.5m and height of 50cm, and a drainage hole for preconsolidation, a switchgear and a piezometer were installed at the bottom part of the chamber. Also, a settlement gage was installed at the top part so that it can measure the settlement by time. The calibration ground basis was made in a form of thin layer from kaolinite and bentonite in 9:1 ratio stirred at 130% water content condition. A filter type drain was installed at chamber center and a vacuum pressure of 0.8MPa was applied through a hose linked to the cap at the top part, then, the settlement was measured in every 1 hour interval. After experiment, the moisture contents were measured by position, then, verified the increase of solidity of the ground through a triaxial compression test on undisturbed profile. After 11 days from the effective date, it was observed that the settlement decreased by maximum 35mm and the water content ratio was reduced by 38% at most while the solidity of the ground increased by 5~8 times greater than before preconsolidation.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.201-216
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• 2013

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted in a sand tank model in a laboratory and at an alluvial field site to detect the groundwater table and to investigate the influence of saturation on GPR response in the unsaturated zone. In the sand tank model, the groundwater table and saturation in the sand layer were altered by injecting water, which was then drained by a valve inserted into the bottom of the tank. GPR vertical reflection profile (VRP) data were obtained in the sand tank model for rising and lowering of the groundwater table to estimate the groundwater table and saturation. Results of the lab-scale model provide information on the sensitivity of GPR signals to changes in the water content and in the groundwater table. GPR wave velocities in the vadose zone are controlled mainly by variations in water content (increased travel time is interpreted as an increase in saturation). At the field site, VRP data were collected to a depth of 220 m to estimate the groundwater table at an alluvial site near the Nakdong river at Iryong-ri, Haman-gun, South Korea. Results of the field survey indicate that under saturated conditions, the first reflector of the GPR is indicative of the capillary fringe and not the actual groundwater table. To measure the groundwater table more accurately, we performed a GPR survey using the common mid-point (CMP) method in the vicinity of well-3, and sunk a well to check the groundwater table. The resultant CMP data revealed reflective events from the capillary fringe and groundwater table showing hyperbolic patterns. The normal moveout correction was applied to evaluate the velocity of the GPR, which improved the accuracy of saturation and groundwater table information at depth. The GPR results show that the saturation information, including the groundwater table, is useful in assessing the hydrogeologic properties of the vadose zone in the field.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.19-29
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• 2012

For foundation of Port structure, it is essential geotechnical understanding about feature of ground and the geologic formation which is different to terrestrial ground. What is most important is the understanding of soft ground clay, which is much softer than terrestrial ground. To build foundation of a port structure which is mainly gravity based on the special geographical circumstance that is on the sea, the improvement method of foundation should be applied according to soft clay ground features. Therefore, in this study, the behaviors of improved materials with strength were analyzed on the soft clay foundation where suppose to be located the foundation of port structure. The laboratory model test has been conducted in 2 cases with unconfined compression strength of improved materials, 25kPa and 125kPa. Cement, water, and in-situ soft clay were combined at a fixed rate and made a shape of 5cm diameter ${\times}$ 70cm height column. Improved materials were located with replacement ratio(11%, 35% and 61%) in 38cm diameter ${\times}$ 80cm height cylinder. Finally, the stress distribution ratio on the improved materials and clay, settlement was analyzed by applying a load of 10kPa, 30kPa, and 50kPa.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.17-33
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• 2007

Downhole seismic method is widely used for obtaining shear wave velocity profile of a site because it is simple and economical. Determining accurate travel time of shear wave is very important to obtain reliable result in downhole seismic method. In this paper, comparison study of various travel time determination methods was performed. Numerical study and model chamber test were performed for effective comparison study. Signal traces were acquired by performing downhole test at each numerical simulation and soil box test. Travel time data for each signal traces were determined by using six different methods and Vs profiles were evaluated. Comparing travel time data and Vs profiles with the reference value, the first arrival picking method proved to be ambiguous and unreliable. Other methods also did not always provide accurate results and the magnitude of error was dependent on the signal to noise ratio. Cross-correlation method proved to be the most adequate method for the field application and it was verified additionally with field data.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.127-134
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• 2004

Rammed Aggregate Pier (RAP) has extensive applicability as for a foundation of structures. In this study, bearing capacity of the reinforced ground by RAP and the failure behavior of RAP are investigated through experiments. RAPs with diameters of 45, 60, 70 mm were installed in sand, of which relative densities are 60, 70, 90%. Then, two columns of pressure gauges, near the RAPs and one diameter off from the center of piers, are installed 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 cm from the surface of the ground. The test results show that maximum lateral earth pressure is observed near 5∼10 cm (1.0∼2.0D) from the surface, which indicates the occurrence of bulging failure type. In addition, deformation of RAP in radial direction increases with lower relative density of the ground. Furthermore, lateral stress distribution decreases with depth.