• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.33-43
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• 2006

Driving tests using model plastic piles with different hammer cushion materials were performed in order to evaluate the efficiency of energy transfer ratio from the hammer, degree of vibration of the surrounding ground and noise due to impacting. A small pile driving analyzer (PDA) was composed using straingages and Hopkinson bar which is measuring force signal and pile-head velocity. The hammer cushion (cap block) materials used for the model driving tests were commercial Micarta, plywood, polyurethane, rubber (SBR) and silicone rubber. The highest energy transfer ratio was obtained from Micarta in the same soil and driving conditions. Micarta was followed by polyurethane, plywood, rubber and silicone in descending order. The more efficient energy transfdr ratio of the hammer cushion materials became, the bigger average noisy (sound) level was found. In addition, Micarta and polyurethane provided bigger bearing capacities than other materials compared in the same soil and driving conditions in which the static loading tests were performed at the end of driving.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.108-113
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• 2006

Urban conditions, such as existing underground facilities and ambient noise due to cultural activity, restrict the general application of conventional geophysical techniques. At a tunnelling site in an urban area along an existing railroad, we used the refraction microtremor (REMI) technique (Louie, 2001) as an alternative way to get geotechnical information. The REMI method uses ambient noise recorded by standard refraction equipment and a linear geophone array to derive a shear-wave velocity profile. In the inversion procedure, the Rayleigh wave dispersion curve is picked from a wavefield transformation, and iteratively modelled to get the S-wave velocity structure. The REMI survey was carried out along the line of the planned railway tunnel. At this site vibrations from trains and cars provided strong seismic sources that allowed REMI to be very effective. The objective of the survey was to evaluate the rock mass rating (RMR), using shear-wave velocity information from REMI. First, the relation between uniaxial compressive strength, which is a component of the RMR, and shear-wave velocity from laboratory tests was studied to learn whether shear-wave velocity and RMR are closely related. Then Suspension PS (SPS) logging was performed in selected boreholes along the profile, in order to draw out the quantitative relation between the shear-wave velocity from SPS logging and the RMR determined from inspection of core from the same boreholes. In these tests, shear-wave velocity showed fairly good correlation with RMR. A good relation between shear-wave velocity from REMI and RMR could be obtained, so it is possible to estimate the RMR of the entire profile for use in design of the underground tunnel.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.25-40
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• 2007

Excessive earth pressure is one of the major mechanical factors in the deformation and damage of Cut-and-Cover Tunnel lining in shallow tunnels and portals of mountain tunnels (Kim, 2000). Excessive earth pressure may be attributed to insufficient compaction and consolidation of backfill material due to self-weight, precipitation and vibration caused by traffic (Komiya et al., 2000; Taylor et al., 1984; Yoo, 1997). Even though there were a lot of tests performed to determine the earth pressure acting on the tunnel lining, unfortunately there were almost no case histories of studies performed to determine remedial measures that reduce differential settlement and excessive earth pressure. In this study the installation of geotextile mat was selected to reduce the differential settlement and excessive earth pressure acting on the cut-and-cover tunnel lining. In order to determine settlement and earth pressure reduction effect (reinforcement effect) of geotextile mat reinforcement, laboratory tunnel model tests were performed. This study was limited to the modeling of rigid circular cut-and-cover tunnel constructed at a depth of $1.0D\sim1.5D$ in loose sandy ground and subjected to a vibration frequency of 100 Hz. Model tests with varying soil cover, mat reinforcement scheme and slope roughness were performed to determine the most effective mat reinforcement scheme. Slope roughness was adjusted by attaching sandpaper #100, #400 and acetate on the cut slope surface. Mat reinforcement effect of each mat reinforcement scheme were presented by the comparison of earth pressure obtained from the unreinforced and mat reinforced model tests. Soil settlement reduction was analyzed and presented using the Picture Analysis Method (Park, 2003).

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.127-140
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• 2004

Conventional methods for the assessment of liquefaction potential were primarily for areas of severe earthquake zones (M=7.5) such as North America and Japan. Detailed earthquake related researches in Korea started in 1997, including development of the seismic design standards for port and harbour structures, which was later completed in 1999. Because most contents in the guidelines were quoted through literature reviews from North America and Japan, which are located in strong earthquake region, those are not proper in Korea, a moderate earthquake region. This requires further improvement of the present guidelines. Considering earthquake hazard data in Korea, use of laboratory tests based on irregular earthquake motion appears to be effective to reflect the dynamic characteristics of soil more realistically than those using simplified regular loading. In this study, cyclic triaxial tests using irregular earthquake motions are performed with different earthquake magnitudes, relative densities, and fines contents. Assessment of liquefaction potential in moderate earthquake regions is discussed based on various laboratory test results. Effects of these components on dynamic behavior of soils are discussed as well. From the test results, screening limits and magnitude scaling factors to determine the soil liquefaction resistance strength in seismic design were re-investigated and proposed using normalized maximum stress ratios under real irregular earthquake motions.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.51-56
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• 2013

Recently, a top record of hourly-based rainfall has been changed annually and flood damages of road have increased. To solve this problem, pavements for drainage were developed and practically constructed but there was no considerations on sub-base. In this research, we proposed standard for distribution of particle size of sub-base to consider strength characteristic and drainage property. We focused to compare coefficients strength and permeability by laboratory tests. Prior to tests, 4 samples were selected under the consideration on the international or domestic design guideline. In the tests, strength characteristics were compared with resilient modulus. Also, permeability characteristics were compared with coefficient of upward and downward permeability. Resilient modulus was determined with MR test using cyclic triaxial testing system. Two permeability tests were carried out. One is variable head permeability test for downward drainage and the other is Rowe Cell test for upward drainage. In the case of Rowe Cell test, middle-sized sampler with 150mm diameter was used for this study. Consequentially, we tried to find the optimum distribution of particle size to satisfy both of strength and permeability characteristics for sub-base.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 2009

The use of lattice girder is increased at the tunnel site in Korea recently for the substitute of H-steel rib. However, field measurements at the lattice girder are rarely performed at the tunnel site and the method of the measurement is not well established. The use of the vibrating wire strain gauges used for the H-steel rib was proven to be not suitable for the strain measurements of the lattice girder according to the previous research. The credibility of the load cell was investigated using laboratory compression tests for load cells, specially manufactured for the lattice girder far this study, installed at the specimen of the lattice girder. The method of the tunnel instrumentation for the lattice girder using the load cell is given from the interpretation of the compression test results.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.69-77
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• 2012

Clogging of drainage pipes by scale is an important problem in civil engineering works. Although scale deposits can be removed by acid treatment or water jetting, these treatments are costly and have many disadvantages. In this study, scale samples from tunnel drainage pipes were analyzed using SEM-EDS and XRD. The main ingredient in scale was $CaCO_3$ of the calcite crystal form. Drainage experiments and recirculation type experiments were conducted to control and remove scale deposits, which were determined through visual and weight measuring analysis. As a result, Quantum Stick has the effect of limiting formation of scale.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2012

The rapid economic development induced the massive road constructions, becoming bigger and high-speed of the vehicles. However, it brings lots of social problems, such as air pollutions, traffic noise and vibration. Special concrete block for the base course of asphalt pavement is needed to decrease traffic noise such as tire's explosive and vehicles sound, applying Helmholtz Resonators theory to asphalt pavement. If it is applied to the area where it happens considerable noise such as a junction, the street of a housing complex and a residential street, it is one of alternative methods to solve the social requirements of noise problems. This research examines couple of laboratory tests for the sound absorption effect of the concrete block and the base concrete block for quiet pavement. The specimens, which is fixed hall-size, space, depth as the condition of this research, are analysed of noise reduction effect using different noise levels of vehicles. Judging from the analysis of test results with vehicle noise volume, measurement distance, a form and size of the hall using the base concrete block, the use of special concrete base and quiet asphalt surface showed a good alternative solution for decreasing traffic noise level, from 4dB to 9dB.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2008

Prediction of ground condition ahead of tunnel face might be the most important factor to prevent collapse during tunnel excavation. In this study, a non-destructive method to evaluate the phase velocity in model rock mass using wavelet transform of surface wave was proposed aiming at ground condition assessment ahead of tunnel face. Model tests using gypsum as a rocklike material composed of two layers were performed. A Piezoelectric actuator with frequencies ranging from 150 Hz to 5 kHz was selected as a harmonic source. The acceleration history was measured with two accelerometers. Wavelet transform analysis was used to obtain the dispersion curves from the measured data. The experimental results showed that the near-field effects can be neglected if the distance between two receivers is chosen to be three times the wavelength. A simple inversion method using weighted factor based on the normal distribution was proposed. The inversion results showed that the predicted phase velocity agreed reasonably well with the measured one when the wavelength influence factor was 0.2. The depth of propagation of surface wave was from 0.42 to 0.63 times the wavelength. The range of wavelength varying with phase velocity in dispersion curve matched well with that estimated by inversion technique.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.55-60
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• 2017

It is critical for Korea to make effective use of limited space as it has dense population and high traffic volume compared to its terrestrial area. To resolve this issue, diverse types of underground structures have increasingly been applied so far, and one of the most representative structures is double-deck tunnel. It has upper and lower roads separated by middle slab that shows dynamic behavior according to the vehicle and earthquake loads. In case of the characteristics of earthquake response, it is necessary to have exploratory study as it has high loads, complex working mechanism, and difficult theoretical approach. In order to understand the characteristics of earthquake response based on the supporting conditions of middle slab in double-deck tunnel, this study conducts indoor shaking table test with 3 test cases: (1) fix both brackets, (2) free and fix at each bracket and (3) free at both brackets for 2 seismic waves of artificial and Gyeongju earthquake. The result shows if the middle slab is free at both brackets, the acceleration response is reduced 41% for artificial earthquake and 60% for Gyeongju earthquake compared to the one with fix at both brackets.