• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.327-343
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• 2004

During tunnel construction, ground failures often occur due to existence of weak zones, such as faults, joints, and cavities, ahead of tunnel face. It is hard to detect effectively weak zones, which can lead underground structure to fail after excavation and before supporting, by using conventional characterization methods. In this study, an enhanced analytical method of predicting weak zones ahead of tunnel face is developed to overcome some problems in the conventional geophysical exploration methods. The analytical method is based on Coulomb's and Gauss' laws with considering the characteristics of electric fields subjected to rock mass. Using the developed method, closed form solutions are obtained to detect a spherical shaped zone and an oriented fault ahead of tunnel face respectively. The analytical results suggest that the presence of weak zones and their sizes, location, and states can be accurately predicted by combining a proper inversion process with resistance measured from several electrodes on the tunnel face. It appears that the skin depth or resistivity in rock mass is affected by the diameter of tunnel face, natural electric potential and noises induced by experimental measurement and spatial distribution of uncertain properties. The developed analytical solution is verified through experimental tests. About 1800 concrete blocks of 5cm by 5cm by 5cm in size are prepared and used to model a joint rock mass around tunnel face. Weak zones are simulated ahead of tunnel face with a material which has relatively higher conductivity than concrete blocks. Experimental results on the model test show a good agreement with analytical results.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.59-71
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• 2018

Since the generalized Hoek-Brown (GHB) function predicts the strength of the jointed rock mass in a systematic manner by use of GSI index, it is widely used in rock engineering practices. In this study, a series of 2D elasto-plastic FE analysis, which adopts the GHB criterion as a yield function, was carried out to investigate the radial convergence characteristics of circular tunnel excavated in the GHB rock mass. The effect of the plastic potential function on the elasto-plastic displacement was also examined. In the analysis, the wide range of both the $K(={\sigma}_h/{\sigma}_v)$ and GSI values are considered. For each K value, the variation of the ratio of sidewall displacement to roof displacement was calculated with varying GSI values and the obtained displacement patterns were analysed. The calculation results show that the displacement ratio significantly depends not only on the K value but also on the range of GSI value. In particular, for lower range of GSI value, the displacement ratio pattern calculated in the elasto-plastic regime is opposite to that predicted by the elasticity theory. In addition, the variation of the radial displacement ratio with GSI value for different types of plastic potential function showed similar trend.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.542-557
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• 2019

The behavior of rock mass is influenced by its microscopic feature of internal structure generating from forming and metamorphic process. This study investigated a new methodology for characterization of rock based on the X-ray CT (computed tomography) images reflecting the spatial distribution characteristics of internal constituent materials. The X-ray image based analysis is capable of quantification of heterogeneity and anisotropy of rock fabric, size distribution and shape parameter analysis of rock mineral grains, fluid flow simulation based on pore geometry image and roughness evaluation of unexposed joint surface which are hardly acquired by conventional rock testing methods.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.411-414
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• 2014

Numerical modeling was conducted to estimate the amount of dislocation that may occur across a frictionless fracture during an earthquake using commercial code FLAC3D (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in 3 Dimensions). The applied motion was calculated to represent a Richter 6.0 magnitude earthquake at distances of 2 km from the fracture. The velocity-time history was generated from Svensk $K{\ddot{a}}arnbr{\ddot{a}}anslehantering$ AB report. In the report, The velocity field resulting from an earthquake on a fault located in the near-field (2 km distance) was modelled using a finite difference program, WAVE. The stress-time history was substituted for velocity-time history to perform dynamic analysis using FLAC3D. During the earthquake, the maximum dislocation and change of shear stress were about 1 cm and 2MPa, respectively. Because the fracture is frictionless in this study, all dislocations relax to zero after the earthquake motions have ceased.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.226-241
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• 2020

The stability of underground mine cavity is closely related with pillar strength. The vulnerability of pillars can be judged and reinforced if the pillar strength is known. The pillar strength is affected by characteristics of discontinuities and shape of a pillar. The change of pillar strength due to a discontinuity passing through the center of a pillar, width-to-height ratio of a pillar and small joints existing within a pillar was analyzed using PFC 3D. The result showed that the pillar strength is influenced by dip angle of a discontinuity and it increases as width-to-height ratio of a pillar increases. The pillar strength decreases as the number of contained joints increases. The relationship between total trace length observable from the pillar surface and the pillar strength was regressed with exponential function. The correlation coefficient of the regression was high enough so that pillar strength can be predicted using total trace length if a joint set exists in a pillar. Lastly, the method to estimate the strength of a pillar that includes two joint sets was proposed if the joint dip angles are 60°, 30°. The method also need total trace lengths of two joint sets.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 2000

The influence of the plastic flow rules on the elasto-plastic behaviour of a discrete joint element was investigated by performing the numerical direct shear tests under both constant normal displacement and normal displacement conditions. The finite interface elements obeying Plesha’s joint constitutive law was used to allow the relative motion of the rock blocks on the joint surface. Realistic results were obtained in the tests adopting the non-associated flow rule, while the associated flow rule overestimated the joint dilation. To overcome the computational drawbacks coming from the non-symmetric element stiffness matrix in the conventional non-associated plasticity, the symmetric formulation of the tangential stiffness matrix for a non-associated joint element was proposed. The symmetric elasto-plastic matrix it derived by assuming an imaginary equivalent joint with associated flow rule which shows the same plastic response as that of original Joint with non-associated flow rule. The validity of the formulation was confirmed through the numerical direct shear tests under constant normal stress condition.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.497-505
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• 2000

The surveyed area is mainly distributed by the sedimentary rocks, tuffs, and esites in Cretaceous age and acidic and basic dikes are intruded in these rocks. The principle discontinuities are represented by beddings, joints and faults. The trends of the beddings of sedimentary rocks develop as E-W direction in the start area. However, they are gradually bending and finally their trends are N-S direction in terminal area. In the sedimentary rocks the 3∼4 joint sets are distributed and in dikes joints are more scattered. The majority of joints are highly dipped. Sampo fault which has NE-SW trend makes a valley and NW trending normal faults are well developed at 50k+600 to 51k+000 area. During the construction of tunnel the orientation of discontinuities will not significantly influence on the stability of excavation. Since the rock mass is extensively jointed, the overbreak in tunnel wall may be placed.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.315-326
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• 2004

This study performed model tunnel tests in order to investigate the influence of discontinuity condition of rock mass to the stress and deformation of tunnel lining. Tests were carried out changing the direction of main joint and lateral earth pressure condition of rock mass. Test results revealed that the axial force in tunnel lining showed a tendency of decrease with the presence of joints. It decreased much with the increase of lateral earth pressure coefficient. And, it also showed that the location or maximum displacement and maximum stress in lining were changed by the direction of main joint of rock mass. The tangential stress and normal stress showed the difference above the maximum twenty times as lateral earth pressure coefficient due to effect of joints increased. Also, these tendencies of concentration of tensile stress in tunnel lining were confirmed by elastic theory.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2012

Stability of cut-slope, the orientation and dimension of which are gradually changed, has been analyzed by employing the cross-section method capable of comprehensibly considering the lithological, structural and mechanical characteristics of slope rock. Lithological fragility is investigated by inspecting the drilled core logs and BIPS image has been taken to delineate the rock structure. Engineering properties of drilled-core including the joint shear strength have been also measured. Potential failure modes of cut-slope and failure-induced joints are identified by performing the stereographic projection analysis. Traces of potential failure-induced joints are drawn on the cross-section which depicts the excavated geometry of cut-slope. Considering the distribution of potential plane failure-induced joint traces blocks of plane failure mode are hypothetically formed. The stabilities and required reinforcements of plane failure blocks located at the different excavation depth have been calculated to confirm the applicability of the cross-section method for the optimum cut-slope design.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.234-248
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• 1998

This paper presents a new constitutive model for numerical modeling the shear behaviour of rough rock joints. The model incorporates the dilatancy of joints on the basis of elasto-plastic theory. Barton's empirical shear strength formular are adopted in the formulation process. The mobilized JRC concept is evoked to address the shear strength hardening and sofrening phenomena. The mobilized JRC in the pre- and post-peak range is approximated by assuming that the variation of JRC is a function of tangential plastic work. Discrete finite joint element is used to implement the proposed constitutive model. The model is validated by the numerical direct shear test on a single joint which is subjected to different boundary conditions. The test results are in good agreement with the experimental observations reported by other authors. The numerical tests also exhibit that the proposed model can simulate the salient features envisaged in the behaviour of rough rock joints.