• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.401-412
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• 2013

Multi-stage shear test has been performed using joint specimens of gneiss, granite and shale to investigate the influence of micro-scale asperity change on the shear strength of joint plane. For each shear test asperity degradation characteristics of joint specimens of different joint surface strength have been analyzed by utilizing the optimum asperity parameter which can reflect the sequential asperity degradation. Elevation of joint surface profile has been measured and both the changes of asperity parameters and micro-scale asperity distribution have been investigated. Two distinctive variation modes of cohesion and friction angle have been delineated and major cause of shear strength parameter change has been analyzed by considering the micro-scale asperity angle change resulting from the abrasion, fracturing and regeneration of micro-scale asperities. Effects of micro-scale asperity variation on the joint shear strength have been also investigated.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.475-483
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• 2016

A numerical analysis model capable of predicting the shape, the size and the potentiality of collapse of tetrahedral blocks considering the persistence obtained from the field survey of joint distribution around the underground excavation surface has been developed. Numerical functions of analyzing both the exposed trace distribution on the excavation surface and the formation of tetrahedral block controlled by the extent of joint surface have been established and linked to the previously developed three dimensional deterministic block analysis model. To illustrate the reliability of advanced numerical model the case of underground excavation in which the collapse of rock block had practically taken place was studied. Representative orientations of joint sets was determined based on the joint distribution pattern observed on the excavation surfaces. The formation of block on the roof of underground opening was analyzed to unveil the potential tetrahedral block the shape of which was very similar to the collapsed rock block. Mechanisms of collapse process has been also analyzed by considering the three dimensional shape of tetrahedral block.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.203-211
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• 2013

Shear behavior of joint plane has been investigated considering the magnitude of normal stresses and initial surface roughness. Shear strength of joint plane has been measured by performing the multi-stage shear test in which applied normal stress level has been increased stepwise. Multi-stage shear test within the specified normal stress range has been repeated and two types of strength parameter variation have been observed: type 1 - both cohesion and friction angle decrease, type 2 - cohesion decrease and friction angle increase. Trends of strength parameter variation for the three rock types, gneiss, granite and shale, have been investigated and the influence of initial roughness of joint plane on the sequential shear strength change for the repeated multi-stage shear tests also has been analyzed.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.14 no.4 s.41
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• pp.461-468
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• 2004

In order to characterize hydraulic property dependant on join roughness in rock mass, this study computed permeability coefficients on each range of joint roughness coefficient (JRC) suggested by Barton(1976). For a quantitative analysis of roughness components spectral analysis using the fast fourier transform was performed to select effective frequencies on each PC range. The results of spectral analyses show that low ranges of the JRC are mainly composed of low frequency domain, while high ranges of the JRC have dominant components at high frequency domain. The inverse Fourier transform made it possible to generate joint models of each JRC range using the effective frequencies of roughness spectrum. The homogenization analysis was applied to calculate permeability coefficient at homogeneous microscale, and then, computes a homogenized permeability coefficient (C-permeability coefficient) at macro scale. Therefore, it is possible to analyze accurate characteristics of permeability reflected with local effect of facture geometry. According to the calculation results, permeability coefficients were distributed between $10^{-3}m/sec\;and\;10^{-4}/sec$. In cases of sheared joint models permeability coefficients were plotted between $10^{-4}m/sec\;and\;10^{-5}/sec$, showing irregular distribution of permeability coefficients on each IRC range. The differences of permeability coefficients for the same aperture models or for the sheared joint models indicate that changes of roughness pattern influence on permeability coefficients. Therefore, the effect of joint roughness should be considered to characterize hydraulic properties in rock joints.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.6 s.65
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• pp.451-466
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• 2006

Analysis of slope behavior concerning the structural characteristics of field rock mass can be processed by virtue of borehole information of joint orientation and position acquired from DOM drilled core. Anticipated sliding potential of pre-failed rock slope is analyzed and the regional slope instability is investigated by inspecting the hazardous joints and blocks the traces of which is projected on the cut-face. Cross section has been set at the center of rock slope and the traces of both joints and tetrahedral blocks, which potentially can induce the slope failure, are drawn to investigate the failure modes and the triggering mechanism. Automated monitoring system has been established to measure the slope movement and especially, inclinometer has been installed inside DOM borehole to analyze the slope movement by considering the internal rock structure. Algorithms for predicting the slope failure time have been reviewed and the significance of heavy rainfall on the slope behavior has been investigated.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.64-74
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• 2019

Behavior of a rock block consisting of rock joints during excavation of an underground opening is an important factor for the mechanical stability of the opening. In this study, the behavior of a rock block under different geostatic stress and joint property conditions was analyzed quantitatively. The behavior of the rock block analyzed by 3DEC numerical analysis was compared with that of the theoretical calculation, and the error between the theoretical value and the numerical analysis result was analyzed under various geostatic stress and joint property conditions. The result of the stability analysis of a rock block showed less than 5% of error with numerical simulation result, which verified the applicability of the purposed analytic solution.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.17 s.17
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• pp.83-94
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• 2005

Host rock or the standing sculptured Buddha in the Yongamsa temple is macular porphyritic biotite granite, which has gone through mechanical and chemical weathering. The rock around the Buddha statue is busily scattered with steep inclinations that are almost vertically discontinuous planes with the strikes of $N8^{\circ}E$. Especially the development of the joints that cross the major joints causes the structural instability of the rock. The rock of the Buddha statue is separated into several rock blocks because of many different discontinuity. Thus it is estimated that the bed rock has not only plane and toppling failure but also wedge failure in all the sides. Since the differential pressure is imposed on the body of the Buddha in the host rock, it is urgent to give a reinforce treatment of geotechnical engineering for the safe of its structural stability. Very contact area of joints have turned into soil, which promotes the growth of weeds and plant roots, then aggravates the mechanical weathering of the rock. Thus conservational treatments should also be considered to get rid of secondary contaminants and vegetation along the discontinuities and to prevent further damages.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.151-163
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• 2011

The LCM test is one of the most powerful and reliable methods for designing the disc cutter and for predicting the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) performance. It has an advantage to predict the actual load on disc cutter from the laboratory test on the real-size large rock samples, however, it also has a disadvantage to transport and/or prepare the large rock samples and to need an extra cost for experiment. Moreover it is not easy to execute the test for jointed rock mass, and sometimes the design model estimated from the test can not be applied to the real design of disc cutter. In order to break this critical point, lots of numerical studies have been performed. PFC2D can simulate crack propagation and rock fragmentation effectively, because it is useful in particle flow analysis. Consequently, in this study, the PFC2D has been adopted for numerical analysis on cutting power of disc cutter according to the different angle of joint, the different direction of joint, and the different space of joint with jointed rock mass models. From the numerical analyses, it was concluded that the bigger cutting power of disc cutter was needed for reverse cutting direction to joint rather than for forward direction, and the cutting power of disc cutter was increased with decreasing the dip angle of joint and decreasing the space of joints in reverse cutting direction. The more precise numerical model for disc cutter can be developed from comparison between the numerical results and LCM test results, and the resonable guideline is expected for prediction of TBM performance and disc cutter.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.415-427
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• 2024

This study undertook a quantitative analysis of the distribution of fractures in deep drillcore from a Precambrian metamorphic complex on the north face of Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea. The fracture distribution with depth, inclination of fractures, and grain size in the fracture zone were measured and statistical techniques applied to derive probability distributions of fracture intervals. Analysis of the inclination angles of fracture planes showed that sub-horizontal fractures are dominant, and fracture spacing is mainly ≤0.5 m, with a median of 0.09 m, first quartile of 0.04 m, and third quartile of 0.18 m, indicating very dense fracture development. Statistical analysis of joint properties was undertaken with fitting using five probability density functions (double Weibull, exponential, generalized logistic, gamma, and lognormal). The lognormal distribution (sum of squared errors, SSE = 2.80) yielded the best fit based on the sum of residual squares. Quantitative characterization of the fracture characteristics of deep bedrock in the Hongcheon area is important for various geotechnical applications such as groundwater flow modeling, slope stability assessment, and underground structure design. In future studies, it will be necessary to combine in situ stress measurements and geophysical surveys to determine the relationship between fracture development and the local stress field.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.1 s.60
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Rock masses in nature include various rock discontinuities such as faults, joints, bedding planes, fractures, cracks, schistosities, and cleavages. The behavior of rock structures, therefore, is mainly controlled by various rock discontinuities. In many tunnels, enormous cost and time are consumed to cope with the failing or sliding of rock blocks, which cannot be predicted because of the complexity of rock discontinuities. It is difficult to estimate the properties of rock masses before the rock excavation. The observational design and construction method of tunnels in rock masses is becoming important recently. In this paper, a new observational design and construction method for rock block evaluation of tunnels in discontinuous rock masses is proposed, and then applied to the tunnel based on actual rock discontinuity information observed in the field. It is possible to detect key blocks all along the tunnel exactly by using the numerical analysis program developed far the new observational design and construction method. This computer simulation method with user-friendly interfaces can calculate not only the stability of rock blocks but also the design of supplementary supports. The effectiveness of the proposed observational design and construction method has been verified by the confirmation of key block during the enlargement excavation.