• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.381-391
• /
• 2011

Weathering can reduce rock strength and eventually affect the structural stability of a rock mass, which is important in the field of engineering geology. Several methods have been developed to evaluate the degree of weathering, including the chemical weathering index. In this study, we analyzed the weathering degree and characteristics of microtextures and pores in crystalline rocks (gneiss and granites) based on petrographic observations, the chemical weathering index, mineralogy by XRD, microtextural analysis by SEM/EDS, measurements of pore size and surface area by the BET method, and microporosity by X-ray CT. The formation of secondary minerals and microtexture in gneiss and granitic rocks are assumed to be affected by complex processes such as dissolution, precipitation, and fracturing. Hence, it is clear that some chemical weathering indices that are based solely on whole-rock chemistry (e.g., CIA and CWI) are unable to provide reliable assessments of the degree of weathering. Great care is needed to evaluate the degree of chemical weathering, including an understanding of the mineralogy and microtexture of the rock mass, as well as the characteristics of micropores.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.153-168
• /
• 1994

The status of groundwater development in Chungnam was studied with geological characteristics according to the measured data of Korean Rural Development Corporation. The data of 212 survey wells were used for the relation between catchment area and water discharge, and the data of 344 development wells for the relationships between well depth and discharge, between casing depth and discharge, between rock type and discharge, and the relation with lineaments density. The relationship between the catchment area and discharge does not show any special trend, and it is understood that groundwater of hard rock mass is not so much influenced by the surface catchment area. The relationship between well depth and discharge shows two different trends; discharge increasing with depth for alluvial groundwater, but no certain trend between depth and discharge for groundwater of hard rock zone. Discharge increases linearly with the casing depth, and it is reliable because the casing was installed in the weathered zone against well destruction. Generally the rock type does not show any difference of discharge, but the crystalline rocks such as granite and gneiss yield a little more discharge than the more porous rocks such as sedimentary rock or schist. It suggests that the effect of fracture zone is a major governing factor. In Hongsong and Puyo, there are similar in rock type and casing depth, but the big difference in average discharge. The big discharge of Hongsong is concordant with the higher intersection density and longer length of lineament in Hongsong than those of Puyo. Therefore the groundwater development strategy should be focused on the micro topography analysis and geophysical survey for the understanding of the fracture zone rather than catchment area or rock type.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.959-972
• /
• 2017

In evaluation of blast-induced vibration, peak particle velocity (PPV) is generally calculated by using attenuation relation curve. Calculated velocity is compared with the value in legal requirements or the standards to determine the stability. Attenuation relation curve varies depending on frequency of test blasting, geological structure of the site and blasting condition, so it is difficult to predict accurately using such an equation. Since PPV is response value from the ground, direct evaluation of the structure is impractical. Because of such a limit, engineers tend to use the commercial numerical analysis program in evaluating the stability of the structure more accurately. However, when simulate the explosion process using existing numerical analysis program, it's never easy to accurately simulate the complex conditions (fracture, crushing, cracks and plastic deformation) around blasting hole. For simulating such a process, the range for modelling will be limited due to the maximum node count and it requires extended calculation time as well. Thus, this study is intended to simulate the elastic energy after fractured zone only, instead of simulating the complex conditions of the rock that results from the blast, and the analysis of response characteristics of the velocity depending on shape and size of the fractured zone was conducted. As a result, difference in velocity and attenuation character were calculated depending on fractured zone around the blast source appeared. Propagation of vibration tended to spread spherically as it is distanced farther from the blast source.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.371-379
• /
• 2008

In this study, seismic elastic wave and dynamic elastic modulus properties are investigated by down-hole seismic tests that were applied to the 11 gneiss area. The research results show that the realtionship between the two properties are $V_s=0.5589{\times}V_p$ in gneiss. The relationship between the two properties are separated into two groups. Group 1 is influenced mainly by the specific gravity of rock, but group 2 is influenced mainly by the joint aperture. As weathering progresses, group 1 clearly shows a decreasing tendency. In fresh and slightly weathered rock-mass, correlations between $V_p$ and dynamic elastic modulus is expressed in linear line but in moderately-highly weathered rock-mass, correlations between $V_p$ and dynamic elastic modulus is expressed curve as a quadratic function. Correlations between $V_s$ and dynamic elastic modulus are analyzed similar with a $V_p$ case.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.405-414
• /
• 2008

When we evaluate slope stability, we regard the slope homogeneous and evaluate slope stability at the most dangerous portion of slope. However, since conditions and properties of rock mass/soil are different from one location to another within a single slope, slope stability evaluated by current concept can not represent slope correctly. This also result in over-reinforcement at the portion where reinforcement is not necessary. In order to solve these problems, we suggest a cell unit evaluation method in which we apply small rectangular cells in a slope and regard each cell as a single slope. In this method, slopes are classified into soil slope and rock slope depending on materials. Strength of rock, volumetric joint count, spacing of joints, condition of joints, ground water condition and so on are examined and SMR and condition index values are calculated. Finally, all data and results are presented as contour maps. We apply the cell unit evaluation method into 3 cut slopes. SMR values estimated by the new method are larger than those by current concept at most portions of slope, indicating that the new method suggested by this research represent slope stability more correctly than methods which were used. This method will prevent over-reinforcement at the portion of slope where reinforcement is not necessary.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.229-243
• /
• 2013

An in situ solute migration system was designed and installed in KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) constructed in the site of Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) in order to investigate the migration and retardation of non-sorbing and sorbing tracers through a rock fracture. The system is composed of three main parts including injection, extraction, and data treatment. For the selection of a water-conducting fracture, boreholes were drilled. The fractures in the drilled boreholes were investigated using borehole image analysis using borehole image processing system (BIPS). The results of BIPS analysis showed that borehole YH 3-1 and YH 3-2 were connected each other. Moreover, hydraulic tests were carried out to determine the test section with connectivity for the in situ experiments. The in situ solute migration experiments were accomplished to understand the migration of solutes through fractures in KURT using non-sorbing tracers which were fluorescein sodium, eosin-B, bromide and sorbing tracers which were rubidium, nickel, zirconium, and samarium.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 2023

In this study, the load transfer characteristics of the base and skin of drilled shafts were analyzed and the load sharing ratio was calculated by performing a load transfer large-scale model test and three-dimensional numerical analysis considering the similarity of drilled shafts, which is the design target. From the linear behavior of drilled shafts shown in the large-scale model test and 3D numerical analysis results, the skin load transition curve for the design conditions of this study was proposed by Baquelin et al., and the base load transition curve was proposed by Baquelin et al. For the horizontal load transition curve, the formula proposed by Reese et al. was confirmed to be appropriate. The test value was slightly larger than the numerical analysis value for the axial load at the rock socketing, but the load sharing ratio at the rock socketing increased, on average, about 27.8% as the vertical load increased. The analysis value of the vertical settlement of the pile head under the vertical load was evaluated to be slightly smaller than the test value, and the maximum vertical settlement of the pile head in the model test and analysis maximum vertical load was 10.6 mm in the test value and 10.0 mm in the analysis value, and the maximum vertical settlement value at the base of the pile was found to be a test value of 2.0 mm and an analysis value of 1.9 mm. The horizontal displacement at the head of the column (ground surface) and the head of the pile during the horizontal load was found to agree relatively well with the test value and the analysis value. As a result of the model soil test, the horizontal load measured at the maximum horizontal displacement of 38.0 mm was evaluated to be 24,713 kN, and the horizontal load in the numerical analysis was evaluated to be 26,073 kN.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.28 no.3C
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2008

An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 occurred at Ssang-gye-sa, a Buddhist temple in Jirisan, located near the southern border of the Korean peninsula on 4 July 1936. It resulted in severe damage of several buildings and structures in Ssang-gye-sa. Particularly, the top component of a five-story stone pagoda in the temple was tipped over and fell down during the earthquake. This earthquake damage case would be usefully applied to estimating the intensity of ground motion in the Korean peninsula, a moderate seismicity region, where strong motion has never been recorded with the exception of historic seismic events. In order to estimate the local site effects and the corresponding ground motion at Ssang-gye-sa site, intensive site investigations including borehole drilling and in-situ seismic tests such as crosshole and SASW tests were performed in the temple area. Based on the site characteristics, site-specific seismic response analyses using various input motions were conducted for a representative Ssang-gye-sa site by means of both one-dimensional equivalent-linear and nonlinear methods with six input rock outcrop acceleration levels ranging from 0.044g to 0.220g. The resultant site-specific seismic responses indicated the amplified ground motions in the short-period range near the site period of Ssang-gye-sa. Furthermore, the intensity on rock outcrop of the 1936 Jirisan earthquake was estimated by making a comparison between the site responses analysis results in this study and the full-scaled seismic test of pagoda model in the prior study.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.515-532
• /
• 2023

Bentonite, predominantly consists of expandable clay minerals, is considered to be the suitable buffering material in high-level radioactive waste disposal repository due to its large swelling property and low permeability. Additionally, the bentonite has large cation exchange capacity and specific surface area, and thus, it effectively retards the transport of leaked radionuclides to surrounding environments. This study aims to review the thermodynamic sorption models for four radionuclides (U, Am, Se, and Eu) and eight bentonites. Then, the thermodynamic sorption models and optimized sorption parameters were precisely analyzed by considering the experimental conditions in previous study. Here, the optimized sorption parameters showed that thermodynamic sorption models were related to experimental conditions such as types and concentrations of radionuclides, ionic strength, major competing cation, temperature, solid-to-liquid ratio, carbonate species, and mineralogical properties of bentonite. These results implied that the thermodynamic sorption models suggested by the optimization at specific experimental conditions had large uncertainty for application to various environmental conditions.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.519-530
• /
• 2023

Moye's analytical solution was examined as a method for constant-head tests under steady-state conditions, and results were compared with transient-state analyses in in situ hydraulic tests. The sensitivity of hydraulic conductivities calculated using Moye's method increased with the length of the test section, which should be as large as possible under test conditions. Particularly in low-permeability media with less than 10^-8 m/sec of hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic conductivity is lower than that under transient-state conditions and can be recalculated by adjusting the boundary between radial and spherical flow assumed in Moye's equation. Constant-head tests performed in the research borehole at the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) indicated that transmissivities derived from the constant-head withdrawal test under transient-state conditions in low-permeability media were higher than those derived from steady-state tests, likely because the groundwater flow boundary was smaller than the "half of the test-section length"assumed by Moye's equation. When interpreting constant-head test results for crystalline rock, the hydrogeological properties of the medium may be better understood by considering assumed conditions accompanying analysis of the steady-state condition and comparing them with results for the transient-state analysis, rather than simply assuming properties based on steady-state analyses.