• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.29-42
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• 2018

Shale and mudstone in Daegu-Gyungbuk area have low strength and resistance to weathering compared to other rocks. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate their strength depending on the degree of saturation and crack development. In this study, shales and mudstones were collected from several construction sites in Daegu-Gyungbuk area. Their basic material properties such as porosity, SEM, chemical component, and durability were tested. A porosity (absorptivity) of mudstone was 31% (25%), which was 6 (8) times higher than that of shale. Some mudstone was easily disintegrated with water and it consisted of highly-active clay mineral such as smectite type. These rocks were prepared by small cube specimens for unconfined compression test. An unconfined compressive strength of dry rock was compared with saturated one. Microwave oven was operated step by step to stimulate void water within a saturated rock, which resulted into high temperature and micro crack initiation within rocks. A strength of microwaved rocks was compared with operation time and crack initiation. As a result, the average unconfined compressive strength of dry and saturated shale was 62 and 33 MPa, respectively. The strength of mudstone for each condition was 11 and 4 MPa. When a rock became saturated, its strength decreased by 47% and 64% for shale and mudstone at average. In addition to saturation, a rock was in the microwave for 15 secs, its strength decreased into 49% for shale and 52% for mudstone. When a microwave oven operated up to 20 sec, a rock was crushed into several pieces and its temperature was approximately 200 degrees.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.315-336
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• 2009

We have studied the orientational characteristics of microcrack frequency, it's length and density in Tertiary crystalline tuff from the northeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin. 134 sets of microcracks on horizontal surfaces of 3 rock samples from Heunghae-eup were distinguished by enlarged photomicrographs of the thin sections. The variability in patterns among microcrack length-frequency histograms for three rock samples from different altitudes were derived. The pattern of histograms changes progressively from negative exponential form to log-normal form in proportion to altitude. The distribution pattern for rock sample no.1 from lower altitude shows the broad length distribution characterized by higher mean and median, and higher standard deviation. Meanwhile, this distribution pattern corresponds with characteristics of joint length distribution in sedimentary rocks of the lower part of the Gyeongsang Supergroup. The occurrence frequency of shorter microcracks increases toward both NW and NE directions from the $N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$, with the dominant direction of $N80{\sim}90^{\circ}W$ and $N80{\sim}90^{\circ}E$, respectively. This distribution pattern represents the relative differences in formation timing among microcrack sets and the result of the new initiation of shorter microcracks. Meanwhile, the longest microcracks within $N60{\sim}70^{\circ}W$($L_{max}$:1.18 mm) and $N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$($L_{max}$:0.80 mm) directions are seen, but this kind of microcracks are very limited in number. Whole domain of the directional angle($\theta$)-frequency(N), length(L) and density($\rho$) chart can be divided into five sections in terms of phases of the distribution of related curves. From the distribution chart, density curve shows five distinct peaks in the WNW-ESE($N70{\sim}80^{\circ}W$), NS~NNE-SSW($N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$, $N10{\sim}20^{\circ}E$), ENE-WSW($N50{\sim}60^{\circ}E$), and nearly EW($N80{\sim}90^{\circ}E$) directions, respectively. Especially, main directions of faults correspond with the directional angle showing high density. Consequently, these distribution patterns of density curve reflect the representative maximum principal stress orientations suggested in previous studies.

• Proceedings of the Petrological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.146-149
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• 2009

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.568-585
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• 2022

In the present study, we proposed a numerical method for simulating thermally induced fracture slip using a grain-based distinct element model (GBDEM). As a part of DECOVALEX-2023, the thermo-mechanical loading test on a saw-cut rock fracture conducted at the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology was simulated. In the numerical model, the rock sample including a saw-cut fracture was represented as a group of random Voronoi polyhedra. Then, the coupled thermo-mechanical behavior of grains and their interfaces was calculated using 3DEC. The key concerns focused on the temperature evolution, thermally induced principal stress increment, and fracture normal and shear displacements under thermo-mechanical loading. The comparisons between laboratory experimental results and the numerical results revealed that the numerical model reasonably captured the heat transfer and heat loss characteristics of the rock specimen, the horizontal stress increment due to constrained displacement, and the progressive shear failure of the fracture. However, the onset of the fracture slip and the magnitudes of stress increment and fracture displacement showed discrepancies between the numerical and experimental results. We expect the numerical model to be enhanced by continuing collaboration and interaction with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G and validated in further study.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.235-252
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• 2016

This study presents a methodology to reproduce the mechanical behavior of isotropic or transversely isotropic rock using the polygonal grain-based distinct element model. A numerical technique to monitor the evolution of micro-cracks during the simulation was developed in the present study, which enabled us to examine the contribution of tensile cracking and shear cracking to the progressive process of the failure. The numerical results demonstrated good agreement with general observations from rock specimens in terms of the behavior and the evolution of micro-cracks, suggesting the capability of the model to represent the mechanical behavior of rock. We also carried out a parametric study as a fundamental work to examine the relationships between the microscopic properties of the constituents and the macroscopic behavior of the model. Depending on the micro-properties, the model exhibited a variety of responses to the external load in terms of the strength and deformation characteristics. In addition, a numerical technique to reproduce the transversely isotropic rock was suggested and applied to Asan gneiss from Korea. The behavior of the numerical model was in good agreement with the results obtained in the laboratory-scale experiments of the rock.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.593-609
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• 2021

We proposed a numerical method for the thermo-mechanical behavior of rock fracture using a grain-based distinct element model (GBDEM) and simulated thermally induced fracture slip. The present study is the benchmark simulation performed as part of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G, which aims to develop a numerical method to estimate the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes within the crystalline rock fracture network. We represented the rock sample as an assembly of Voronoi grains and calculated the interaction of the grains (blocks) and their interfaces (contacts) using a distinct element code, 3DEC. Based on an equivalent continuum approach, the micro-parameters of grains and contacts were determined to reproduce rock as an elastic material. Then, the behavior of the fracture embedded in the rock was characterized by the contacts with Coulomb shear strength and tensile strength. In the benchmark simulation, we quantitatively examined the effects of the boundary stress and thermal stress due to heat conduction on fracture behavior, focusing on the mechanism of thermally induced fracture slip. The simulation results showed that the developed numerical model reasonably reproduced the thermal expansion and thermal stress increment, the fracture stress and displacement and the effect of boundary condition. We expect the numerical model to be enhanced by continuing collaboration and interaction with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G and validated in further study experiments.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.121-126
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• 2001

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.89-100
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• 2010

Although various methods for determination of damage threshold in rock have been suggested, clear damage thresholds were determined by some methods, but different thresholds were measured by other methods. We determined the damage thresholds in Hangdeung granite using all the methods suggested, and investigated the best methods, applicability and errors of each method. The crack initiation threshold and the crack damage threshold which are important in investigation of characteristics of crack development and failure were verified by field strength ratio method and long-term constant load test. The crack closure stress and the crack initiation stress were 57.5 MPa and 77.6 MPa, and the most exact values were yielded by crack volumetric strain. The secondary crack initiation stress was 90.6 MPa and AE event count and AE event count rate were the effective methods. The volumetric stiffness, AE event count and AE event count rate were the most effective methods for determination of crack coalescence threshold and crack coalescence stress was 110.3 MPa. The crack damage stress was 127.5 MPa and was measured correctly by volumetric stiffness and AE event count rate. The ratio between crack initiation stress and uniaxial compressive strength was 0.47 which was very similar with the FSR value of 0.46. The ratio between crack damage stress and uniaxial compressive strength was almost the same as the ratio between long-term strength and uniaxial compressive strength, indicating that the crack initiation stress and the crack damage stress measured were correct.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2006

A basic research was conducted on the mineral weathering and geochemical characteristics in the KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel), which was recently constructed at a site in KAERI. Some rock samples exposed during the KURT construction were examined using a microscope and chemical analysis for some micro-changes of the rocks caused by the chemical weathering. The weathered granite has some small and fine cracks around the rock-forming minerals. In particular, there are a characteristic weathering of feldspar mineral and a preferential leaching of Ca component from the mineral dissolution. In addition, by the dissolution of biotite containing $Fe^{2+}$ component there were iron-oxides precipitates as secondary products into the microcracks of around minerals. The results also show that the micro-cracks initiated from the mineral interior are extended and connected into the larger cracks along the grain boundary with the progress of the weathering. Thus, it is considered that some chemicals dissolved from the fresh rock would be involved in the formation of secondary minerals and migrate interacting with them.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.133-141
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• 2004

We have studied the characteristics of rock cleavage for the Pocheon granite with Jurassic emplacement age. Photomicrographs were used to observe and analyze microcracks from the granite. Three sets of microcrack planes are recognized; (1) the rift plane developed parallel to the principal sets of microcracks, (2) the grain plane parallel to the secondary sets of microcracks, (3) the hardway plane perpendicular to both rift and grain planes. The microcracks developed in the granite shows higher polution, mean length and density in the order of rift plane, grain plane and hardway plane. The fracturing characteristics of the granite are closely related to the development of these three planes.