• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.23-38
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• 2014

The composition of carbonate sands from a sabkha at Ruwais in the UAE differs from that of silica sand, and these sands are crushed easily under low compression pressures. Accordingly, particle crushing of carbonate sand occurs under high pressure, which results in additional settlement and reduces the shear strength. In this study, consolidation and triaxial tests were conducted to analyze the characteristics of carbonate sands following particle crushing. The unusual shear strength graphs of the carbonate sands result from the degree of particle pre-crushing. For the range at p' > p in the p (p')-q diagram, negative (-) excess porewater pressures occur if the axial pressure causes particle crushing that induces exposure of the inner voids. In addition, the q value decreased after particle crushing. In conclusion, the unusual characteristics of the carbonate sands were induced by particle crushing. The triaxial tests revealed that the degree of particle pre-crushing influenced the excess porewater pressure.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.135-148
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• 2021

Ground subsidence risk ratings obtained from the site investigation during pre-excavation stages could be changed depending on the parameters revealed during construction activities. A method of correcting the pre-excavation ground subsidence risk ratings based on the site conditions observed in the field is suggested in this study. The elevation of groundwater table during the excavation may be different from the predicted value depending on the application of waterproofing methods and construction conditions. The drastic drawdown of groundwater table during the excavation could cause ground subsidence due to soil volume decrease related to consolidation or compression of the ground, whereas the rising of groundwater table caused by the intense rainfall may result in a high potential for ground subsidence due to heaving or boiling of the excavation bottom. Excessive displacements of retaining walls or ground settlements may cause ground subsidence, which also results in a high risk of ground subsidence caused by the destruction of buried pipelines. Reevaluation of ground subsidence risk ratings is suggested considering the fluctuation of groundwater table, condition of groundwater leakage, measured ground displacements, and soil types. Finally, the ground subsidence risk rating system is improved for better evaluation by using 12 factors in 5 categories.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.23-32
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• 2023

The seismic performance of buried PE pipes is reported to be favorable due to their exceptional elongation capacity at break. Although a seismic performance evaluation procedure based on the response displacement method has been summarized in Korea for fusion-bonded PE pipes, there is currently no procedure available for mechanically jointed PE pipes. This article aims to present a seismic performance evaluation procedure based on the response displacement method specifically designed for mechanically jointed PE pipes in Korea. When employing the mechanical joining method for PE pipes, it is recommended to adhere to the evaluation procedure established for segment-type pipes. This involves assessing the stress induced by the pipe, the expansion and contraction strain of the joint, and the bending angle of the pipe joint. Furthermore, the coefficient of inhomogeneity of the soil, which is necessary for estimating the axial strain of the ground, is introduced. Additionally, a computation method for determining lateral displacement and reconsolidation settlement in soil susceptible to liquefaction is proposed. As a result of the sensitivity analysis considering the typical soil condition in Korea, the mechanically jointed PE pipe with a certain quality was shown to have good structural seismic safety when soil liquefaction was not considered. This procedure serves as a valuable tool for seismic design and evaluating the seismic performance of mechanically joined buried PE pipes, which are primarily utilized for connecting small-diameter pipes.