• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2011

This study is to estimate the uniaxal compressive strength (UCS) for the weak rocks using needle penetrometer test. The appropriate ratio of the artificial rocks for this test was cement (C):bentonite (B):water (W) = 1.3:0.7:2.3 or 1.5:0.5:2.0. From the relationship between needle penetration resistance (NPR) measured by needle penetrometer test and an estimated UCS, NPR and UCS tended to increase with increasing the curing period. Also from the relationship between the measured NPR and the measured UCS, NPR-UCS was linearly increased with the curing periods of 3-day to 14-day regardless of the ratio, then in the curing periods of 14-day to 28-day it was nearly constant. In conclusion, the overall relationship between NPR and UCS shows a linear relation for the most part, it means that UCS is possible to be estimated from NPR by needle penetrometer test in the case of weak rocks.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.17 no.2 s.52
• /
• pp.309-315
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this paper is to make a close inquiry into the relationship between width and length of crack as a method to maximize compensation effect by grouting discontinuity within weak bedrock, together with emphasis on application of the basic data to the reformation of weak bedrock in a construction site. The result reveals that the length of trace at each fracture averages $1.5{\sim}3.0mm$. Based on analysis of openness distribution pattern at each fracture, the estimated values are quite well in agreement with those of the experiment, with a negative trend in the distribution of aperture width.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.327-343
• /
• 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
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.215-228
• /
• 2004

Rock mass contains discontinuities such as faults and joints, and their mechanical properties and spatial distribution dominate the stability of rock mass. Because the deformation of rock mass occurs discontinuities in many cases. However in the case of poor quality rock mass under high stresses, the deformation along intact rock can also influence the structure's stability. In this study, two dimensional finite element program was developed with a rheological model to analyze the stability of the structure excavated in jointed rock mass. The “equivalent material” approach was used assuming intact rock, joints and rock bolts as visco-plastic materials. The program was verified by analysing an intact rock model, a jointed rock mass model and a reinforced jointed rock mass model. The displacement was examined in each model with changing the intact rock behaviour as elastic and visco-plastic. In the case of poor quality rock mass under high stresses, e assumption of visco-plastic behaviour of intact rock resulted in larger displacement than when assuming elastic behaviour for intact rock. Therefore it is recommended to add intact rock's visco-plastic behaviour to the existing model, which only assumes visco-plastic behaviour of joints and rock bolts.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
• /
• 2003.03a
• /
• pp.13-30
• /
• 2003

In this paper, a new systematic method will be introduced, in which a Rock-mass Prediction System(RPS) predicts the geological conditions and rock mass movements before tunnel excavation and the appropriate counter-measures are taken in the expected weak zones during tunnel construction. The Rock-mass Prediction System(RPS) consists of the LIM, a horizontal core drilling and a seismic exploration method(TSP/HSP). In the Rock-mass Prediction System(RPS), the seismic exploration method (TSP/HSP) gives information on the locations of the weak zones such as major faults and voids in wide-range, and the horizontal core drillings are utilized to find exact location and widths of the faults or voids near the weak zones which was predicted by the seismic exploration method (TSP/HSP). The LIM is used to find the hardness of the rock mass and small weak zones near the excavation face. The Rock-mass Prediction System (RPS) was successfully applied to the Sol-An Tunnel and the effectiveness of the system was verified.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2010

This study is to consider applicability of spiral bolt strain gauge as an instrument measuring behavior of soft ground foundation and rock slope. When the instrument was installed on the ground, it can be useful to identify the state of ground behavior because it has the characteristics of flexibility, as well as to apply the ground reinforcement because it has higher pull-out resistance to the ground. From the measurement of behavior to soft ground foundation, the strain shows a stable state in the beginning, then was observed significant change in the upper and the middle of spiral bolt strain gauge after 400 days. This is analyzed that ground loosening, which is due to occurred frequent earthquake of magnitude 1~2 with increased rainfall, lead to the instability of the ground. From the measurement of behavior to rock slope, the strain shows a stable state with very little change in a period of 0~50 days and the biggest strain at 4.2 m (P6) in a period of 50~100 days, then other places except P6 was maintained at a stable state in a period of 100~160 days. The reason is analyzed because that blasting for excavated limestone surrounding was affected to the largest at P6. However, based on the size of strain change by behavior of the soft ground foundation and rock slope, it is considered that the present condition are not effected on stability of retaining structure and rock slope. In conclusion, the proposed spiral bolt strain gauge can be useful to measure behavior of soft ground foundation and rock slope, and also to be measured behavior as well as reinforcement of the target ground.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.5-13
• /
• 2008

Just as infill material can reduce the shear strength of a rock joint, a layer of soft material between concrete and the surrounding rock socket can reduce pile shaft resistance of drilled shafts socketed in rocks. This can also result from construction methods that leave smeared or remoulded rock or drilling fluid residue on the sides of the rock sockets after concrete placement. The nature of the interface between the concrete pile shaft and the surrounding rock is critically important to the performance of the pile, and is heavily influenced by construction practice. Characteristics of the concrete-rock interface, such as roughness and the presence of the soft materials deposited during or after construction can significantly affect the shaft resistance response of the pile. In this study, we conducted the parametric study to examine the performance characteristics of drilled shafts socketed in smeared rock under the vertical load with the code of finite difference method of FLAC 2D. As the results of the current research, the parameters that affect the settlement of the pile head and the ultimate unit shaft resistance could be identified.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.89-95
• /
• 2008

Until recently lots of time-history seismic analyses were performed with the earthquake motions recorded at the soft soil surface without taking into account the effects of the soft soil amplification. However, it is important to utilize the bedrock seismic motions for the rational seismic analyses of a structure considering the site soil conditions. In this study, 26 bedrock earthquake records were selected from publicly available 1557 seismic records provided by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) for the study, and the characteristics of them were investigated. Study results showed that it is not reasonable to estimate earthquake acceleration intensity from the magnitude of an earthquake without considering the site soil conditions and it is also hard to draw any general relationships between earthquake acceleration intensity, earthquake magnitude and epicenter distance with bedrock earthquake records in the PEER database. However, 26 bedrock earthquake records selected in this study can be utilized for the time-history seismic analyses of a structure-soil system as bedrock earthquake ones, and it is also confirmed that it is necessary to take into account acceleration intensity, magnitude, epicenter distance and site conditions simultaneously for the proper use of those selected earthquake records.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.295-303
• /
• 2004

For the deep underground excavation site with the geological complexity of soft seam and hard rock, the numerical analysis and in-situ measurement on the behaviors of roadway and surrounding rock according to stepwise excavation of the steep soft seam are carried out. The strata behavior is modeled using elasto-plastic FEM considering the empirical failure criteria of Hoek ＆ Brown and the strain-softening model. Hydraulic pressure capsule, MPBX and tape extensometer are installed around the roadway for the in-situ measurement of rock stress and deformation. Despite the complexity of geology and excavation procedure, the elasto-plastic analysis considering the empirical failure criteria of Hoek ＆ Brown and the strain-softening model shows good agreement with the in-situ measurement. Comparison of numerical modeling with in-situ measurement enables to predict the behaviors of the roadway and to obtain design parameters for the excavation and support at depth.

• Explosives and Blasting
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2003

The classification of weak rocks is normally connected with the rippability classifications. The excavation of rock is frequently carried out by blasting. A classification of the weak rocks by test blasting with small quantity of explosives was attempted in the present study. The crater ratio and blasting constant that resoled from test blasting were used as a e parameter of the classification. The seismic velocity of rock mass and Protodyakonov's index were also applied for the also rock classification.