• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.9-18
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• 2021

In this study, the overconsolidation ratio (OCR) of soft clay soil was calculated by conducting an indoor physical experiment and a dynamics test using undisturbed soil samples from a soft clay soil field in South Korea. The OCR by depth was predicted by comparing the experimental results with the existing empirical equations. Methods using the liquidity index and the existing empirical equation by the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) were examined, and the results were compared with the actual measured values. The method using the liquidity index was found to be suitable for estimating the rough OCR of the ground. However, the effect of drying was not considered for the ground above the groundwater level. Therefore, an equation for the correlation equation between the depth and OCR of each region, including the ground above the groundwater level, was proposed. The proposed equation was applied to the OCR prediction of the adjacent area. The predicted values in the area composed of clay (CL, CH) were found to be in good agreement with the actual values. In the region composed of silt (ML), however, the predicted values were not consistent with the actual values. This suggests that the sedimentation and compositional characteristics, rather than the engineering characteristics of the soil, are important factors that affect the OCR prediction.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.774-783
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• 2004

The S wave velocity and Q$s^{-1}$ structure of the uppermost part of the soil in Nakdong Delta area have been obtained to determine the characteristics of the forementioned soil. The phase and attenuation coefficients of multichannel seismic records were inverted to obtain the S wave velocity and Q$s^{-1}$ structure of the soil. The inversion results have been compared with the borehole measurements of the area. The seismic signal of the nearest geophone from a seismic source was used as the source signal to obtain the attenuation coefficients. Amplitude ratios of the signal at each geophone to the source signal wave plotted as a function of distance for the frequency range between 10 Hz and 45 Hz. The slope of a linear regression line which fits amplitude ratio-distance relationship best for a given frequency was used as the attenuation coefficients for the frequency. The dispersion curve of Rayleigh waves and the attenuation coefficients were inverted to obtain the S-wave velocity and Q$s^{-1}$, respectively, in the uppermost 8 meter of soil layer. The borehole measurements of the area show that are two distinct layers; the upper 4 meter of silty-sand and the lower 4 meter of silty-clay. The inversion results indicate that the shear wave velocity of the upper layer is 80 m/sec and 40m/sec in the lower silty-clay layer. The spacial resolution of the shear wave velocity structure is very good down to a depth of 8 meter. The Q$s^{-1}$ in the upper silty-sand layer is 0.02 and increase to 0.03 in the lower silty-sand layer. The spacial resolution of quality factor is relatively good down to a depth of 5 meter, but very poor below the depth. In this study, the S-wave velocity is higher in the silty-clay and the Q$s^{-1}$ is smaller silty-sand than in the silty-clay. However, much more data should be analyzed and accumulated before making any generalization on the shear wave velocity and Q$s^{-1}$ of the sediments.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.49-58
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• 2004

Consolidation properties of Shihwa deposits were analysed by means of depositional environments. Depositional environments including particle size distributions, sediment structures, geochemical properties, porewater chemistries and carbon age dating were analysed using undisturbed samples retrieved successively from a boring hole in the study area. Laboratory oedometer tests and anisotropic consolidated triaxial tests (CKoUC) for undisturbed samples were performed to examine the overconsolidation phenomena. Based on the results of analysis of depositional environments, it was found that the upper silt/clay mixed layer was deposited under marine condition while underlying sand and clay layers were deposited under fluvial condition. Planar laminated structures of silts and clays were dominant in marine deposits. Although there was no clear evidences that geological erosion had occurred in marine deposits, overconsolidation ratios of the upper marine samples were greater than unity Stress Paths of the upper marine samples behaved similarly to those of normally consolidated clays. Data plotted in stress state charts showed that the marine deposits were normally consolidated in geological meaning. These apparent overconsolidation of the marine deposits can be explained by the structures i.e. chemical bonding due to the difference of the rate of deposition, not by geological erosions and ground water fluctuations.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.136-145
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• 2011

For a massive project related to building national industrial complexes on a soft ground applied to PVD after dredging and hydraulic fill, laboratory tests were carried out using undisturbed sample taken from various depth. Piezocone penetration and dissipation tests were carried out to assess horizontal coefficient of consolidation and initial stress in field. The ground consists of upper dredged fill and lower original clay layer having both similar marine clays. It should be, however, considered as multi-layered soft ground having different initial void ratio, initial water content, initial effective stress, and permeability and compressibility with directions. To assess initial stress of those soft layers in which have different stress history related to consolidation, CPTu test results, especially excess pore water pressure, were analyzed. It allows to find out distribution of excess pore water pressure and initial stress inner original clay layer.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.43-53
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• 2012

This study deals with the conventional consolidation methods like preloading and vertical drains. For it, Two different mechanism, i.e., increasing of permeability and evaporating of pore water were studied. The marine clays excavated in Incheon were heated at low temperature($90^{\circ}C$) to increase the permeability. Also, Microwave oven and high-temperature electric heater were used for pore water evaporation. Several points raised from the experiments. To fix them, the electric heating system was revised to upgrade the field application and drain efficiency of pore water, and the marine clays were heated by revised electric heater at high temperature($250^{\circ}C$). From Experimental result showed that results, high-temperature heater induced the pore water evaporation and displayed the excellent consolidation behavior. In addition, the cone index of heated clays were increased about 19 times, which suggested that electric heating system could be applied for ensuring the trafficability of heavy equipments.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.19-25
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• 2007

Stone columns is the ground improvement method which composed of compacted gravel or crushed stone inserted into the soft ground consisting of loose sand and clay. There are many difficulties in quantitative analysis of soil-pile interaction because settlement behavior of stone columns is affected by various parameters. In this study, various parameters of behavior of end-bearing group piles are investigated by load tests. Finally, the improved characteristics of soft ground and the influence of design parameters are investigated in this study using PR (performance ratio) value. From the PR value calculation and test results, we know that settlement behavior of stone columns is affected by area replacement ratio of composite ground, diameter of column rather than embedment ratio and mat.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.02a
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• pp.70-77
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• 1999

Consolidation settlements on soft clay are often large and potentially damaging to structures. Currently, large-scale projects are in progress in Korea. These structures will be constructed on both thick and soft clay layers, and so the accurate evaluation of magnitude of settlement is required at every step in design and construction. Especially, secondary compression play an important role in consolidation settlements on soft clay. Generally, the magnitudes of secondary compression are evaluated by laboratory and in-situ consolidation tests or by empirical $C_{a/}$ $C_{c}$ relationships. The empirical $C_{a/}$ $C_{c}$ may not be only economical, but a fast and powerful tool in estimating secondary consolidation settlement. However, databases of the $C_{a/}$ $C_{c}$ relationship for sites in Korea are currently insufficient. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of $C_{a/}$ $C_{c}$, on marine clay near the southern sea in Korea. In this study a series of incremental loading consolidation tests (measuring base pore water pressure) are performed. It was found that the $C_{a/}$ $C_{c}$ on undisturbed marine clay equaled 0.0397. This value is similar to the value proposed by Mesri and Castro(1987) for inorganic clay and silt. and silt. and silt.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.35-48
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• 1993

This paper was focused on the design and construction of stone columns as a method of reinforcements in slightly soft clay or loose silty sand overlying the firm strata. It was intended to find out the effects of soil improvement by field tests in Kwangmyoung Haan Site by comparing the test results performed before and after the installation of stone columns . The results of this experimental study are as follows : the hearing capacity was increased by 3.33 times and the SPT N -valued was increased by 3.9 times by installing the stone columns : the stone column method can cut down the construction cost almost 35% compared to the precast concrete pile method in economic viewpoints.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2004.03b
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• pp.684-691
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• 2004

Various researches have been undertaken to develope a method of enhancing consolidation. This study investigated the effect of ultrasound on consolidation through a series of laboratory experiments. The tests were conducted using a specially designed and fabricated equipments which can apply ultrasonic energy on a soil sample at consolidation test. Specimens were prepared using a centrifuge facility, and test conditions included ultrasonic power and treatment time. The results of the study show that the effect of ultrasonic energy on consolidation is significant. The degree of significance varies with the test conditions. It could be concluded that the study showed potential application of ultrasound to enhance consolidation.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.27 no.A
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• pp.111-120
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• 2007

This paper is results of experimental research on the effect of application of similarity related to permeability of soil on the consolidation behavior as centrifuge modeling of consolidation is performed with the centrifuge model facility. In this research, the permeability of soil was controlled by changing the viscosity of porewater as the mixed water with glycerin was used during the centrifuge model experiments. The effect of drainage path on consolidation was investigated by installing the vertical drains. A serise of centrifuge model tests with conditions of single vertical and radial horizontal drainage were carried out. Kaolinite and Jumunjin standard sand were used as soft clay and surcharges respectively during tests. For testing condition of single vertical drainage considering similarity of permeability, it was found that consolidation with mixed porewater with glycerin was delayed in comparisons sons with test results with water only. For conditions of horizontal drainage with vertical drains, a low permeability by changing the viscosity of pore water resulted in delayed degree of consolidation at an initial stage of consolidation. But, it predicted not much differences in settlement as long as the consolidation time was sufficiently long enough to finish consolidation. Consequently, it was found that similarity in permeability should be considered to be critical for the case of centrifuge model experiments related to consolidation with long drainage path.