• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.97-107
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• 2007

Accurate evaluation of the slope stability by assuming failure block as the entire slope is considered to be apposite for the small scale slope, whereas it is not the case for the large scale slope. Hence, appropriate estimation of a failure block size is required since the safety factor and the joint strength parameters are the function of the failure block size. In this paper, the size of failure block was investigated by generating 3-dimensional rock joint system based on statistical data of joints obtained from research slope, such as joint orientation, spacing and 3-dimensional joint intensity. The result indicates that 33 potential failure blocks exist in research slope, as large as 1.4 meters at least and 38.7 meters at most, and average block height is 15.2 meters. In addition, the data obtained from 3 dimensional joint system were directly applicable to the probability analysis and 2 and 3 dimensional discontinuity analysis.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 2003

The change of strain-dependent hydraulic conductivity around mined panels due to subsidence is examined where normal and shear strains, modulus reduction ratio and joint spacing are major factors controlling the changes of hydraulic conductivity. Modulus reduction ratio and joint spacing are defined through RMR and RQD, respectively. Utilizing these two empirical parameters, changes of hydraulic conductivity values of a full gamut of rock mass conditions are determined. The change of hydraulic conductivity is not apparent in the near surface area and more significant change takes place in the area around mined panels. A zone of strong influence from the subsidence extends to a height of approximately 20m above mined panels. The shear strain does also play the role of increasing a hydraulic conductivity around mined panels. As RMR of rock mass decreases, a hydraulic conductivity is found to be increased and this means that subsidence in a poor rock with low RMR has a great effect on a hydraulic conductivity field.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.232-246
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• 2018

In this study, the relationship between in situ seismic wave velocities and RMR (rock mass rating) was investigated in a test bed for the examination of the basis of rock classification (RMR) based on seismic wave velocity. The seismic wave velocity showed a monotonous increase with depth. It was also found that there was no systematic correlation between the seismic wave velocity (Vp) and other parameters (RQD, joint spacing, UCS, rock core Vp, and RMR) collected at the same depth of the same borehole. However, correlative relation was observed among RMR, RQD, and joint spacing. On the other hand, when all the data in the borehole (three holes) are examined without considering the depth, Vp still shows no correlation with RMR parameters (e.g., correlative coefficient for uniaxial compressive strength and joint spacing are 0.039 and 0.091, respectively), but Vp shows weak correlative relation with RMR and RQD (correlative coefficient for RQD and RMR are 0.193 and 0.211, respectively). Thus, it is found that it is difficult to deduce physical properties of rock mass directly from seismic wave velocities, but the seismic wave velocity can be used as a tool to approximate rock mass properties because of weaker correlation between Vp and RMR with RQD. In addition, the velocity value of for soft and moderate rocks suggested by widely used construction standards is slower than that of the observed velocity, implying that the standards need to be examined and revised.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2000

Rock Mass Rating has been widely applied to the underground tunnel excavation and many other practical problems in rock engineering. However, Rock Mass Rating is hard, even by the experts of tunnel assessment owing to lack of investigation system. In this study, using multivariate analysis we presented rock mass rating system that is objective and easy to use. The constituents of RMR are decided to RQD, condition of discontinuities, groundwater conditions, intact rock strength, orientation of discontinuities, spacing of discontinuities in important order. In each step, we proposed the best multiple regression model for RMR system.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-28
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• 1994

Hydrogeologic characteristics of crystalline rock including discontinuities is defined by the hydraulic data from the in situ test and by analytical method. Methodology and procedure of the in situ test are used in accordance with test purpose, site condition and characteristics of host rock Hydraulic conductivities in crystalline rock including discontinuifies such as fractured zone and joint, are defined by packer test and slug test. The results indicate Hvorslev' s theory of ground water flow in NX borehole, that the shorter of test interval is, the higher hydraulic conductivity is. This is an indicafion of the fact that the hydraulic rneasured were governed by scale effect of test interval, even at same borehole. According to the result of packer tests in two boreholes, it is understood that hydraulic conductivifies show variations according to the effect of as order of tests. In the comparison of hydraulic conductivifies from both of open borehole tests, the results are relatively well correrated in values. The hydraulic conductivity in the test intervals induding hydrogeologically significant discontinuity shows relatively higher value of hydraulic conductivity in vertical distribution of full depth.

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

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 1980

The rocks exposed in the investigation area are andesite of Late Cretaceous age, and syenite and aplitic granite of Bulgugsa Series of Early Cretaceous Period, which is intruded in the older andesitic rock. The strike and dip of major joint is $N10^{\circ}$ to $60^{\circ}E$, and $70^{\circ}SE$ to vertical respectively. According to seismic exploration, lower velocity zone, deemed to be fractured and/or crushed zone, is appeared along the gully center of east flank of the area. Test drilling shows that andesite bedrock is mostly very hard, massive, and very fine to medium grained and has almost 100 percent RQD and core recovery. In comparision with andesitic bedrock, intruded syenite cores show that it is highly crush especially at the depth from 55m to 63m.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.88-100
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• 1998

Since fractures may serve as major conduits of groundwater flow in crystalline rocks, characterization of conductive fractures is especially important for interpretation of flow system. In this study, characterization of fractures to investigate hydraulically conductive fractures in gneisses at an abandoned mine area was performed. The orientation, width, length, movement sense, infilling materials, spacing, aperture, roughness of both joints and faults and intersection and connectivity to other joints were measured on outcrops. In addition, characteristics of subsurface fractures were examined by core logging in five boreholes, of which the orientations were acquired by acoustic televiewer logging from three boreholes. The dominant fracture sets were grouped from outcrops; GSet 1: N50-82$^{\circ}$E/55-90$^{\circ}$SE, GSet 2: N2-8$^{\circ}$E/56-86$^{\circ}$SE, GSet 3: N46-72$^{\circ}$W/60-85$^{\circ}$NE, GSet 4:Nl2-38$^{\circ}$W/15-40$^{\circ}$SW and from subsurface; HSet 1: N50-90$^{\circ}$E/55-90$^{\circ}$SE, HSet 2: N10-30$^{\circ}$E/50-70$^{\circ}$SE, HSet 3: N20-60$^{\circ}$W/50-80$^{\circ}$NE, HSet 4: N10-50$^{\circ}$E/$\leq$40$^{\circ}$NW. Among them, GSet 1, GSet 3 and HSet 1, HSet 3 are the most intensely developed fracture sets in the study area. The mean fracture spacings of HSet 1 are 30-47cm and code 1 fractures, such as faults and open fractures, comprise 21.0-42.9 percent of the whole fractures in each borehole. HSet 3 shows the mean fracture spacings of 55-57cm and the ratio of code 1 fractures is 15.4-26.9 percent. In spite of the mean fracture spacing of 239cm, code 1 fractures of HSet 4 have the highest ratio of 54.5 percent. From the fact that faults or open fractures have high hydraulic conductivity, it can be inferred that the three fracture sets of N55-85$^{\circ}$E/50-80$^{\circ}$SE, N20-60$^{\circ}$W/50-75$^{\circ}$NE and N10-30$^{\circ}$E/$\leq$30$^{\circ}$NW from a fracture system of relatively high conductivity. It is indirectly verified with geophysical loggings and constant injection tests performed in the boreholes.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 1998

Recently crosshole seismic tomography has come to be widely used especially for the civil engineering, because it can provide more detail information than any other surface method, although the resolution of tomogram will be inevitably deteriorated to some extent due to the limited wavefield aperture on the nonuniqueness of traveltime inversion. In addition, our field sites often consist of a high-velocity bed rock overlain by low-velocity rock, sometimes with a contrast of more than 45 percent, and furthermore the bed rock is folded. The first arriving waves can be then the refracted ones that travel along the bed rock surface for some source/receiver distances. Thus, the desirable first arrivals can be easily misread that cause severe distortion of the resulting tomogram, if it is concerned with (straight ray) traveltime inversion procedure. In this case, comparision with synthetic data (forward modeling) is a valuable tool in the interpretation process. Besides, abundant information is contained in the crosshole data. For instance, examination of tube waves can be devoted to detecting discontinuities within the borehole such as breakouts, faults, fractures or shear zones as well as the end of the borehole. Specific frequency characteristics of marine silty mud will help discriminate from other soft rocks. The aim of this paper is to present several strategies to analyze and interpret the crosshole data in order to improve the ability at first to determine the spatial dimensions of interwell anomalies and furthermore to understand the underground structures. To this end, our field data are demonstrated. Possibility of misreading the first arrivals was illustrated. Tube waves were investigated in conjunction with the televiewer images. Use of shot- and receiver gathers was examined to benefit the detectabilities of discontinuities within the borehole.

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