• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.392-400
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• 2013

Joint sets should be considered as an influence factor, when location of subsidence zone by stopes is predicted. And the mechanical properties and distribution patterns of joint set above stopes may be affecting subsidence occurrence. In this study, therefore, the orientation of joint sets is reanalyzed with the data from the previous research on prediction of defining the subsidence zone. From a correlated analysis, the influence of major joint set($J_1$) on subsidence location was analyzed by comparing the angle of assumption with the angle of major joint set($J_1$).

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.343-357
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• 2018

Algorithm which can analyze the slope failure behavior utilizing the comprehensive information of the dense point of joint poles and the joint set orientations, both of which are obtained statistically, and the defect pattern of pole distribution has been developed. This method overcomes the potential incorrectness of the hemispheric projection method utilizing the joint set orientations only and also enhances the reliability of slope failure analysis. To this end a method capable of calculating the joint dispersion index directly from the joint pole distribution, instead of contour map, has been devised. The representative orientations for the slope failure analysis has been determined by considering the number and orientations of cone angle-dependent joint sets as well as the joint dispersion index. By engaging these representative orientations to the hemispheric projection analysis more reliable slope failure examination has been carried out. Sensitivity analysis for the potentially unstable slope of plane failure mode has been performed. Significance of joint strength index and the external seismic loading on the slope stability has been fully analyzed.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.573-586
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• 2023

Joints or weak planes can induce anisotropy in the strength and deformability of fractured rock masses. Comprehending this anisotropic behavior is crucial to engineering geology. This study used plaster as a friction material to mold specimens with a single joint. The strength and deformability of the specimens were measured in true triaxial compression tests. The measured results were compared with three-dimensional numerical analysis based on the distinct element method, conducted under identical conditions, to assess the reliability of the modeled values. The numerical results highlight that the principal stress conditions in the field, in conjunction with joint orientations, are crucial factors to the study of the strength and deformability of fractured rock masses. The strength of a transversely isotropic rock mass derived numerically considering changes in the dip angle of the joint notably increases as the intermediate principal stress increases. This increment varies depending on the dip of the joint. Moreover, the interplay between the dip direction of the joint and the two horizontal principal stress directions dictates the strength of the transversely isotropic rock mass. For a rock mass with two joint sets, the set with the steeper dip angle governs the overall strength. If a rock bridge effect occurs owing to the limited continuity of one of the joint sets, the orientation of the set with longer continuity dominates the strength of the entire rock mass. Although conventional three-dimensional failure criteria for fractured rock masses have limited applicability in the field, supplementing them with numerical analysis proves highly beneficial.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.103-111
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• 2004

The existing methods that can be adopted for measuring joints involve either to use borehole or photogrammetry. Due to restricted space, acquisition of data in limited area, and measurement errors, above methods have limitations acquiring the objective and correct results. To get over defects of existing joint measurement methods, joints have been measured using 3D-Laser scanner with accuracy and efficiency. This research aims to investigate an accuracy and applicabiliy of 3D-Laser scanner for measuring rock slope joints. Measurement of rock slope joints has been executed using 3D-Laser scanner & clinometer and then, results from both methods are compared. Results from both methods indicate that they show nearly equal features for joint distributions and numbers of joint information obtained by 3D-Laser scanner are much more than ones measured using clinomer. Therefore, 3D-Laser scanner turns out to be very effective by the fact that it contributes to reduce investigation costs & periods, objectify data from rock slope joints.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.342-350
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• 1998

In this study, fracture network in rock mass was interpreted using borehole wall images obtained by televiewer. The orientation and JRC value of major joint set were evaluated adopting image analysis techniques, of which process were written in macro-program code. As linking JRC to joint stiffness using Barton-Bandis model, fracture network map was produced for application to jointed rock modelling in numerical analysis of underground structure.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.459-470
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• 2008

Types of slope failure related to cut slope stability are interpreted through case analyses, and also factors affecting structurally controlled instability investigated, which are developed by geologic structures along a national road No. 25 across the Cheongwon and Boeun-Guns, Chungbuk. Engineering properties such as orientation, persistence, roughness and uniaxial compressive strength of joints are analyzed by square-inventory method in three areas with well-preserved outcrops. The study area is located in Ogcheon folded bet, and are composed of quartz-schist and quartzite in the Midongsan Formation and phyllite in the Ungyori Formation. Flexural beds by folding, schistosity and cleavage besides joints are developed due to slight metamorphism. Various types of joints developed by folding are formed such as strike-parallel, strike-perpendicular, wedge and wrench joint sets by both initially regional and later superposed folding. Factors of slope instability are created by crossing the orientations of joint, cleavage, bedding and slope one another. In the case that the orientation of a slope is coincident with one of beds, factors causing large-scale failure including plane failure are increased greatly. Also in the region that orientations of the slope and bed are crossed each other at high angle, only local and minor failures are shown in the slope.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.287-295
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• 1998

Limit equilibrium method is widely used for the stability analysis of soil slopes. In jointed rock slopes however, the failure of the slope is largely dependent upon the strength and deformability of the joints in the rock mass and quite often failure occurs along the joints. This paper describes the use of ubiquitous joint model for the stability analysis of the jointed rock slopes. This model is essentially an anisotropic elasto-plastic model and can simulate two sets of joint in arbitrary orientations. Validation of the developed with the factor of safety equal to unity was selected when the shape of the failure plane is assumed log spiral. Then the factor of safety of the rock slope having two perpendicular joint sets was calculated while rotating joint orientations. Rusults were compared with limit equilibrium solutions on soil slopes having equivalent soil properties when plane sliding was assumed. Developed model predicted the factor of safety of jointed rock slope in a reasonable accuracy when joint spacing is sufficiently small.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.16 no.4 s.50
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• pp.337-349
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• 2006

Seven hundred and fifty one fractures of the rhyolitic tuffaceous rock masses were mapped using 6 scanlines placed on rock slope exposures that were within 8.02 km of Busan-Ulsan highway. These data were analyzed to find the number of fracture sets that exist in the rock slopes and the probability distributions of orientation, spacing, trace length and fracture size in 3-D for each of the fracture sets. All the fracture set orientation distributions exhibit high variability. The Fisher distributions were found to be unsuitable to represent the statistical distribution of orientation for most of the fracture sets. The probability distributions, gamma, exponential and lognormal were found to be highly suitable to represent the distribution of spacing and semi-trace length of fracture sets. In obtain-ing these distributions, corrections were applied for sampling biases associated with spacing and trace length. The generated fracture system in 3-D was used to make predictions of fracture traces for each fracture set on 2-D win-dows. Developed stochastic 3-D fracture network for the rock mass was validated by comparing statistical proper-ties of the observed fracture traces on scanlines with the predicted fracture traces on the scanlines. This exercise fumed out to be successful.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.271-285
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• 2020

In this study, a numerical experiment related to the stress-strain analysis was performed on 3-D discrete fracture network(DFN) systems based on the distinct element method to evaluate the effect of joint geometry on deformability of jointed rock masses. Using one or two joint sets with deterministic orientation, a total of 12 3-D DFN blocks having 10m cube domain were generated with different joint density and size distribution. Directional deformation modulus of the DFN cube blocks were estimated along the axis directions of 3-D cartesian coordinate. In addition, deviatoric stress directions were chosen at every 30° of trend and plunge in 3-D for some DFN blocks to examine the variability of directional deformation modulus with respect to joint geometry. The directional deformation modulus of the DFN block were found to reduce with the increase of joint size distribution. The increase in joint density was less likely to have a significant effect on directional deformation modulus of the DFN block in case of the effect of rock bridges was relatively large because of short joint size distribution. It, however, was evaluated that the longer the joint size, the increase in the joint density had a more significant effect on the anisotropic deformation modulus of the DFN block. The variation of the anisotropic deformation modulus according to the variations in joint density and size distribution was highly dependent on the number of joint sets and their orientation in the DFN block. Finally, this study addressed a numerical procedure for stress-strain analysis of jointed rock masses considering joint geometry and discussed a methodology for practical application at the field scale.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.497-505
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• 2000

The surveyed area is mainly distributed by the sedimentary rocks, tuffs, and esites in Cretaceous age and acidic and basic dikes are intruded in these rocks. The principle discontinuities are represented by beddings, joints and faults. The trends of the beddings of sedimentary rocks develop as E-W direction in the start area. However, they are gradually bending and finally their trends are N-S direction in terminal area. In the sedimentary rocks the 3∼4 joint sets are distributed and in dikes joints are more scattered. The majority of joints are highly dipped. Sampo fault which has NE-SW trend makes a valley and NW trending normal faults are well developed at 50k+600 to 51k+000 area. During the construction of tunnel the orientation of discontinuities will not significantly influence on the stability of excavation. Since the rock mass is extensively jointed, the overbreak in tunnel wall may be placed.