• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.283-292
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• 2016

A computer program code was developed to estimate hydraulic behavior of the 2-D connected pipe network system, and implemented to evaluate the effect of joint aperture on hydraulic parameters of fractured rock masses through numerical experiments. A total of 216 stochastic 2-D DFN(discrete fracture network) blocks of $20m{\times}20m$ were prepared using two joint sets with fixed input parameters of joint orientation, frequency and size distribution. Two different cases of joint aperture variation are considered in this study. The hydraulic parameters were estimated for generated 2-D DFN blocks. The hydraulic anisotropy and the chance for equivalent continuum behavior of the DFN system were found to depend on the variability of joint aperture.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2016

A program code was developed to calculate block hydraulic conductivity of the 2-D DFN(discrete fracture network) system based on equivalent pipe network, and implemented to examine the effect of joint orientation distribution on the hydraulic characteristics of fractured rock masses through numerical experiments. A rock block of size $32m{\times}32m$ was used to generate the DFN systems using two joint sets with fixed input parameters of joint frequency and gamma distributed joint size, and various normal distributed joint trend. DFN blocks of size $20m{\times}20m$ were selected from center of the $32m{\times}32m$ blocks to avoid boundary effect. Twelve fluid flow directions were chosen every $30^{\circ}$ starting at $0^{\circ}$. The directional block conductivity including the theoretical block conductivity, principal conductivity tensor and average block conductivity were estimated for generated 180 2-D DFN blocks. The effect of joint orientation distribution on block hydraulic conductivity and chance for the equivalent continuum behavior of the 2-D DFN system were found to increase with the decrease of mean intersection angle of the two joint sets. The effect of variability of joint orientation on block hydraulic conductivity could not be ignored for the DFN having low intersection angle between two joint sets.

• 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.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.141-152
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• 2001

The waterway tunnel zone (length 1,484m) in the Hyeonseo-myeon area that is a part of Yeongcheon dam waterway tunnel has been studied to characterize the relationship between groundwater inflow into the waterway tunnel and hydrogeologic characteristics. The effects of sandstone thickness in the tunnel section. fracture density, fracture aperture and spacing, fault zone width and hydraulic conductivity on the early inflow (inflow prior to the lining and grouting) are investigated. The relationship between fracture density and hydraulic conductivity is also considered. The result of the study suggests that fault zone width has the greatest effect on groundwater inflow into the tunnel, and sandstone thickness, hydraulic conductivity and fracture density in order shows an influence on the inflow.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.193-205
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• 2003

Fine grained granite, porphyritic granite and biotite granite together with intruded and extruded andesitic rocks are distributed in the study area which is bounded by the Yangsan and Dongrae faults. A new domestic road is being constructed along the area between the two major faults. The NNE trending Bupki fault and NE trending Myungkog fault are also developed within the area cross the road. The sheeting joints with dips of less than 30 degrees are only developed in the area of granite outcrop. High angle joints can be divided into 3 sets, such as, NE trending, NW trending and nearly EW trending joints. The joint space is mostly more than 20cm and the joint compressive strength is more than 100 MPa. These data show that even though the study area is situated between large faults, the ground condition is good because the damage zone of the Yangsan and Dongrae faults is relatively narrow.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.337-345
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• 2005

• 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.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.226-241
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• 2020

The stability of underground mine cavity is closely related with pillar strength. The vulnerability of pillars can be judged and reinforced if the pillar strength is known. The pillar strength is affected by characteristics of discontinuities and shape of a pillar. The change of pillar strength due to a discontinuity passing through the center of a pillar, width-to-height ratio of a pillar and small joints existing within a pillar was analyzed using PFC 3D. The result showed that the pillar strength is influenced by dip angle of a discontinuity and it increases as width-to-height ratio of a pillar increases. The pillar strength decreases as the number of contained joints increases. The relationship between total trace length observable from the pillar surface and the pillar strength was regressed with exponential function. The correlation coefficient of the regression was high enough so that pillar strength can be predicted using total trace length if a joint set exists in a pillar. Lastly, the method to estimate the strength of a pillar that includes two joint sets was proposed if the joint dip angles are 60°, 30°. The method also need total trace lengths of two joint sets.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.229-240
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• 1999

The groundwater flow and grout flow in individual rock joint and jointed rock mass are studied using various methods of analysis such as (i) the finite difference method, (ii) channel network analysis and (iii) joint network analysis. The flow behaviour is investigated in two distinguishable scales of observation: one for a rough joint of a laboratory scale having variable aperture, and the other for field- scale rock masses having three sets of intermittent joints. In the former case, the aperture-dependent channel flow is identified for both water and grout flows. The comparison of the flow rate in a rough joint is made between the finite difference analysis and existing analytical solution. In the latter case, the effects of increasing number of joints on the groundwater inflow into a circular opening of various diameters are analyzed using both the joint network method and Goodman's analytic solution. Comparisons are made between the two methods. The boundary effects in the joint network method are discussed. The inhomogeneity of joint network and its impacts on the groundwater inflow are also discussed.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.66-81
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• 2021

The effects of directional fracture tensor components and first invariant of fracture tensor on deformation moduli and shear moduli of fractured rock masses is analyzed based on regression analysis performed between 3-D fracture tensor parameters and deformability of DFN blocks. Using one or two deterministic joint sets, a total of 224 3-D discrete fracture network (DFN) cube blocks were generated with various configurations of deterministic density and probabilistic size distribution. The fracture tensor parameters were calculated for each generated DFN systems. Also, deformability moduli with respect to three perpendicular direction of the DFN cube blocks were estimated based on distinct element method. The larger the first invariant of fracture tensor, the smaller the values for the deformability moduli of the DFN blocks. These deformability properties present an asymptotic pattern above the certain threshold. It is found that power-law function describes the relationship between the directional deformability moduli and the corresponding fracture tensor components estimated in same direction.