• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Earthquake can change underground stress condition around the hypocenter and affect the fracture systems of the rocks. In Korea, the M5.8 Gyeongju earthquake on September 12, 2016 and M5.4 Pohang earthquake on November 15, 2017 occurred inside the Yangsan fault zone and possibly affected the fracture systems in the Yangsan fault zone and nearby rock masses. In this study, the characteristics of the fracture system (fracture orientation, number of the fractures, fracture spacing and aperture, dip angle, fracture density along depth, and relative rock strength) of the rocks in the low/intermediate level radioactive waste repository site located in the coastal area of the East Sea are analyzed by the impact of the Gyeongju and Pohang earthquakes using acoustic televiewer data taken from the boreholes at the radioactive waste repository site in 2005 and 2018. As a result of acoustic televiewer logging analysis, the fracture numbers, fracture aperture, and fracture density along depth overall increased in 2018 comparing to those in 2005. This increase tendency may be due to changes in the fracture system due to the impact of the earthquakes, or due to weathering of the wall of the boreholes for a long period longer than 10 years after the installation of the boreholes in 2005. In the borehole KB-14, on the whole, the orientation of the fractures and the average fracture spacing are slightly different between 2005 and 2018, while dip angle and relative rock strength in 2005 and 2018 are similar each other.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
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• 2000.09a
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• pp.77-91
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• 2000

Rock joint survey consists of measurement of orientation and face mapping for trace informations. We have developed a new alternative approach called rock joint survey system by stereophotogrammetry and image processing to replace the conventional manual method. For the measurement of orientations and face mapping, we applied a stereophotogrammetry and developed two hybrid approaches using image processing techniques, respectively. These methods have advantages in making it possible to measure the orientations of joints and perform face mapping rapidly and objectively in unaccessible and dangerous areas.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.329-343
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• 2000

Rock joint survey consists of measurement of orientation and face mapping for trace informations. We have developed a new alternative approach called rock joint survey system by stereophotogrammetry and image processing to replace the conventional manual method. For the measurement of orientations and face mapping, we applied a stereophotogrammetry and developed two hybrid approaches using image processing techniques, respectively. These methods have advantages in making it possible to measure the orientations of joints and perform face mapping rapidly and objectively in unaccessible and dangerous areas.

• 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.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.401-412
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• 2013

Multi-stage shear test has been performed using joint specimens of gneiss, granite and shale to investigate the influence of micro-scale asperity change on the shear strength of joint plane. For each shear test asperity degradation characteristics of joint specimens of different joint surface strength have been analyzed by utilizing the optimum asperity parameter which can reflect the sequential asperity degradation. Elevation of joint surface profile has been measured and both the changes of asperity parameters and micro-scale asperity distribution have been investigated. Two distinctive variation modes of cohesion and friction angle have been delineated and major cause of shear strength parameter change has been analyzed by considering the micro-scale asperity angle change resulting from the abrasion, fracturing and regeneration of micro-scale asperities. Effects of micro-scale asperity variation on the joint shear strength have been also investigated.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.101-113
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• 2001

Structural and geological engineering properties of the rock mass distributed in the Yokmang mountain area were investigated to detenninc the usable cut-out volume and quarrying efficiency. The study area is located in the southern tip of the Yangsan fault system which controls the geological structure of the Kvungsang basin. As a result, the study area is mainly composed of andesicic. rhyolitic. and granitic rocks of the Cretaceous Kyungsang Supergroup and a series of right-handed strike-slip faults is developed along NNE-SSW direction. These regional faults significantly affect the spatial and meclwnical characteristics of joints such as spacing, frequency, and compressive strength. The joint frequency is highest along the fault zones and decreases toward the remote region. Based on the geological information obtained from the field survey, the detailed structure of the Yokmang mountain was analyzed and the volume of the rock mass was assessed. Considering the minimum rock block size required for the construction of a coastal dumping site, potential cut-out volume is then estimated to be 4,018,000m$^3$ the volume % of which is 48% of Yokmang mountain including the soil and weathered rock and 61% of the unweathered rock mass.

• 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.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.89-107
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• 2019

Rock joints have an extremely important role in analyzing the mechanical stability and hydraulic characteristics of rock mass structures. Most rock joint parameters are generally indicated as a distribution by statistical techniques. In this research, calculation technique of Joint Center Volume (JCV) is analyzed, which is required for estimating the size distribution having the largest uncertainty among the joint parameters, then a new technique is proposed which is applicable regardless of the shape of survey window. The existing theoretical JCV calculation technique can be applied only to the plane window, and the complete enumeration techniques show the limitations in joint trace type and analysis time. This research aims to overcome the limitations in survey window shape and joint trace type through calculating JCV by using Monte Carlo simulation. The applicability of proposed technique is validated through the estimation results at non-planar survey windows such as curved surface and tunnel surface.

• 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.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.2 s.61
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• pp.166-178
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• 2006

Recently, the frequency of occurring dynamic events such as earthquakes, explosives blasting and other types of vibration has been increasing. Besides, the chances of exposure for rock discontinuities to free faces get higher as the scale of rock mass structures become larger. For that reason, the frictional behavior of rock joints under dynamic conditions needs to be investigated. In this study, artificially fractured rock joint specimens were prepared in order to examine the dynamic frictional behavior of rough rock joint. Roughness of each specimen was characterized by measuring surface topography using a laser profilometer and a series of shaking table tests was carried out. For mated joints, the static friction angle back-calculated ken the yield acceleration was $2.7^{\circ}$ lower than the tilt angle on average. The averaged dynamic friction angle for unmated joints was $1.8^{\circ}$ lower than the tilt angle. Displacement patterns of sliding block were classified into 4 types and proved to be related to the first order asperity of rock joint. The tilt angle and the static friction angle for mated joints seem to be correlated to micro average inclination angle which represents the second order asperity. The tilt angle and the dynamic friction angle for unmated Joints, however, have no correlation with roughness parameters. Friction angles obtained by shaking table test were lower than those by direct shear test.