• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.63-69
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• 2016

In this paper, shear strength characteristics of an unsaturated soil were compared using triaxial compression tests(CD) and modified direct shear tests and thus feasibility of the newly modified direct shear testing apparatus was confirmed. The shear strength tests of unsaturated state with a soil sample, obtained from a slope where debris flow occurred at Yangpyeong in Kyeunggi province during 2010, were performed. Both tests showed a linear relationship of matric suction with the shear strength under low level of matric suction. The apparent cohesion of the unsaturated soil was also increased linearly with increase of matric suction. As results of comparing two different testing apparatus, estimated values of shear strength parameters of unsaturated soil($c^{\prime}$, ${\phi}^b$) were slightly larger in the modified direct shear tests due to constraint effect of shear box.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.17-25
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• 2005

The bender element method is an experimental technique to determine very small strain ($<10^{-3}\%$), elastic shear modulus of a soil, $G_{max}$ by measuring the velocity of shear wave propagation through a sample. Bender elements have been applied as versatile transducers to measure small strain modulus of wet or dry soils in various laboratory apparatus. In this paper, bender element (BE), resonant column (RC) and torsional shear (TS) tests were performed on Toyoura sand at various testing conditions using the modified Stokoe type RC/TS testing equipment capable of performing BE test. Based on the results, applicabilities of the testing method using bender element were evaluated by comparing the values of $G_{max}$ obtained from RC/TS and BE testing methods. For more dependable evaluation, the loading frequency of each testing method was considered for the results obtained for samples in saturated condition by adapting Biot's theory.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.565-578
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• 2019

Basic friction angles of Hwangdeung granite, Berea sandstone, Jeongsun marble, Hongcheon gneiss, Pungam shale and Eumseong sandy shale were measured by direct shear test, tilt test and pull test. Characteristics of basic friction angle and the accuracy of test methods were compared and the optimal method in measuring basic friction angle was suggested. Although basic friction angles might be measured accurately by direct shear test, the test apparatus is expensive and procedures are complicated. Tilt tests which is the suggested method for measuring basic friction angle by International Association for Rock Mechanics also provided similar basic friction angles measured by direct shear test. However, the error measured for the same rock type is higher than 7° and values by repeated measurements in one sample show different trends, such as increasing or decreasing or almost constant as measurements continued. The difference measured in one gneiss sample is higher 12°, indicating that tilt test may be not a reliable method for measuring basic friction angle. Not only pull test provided accurate and consistent results under low normal stresses, but also test apparatus is simple and inexpensive and procedure is not complicated, indicating that pull test may be the optimal method for measuring basic friction angle.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.19-29
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• 2023

This research proposes a direct shear test method to evaluate the behavior of the soil-grout interface. The proposed test method was employed to conduct direct shear tests on two types of specimens: residual soil and residual soil-grout. The evaluation of the shear stress-slip curve indicated that the residual shear strength of residual soil-grout was similar to that of residual soil. It was further confirmed that residual soil determines the behavior of the critical state of the residual soil-grout interface. However, a remarkable increase in the maximum shear strength at the residual soil-grout interface was observed. The increase rate of the maximum shear strength was higher in loose soil due to the increased thickness of the interface layer where residual soil particles and grout particles are mixed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 2003

The characteristics of a rock joint which influence the stability of rock mass structures such as cut slopes and tunnels are largely controlled by the conditions of the rock joint as well as its boundary conditions. The conditions of rock joints comprise asperity strength, roughness, and filling materials. Boundary conditions can be represented by assuming that the deformability(or stiffness) of the rock mass surrounding the joints is modelled by a spring with stiffness. A new direct shear apparatus was developed in this study, which adapts a servo control system using PID algorithm. This apparatus can be used to investigate the various aspects of shear characteristics of the rock joints at conditions of constant normal stress and constant normal stiffness and so on. The test results for saw-cut teeth joints show that shear strength should be evaluated by considering its specific boundary conditions far the design of tunnels and cut slopes.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.10-28
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• 2023

Long-term shear behavior of the rock discontinuities should be analyzed and its stability should be evaluated to ensure the long-term stability of a high-level radioactive waste disposal repository. The long-term shear behavior of the discontinuities can be modeled with creep and RSF models. The shear creep test, velocity step test, and slide-hold-slide test can be performed to determine their model parameters or analyze the shear behavior by experiments under various conditions. Testing apparatuses for direct shear, triaxial compression, and biaxial shear were mainly used and improved to reproduce the thermo-hydro-mechanical conditions of local bedrock, and it was confirmed that the shear behavior could vary. In order to design a high-level radioactive waste disposal site in Korea, the long-term behavior of rock discontinuities should be investigated in consideration of rock types, thermo-hydro-mechanical conditions, metamorphism, and restoration of shear resistance.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.19-29
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• 2013

Analysis via classical soil mechanics theory is either ineffective or inappropriate for fully describing stress distribution or failure conditions in cold regions, since mechanical properties of soils in cold regions are different from those reported in the classical soil mechanics theory. Therefore, collecting and analyzing technical data, and systematic and specialized research for cold regions are required for design and construction of the structure in cold regions. Freezing and thawing repeat in active layer of permafrost region, and a loading condition affecting the structure changes. Therefore, the reliable analysis of mechanical properties of frozen soils according to various conditions is prerequisite for design and construction of the structure in cold regions, since mechanical properties of frozen soils are sensitive to temperature condition, water content, grain size, relative density, and loading rate. In this research, the direct shear apparatus which operates at 30 degrees below zero and large-scaled low temperature chamber are used for evaluating shear strength characteristics of frozen soils. Weathered granite soil is used to analyzed the shear strength characteristics with varying freezing temperature condition, vertical confining pressure, relative density, and water content. This research shows that the shear strength of weathered granite soil is sensitively affected by various conditions such as freezing temperature conditions, normal stresses, relative densities, and water contents.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.335-342
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• 2003

In order to analyze the deformational behavior accurately, the in-situ testing technique which provides the reliable deformational characteristics at whole strain ranges, needs to be developed. The pressuremeter is a unique method for assessing directly the in-situ shear modulus of soils with strain amplitude. This paper introduces a new alternative, the cavity strain measuring system in pressuremeter designed for whole strain ranges of $10^{-5}$%∼20%. Not only in the synthetic calibration chamber but also in the field, the pressuremeter tests were performed to determine the compliance of the new developed pressuremeter system. The variation in shear modulus with strain amplitude above $5\times 10^{-2}$% was reliably determined by the developed pressuremeter. It is concluded that the major cause of error in small cavity strain measuring is not from the cavity strain measuring system but from the friction between measuring arm and membrane during unloading-reloading loops.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.3C
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• pp.179-186
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• 2008

Pressuremeter test estimates the deformational properties of soil from the relationship between applied pressure and the displacement of cavity wall. It is general to utilize the reloading curve for the estimation of deformational properties of soil because the initial loading curve can be affected by the disturbance caused by boring. On the other hand, the instrumental resolution or the variation of measured data makes it hard to estimate the maximum shear modulus from pressuremeter test results. This study suggested the methodology estimating the maximum shear modulus from pressuremeter test directly, based on the curve fitting of reloading curve. In addition, the difference was taken into account between the stress state around the probe in reloading and that of the in-situ state. Pressuremeter tests were conducted for 15 cases using a large calibration chamber, together with a number of reference tests. The maximum shear moduli taken from suggested method were compared with those from empirical correlation and bender element test.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.23-32
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• 2010

In this study, Generally sandbag was used to reinforce slope or restore levee by using the in-situ material. To increase shear strength of sandbag, the Velcro system was effective for geosynthetic interface and make up for the weakness of shear strength between sandbag to sandbag. In this study, shear properties of geosynthetic-geosynthetic and geosynthetic-soil were evaluated from large scale direct shear tests. The cohesion and the angle of internal friction of each interface was evaluated. And laboratory model tests were performed to compare strength of reinforcement with strength of none reinforcement. As a result of this study, the cohesion and the angle of internal friction of each interface was increased, especially the cohesion was increased more than the angle of internal friction. Also according to the result of model test, the bearing capacity was increased by 20%.