• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 2022

The construction of an underground silo structure was the first stage of erecting the Gyeongju low-and-intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility. The facility, completed in 2014, has a scale of 100 000 drums and is currently in operation. The underground silo structure, 25 and 50 m in diameter and height, respectively, consists of cylindrical (for storing waste packages) and dome parts. The dome is divided into lower (connected to the operation tunnel) and upper parts. The wall of the underground silo structure is an approximately 1-m-thick reinforced concrete liner. In this study, finite element analysis was performed for each phase of the construction sequence and operation of the underground silo structure. Two-dimensional axial symmetric finite element analysis was implemented using the SMAP-3D program. Three-dimensional finite element analysis was also performed to examine the reliability of the two-dimensional axial symmetric finite element model. The structural behavior of the underground silo structure was predicted, and its structural safety was examined.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.403-413
• /
• 2007

As rock bolts become one of the main support systems in tunnels and underground structures, the integrity of the rock bolts affects the safety of these types of structures. The purpose of this study is the evaluation of rock bolt integrity using Fourier and wavelet transforms of the guided ultrasonic waves. After five rock bolt specimens with various defect ratios are embedded into a large scale concrete block, guided waves are generated by a PZT (lead zirconate titanate) element and measured by an acoustic emission (AE) sensor. The captured signals are analyzed in the frequency domain using the Fourier transform, and in the time-frequency domain using the wavelet transform based on a Gabor wavelet. The spectrum obtained from the Fourier transform shows that a portion of high frequency contents increases with increase in the defect ratio. Peak values in the time-frequency domain represent the interval of travel time of each echo. The energy velocities of the guided waves increase with the defect ratio. This study shows that the spectrum ratio and the energy velocity may be indicators fur the evaluation of rock bolt integrity.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.469-479
• /
• 2021

As a material for preventing spalling of concrete, the effectiveness of PP fiber has already been confirmed. However, it is necessary to consider the maximum temperature that occurs during a fire, and to solve the mixing problem and the strength reduction problem that occur depending on the mixing amount. In this study, the fire resistance performance of tunnel segment linings according to the PP fiber content and air volume under the RABT fire scenario was investigated. As a result, no spalling or cross-sectional loss occurred in all test specimens, and when the PP fiber content was small, the maximum temperature was relatively high and the maximum temperature arrival time was also fast. On the other hand, no trend was found for the maximum temperature and arrival time according to the difference in air volume. In the internal temperature distribution results for the PP fiber mixing amount of 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 kg/m³, the results of 0.75 and 1.0 kg/m³ showed similar temperature distribution, and the results of 1.5 and 2.0 kg/m³ were similar. It was confirmed that the internal temperature distribution tends to decrease at the same depth when the amount of PP fiber mixed is large, and it was confirmed that a remarkable difference occurred from the results of 1.0 kg/m³ and 1.5 kg/m³ of PP fiber mixed amounts.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.5-12
• /
• 2009

As rock bolts become one of the main support systems in tunnels and underground structures, the integrity of the rock bolts affects the safety of these structures. The purpose of this study is the evaluation of rock bolt integrity using wavelet transforms of the guided ultrasonic waves by using transmission test in the field. After several rock bolts with various defect ratios are embedded into a large scale concrete block and rock mass, guided waves are generated by a piezo disk element and measured by an acoustic emission (AE) sensor. The captured signals are analyzed in the time-frequency domain using the wavelet transform based on a Gabor wavelet. Peak values in the time-frequency domain represent the interval of travel time of each echo. The energy velocities of the guided waves increase with an increase in the defect ratio. The suitable curing time for the evergy velocity analysis is proposed by the laboratory test, and in-situ tests are performed in two tunnelling sites to verify the applicability of rock bolt integrity tests performed after proposed curing time. This study proves that time-frequency domain analysis is an effective tool for the evaluation of the rock bolt integrity.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.479-493
• /
• 2023

The need for safety management has arisen due to the increasing number of years of operated underground structures, such as tunnels and utility tunnels, and accidents caused by those aging infrastructures. However, in the case of privately managed underground utility ducts, there is a lack of detailed guidelines for facility safety and maintenance, resulting in inadequate safety management. Furthermore, the absence of basic design information and the limited space for safety assessments make applying currently used non-destructive testing methods challenging. Therefore, this study suggests non-destructive inspection methods using ultrasonic and impact-echo techniques to assess the quality of underground structures. Thickness, presence of rebars, depth of rebars, and the presence and depth of internal defects are assessed to provide fundamental data for the safety assessment of box-type general underground structures. To validate the proposed methodology, different conditions of concrete specimens are designed and cured to simulate actual field conditions. Applying ultrasonic and impact signals and collecting data through multi-channel accelerometers determine the thickness of the simulated specimens, the depth of embedded rebar, and the extent of defects. The predicted results are well agreed upon compared with actual measurements. The proposed methodology is expected to contribute to developing safety diagnostic methods applicable to general underground structures in practical field conditions.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.669-683
• /
• 2017

The objective of this study is to propose a modification of the previously proposed drainage system for catching the partial leakage of underground concrete structures. Two techniques were proposed for applying the drainage system only to the leaking parts. One was for conveying leaking groundwater to the collection point in the drainage system and the other was for conveying the collected groundwater to the primary drainage system of the underground concrete structure. Four waterproofing materials for conveying leaking groundwater to the catchment point of the drainage system, Durkflex made of porous rubber material, KE-45 silicone adhesive with super strong adhesion, Hotty-gel made of polymeric materials and general silicone adhesive were evaluated for waterproofing performance. Hotty-gel only showed perfect waterproof performance and the other three waterproof materials leaked. The modified drainage system with Hotty-gel and drainage pipe with fixed saddle to convey the leaking groundwater from the catchment point to the primary drainage system were tested on the concrete retaining wall. The waterproof performance and the drainage performance were evaluated by injecting 1,000 ml of water in the back of the modified drainage system at the 7-day, 14-day, 21-day, 28-day, 2-month and 3-month. There was no problem in waterproof performance and drainage performance of the modified drainage system during 3 months. In order to evaluate the construction period and construction cost of the modified drainage system, it was compared with the existing leaching repair method in surface cleaning stage, leakage treatment stage, and protective barrier stage. Total construction period and construction cost were compared in considering the contents of work, repair material, construction equipment, working time, and total number of workers. As a result of comparing and analyzing in each construction stage, it was concluded that the modified drainage system could save construction period and construction cost compared to the existing leaching repair method.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.1059-1075
• /
• 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate the freezing and thawing resistance of the existing drainage system for leakage treatment of underground concrete structures operating in cold regions. The freezing and thawing test was conducted on 4 types of drainage system specimens to evaluate the freezing and thawing resistance of the drainage system. The freezing and thawing resistance was evaluated on 4 types of Hotty-gel, as a waterproofing material, connection methods and on two methods to fix the drainage board with Hotty-gel on the surface of cement concrete specimen. One cycle of the freeze-thaw testing was 48 hours (24 hours of freezing and 24 hours of thawing), and the temperatures of freezing and thawing were at $-18^{\circ}C$ and $10^{\circ}C$, respectively. Among the 4 types of Hotty-gel connection methods, leakage occurred after 28 cycles (8 weeks) of freeze-thawing only in the Hotty-gel connection method with the 'V' groove applied to the corner of the drainage board. No leakage occurred in the 3 types of Hotty-gel connection methods. In two fixing methods, leakage occurred in the method of fixing the drainage board on the cement concrete specimen using the washer, screw and plastic wall plug. Leakage occurred at one point after 10 cycles (3 weeks) of freezing and thawing. After 28 cycles (8 weeks) of freezing and thawing, leakage point increased to 5 points. As time passed, the leak point was not increased, but the amount of leakage was increased at each leak point. The Hotty-gel connection method with cross-sectional diagonal shape was evaluated to be the highest in the production efficiency considering the production time and manufacturing method of the Hotty-gel connection shape. In the construction efficiency considering the construction time and construction method, the fixing method of air nailer, fixed nail and washer was superior to that of the washer, screw and plastic wall plug.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.429-440
• /
• 2014

Since the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks in 2001, terror, military attack, or man-made disaster caused impact, explosion, and fire accident have frequently occured on civil infrastructures. However, structural behavior researches on major Prestressed Concrete (PSC) infrastructures such as bridges, tunnels, Prestressed Concrete Containment Vessel (PCCVs), and LNG tanks under extreme loading are significantly lacking. Especially, researches on possible secondary fire scenarios after terror, bombing, collision of vehicles and vessels on concrete structures have not been performed domestically where most of the past researches related to extreme loadings on structures focused on an independent isolated extreme loading scenario. Due to the outcry of public concerns and anxiety of potential terrorist attacks on major infrastructures and structures, a study is urgently needed at this time. Therefore, in this study, the bi-directional prestressed concrete $1400{\times}1000{\times}300mm$ panels applied with 430 kN prestressing force using unbonded prestressing thread bars were experimentally evaluated under impact, fire, and impact-fire combined loadings. Due to test site restrictions, impact tests were performed with 14 kN impactor with drop heights of 10m and 3.5 m to evaluate impact resistance capacity. Also, fire and impact-fire combined loading were tested using RABT fire loading curve. The measured residual strength capacities of PSC and RC specimens applied with impact, fire, impact-fire combined loadings were compared with the residual strength capacity of undamaged PSC and RC specimens for evaluation. The study results can be used as basic research data for related research areas such as protective design and numerical simulation under extreme loading scenarios.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Fire Science and Engineering Conference
• /
• 2008.11a
• /
• pp.484-489
• /
• 2008

We carried out a one-way heating experiment on the PC panel manufactured by changing the filling depths(20,30,40,50mm) of concrete regarding the fire strength in order to measure the inner concrete pressure which is a direct cause of concrete spalling. This fire experiment was conducted under the fire strength conditions of ISO 834 Standard, Modified Hydrocarbon and the maximum value of Pore Pressure was measured. As a result of analyzing the time it took to reach maximum pressure, it showed that the time rising to the maximum pressure of high strength concrete of 40MPa is slower than that of a 24MPa tunnel lining. In case of ISO fire conditions, spalling damage might take place in heating period of $20{\sim}40$ minutes in the range of $100{\sim}200^{\circ}C$ temperature. In case of MHC fire conditions, the area damaged by fire can appear after a lapse of $25{\sim}50$ minutes in the range of $150{\sim}250^{\circ}C$ temperature.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.190-202
• /
• 2009

With the increasing demand for blasting demolition in urban areas, the simulation of structural collapse prior to the real blasting operation is a key process for ensuring the success and safety of the blasting demolition. The simulation of collapsing behavior of a structure is not only vital for preventing unexpected economic loss and casualties, but also helpful in minimizing public claims by precisely estimating the environmental impact resulting from the operation. This study proposes a new technique for simulation of a blast demolition using FEM based LS-DYNA codes. The technique tries to simplify the complex arrangement of reinforcing bars, and use the actual properties of the concrete and steel reinforcing bars, thereby improving the overall capability of the simulation to match well with the collapsing behavior of real-scale structures.