• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.599-614
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• 2014

When tunnelling with TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), accessibility to tunnel face is very limited because tunnel face is mostly occupied by a bunch of machines. Existing techniques that can predict ground condition ahead of TBM tunnel are extremely limited. In this study, the TBM Resistivity Prediction (TRP) system has been developed for predicting anomalous zone ahead of tunnel face utilizing electrical resistivity. The applicability and prediction accuracy of the developed system has been verified by performing field tests at subway tunnel construction site in which an EPB (Earth Pressure Balanced) shield TBM was used for tunnelling work. The TRP system is able to predicts the location, thickness and electrical properties of anomalous zone by performing inverse analysis using measured resistivity of the ground. To make field tests possible, an apparatus was devised to attach electrode to tunnel face through the chamber. The electrode can be advanced from the chamber to the tunnel face to fully touch the ground in front of the tunnel face. In the 1st field test, none of the anomalous zone was predicted, because the rock around the tunnel face has the same resistivity and permittivity with the rock ahead of tunnel face. In the 2nd field test, 5 m thick anomalous zone was predicted with lower permittivity than that of the rock around the tunnel face. The test results match well with the ground condition predicted, respectively, from geophysical exploration, or directly obtained either from drilling boreholes or from daily observed muck condition.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.239-248
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• 2020

Exact rock classification helps suitable support patterns to be installed. Face mapping is usually conducted to classify the rock mass using RMR (Rock Mass Ration) or Q values. There have been several attempts to predict the grade of rock mass using mechanical data of jumbo drills or probe drills and photographs of excavation surfaces by using deep learning. However, they took long time, or had a limitation that it is impossible to grasp the rock grade in ahead of the tunnel surface. In this study, a method to predict the Q value ahead of excavation surface is developed using recurrent neural network (RNN) technique and it is compared with the Q values from face mapping for verification. Among Q values from over 4,600 tunnel faces, 70% of data was used for learning, and the rests were used for verification. Repeated learnings were performed in different number of learning and number of previous excavation surfaces utilized for learning. The coincidence between the predicted and actual Q values was compared with the root mean square error (RMSE). RMSE value from 600 times repeated learning with 2 prior excavation faces gives a lowest values. The results from this study can vary with the input data sets, the results can help to understand how the past ground conditions affect the future ground conditions and to predict the Q value ahead of the tunnel excavation face.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Recently, the development of underground space has been accelerated with rapid urbanization, and it is significantly important for safe construction to accurately understand the geological conditions of the section when excavating rocks. In this paper, a boring alignment tracking and geological exploration system have been developed to identify the geological conditions beyond the excavation face by utilizing a MSP method that bores a large empty hole to reduce blast-induced vibration. The major advantage of the proposed exploration system is that we can obtain the ground condition of 50 m ahead of the excavation face through exploration along blast cut-holes drilled for the NATM tunnel construction. In addition, we introduce several case histories regarding the assessment of the geological conditions beyond the tunnel face by monitoring the inside of large empty holes using the proposed hole exploration system.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.55-72
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• 2018

A method that can predict the mixed-ground condition ahead of a TBM tunnel face during tunnel construction utilizing electrical resistivity and induced polarization (IP) was proposed in this study. Effect of TBM advancement approaching the mixed-ground condition (composed of soil layer overlying rock layer) when currently running through soil zone on the electrical resistivity and IP measuring was assessed with laboratory-scale experiments. The resistivity and IP values were measured using four electrodes, by installing two electrodes on the tunnel face (at the cutterhead), and the other two electrodes on the segment lining. The test results showed that both of the measured resistivity and IP values were kept increasing as the TBM is approaching the soil-rock mixed-ground. Also, to get the more reliable results for predicting the mixed-ground condition, it was recommended that the measurement is made at the tunnel face utilizing 4-electrodes installed at the cutterhead as well as it is made utilizing the 2-electrodes installed at the segment lining along with the 2-electrodes installed on the tunnel face (at the cutterhead) so that two measured results are compared each other.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.279-292
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• 2022

Unexpected anomalies in the geotechnical investigation at design stage may cause problems during tunnel excavation. Therefore, it is important to predict the ground condition ahead of a tunnel face during tunnel excavation in order to prevent tunnel collapse. Despite the fulfillment of an electrical resistivity survey at the tunnel face, the existing electrical resistivity survey program can produce distorted results by the limitation of tunnel modelling. In this background, this study develops a modelling program for an electrical resistivity survey considering the tunnel shape. Numerical simulation and inverse calculation were performed for the electrical resistivity survey in the tunnel using the developed program. As a result, it was proved that the developed program could predict accurately the anomalous object's location and condition ahead of the tunnel face.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.479-489
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• 2009

Appropriate investigation of ground condition near excavation face in tunnelling is an inevitable process for safe and economical construction. In this study mechanical parameters from drilling process for blasting were investigated for the purpose of predicting the ground condition, especially rock mass strength, ahead of tunnel face. Rock mass strength is one of the most important factors for classification of rock mass and making a decision of support type in underground construction. Several rock specimens which are considered homogeneous and having different strength values respectively were tested by hydraulic drill machines generally used. As a result, penetration rate is fairly related with rock mass strength among drilling parameters. It is also found that penetration rate increases along with the higher impact pressure even under same rock strength condition. It is finally suggested that new prediction method for rock mass strength using percussive pressure and penetration rate during drilling work can be utilized well in construction site.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.476-485
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to present an analysis method for the prediction of the change of ground conditions. To this end, three-dimensional convergence displacements is analyzed in several ways to estimate the trend of displacement change. Three-dimensional arching effect is occurred around the unsupported excavation surface including tunnel face when a tunnel is excavated in a stable rock mass. If the ground condition ahead of tunnel face changes or a weak fracture zone exists a specific trend of displacement change is known to be occurred from the results of the existing researches. The existence of a discontinuity, whose change in front of the tunnel face, can be predicted from the ratio of L/C (longitudinal displacement at crown divided by settlement at crown) etc. Therefore, the change of ground condition and the existence of a fracture zone ahead of tunnel face can be predicted by monitoring three-dimensional absolute displacements during excavation, and applying the methodology presented in this study.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.643-648
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• 2014

Understanding of fracture networks and rock mass properties during tunnel construction is extremely important for the prediction of dangers during excavation, and for deciding on appropriate excavation techniques and support. However, rapid construction process do not allow sufficient time for surveys and interpretations for spatial distributions of fractures and rock mass properties. This study introduces a new statistical approach for predicting joint distributions at foreside of current excavation face during the excavation process. The proposed methodology is based on a cumulative space diagram for joint sets. The diagram displays the cumulative spacing between adjacent joints on the vertical axis and the sequential position of each joint plotted at equally spaced intervals on the horizontal axis. According to the diagram, the degree of linearity of points representing the regularity of joint spacing; a linear trend of the points indicates that the joints are evenly spaced, with the slope of the line being directly related to the spacing. The linear points which are stepped indicates that the fracture set show clustered distribution. A clustered pattern within the linear group of points indicates a clustered joint distribution. Fractures surveyed from an excavated space can be plotted on this diagram, and the diagram can then be extended further according to the plotted diagram pattern. The extension of the diagram allows predictions about joint spacing in areas that have not yet been excavated. To test the model, we collected and analyzed data during excavation of a 10-m-long tunnel. Fractures in a 3-m zone behind the excavation face were predicted during the excavation, and the predictions were compared with observations. The methodology yielded reasonably good predictions of joint locations.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.187-196
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• 2016

We conducted three-dimensional finite element analysis to predict the presence of upcoming fault zones during tunneling. The analysis considered longitudinal displacements measured at tunnel face, and used 28 numerical models with various fault attitudes. The x-MR (moving range) control chart was used to analyze quantitatively the effects of faults distributed ahead of the tunnel face, given the occurrence of a longitudinal displacement. The numerical models with fault were classified as fault gouge, fault breccia, and fault damage zones. The width of fault cores was set to 1 m (fault gouge 0.5 m and fault breccia 0.5 m) and the width of fault damage zones was set to 2 m. The results, suggest that fault centers could be predicted at 2~26 m ahead of the tunnel face and that faults could be predicted earliest in the 45° dip model. In addition, faults could be predicted earliest when the angle between the direction of tunnel advance and the strike of the fault was smallest.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.71-83
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to present an analysis method for the prediction of the changes m ground conditions. To this end, three dimensional convergence displacements are analyzed in several ways to estimate the trend of displacement changes. Three-dimensional arching effect is occurred around the unsupported excavation surface including tunnel face when a tunnel is excavated in a stable rock mass. If the ground condition ahead of tunnel face changes or a weak zone exists, a diagnostic trend of displacement change is observed by the 3 dimensional measurement and numerical analysis. Therefore, the change of ground condition and the existence of a weak zone ahead of tunnel face can be predicted by monitoring 3-dimensional absolute displacements during excavation, and applying the methodology (the ratio of L/C, $C/C_o$, etc.) presented in this study.