• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.6-19
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• 2003

This study has for its object to increase an objectivity of the observation result in the face mapping of tunnel and to suggest the reasonable support and reinforcement methods to be considered the rock properties. It was developed in this study to the tunnel stability evaluation system(Prototype NFEST) to be used fuzzy set theory and neuro-fuzzy techniques, and this system was verified according to the reliability evaluation between the 36 learning data and the inferred results. When it summarized the results; (1) 12 evaluation items and ranges were proposed to be modified basis on the RMR which are well known to the domestic workers. (2) It was shown that correlation coefficient(│R│) between $RMR_{inf}$ inferred by 12 items and $RMR_{org}$ due to arithmetic total, $RMR_{chk}$ due to subjective judgement of observer are relatively high relationship with each 0.83 and 0.79. (3) Inferred result of the total tunnel safety shows also a good relationship with $RMR_{inf}$ (│R│=0.7) and the rock weathering(│R│=0.84).

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.1 s.66
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• pp.9-16
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• 2007

The influence of round length on the tunnel stability and construction cost is well acknowledged by many researchers and engineers but the coherent procedure is not available for its determination. In this study, the behaviour modes of the face and unsupported span was investigated for weak rock tunnel by a small scale model test, PFC3D and FDM analyses in consideration of the round length. Total five types of behaviour modes are defined and quantitative estimation of the behaviour modes was established in terms of the safety factor for the face stability and the conditional chart. Although the proposed method has some restrictions, this method can provide useful information for the optimization of the round length and excavation, especially in design stage.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.327-343
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• 2004

During tunnel construction, ground failures often occur due to existence of weak zones, such as faults, joints, and cavities, ahead of tunnel face. It is hard to detect effectively weak zones, which can lead underground structure to fail after excavation and before supporting, by using conventional characterization methods. In this study, an enhanced analytical method of predicting weak zones ahead of tunnel face is developed to overcome some problems in the conventional geophysical exploration methods. The analytical method is based on Coulomb's and Gauss' laws with considering the characteristics of electric fields subjected to rock mass. Using the developed method, closed form solutions are obtained to detect a spherical shaped zone and an oriented fault ahead of tunnel face respectively. The analytical results suggest that the presence of weak zones and their sizes, location, and states can be accurately predicted by combining a proper inversion process with resistance measured from several electrodes on the tunnel face. It appears that the skin depth or resistivity in rock mass is affected by the diameter of tunnel face, natural electric potential and noises induced by experimental measurement and spatial distribution of uncertain properties. The developed analytical solution is verified through experimental tests. About 1800 concrete blocks of 5cm by 5cm by 5cm in size are prepared and used to model a joint rock mass around tunnel face. Weak zones are simulated ahead of tunnel face with a material which has relatively higher conductivity than concrete blocks. Experimental results on the model test show a good agreement with analytical results.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.217-230
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• 2022

The adequate control of TBM face pressure is of vital importance to maintain face stability by preventing face collapse and surface settlement. An EPB shield TBM excavates the ground by applying face pressure with the excavated soil in the pressure chamber. One of the challenges during the EPB shield TBM operation is the control of face pressure due to difficulty in managing the excavated soil. In this study, the face pressure of an EPB shield TBM was predicted using the geological and operational data acquired from a domestic TBM tunnel site. Four machine learning algorithms: KNN (K-Nearest Neighbors), SVM (Support Vector Machine), RF (Random Forest), and XGB (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) were applied to predict the face pressure. The model comparison results showed that the RF model yielded the lowest RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) value of 7.35 kPa. Therefore, the RF model was selected as the optimal machine learning algorithm. In addition, the feature importance of the RF model was analyzed to evaluate appropriately the influence of each feature on the face pressure. The water pressure indicated the highest influence, and the importance of the geological conditions was higher in general than that of the operation features in the considered site.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.71-82
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• 2006

One of the most popular pre-reinforcement methods of tunnel heading in cohesionless soils would be the fore-polling of grouted pipes, known as RPUM (reinforced protective umbrella method) or UAM (umbrella arch method). This technique allows safe excavation even in poor ground conditions by creating longitudinal arch parallel to the tunnel axis as the tunnel advances. Some previous studies on the reinforcing effects have been performed using numerical methods and/or laboratory-based small scale model tests. The complexity of boundary conditions imposes difficulties in representing the tunnelling procedure in laboratory tests and theoretical approaches. Full-scale study to identify reinforcing effects of the tunnel heading has rarely been carried out so far. In this study, a large scale model testing for a tunnel in granular soils was performed. Reinforcing patterns considered are four cases, Non-Reinforced, Crown-Reinforced, Crown & Face-Reinforced, and Face-Reinforced. The behavior of ground and pipes as reinforcing member were fully measured as the surcharge pressure applied. The influences of reinforcing pattern, pipe length, and face reinforcement were investigated in terms of stress and displacement. It is revealed that only the Face-Reinforced has decreased sufficiently both vertical settlement in tunnel heading and horizontal displacement on the face. Vertical stresses along the tunnel axis were concentrated in tunnel heading from the test results, so the heading should be reinforced before tunnel advancing. Most of maximum axial forces and bending moments for Crown-reinforced were measured at 0.75D from the face. Also it should be recommended that the minimum length of the pipe is more than l.0D for crown reinforcement.

• Magazine of korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.7-19
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• 2016

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.545-553
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• 2008

Face mapping and displacement monitoring during tunnel construction are the most influential information for the stability assessment of ground and around structures. Especially, the result of face mapping and displacement analysis is essential to the excavation and support design in NATM which is based on the drilling and blasting. However, there have not been so many studies to put those useful information into practice for decision-making process during construction. The study reviewed the tunnel behaviour based on the RMR rating and displacement monitoring when the geological condition of rock mass varies inevitably. The study analysed the crown settlement using convergence equation in order to compensate the disparity induced by the location and time of measurement and found a distinct relation between the geological condition and the line of influence. As a result of analysing the various parameters related to the tunnel convergence according to the geological condition, the study suggested the basic knowledge about the relation between face mapping and displacement behaviour of tunnel.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.35-45
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• 2008

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.6 s.53
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• pp.440-449
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• 2004

Rock mass includes natural discontinuities such as joints and faults during its formation. Discontinuities are also referred as planes of weakness because of their weak mechanical characteristics. In the design of underground structures, it is necessary to consider the properties of discontinuities to insure the stability. During the excavation of a tunnel, these discontinuities have to be identified as early as possible so that proper change in excavation method or support design can be made accordingly. The excavation of the tunnel in a stable rock mass causes a 3-dimensional arching effect around the excavation face. It was revealed by previous studies that the existence of a weak zone or a fault zone ahead of tunnel foe induces a typical displacement tendency of convergence. For better understanding of the meaning of influence/trend lines of various displacement components, three-dimensional numerical analyses were conducted while varying deformation moduli, thicknesses and orientations of discontinuities. Numerical results showed that the changes in influence/trend lines of various displacement components were very similar to those by measurements. The discrepancies from the expected values were dependent on the physical properties, thicknesses and orientations of discontinuities.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.197-207
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• 2005

Design analysis for underground spaces requires evaluating stability related to heading collapses. A failure mode is one of the critical factors in the conventional methods of stability evaluation. Identification of failure modes is, therefore, essential in securing safe construction. In this study failure modes at the tunnel heading in cohesionless soils are investigated using physical model tests for various tunnel depths and ground surface inclinations. Test results showed that the effect of depth and the inclination of ground surface on a failure mode are of significance. It is identified that, with an increase in depth, failure modes become localized in a region close to tunnel face. It is also known that an increase in the inclination of ground surface results in inclined an d wide failure modes. Numerical simulation of laboratory tests was performed, and shown that the numerical analysis is useful in identifying the heading failure modes, particularly for large underground spaces.