• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.127-139
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• 2017

Site investigation including boring and various in-situ borehole test (Pressuremeter test, Borehole shear test, Downhole test, Suspension PS logging, Density logging) and X-ray fluorescence analysis for rock core sample were performed to estimate geotechnical properties and weathering degree of weathered granite rock in Goyang. Deformation modulus, shear strength parameter and shear wave velocity estimated through in-situ borehole test had a tendency to increase with depth. And several chemical weathering indices evaluated by X-ray fluorescence analysis had a general tendency of reducing weathering degree in accordance with depth. Also, relationship between VR determined as a representative weathering index and the geotechnical properties was analyzed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.227-236
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• 2003

The evaluation of the reliable strength and deformation characteristics of weathered granite masses is very important for the design of geotechnical structure under working stress conditions. Various types of laboratory test such as triaxial compression test can be performed to determine the strength parameters. However, it is very difficult to obtain the representative undisturbed samples on the site and also the rock specimen cannot represent rock mass including discontinuities, fracture zone, etc. This study aims to investigate the strength and deformation characteristics of granite masses corresponding to its weathering and develop a practical strength parameter evaluation method using the results of PMT. To predict weathering intensity and strength parameters of the weathered granite masess in the field, various laboratory tests and in-situ tests including field triaxial test and PMT are carried out. Based on the results of weathering index tests, the classification method is proposed to identify the weathering degree in three groups for the weathered granite masses. Using the analytical method based on the Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria and the cavity expansion theory, the strength parameters of rock masses were evaluated from the results of PMT. It shows that weathering intensity increases with decreasing the strength parameters exponentially. The strength parameters evaluated with the results of PM almost coincide with the results of field triaxial test.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.5-18
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• 2009

In construction of buildings in Korea, the buildings are frequently founded on the weathered ground (weathered soil/rock, fractured rock). In this case, to make a full use of a bearing capacity of a weathered ground for economic design, the shallow mat foundation system could be used. In this study, we have researched three cases of mat foundations on the weathered ground in Korea, and analyzed and considered the design procedures and the reinforcing methods. That is, we have considered the detail design, analysis proceedings, the ground settlement evaluation proceedings, the rock face mapping evaluations after excavation and reinforcing methods of the mat foundation on the weathered ground. And large scale plate load tests on the weathered ground supporting the mat foundation were performed and also load bearing capacity and settlement of actual mat foundation, considering the scale effect, were evaluated.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.23-32
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• 2017

For exposed slopes, the weathering degree over time has a major effect on the engineering properties of rocks and the slope stability. Rocks are gradually changed by weathering into soil over time, and the resulting physical, chemical and mechanical changes of rocks affect the engineering stability of the slope. However, there are not many ways to objectively evaluate the weathering degree of a slope. In this study, therefore, to investigate the weathering characteristics of rocks, granite, gneiss and shale distributed in the Chungbuk region were sampled by weathering stage and changes in their component minerals and tissues were investigated. Furthermore, artificial weathering was induced using the freezing and thawing test and quantitatively investigated through porosity and absorption rate. In addition, the changes of microcracks due to artificial weathering were evaluated through box fractal dimension ($D_B$). Through mineralogical study the phase change of constituting minerals, the growth of secondary minerals, the development of micro-cracks and the fabric changes due to weathering were observed. The mineralogical, chemical and engineering evaluations of the weathering degree through the experimental results in this study are expected to be useful for analyzing the weathering characteristics and causes by rock type and for proposing a methodology to evaluate the degradation of physical properties comparatively and quantitatively.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.460-470
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• 2011

Wave velocity was measured to define the weathering characteristics of rock and the strength evaluation of weathered rock on a target of the Aso gravestones with various sizes under the natural environment. As a result, the size correction method which was changed sample of the different size to one of the same size for evaluating wave velocity was proposed, and also suggested the NET (Normalized Elapsed Time) as a new weathering index of rock. In addition, the strength of the weathered rock was estimated from the weathering classification of rock using the NET. Wave velocity of welded tuff was high and didn't show velocity degradation, on the other hand, one of andesite was low and showed velocity degradation. The degree of weathering between rocks of the different size is considered to be comparable, applying the NET based on the on the $V_p/V_o$-NET curve. Furthermore, the classification of rock weathering stages using the NET based on the $S_c/S_o$-NET curve was available, and the estimation of strength for the weathered rock was also possible.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.17-25
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• 2016

The rocks exposed on the surface undergo expedite weathering process due to the effects of climatic process, etc. and the weathering process changes the properties of minerals, thereby lowering the stability of rocks. Therefore, it is important to examine the composition of minerals in order to investigate the resistance of rocks against weathering, which is performed by weathering sensitivity analysis. And microscopic flaking test was performed for the bored samples in this study and the composition of minerals that are vulnerable to weathering was measured through mode analysis. The lithological and mineralogical weathering factors were evaluated through this process. Furthermore, the degree of progress of weathering was identified by quantitatively measuring the actual mineral composition of rocks through X-Ray diffraction analysis and identifying the secondary minerals through observation with a scanning electron microscope. This analyzing the weathering sensitivity was analyzed to be capable of determining appropriate indicators that can determine weather resistance and predicting the weathering grade using chemical weathering speed.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.213-225
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• 2009

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of chemical weathering on the granite and orthogneiss in Wonju area based on accelerated artificial chemical weathering. The rock samples were scrutinized the variation of index properties and ion exchanges caused by artificial chemical weathering which was implemented with leaching test for 170 days using double soxhlet extractor. The differential weathering and decrease of p wave velocity were obtained by weathering process without significant changes of porosity. In case of granite samples, the uniaxial compression strength was reduced by 20% and 16% for the F-grade and SW-grade, respectively. For MW-grade granite, however, was not able to examine the effect of strength reduction due to lack of sample number. Also, for orthogneiss, it is difficult to compare the values of uniaxial compressive strength between before and after the test because of its strong anisotropy.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.6C
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• pp.431-443
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• 2006

As part of a fundamental characterization for subsurface layers in Korea, the weathering degree and shear wave velocity ($V_S$) were evaluated from the X-ray fluorescence analyses and the site investigations containing boring and in-situ seismic tests, respectively, for decomposed granite layer in Hongsung. The subsurface layers at Hongsung were composed of 10 to 40 m thickness of weathered layer in most sites. According to the results of weathering degree analyses in Hongsung, it was examined that three chemical weathering indexes such as MWPI, VR and WIP generally increased with decreasing depth. From the in-situ seismic tests, the $V_S$ was determined as the range between 200 and 500 m/s in weathered layer. Based on the $V_S$ and N value at borehole seismic testing sites, N-$V_S$ correlations were established for weathered layer. Furthermore, the relationships of three representative weathering indexes with the $V_S$ and N value indicated that the MWPI, WIP and 100/VR increased linearly as increasing $V_S$ and exponentially as increasing N value.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.303-305
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• 2002

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.126-138
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• 2012

Ultrasonic method is widely used for the evaluation of weathering index and of degree of deterioration because it is easily applicable $in$ $situ$. The basic idea of the method is that the ultrasonic velocity decreases as a rock is being weathered. Thus, the difference of ultrasonic velocities between fresh rock and weathered rock indicates the degree of weathering. In this method, the ultrasonic velocity of fresh rock is assumed to be 5,000 m/s. However, this assumption can cause significant errors in estimating weathering index, especially in case that those rocks of the same type have a wide range of ultrasonic velocities such as in Korea. Therefore, we obtained twenty rock specimens and sixty core samples commonly used for stone cultural heritages in Korea, and measured ultrasonic velocities. From the results, we found that the ultrasonic velocities of the same rock type, granite samples range from 3,118 to 5,380 m/s, and that the estimated weathering index can be highly biased if we use the fixed value of 5,000 m/s. We created a database (DB) by combining the measurement data and reported it. We also measured ultrasonic velocities by direct and indirect methods to quantify the calibration coefficient for each sampling site. We found that the calibration coefficients vary widely from site to site (1.31-1.76). Other factors, such as operator bias and temperature did not show any significant effect on errors in ultrasonic velocity measurements. Lastly, we applied our ultrasonic velocity DB and calibration coefficients to a stone cultural heritage, Bonghwang-ri Buddha statue. Our estimation of the weathering index was 0.3, 0.1 smaller than that by conventional method. The degree of deterioration was also different, "moderately weathered", while conventional method gave "highly weathered". Since other independent studies reported that the degree of deterioration of the Buddha statue was "moderately weathered", our estimation seems to be more accurate. Thus our method can help accurately evaluate the weathering index and the conservation planning for a stone cultural heritage.