• 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 radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.17-21
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• 2004

With advancement of the medical imaging technology, the dynamic pelvic MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) has been introduced and used for dynamic MR defecography to improved diagnosis of the patients. At the early stage of its use, it was mostly used to diagnose enterocele or cystocele, then its use was extended to diagnose the organ prolapse and other dysfunctional pelvis organs. There now have been many reports of other diseases such as the functional constipation and others. This paper introduces the pelvis MRI and the dynamic MR defecography and reports the future trend in their clinical applications. Until recently, the studies with pelvic MRI were mostly focused on observing the movement of the pelvis in the supine position. Yang and 26 others reported good result in observing the patients with the pelvic organ prolapse by using the pubococcygeal line as the anatomical index. Using the fast gradient recalled acquisition (fast GRASS), they compared cystocoele, genitourinary prolapse, enterocoele and rectocoele with the control group. Kruyt et al. observed the posterior compartment and reported that MRI was more helpful than the fluoroscopy. Healy et al. applied the dynamic MRI test on the patients with constipation or incontinence as well as the control group without those symptoms. Since then, MRI technology has further advance by Lienemann, who was able to attain the more detailed images using the fast T2 weighted turbo spin echo technology, and others. If its limitation in diagnosing intussusception and the like, since the observation can be made only from the supine position, can be overcome with open MR or others, it is envisages that the method can eventually replace the radiological defecography.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2023

As the intensity of urban underground space development increases, more and more tunnels are planned and constructed, and sometimes it is inevitable to encounter situations where tunnels have to underpass the river embankments. Most previous studies involved tunnels passing river embankments perpendicularly or with large intersection angle. In this study, a project case where two EPB shield tunnels with 8.82 m diameter run parallelly underneath a river embankment was reported. The parallel length is 380 m and tunnel were mainly buried in the moderate / slightly weathered clastic rock layer. The field monitoring result was presented and discussed. Three-dimensional back-analysis were then carried out to gain a better understanding the interaction mechanisms between shield tunnel and embankment and further to predict the ultimate settlement of embankment due to twin-tunnel excavation. Parametrical studies considering effect of tunnel face pressure, tail grouting pressure and volume loss were also conducted. The measured embankment settlement after the single tunnel excavation was 4.53 mm ~ 7.43 mm. Neither new crack on the pavement or cavity under the roadbed was observed. It is found that the more degree of weathering of the rock around the tunnel, the greater the embankment settlement and wider the settlement trough. Besides, the latter tunnel excavation might cause larger deformation than the former tunnel excavation if the mobilized plastic zone overlapped. With given geometry and stratigraphic condition in this study, the safety or serviceability of the river embankment would hardly be affected since the ultimate settlement of the embankment after the twin-tunnel excavation is within the allowable limit. Reasonable tunnel face pressure and tail grouting pressure can to some extent suppress the settlement of the embankment. The recommended tunnel face pressure and tail grouting pressure are 300 kPa and 550 kPa in this study, respectively. However, the volume loss plays the crucial role in the tunnel-embankment interaction. Controlling and compensating the tunneling induced volume loss is the most effective measure for river embankment protection. Additionally, reinforcing the embankment with cement mixing pile in advance is an alternative option in case the predicted settlement exceeds allowable limit.