• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.4E
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• pp.167-175
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• 2003

Shear wave velocity was measured and grain size analysis was conducted on two core samples obtained in unconsolidated marine sediments of the western continental margin, the East Sea. A pulse transmission technique based on the Hamilton frame was used to measure shear wave velocity. Duomorph ceramic bender transducer-receiver elements were used to generate and detect shear waves in sediment samples. Time delay was calculated by changing the sample length from the transducer-receiver element. Time delay is 43.18 μs and shear wave velocity (22.49 m/s) is calculated from the slope of regression line. Shear wave velocities of station 1 and 2 range from 8.9 to 19.0 m/s and from 8.8 to 22 mis, respectively. Shear wave velocities with depth in both cores are qualitatively in agreement with the compared model〔1〕, although the absolute value is different. The sediment type of two core samples is mud (mean grain size, 8-9Φ). Shear wave velocity generally increases with sediment depth, which is suggesting normally consolidated sediments. The complicated variation of velocity anisotropy with depth at station 2 is probably responsible for sediment disturbance by possible gas effect.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.276-280
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• 2020

A linear piezoelectric actuator that utilizes the elliptical motion of the two tips of the actuator is proposed. This device is easy to fabricate owing to its simple structure, consisting of three piezo ceramic benders and is suitable for use in micro robotic applications. A π-shaped structure, which was composed of four piezo ceramic benders, was constructed. Two of the benders were positioned on the center of the actuator, and the joints were attached at the ends of the cantilever. The other two benders were positioned on the side of the actuator and were attached between the joint and the tips. The actuator structure was designed to obtain the first bending mode of the horizontal vibration and the vertical vibration at the same frequency, resulting in elliptical motions at the tips. When two sinusoidal wave voltages with a 90-degree phase difference were applied to the two pairs of the actuator benders, elliptical motions were obtained at the tips. The driving characteristics of the prototype actuator were then measured using a laser doppler vibrometer.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.353-366
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• 2024

Organic soils pose significant challenges in geotechnical engineering due to their high compressibility and low stability, which can result in issues like differential settlement, rutting, and pavement deformation. This study explores effective methods for stabilizing organic soils. Rather than conventional ordinary Portland cement (OPC), the focus is on using environmentally friendly calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement, known for its rapid setting, high early strength development, and environmental benefits. Mechanical behavior is analyzed through 1-D free swell, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and bender element (BE) tests. Microstructural analyses, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), characterize the soil mixed with CSA cement. Experimental results demonstrate improved soil properties with increasing cement dosage and curing periods. A notable strength increase is observed in soil samples with 15% cement content, with UCS doubling after 7 days. This trend aligns with shear wave velocity results from the BE test. SEM and FTIR spectroscopy reveal how CSA cement hydration forms hydrated calcium silicate gel and ettringite, enhancing soil properties. CSA cement is recommended for reinforcing organic subgrade soil due to its eco-friendly nature and rapid strength gain, contributing to improved durability.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.31-37
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• 2014

In situ investigations and laboratory tests using elastic wave have become popular in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering. Propagation velocity of elastic wave is the key index to evaluate the ground characteristics. To evaluate this, various methods were used in both time domain and frequency domain. In time domain, the travel time can be found from the two points that have the same phase such as peaks or first rises. Cross-correlation can also be used in time domain by evaluating the time shift amount that makes the product of signals of input and received waveforms maximum. In frequency domain, wave propagation velocity can be evaluated by computing the phase differences between the source and received waves. In this study, wave propagation velocity evaluated by the methods listed above were compared. Bender element tests were conducted on the specimens cut from the undisturbed hand-cut block samples obtained from Block 37 excavation site in Chicago, IL, US. The evaluation methods in time domain provides relatively wide range of wave propagation velocities due to the noise in signals and the sampling frequency of data logger. Frequency domain approach provides relatively accurate wave propagation velocities and is irrelevant to the sampling frequency of data logger.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.5-16
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• 2009

Preconsolidation stress is one of the important design parameters in soft soils because the behavior of saturated soft soils changes dramatically at the preconsolidation stress. For the estimation of preconsolidation stress, the global vertical settlement without considering micro strain behavior has been considered. The purpose of this study is to propose and verify a new method called the "shear wave velocity method" for determination of the preconsolidation stress reflecting on particle behavior at the small-strain. In this study, the undisturbed soft soils obtained at Busan, Incheon and Gwangyang in Korea were used. The oedometer cell incoporated with the bender elements is used for the consolidation tests under the $K_0$ condition. The preconsolidation stress determined by the proposed method is compared with that estimated by Casagrande (e-log p'), Sridharan (log (1+e)-log p'), and Onitsuka (In(1+e)-log p') methods. This study suggests that the shear wave velocity method may determine simply the preconsolidation stress with considering the small-strain behavior.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.27-36
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• 2012

The simulation of the field dynamic soil properties for soil modeling in the centrifuge test is important. In this study, the process of soil modeling based on the shear wave velocity profile is developed. From the resonant column test in each confining pressure, the shear wave velocity profile is expected and the modeling condition is determined by comparing it with that in the field. During the dynamic centrifuge test, the bender element test is performed for measuring the in-flight shear wave velocity profile, and the applicability of the proposed method was verified. This modeling method is applied to the centrifuge test of the Hualien Large-Scale Seismic test.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09c
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• pp.3-10
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• 2010

Case study was carried out on the interpretation of the mechanical behavior of a severely damaged reinforced earth wall comprising geotextile with the concrete panel facing. In this part I, the outline of the damaged reinforced earth wall is in detail described. The background and cause of the damage are discussed based on the results of site investigation. The engineering properties of the fill were examined by performing various in-situ and laboratory tests, including the surface wave survey (SWS), PS-logging, RI-logging, soaking test, the direct shear box (DSB) test, bender element (BE) test, etc. The background as well as the cause for the damage of the wall may be described such that i) a considerable amount of settlement took place over a 3m thick weak soil layer in the lower part of the reinforced earth due to seepage of rainfall water, ii) the weight of the upper fill was partially supported by the geo-textile hooked on the concrete panels (n.b., named conveniently "hammock state" in this paper), and iii) the concrete panels to form the hammock were severely damaged by the unexpectedly large downwards compression force triggered by the tension force of the geotextile. The numerical simulation for the hammock state of the wall, together with counter-measures to re- stabilize the wall is subsequently described in Part II.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.111-122
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• 2012

Resistivity seismic dilatometer (RSDMT) system is introduced. The resistivity module for obtaining resistivity-depth plot and seismic module for obtaining wave velocity-depth plot are attached to the conventional flat dilatometer testing equipment. To enhance the reliability and repeatability of seismic part in RSDMT, automatic testing system including automatic surface source, PC based data acquisition system and operating program was constructed. To obtain real resistivity value of soil, geometric factor for the array of electrodes in RSDMT was derived empirically. The verification studies for the developed RSDMT system were performed with SPT, CPTu, bender element test and DC resistivity survey. Through one penetration of RSDMT, various soil parameters were obtained and the reliability and repeatability of developed RSDMT system could be checked.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.17-33
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• 2022

This study describes the effect of ground water table on the dynamic analysis of single piles subjected to earthquake loading. The dynamic numerical analysis was performed for different dry and saturated soils with varying the relative densities of surrounding weathered soils (SM). The test soil was a weathered soil encountered in the engineering field and bender element tests were conducted to estimate the dynamic properties of test soil. The Mohr-Coulomb model and Finn model were used for soil, dry and saturated conditions, respectively. These models validated with results of centrifuge tests. When compared with the results from the soil conditions, saturated cases showed more lateral displacement and bending moment of piles than dry cases, and this difference caused from the generation of excess porewater pressure. It means that the kinematic effect of the soil decreased as the excess pore water pressure was generated, and it was changed to the inertial behavior of the pile.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.41-48
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• 2022

The mass density of the medium (ρ) used to calculate the maximum shear modulus (G_max) of the saturated ground based on the shear wave velocity is unclear. Therefore, to determine the mass density, a verification formula and five scenarios were established. Laboratory tests were conducted, and the obtained results were compared. The mass density of the medium was assumed to be saturated (ρ_sat), wet (ρ_t), dry (ρ_dry), and submerged conditions (ρ_sub), and the V_s ratios of saturated to dry condition were obtained from each case. Assuming the saturated density (ρ_sat), the V_s ratio was consistent with the value from the resonant column test (RCT) results, and the value from the bender element test results was consistent with the wet density assumption (ρ_t). Considering the frequency range of earthquakes, it is concluded that applying the saturated density (ρ_sat) is reasonable as in the RCT results.