• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.723-738
• /
• 2017

Rock is a heterogeneous material, which introduces complexity in the analysis of rock slopes, since both the existing discontinuities within the rock mass and the intact rock contribute to the degradation of strength. Rock failure is often catastrophic due to the brittle nature of the material, involving the sliding along structural planes and the fracturing of rock bridge. This paper proposes an advanced discretization method of rock mass based on block theory. An in-house software, GeoSMA-3D, has been developed to generate the discrete fracture network (DFN) model, considering both measured and artificial joints. Measured joints are obtained from the photogrammetry analysis on the excavation face. Statistical tools then facilitate to derive artificial joints within the rock mass. Key blocks are searched to provide guidance on potential reinforcement measures. The discretized blocky system is subsequently implemented into a discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) code. Strength reduction technique is employed to analyze the stability of the slope, where the factor of safety can be obtained once excessive deformation of slope profile is observed. The combined analysis approach also provides the failure mode, which can be used to guide the choice of strengthening strategy if needed. Finally, an illustrated example is presented for the analysis of a rock slope of 20 m height inclined at $60^{\circ}$ using combined GeoSMA-3D and DDA calculation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 1991.10a
• /
• pp.216-232
• /
• 1991

This Finite Element Program(TAFEM) has been developed to be able to carry out the structural analsis of tunnel section and simulate the surrounding ground behaviour due to New Austrian Tunnelling Method, of which main support is the surrounding ground, itself. The Elasto-plastic theory has been applied. The used finite elements are 8-noded isoparametric element(rock & shotcrete), 2 or 3-noded rod element(rock bolt) and infinite boundary element. The load incremental method and tangential stiffness method has been used. Associated flow rule was applied to plastic flow and yield criteria inclued not only Mohr-Coulomb but also Drucker-Prager. In this paper, Drucker-Prager yield criterion has been used. The relationship between plastic strain and stress is based on the incremental strain concept and stress-strain equation on the basis of the stress path of each gauss point has been adopted. It may be rational that rock is considered to be no-tension material, so that no-tension analysis has been adopted in accordance with the brittle fracture constitutive equation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.871-882
• /
• 2017

Indirect measure of the tensile strength of laboratory samples is an important topic in rock engineering. One of the most important tests, the Brazilian strength test is performed to obtain the tensile strength of rock, concrete and other quasi brittle materials. Because the measurements are provided indirectly and the inspected rock materials may have heterogeneous properties, uncertainty quantification is required for a reliable test evaluation. In addition to the conventional measurement evaluation uncertainty methods recommended by the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM), such as Taylor's and Monte Carlo Methods, a fuzzy set-based approach is also proposed and resulting uncertainties are discussed. The results showed that when a tensile strength measurement is measured by a laboratory test, its uncertainty can also be expressed by one of the methods presented.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.29-34
• /
• 2017

This Analyzed case study of measuring displacement, implemented laboratory investigation, and in-situ testing in order to interpret ground subsidence risk rating by excavation work. Since geological features of each country are different, it is necessary to objectify or classify quantitatively ground subsidence risk evaluation in accordance with Korean ground character. Induced main factor that could be evaluated and used to predicted ground subsidence risk through literature investigation and analysis study on research trend related to the ground subsidence. Major factors of ground subsidence might be classified by geological features as overburden, boundary surface of ground, soil, rock and water. These factors affect each other differently in accordance with type of ground that's classified soil, rock, or complex. Then rock could be classified including limestone element or not, also in case of the latter it might be classified whether brittle shear zone or not.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.1153-1160
• /
• 2018

Rockbursts, catastrophic events involving the violent release of elastic energy stored in rock features, remain a worldwide challenge for geoengineering. Especially at deep-mining sites, rockbursts can occur in hard, high-stress, brittle rock zones, and the associated risk depends on such factors as mining activity and the stress on surrounding rocks. Rockbursts are often sudden and destructive, but there is still no unified standard for predicting them. Based on previous studies, a new Bayesian multi-index model was introduced to predict and evaluate rockbursts. In this method, the rock strength index, energy release index, and surrounding rock stress are the basic factors. Values from 18 rock samples were obtained, and the potential rockburst risks were evaluated. The rockburst tendencies of the samples were modelled using three existing methods. The results were compared with those obtained by the new Bayesian model, which was observed to predict rockbursts more effectively than the current methods.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.1013-1028
• /
• 2017

This paper presents key findings obtained from the numerical experiment investigating into the use of the cylindrical cavity for rock splitting operations. The stress and strain path analyses were carried out in order to provide a better insight into the crack formation. The principal stress analysis carried out along the crack line using the results obtained from these numerical analyses allowed the failure of the brittle material and the crack propagation to be investigated. This paper also suggested possible reasons for the change in crack direction observed during the rock splitting operations using the results obtained.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.349-358
• /
• 2021

The Brazilian test has been widely used to determine the indirect tensile strength of rock, concrete and other brittle materials. The basic assumption for the calculation formula of Brazilian tensile strength is that the elastic moduli of rock are the same both in tension and compression. However, the fact is that the elastic moduli in tension and compression of most rocks are different. Thus, the formula of Brazilian tensile strength under the assumption of isotropy is unreasonable. In the present study, we conducted Brazilian tests on flat disk-shaped rock specimens and attached strain gauges at the center of the disc to measure the strains of rock. A tension-compression bi-modular model is proposed to interpret the data of the Brazilian test. The relations between the principal strains, principal stresses and the ratio of the compressive modulus to tensile modulus at the disc center are established. Thus, the tensile and compressive moduli as well as the correct tensile strength can be estimated simultaneously by the new formulas. It is found that the tensile and compressive moduli obtained using these formulas were in well agreement with the values obtained from the direct tension and compression tests. The formulas deduced from the Brazilian test based on the assumption of isotropy overestimated the tensile strength and tensile modulus and underestimated the compressive modulus. This work provides a new methodology to estimate tensile strength and moduli of rock simultaneously considering tension-compression bi-modularity.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.93-105
• /
• 2022

With the exploitation of natural resources in China, underground resource extraction and underground space development, as well as other engineering activities are increasing, resulting in the creation of many defective rocks. In this paper, uniaxial compression tests were performed on rocks with double holes and fractures at different angles using particle flow code (PFC2D) numerical simulations and laboratory experiments. The failure behavior and mechanical properties of rock samples with holes and fractures at different angles were analyzed. The failure modes of rock with defects at different angles were identified. The fracture propagation and stress evolution characteristics of rock with fractures at different angles were determined. The results reveal that compared to intact rocks, the peak stress, elastic modulus, peak strain, initiation stress, and damage stress of fractured rocks with different fracture angles around holes are lower. As the fracture angle increases, the gap in mechanical properties between the defective rock and the intact rock gradually decreased. In the force chain diagram, the compressive stress concentration range of the combined defect of cracks and holes starts to decrease, and the model is gradually destroyed as the tensile stress range gradually increases. When the peak stress is reached, the acoustic emission energy is highest and the rock undergoes brittle damage. Through a comparative study using laboratory tests, the results of laboratory real rocks and numerical simulation experiments were verified and the macroscopic failure characteristics of the real and simulated rocks were determined to be similar. This study can help us correctly understand the mechanical properties of rocks with defects and provide theoretical guidance for practical rock engineering.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.155-164
• /
• 2017

During the past decades, development of reinforcing materials caused a revolution in the structure of high strength and high performance cement-based concrete. Among the most important and exciting reinforcing materials, Steel Fiber (SF) becomes a widely used in the recent years. The main reason for addition of SF is to enhance the toughness and tensile strength and limit development and propagation of cracks and deformation characteristics of the SF blended concrete. Basically this technique of strengthening the concrete structures considerably modifies the physical and mechanical properties of plain cement-based concrete which is brittle in nature with low flexural and tensile strength compared to its intrinsic compressive strength. This paper presents an overview of the work carried out on the use of SF as reinforcement in cement-based concrete matrix. Reported properties in this study are fresh properties, mechanical and durability of the blended concretes.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.243-251
• /
• 1999

Granitic rock, by its nature, contains numerous micro-discontinuities including grain boundary, microcracks, microcavities and mineral cleavages. The brittle fracture of rock is a progressive procedure in which the failure occurs with prior microcracking. In this paper, initiation, propagation and interaction of microcracks are considered to be the dominant, controlling micromechanisms of macroscopic failure. The authors show a few patterns of microcrack initiation and propagation by using sequential photographs of water-saturated granite taken under triaxial compressive state. The failure process was observed directly and continuously by a newly developed triaxial compressive test system.