• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2006

The recent environmental protection issue has diminished the supply of sand for soft ground improvements so much that the prices of sand have shown a sudden rise. Plastic material is one of substitutes for sand material, but plastic is nonperishable and doubtable if it has potential environmental hormone disrupting substances. Moderate-priced natural fiber drain board made with coconut coir and jute filter are in the spotlight recently as an alternative material for sand and plastic drain board etc. Natural fiber drain has not only competitive price but also a characteristic of assimilation into the soils after finishing of its own function. Discharge capacity of the fiber drain board evaluated by triaxial type discharge capacity test was relatively lower than that of plastic drain board. Nevertheless, settlement and pore pressure dissipation behaviors of the fiber drain board and the plastic drain board which were installed in the clayey soil during the composite discharge capacity test were almost similar. It was also found that biodegradation of the fiber drain board was in progress until 18 month after installation in the clayey soil, but they had still enough engineering properties to use at field.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2005

Discharge capacity of the fiber mat and the fiber drain made with natural fibers abstracted from plant source was evaluated by permeability test for fiber mat and Delft type test and composite discharge capacity test using disturbed clayey soils for fiber drain. The permeability test results for environmentally friendly coconut fiber mat prove that fiber mat has outstanding permeability in substituting permeable sand. However, discharge capacity of fiber drain evaluated by conventional Delft type discharge capacity test was relatively lower than that of plastic drain board. Nevertheless, settlement and pore pressure dissipation behaviors of fiber drain and plastic drain board installed clay soil during the composite discharge capacity test were almost similar to that of plastic drain board. It is found that the natural fiber drain satisfies requiring minimum discharge capacity in substituting the conventional plastic drain board.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.313-319
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• 1999

The properties of natural fiber filter are evaluated using laboratory experiments to find out the possibility of natural fiber drain as a substitute material of plastic board drain Experiments performed for natural fiber filter are effective opening size, permeability and clogging, Three filters were used in the experiment, which are constituted with the filter of different densities encircled with wefts and warps. The results were compared with those for the filter of MD88-80.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.249-250
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• 2007

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• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.37-45
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• 2008

A pilot test using environmentally friendly drains, was carried out to evaluate their applicability potential in the field. The pilot test site was divided into 5 different areas, with several combinations of vertical and horizontal drains installed for evaluation. Conventional natural fiber drains (FDB), new developed straw drain board (SDB) and plastic drain board (PDB) were used as vertical drains, while sand and fiber mats were used as horizontal drains. Surface settlement rates and excess pore pressure generation/dissipation tendency of PDB and FDB are almost identical except those of SDB. Cone tip resistance obtained from cone penetration test measured at the end of 1st consolidation stage for upper soft layer definitely increased irrespective of types of vertical drains. The monitoring and site investigation test data obtained at the pilot test site prove the vertical natural fiber drains can be used as substitutes of conventional plastic and sand material.

• Proceedings of the Korean Fiber Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.105-105
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• 2003

Theoretical studies have been performed for drainage and filtration characteristics, low consolidation rate of sandmat and prefabricated horizontal and vertical drain. Discussion on quality control and methodology, cost analysis for sandmat and prefabricated horizontal drains were performed.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2006

Although the discharge capacity of the natural fiber drains are very low compared to that of plastic drain board (PDB), it is found that the conventional fiber drains and the new developed straw drain boards have great potential for use as a substitute for conventional plastic drain boards through several model tests. To verify their field application, a pilot test using environmentally friendly drains is also being carried out to prove their effective discharge capacity in the field. The pilot test site was divided into 5 different areas, with various combinations of vertical and horizontal drains installed for evaluation. Definite characteristics of various drains are still to be found due to the delay in construction of embankment. Consolidation behavior of three types of vertical drains and two types of horizontal drains will be analyzed after the completion of the embankment in the near future.