• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.21-35
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• 2015

Electrical resistivity survey (2D and 3D) were employed for detection of possible weak zone of core zones of three central core earth-rockfill dams in Korea. In the 2D results, the core zones is lower resistivity zone with less than $50{\sim}400ohm{\cdot}m$, and the basement is relatively higher resistivity zone with over $1,000ohm{\cdot}m$. In the 3D results, especially, the weak zone with under $100ohm{\cdot}m$ was detected spatial distribution area in the dam. We also drilled boreholes to collect soil samples of core zones of each dam. Water was not used during boring, because water for rotary wash boring could cause structural damages in earth dams. We found that the soil samples of core zones from all of the boreholes correspond to CL (USCS), but we also found that the fluidized or water-saturated soil samples were found in lower resistivity zones. Therefore, the electrical resistivity survey and drilling method without water are a quick and efficient method for structural-health evaluation which is detection of possible weak zones in earth core rockfill dams.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.25-36
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• 2022

In this study, seepage control effect of relief well was evaluated quantitatively on embankment of small fill dam and levee. Seepage analysis of dam and levee were carried out according to the permeability of fill material and foundation and to analyze behaviour characteristics of seepage. The up-lift pressure at toe of embankment was analyzed which is generated by seepage according to relief well installation condition. The relief well could reduce pore water pressure which is to cause piping or up-lift pressure at foundation ground of embankment and it does not be influenced on geometric condition such as dam height and slope incline. In case of relative low permeable ground, the pore water pressure reduction effect of relief well was decreased compare with high permeable ground but it shows pore water pressure reduction effect compare with no relief well condition. The reduction effect of relief well shows relative gap according to diameter and penetration length of relief well and the installation length of relief well is the most effective factor for seepage control.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.45-55
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• 2008

CFRD (Concrete Faced Rockfill Dam) has been world-widely constructed due to a lot of advantages which it has compared with rockfill dam and recently, sand/gravel materials, Instead of crushed rock materials, are also utilized as a main rockfill material to overcome geological and environmental problems. In Korea, two dams using sand/gravel materials as a main fill material were designed and are being constructed. In this research, the strength and deformation characteristics of the rockfill and sand/gravel materials taken from 2 dam sites were tested by using a laboratory large triaxial testing equipment for a total of 7 cases. From the results of large triaxial and compaction tests, it was observed that two kinds of materials show a little different compaction, shear strenght and deformation characteristics. It could be expected that the shear strength of sand/gravel material was not disadvantageous compared with that of rockfill materials, however, there was some difference between two materials with respect to behavior characteristics. On the other hand, smaller displacements were observed from numerical analysis based on the data from a large triaxial test when the sand/gravel is used as a main fill material compared with the case when the crushed rock material is used as a main fill material. Finally, in spite of a little different shear strength and behavior characteristic between two materials, it was concluded that it will not lead to a significant problem when the sand/gravel material is used as a main rockfill material.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.207-221
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• 2016

As greater numbers of fill dams and reservoirs become old, the risks of damage or embankment collapse increases. However, few studies have considered the deterioration and hazard classification of the internal core layers of fill dams. This study reports the results of geotechnical investigations of 13 earth-cored fill dams in Korea, based on no-water borehole drilling, Standard Penetration Test, and 2D and 3D electrical resistivity surveys along with in situ and laboratory testing. High-capacity no-water boring minimized core layer disturbance while providing continuous core sample recovery. The results allow the classification of potential hazards related to the existing core layers based on both visual inspection of the recovered samples and the results of engineering surveys and tests. Four types of potential hazard are classified: locally fluidized core with a high water content, rapid water inflow to a borehole, cores with granular materials, and relatively low stiffness of core. Among these, the locally fluidized core is the most critical hazard that requires remedial action because it is related to the potential internal flow path and internal erosion. The other three hazard types are of medium importance and require careful monitoring and regular inspection. Of note, there was no correlation between age and core deterioration. The results are expected to aid the safe management and potential upgrading of aging cored fill dams.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.667-675
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• 2008

As a large construction such as highway, dam, reclaimed land etc. increase in number more and more, large amount of fill materials are required. However, it's difficult to obtain it because of environmental problems and economical efficiency. A alternative plan is to utilize a gypsum which is a by-product yielded from chemical plants and verify suitability to use gypsum as fill materials. Therefore, a characteristic of compaction for gypsum is analyzed and construction methods are given regard to this characteristic from construction of dike using gypsum. Based on the results obtained, it is found that moisture of gypsum in compaction should to be more dry side of O.M.C(optimal moisture content) because of sponge phenomenon. When gypsum is used to fill materials, standards of compaction should be decided from laboratory test.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.19-31
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• 2011

The current Korean criteria for seismic performance evaluated by dynamic analysis regulates that the horizontal displacement and vertical settlement of a dam body, including the static deformation, should be within 1% of the dam height. However, there has been weak theoretical support, so that the current criteria have to be validated. Korea is in a region of low or moderate seismicity located inside the Eurasian plate, and few earthquakes with considerable magnitudes and intensities have been recorded in the area. Therefore, in this study, published data measured in overseas countries were collected in order to construct a database and validate the current criteria. In addition, dynamic centrifuge tests and a parametric study using numerical simulations were performed in order to investigate the effect on the horizontal displacement and settlement of a dam body and to validate the current criteria.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.09a
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• pp.1017-1024
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• 2009

In the past few decades, the rockfill embankment dam, which has superior workability and economy, has become a major trend. In Korea, most of the embankment dams are rockfill dams, but recently, in response to the demand for sustainable development and environmentally-friendly water resource development, the sand and gravel in streams has become a major construction material for dams, rather than the non-economic rockfill, and its application examples have also increased. In this study, a large triaxial test was performed, with construction samples of different maximum sizes, in parallel with the grading method at the 'B Dam' construction site in Korea, and the effects of the different maximum sizes on the strain of the dam construction material and on the shear strength characteristics were analyzed to provide the basic data for determining the strength characteristics of the coarse-grained materials by the maximum size.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09a
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• pp.124-143
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• 2010

Cofferdam is a temporary levee or dam structure built by using sheet pile or earth materials to prevent water infiltration during construction work of bridge, dam, harbour dock, or hydraulic structures in the river. In this regard, it is required to secure cutoff ability for dry work and workability for rapid installation and removal of the temporary dam or levee structures. In this paper, case studies for design and construction of cofferdam were performed, and water diversion method was briefed with some examples of cofferdam type as well. For the case study details of design and construction were reviewed based on cofferdams under construction related to 16 submerged weirs of "The 4-river restoration project" and dam type cofferdam respectively. From the review, it was known that the method for changing the water flow is selected based on the data from geological and geo-hydraulic site investigation in order to mitigate environmental effects by making sure if the design cross-sectional area of flow and maximum working days are sufficiently guaranteed. Finally, the primary findings and main conclusion derived are summarized that determination of applicable type of cofferdam should be checked by case study and meet design requirements such as water inflow control, constructability.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.245-258
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• 2016

In this study the geotechnical system response probabilities (SRP) of the failure modes caused by the interal erosion in three dams with different histories of defects in Korea were analyzed via the internal erosion toolbox developed by USACE. The calculated values of SRP were compared with the values reported for other dams in worldwide and also the statistics on the past failures of dams and embankments in Korea. The calculated values of SRP related to the internal erosion adjacent to the conduits or spillway structures are as high as in the order of $10^{-5}$ that is significantly greater than the SRP values related to other mechanisms of internal erosion. The statistical data showing that the interal erosion adjacent to the structure is the most frequent cause of the failure of the dam in Korea could be a collateral evidence of this finding. In contrast, the values of SRP related to the internal erosion through foundation, one of the major causes of dam failure in worldwide, are relatively as low as in the order of $10^{-7}$. This result could be comparable with the rareness of the failure cases of dam caused by the internal erosion through foundation in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.53-64
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• 2013

Resistivity monitoring is based on the fact that a change in the porosity leads to the changes in water content and fine particles, which alter the electrical resistivity. At every embankment dam, internal erosion always occurs as time passes. The internal erosion generally develops into piping over a long time by backward erosion and concentrated leak, and finally leads to dam failure. Resistivity is known to be very sensitive to the changes in porosity in embankment dams. Thus resistivity monitoring is a reasonable method to find out the leakage zone. However, resistivity is strongly influenced by seasonal variation of temperature, TDS of reservoir water and water level. In this paper. we first installed electrodes permanently at the center of the crest. The electrical resistivity monitoring data was acquired every 6 hours from Apr. 3, 2011 to July. 31, 2012. To analyze the characteristics of monitoring data, each resistivity data was calculated from up to 2,950 data sets. The result indicated a seasonal resistivity variation due to related temperature. Finally, a quantitative method to estimate porosities of the embankment dam from the resistivity monitoring data was analyzed. The applicability and reliability were verified and the importance of electrical resistivity monitoring for obtaining reliable result was emphasized.