• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.387-401
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• 2023

The Earth Pressure Balanced (EPB) Shield Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is widely employed for constructing urban underground spaces due to its minimal vibration and low noise levels. The injection of additives offers several advantages, including maintaining shield chamber pressure, reducing shear strength, minimizing cutter wear, and decreasing the permeability of the excavated soil. This technique is known as soil conditioning and involves the application of additives such as foam, polymer, and bentonite slurry. In this study, weathered granite soil commonly encountered at domestic tunnel sites was used as a soil specimen. Foam and polymer were applied as additives to assess the rheological properties of conditioned soils. The workability was evaluated through slump tests, while the rheological properties were assessed through laboratory pressurized vane shear tests conducted under the same conditions. Specially, the polymer was applied under specific conditions with low workability with high slump values, with the aim of evaluating the impact of polymer application. The test results revealed that with an increase in the Foam Injection Ratio (FIR), the slump value also increased, while the torque, peak strength, yield stress, apparent viscosity, and thixotropic area decreased. Conversely, an increase in the Polymer Injection Ratio (PIR) led to results opposite to those of FIR. Additionally, a correlation between the slump value and yield stress was proposed. When comparing conditions with only foam applied to those with both foam and polymer applied, even with similar slump values, the yield stress was found to be lower in the latter conditions.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2023

As a PEMFC (Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) cathode catalyst, Pt-Co/C has recently been widely used because of its improved durability. In a fuel cell, electrodes and electrolytes have a close influence on each other in terms of performance and durability. The effect on the electrochemical durability of the electrolyte membrane when Pt-Co/C was replaced in the Pt/C electrode catalyst was studied. The durability of Pt-Co/C MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) was higher than that of Pt/C MEA in the electrochemical accelerated degradation process of PEMFC membrane. As a result of analyzing the FER (Fluorine Emission Rate) and hydrogen permeability, it was shown that the degradation rate of the membrane of Pt-Co/C MEA was lower than that of Pt/C MEA. In the OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) holding process, the rate of decrease of the active area of the Pt-Co/C electrode was lower than that of the Pt/C electrode, and the amount of Pt deposited on the membrane was smaller in Pt-Co/C MEA than in Pt/C MEA. Pt inside the polymer membrane deteriorates the membrane by generating radicals, so the degradation rate of the membrane of Pt/C MEA with a high Pt deposition rate was higher than Pt-Co/C MEA. When the Pt-Co/C catalyst was used, the electrode durability was improved, and the amount of Pt deposited on the membrane was also reduced, thereby improving the electrochemical durability of the membrane.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.119-127
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• 2006

Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GBFS) is produced in the manufacture process of pig-iron and shows a similar particle formation to that of natural sea sand and also shows light weight, high shear strength, well permeability, and especially has a latent hydraulic property by which GBFS is solidified with time. Therefore, when GBFS is used as a backfill material of quay or retaining walls, the increase of shear strength induced by the hardening is presumed to reduce the earth pressure and consequently the construction cost of harbor structures decreases. In this study, using the model sand box (50 cm$\times$50 cm$\times$100 cm), the model wall tests were carried out on GBFS and Toyoura standard sand, in which the resultant earth pressure, a wall friction and the earth pressure distribution at the movable wall surface were measured. In the tests, the relative density was set as Dr=25, 55 and 70% and the wall was rotated at the bottom to the active earth pressure side and followed by the passive side. The maximum horizontal displacement at the top of the wall was set as ${\pm}2mm$. By these model test results, it is clarified that the resultant earth pressure obtained by using GBFS is smaller than that of Toyoura sand, especially in the active-earth pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.289-298
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• 2023

In this study, the development of a self-healing concrete waterproofing agent was examined, focusing on its manufacturing and waterproofing properties. The optimal ratio using microcapsules for the concrete waterproofing agent was determined through assessments of flow, compressive strength, and permeability conducted during the mortar stage. These findings aimed to provide fundamental data for evaluating the self-healing properties of the concrete waterproofing agent designed for use in concrete structures. The self-healing concrete waterproofing agent was comprised of three types of inorganic materials commonly used for repair purposes. From experimental results, a composition ratio with a high potassium silicate content, referred to as SIM-2, was found suitable. A surfactant mixing ratio of 0.03 % was identified to enhance the dispersibility of the concrete waterproofing agent, while a mixing ratio of 0.2 % distilled water was deemed suitable for viscosity adjustment. For the magnetic self-healing concrete waterproofing agent's healing agent, using microcapsules in the range of 0.5 % to 0.7 % met the KS F 4949 and KS F 4926 standards.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.515-532
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• 2023

Bentonite, predominantly consists of expandable clay minerals, is considered to be the suitable buffering material in high-level radioactive waste disposal repository due to its large swelling property and low permeability. Additionally, the bentonite has large cation exchange capacity and specific surface area, and thus, it effectively retards the transport of leaked radionuclides to surrounding environments. This study aims to review the thermodynamic sorption models for four radionuclides (U, Am, Se, and Eu) and eight bentonites. Then, the thermodynamic sorption models and optimized sorption parameters were precisely analyzed by considering the experimental conditions in previous study. Here, the optimized sorption parameters showed that thermodynamic sorption models were related to experimental conditions such as types and concentrations of radionuclides, ionic strength, major competing cation, temperature, solid-to-liquid ratio, carbonate species, and mineralogical properties of bentonite. These results implied that the thermodynamic sorption models suggested by the optimization at specific experimental conditions had large uncertainty for application to various environmental conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.294-302
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• 2023

Ni-Mn-Zn ferrite, Ni_0.5-xMn_xZn_0.5Fe₂O₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5), was synthesized using the sol-gel method to investigate the crystal structure, microstructure, magnetic properties, high-frequency characteristics, and electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption characteristics as a function of Mn substitution. As the Mn content increased, a continuous decrease in saturation magnetization (M_S) was observed with little change in coercivity (H_C). Samples for each composition (x) exhibited strong EM wave absorption performance with first and second strong EM wave absorption regions satisfying minimum reflection loss, RL_min < -40 dB in the 1.5~2.5, 6~11 GHz range, respectively. The EM wave absorption in Ni-Mn-Zn ferrite depends on magnetic loss, and adjusting µ' and µ'' spectra by Mn substitution or H field allows control of the EM wave absorption frequency.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.38-49
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• 2024

Wastewater treatment using membrane bioreactors has been extensively used to alleviate water shortage and pollution by improving the quality of the treated water discharged into the environment. However, membrane biofouling persistently holds back an MBR process by reducing the process efficiency. Herein, we synthesized carbon nanospheres (CNSs) with many hydrophilic oxygen groups and utilized them as an additive to prepare high-performance ultrafiltration (UF) membranes with hydrophilicity and porous pore structure. CNSs were found to form crescent-shaped pores on the membrane surface, increasing the mean surface pore size by about 40% without causing significant defects larger than bubble points, as the CNS content increased by 4.6 wt%. In addition, the porous pore structure of CNS composite membranes was also attributable to the CNS's isotropic morphologies and relatively low particle number density because the aforementioned properties contributed to preventing the polymer solution viscosity from soaring with the loading of CNS. However, too porous structure compromised the mechanical properties, such that CNS2.3 was the best from a comprehensive consideration including the pore structure and mechanical properties. As a result, CNS2.3 showed not only 2 times higher water permeability than CNS0 but also 5 times longer operation duration until membrane cleaning was required.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.75-90
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• 2024

Biochar is a solid substance with a high carbon content, as it is made out of biomass pyrolyzed under the condition of limited oxygen. This product has attracted attention as an environment-friendly soil amendment because it contributes to carbon neutrally and has improvement effects on the soil environment. This study conducted an experiment to evaluate soil physiochemical properties and microbial community changes in a melon greenhouse according to the applied amount of biochar to investigate the growth characteristics and yields of melons accordingly. In soil physical properties, an increase in the applied amount of biochar resulted in a decrease in bulk density and an increase in porosity of the soil, improving air permeability. In soil chemical properties, an increase in the applied amount of biochar led to a increasing of pH, organic matter and available phosphate content. In the growth characteristics of melons, there was a growing tendency of plant height, leaf length and leaf width according to the increasing application of biochar until 10,000 kg/ha. Moreover, melon yields also increased as the amount of biochar, 13~16% higher in 10,000 kg/ha biochar application than no treatment. Compared differences among microbial communities in the soil according to the application of biochar and found that plant beneficial bacteria dominated in biochar treatments. This study demonstrated the potential of biochar as an effective soil amendment in melon greenhouse by showing improvements in soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.5 no.1_2 s.6
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• pp.9-15
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• 1997

The study area is located in the Central Bransfield Basin, Antarctica. To analyze the morphology of seafloor, structure of basement, and seismic stratigraphy of the sedimentary layers, we have acquired, processed, and interpreted the multi-channel seismic data. The northwest-southeastern back-arc extension dramatically changes seafloor morphology, volcanic and fault distribution, and basin structure along the spreading ridges. The northern continental shelf shows a narrow, steep topography. In contrast, the continental shelf or slope in the south, which is connected to the Antarctic Peninsula, has a gentle gradient. Volcanic activities resulted in the formation of large volcanos and basement highs near the spreading center, and small-scale volcanic diapirs on the shelf. A very long, continuous normal fault characterizes the northern shelf, whereas several basinward synthetic faults probably detach into the master fault in the south. Four transfer faults, the northwest-southeastern deep-parallel structures, controlled the complex distributions of the volcanos, normal faults, depocenters, and possibly hydrocarbon provinces in the study area. They have also deformed the basement structure and depositional pattern. Even though the Bransfield Basin was believed to be formed in the Late Cenozoic (about 4 Ma), the hydrocarbon potential may be very high due to thick sediment accumulation, high organic contents, high heat flow resulted from the active tectonics, and adequate traps.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.444-450
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• 2012

The physical and chemical properties of soil in the Mangyeong and Dongjin river basin had been investigated in order to establish the most optimum soil improvement plan on the reclaimed land. The total soil area by reclamation in Saemangeum basin is 113,971 ha. The classification by the distribution of soil series and soil texture is as following. 13 soil series including Chonnam, Buyong and Chonbuk series are period-unknown areas. Regarding the soil texture, they are fine silty ~ clayey very fine. From 1920s to 1960s, Mangyeong, Gwanghwal and Chonbuk series had coarse silty textured soil. After the 1970s, Mangyeong, Gwanghwal, Munpo, Yeompo, Poseung, Gapo and Hasa series have more sandy soil ~ moderately coarse loamy textured soil. Regarding the chemical properties, the concentrations of EC, Exch. $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$ and pH are high regardless of the time of reclamation. On the other hand, organic matter (OM) of top soil were 3.3~16.1 g $kg^{-1}$. The organic matter contents were very low though the soil had been farmed for a long time. Furthermore, the deep soil had almost no organic matter with 5.6~1.1 g $kg^{-1}$. The reason is believed that there had not been any movement of OM and clay because pressure or induced pans had been formed by large agricultural machineries and poor vertical drain. Regarding the forming of illuvial horizon (B layer) which tells the development extent of soil, only in the Hwapo reclaimed area where rice had been cultivated for past 90 years, Fe and Mn from top soil are deposited at underground 20~30 cm with 7~8 cm thickness by the movement of clay. It is believed that it had been possible because the earthiness is silty clay loam soil with relatively high content of clay. The soils are soil with concern of damage from sea water, soil on flimsy ground and sandy soil. Therefore, soil improvement for stable crop production can be expected; if the water table would be lowered by subsurface drainage, the water permeability would be enhanced by gypsum and organic matter, and the sandy soil would be replaced by red soil with high content of clay.