• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.619-629
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• 2015

Influenced by various mining activities, fractures in rock masses have different densities, set numbers and lengths, which induce different mechanical properties and failure modes of rock masses. Therefore, precisely expressing the failure criterion of the fractured rock influenced by coal mining is significant for the support design, safety assessment and disaster prevention of underground mining engineering subjected to multiple mining activities. By adopting PFC2D particle flow simulation software, this study investigated the propagation and fractal evolution laws of the micro cracks occurring in two typical kinds of rocks under uniaxial compressive condition. Furthermore, it calculated compressive strengths of the rocks with different confining pressures and box-counting dimensions. Moreover, the quantitative relation between the box-counting dimension of the rocks and the empirical parameters m and s in Hoek-Brown strength criterion was established. Results showed that with the increase of the strain, the box-counting dimension of the rocks first increased slowly at the beginning and then exhibited an exponential increase approximately. In the case of small strains of same value, the box-counting dimensions of hard rocks were smaller than those of weak rocks, while the former increased rapidly and were larger than the latter under large strain. The results also presented that there was a negative correlation between the parameters m and s in Hoek-Brown strength criterion and the box-counting dimension of the rocks suffering from variable mining activities. In other words, as the box-counting dimensions increased, the parameters m and s decreased linearly, and their relationship could be described using first order polynomial function.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.25-36
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• 2000

The purpose of this research work is to propose an analytical method of tunnel design based on reasonable site data. Therefore the proposed design method consists of monitoring data and Modified In Situ Rock Model. Also the Rock Mass Rating for very poor quality rock is very difficult to estimate, the balances between the ratings may no longer gives a reliable basis for the rock mass strength. But in reality Rock Mass Rating is only the property which can be obtained from face mapping records of the exposed tunnel face during construction stage. Evaluation of rock parameters for the actual design prior to tunnel construction should be corrected during tunnelling process in particularly complex ground conditions. This study intends to investigate application of in-situ rock model to soft rock tunnelling (weathered rock) by face mapping results and site measurement data that are obtained at the costraction site of Seoul Subway Tunnel. For the preparation of more reliable ground parameters, the Rock Mass Rating values for the weathered rocks were modified and readjusted in accordance with the measurement data. The modified input parameters obtained by the proposed method are used for the prediction of the tunnel behavior at subsequent construction stages. The results of this study revealed that more reasonable feed back tunnel analysis can be possible as suggested. Ample measurement data would be able to confirm the new proposed technique in this research work.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.81-91
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• 2009

Recently, twin-tunnel is often designed in the aspects of disaster prevention and economical reasons. However, the design cases and the studies are relatively insufficient. By the twin-tunnel excavation, deviate stresses of pillar between tunnels are increased and the increased stresses induce the instability of the twin-tunnel. In this study, numerical analyses about the twin-tunnel behaviour were conducted with varying ground strength, width of pillar and depth of earth cover and a series of regression analyses were carried out by using the results of numerical analyses for the twin-tunnel. Based on the numerical analyses, an estimation method of derived stresses is suggested through the regression analyses. Also, based on the results of regression analyses, an quantitative estimation method considering the reinforcement effects is also suggested. Then various parametric studies were conducted to be considered the reinforcement type and various design parameters. Finally, the efficiency of the suggested method based on the Hoek-Brown Failure Criterion is verified through the results of parametric studies.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 1999

Parameters of failure criteria, compressive strength and elastic modulus are most important for design and stability analysis of rock structure using numerical analysis. In this study, it suggests that the application of input data for numerical analysis by the literature study and the result of the 150 sets of triaxial compressive test. There was much different between parameters of failure criterion suggested by Hoek-Brown and parameters resulted from the analysis using 150 sets of triaxial compressive test. But the converting equations of compressive strength have had an interrelation with RMR. However, the converting of elastic of elastic modulus were different as chosen of equation, and the equation by Nicholson et at was more useful than others.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.366-372
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• 2014

The generalized Hoek-Brown (H-B) function provides a unique failure condition for a jointed rock mass, in which the strength parameters of rock mass are deduced from the intact values by use of the GSI value. Since it is actually the only failure criterion which accounts for the rock mass conditions in a systematic manner, the generalized H-B criterion finds many applications to the various rock engineering projects. Its nonlinear character, however, limits more active usage of this criterion. Accordingly, many attempts have been made to understand the generalized H-B condition in the framework of the M-C function. This study presents the closed-form expression relating the tangential cohesion to the tangential friction angle, which is derived by the non-dimensional stress transformation of the generalized H-B criterion. By use of the derived equation, it is investigated how the relationship between the tangential cohesion and friction angle of the generalized H-B criterion varies with the quality of rock masses. When only the variation of GSI value is considered, it is found that the tangential friction angle decreases with the increase of GSI, while the tangential cohesion increases with GSI value.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.86-96
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• 2004

Rock mass classification methods such as RMR, Q system and GSl have been widely adopted with certain modifications for the design of mine openings. The GSI system is the only rock mass classification system that is related to Mohr-Coulomb and Hoek-Brown strength parameters and gives a simple method to calculate the engineering properties of rock masses which can be useful input parameters for a numerical analysis. A detailed surveying for GSI mapping as well as far calculating RMR values was undertaken at Daesung and Pyunghae underground limestone mining sites. RQD values were determined for row locations in these two mining sites. Based on GSI values and intact rock strength properties, the rock mass strength modulus of elasticity as well as the Mohr-Coulomb strength parameter c$_{m}$ and $\phi$$_{m}$ were determined. GSI and RMR are correlated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.494-505
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• 2006

In this study, using constant normal stiffness(CNS) direct shear tests, side shear load distribution were analyzed by the influencing parameters of unconfined compressive strength, surface roughness, confining stress, and material properties. Based on the CNS tests, side shear load transfer function of drilled shafts in rock is proposed using geological strength index(GSI), which indicates discontinuity and surface condition of rock mass in Hoek-Brown criterion. Though comparisons with results of nine drilled shafts's load tests, it is found that the load-transfer curve by this study is in good agreement with the general trend observed by in situ measurements, and thus represents a significant improvement in the prediction of bearing capacity of drilled shaft.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.391-406
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• 2019

The aim of this paper was to study the influence of the footing shape and the effect of the roughness of the foundation base on the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on rock masses. For this purpose the finite difference method was used to analyze the bearing capacity of various types and states of rock masses under the assumption of Hoek-Brown failure criterion, for both plane strain and axisymmetric model, and considering smooth and rough interface. The results were analyzed based on a sensitivity study of four varying parameters: foundation width, rock material constant (mo), uniaxial compressive strength and geological strength index. Knowing how each parameter influences the bearing capacity depending on the footing shape (circular vs strip footing) and the footing base interface roughness (smooth vs rough), two correlation factors were developed to estimate the percentage increase of the ultimate bearing capacity as a function of the footing shape and the roughness of the footing base interface.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2014

In Korea, in general, separation distance between existing parallel tunnels was set at two to five times as distant as the diameter of the tunnels according to ground conditions. Recently, however, actual applicability of closely spaced parallel tunnels whose distance between tunnel centers was shorter than the diameter has increased due to environmental damages resulting from massive cutting, restriction in purchase of required land, and maintenance of linear continuity. In particular, when the pillar width of tunnel decreases, the safety of pillars affects behaviors of the tunnel and therefore the need for diverse relevant studies has emerged. However, research so far has been largely confined to analysis of behavior characteristics of pillars, or parameters affecting design, and actually applicable and quantitative data have not been presented. Accordingly, in order to present a stability evaluation method which may maximally reflect construction conditions of spots, this study reflected topographical and stratigraphic characteristics of the portal part with the highest closeness between the tunnels, simulated multi-layer conditions with rock mass and complete weathering, and assessed the degree of effect the stability of pillars had on the entire tunnels through numerical analysis according to changes in pillar width by ground strength. This study also presented composite analysis result on ground surface settlement rates, interference volume rates, and average strength to stress and a formula, which may be applicable to actual work, to evaluate safety rates of closely spaced parallel tunnel pillars and minimum pillar width by ground strength based on failure criteria by Hoek-Brown (1980).

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2020

The traditional formulations for estimation of bearing capacity in rock mechanics assume a homogeneous and isotropic rock mass. However, it is common that the rock mass consists of different layers of different rock properties or of the same rock matrix with distinct geotechnical quality levels. The bearing capacity of a heterogeneous rock is estimated traditionally through the weighted average. In this paper, the solution of the weighted average is compared to the finite difference method applied to a bilayer rock mass. The influence of different parameters such as the thickness of the layers, the rock type, the uniaxial compressive strength and the overall geotechnical quality of the rock mass on the bearing capacity of a bilayer rock mass is analyzed. A parametric study by finite difference method is carried out to develop a bearing capacity factor in function of the layer thickness and the rock mass quality expressed in terms of the geological strength index, which is presented in a form of a chart. Therefore, this correlation factor allows estimating the bearing capacity of a rock mass that is formed by two layers with distinct GSI, depending on the bearing capacity of the rock mass formed only by the upper layer and considered by that way as homogenous and isotropic rock mass.