• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.248-260
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• 2009

With regard to oversea mineral resources development, recent trend has been changed from a simple capital investment to a direct development of the resources. In relation to the stability of a slope in large open-pit coal mine, groundwater system was investigated and the validity of horizontal drainage hole was evaluated in Pasir coal mine, Indonesia. In this work, various field tests were carried out for a characterization of groundwater system, which included in-situ permeability measurement, tracer test and monitoring of groundwater levels. Especially, the influence of SM river on the characteristics of the groundwater flow system was mainly inspected. For the permeability measurement, Guelph permeameter was employed, and was found that sandstone was more permeable than mudstone and coal seam. From a comparison of lithological structure and the results of groundwater level monitoring, sandstone and thin coal seam with fractures were found to be a main channel for groundwater flow. In the results of tracer tests, the effect of SM river on the groundwater system depends on the geological structure of its base. To identify the effect of horizontal drainage holes, 2-D groundwater modeling was performed. Four different cases were tested, which are different from the length of drainage hole and the existence of pond on top of the slope. To enhance the drainage effect and slope stability, the drainage hole should be drilled to the depth of coal seam layer, which provides a main pathway of groundwater flow and embedded by sandstone. For this purpose, correct identification of surrounding geology should be preceded.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.207-216
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• 2003

To evaluate the smear zone caused by the drain installation, 10 piezometers were installed in the typical soft ground in the western coastal area of Korea. The dynamic pore water pressure developed during the drain installation was monitored using piezometers installed at a distance of 10cm, 20cm, 30cm, 40cm and 50cm from the location of the drain. The decay of pore pressure with time after pushing piezometers to depths of 5 meters and 7 meters during the drain installation was monitored to assess flow and consolidation characteristics of the soil after disturbance of the soil due to the drain installation. The drain installation results in shear strain and displacement of the soil and it decreases the permeability of the soil. Hence, the comparison between dissipation of the pore water pressure process in 10 pieszometers before as well as after installation of the drain indicated the diameter of disturbance zone and smear zone, which is related to the cross-sectional dimension of the mandrel. In addition, Cone-pressuremeter(CPM) tests were performed to obtain rigidity index of the soil for an interpretation of the dissipation processes. It has been evaluated by in-situ tests that the smear zone is from 3.0 to 3.6 times of the cross-sectional dimension of the mandrel. The hydraulic conductivity expressed in terms of the coefficient of consolidation after the drain installation was calculated from 3 to 8 times decrease evaluated by Teh & Houlsby equation and CPM test results.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.187-220
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• 2015

Soil disturbance induced by installation of mandrel driven vertical drains decreases the in situ horizontal hydraulic conductivity of the soil in the vicinity of the drains, decelerating the consolidation rate. According to available literature, several different profiles for the hydraulic conductivity variation with the radial distance from the vertical drain, influencing the excess pore water pressure dissipation rate, have been identified. In addition, it is well known that the visco-plastic properties of the soil also influence the excess pore water pressure dissipation rate and consequently the settlement rate. In this study, a numerical solution adopting an elastic visco-plastic model with nonlinear creep function incorporated in the consolidation equations has been developed to investigate the effects of disturbed zone properties on the time dependent behaviour of soft soil deposits improved with vertical drains and preloading. The employed elastic visco-plastic model is based on the framework of the modified Cam-Clay model capturing soil creep during excess pore water pressure dissipation. Besides, nonlinear variations of creep coefficient with stress and time and permeability variations during the consolidation process are considered. The predicted results have been compared with V$\ddot{a}$sby test fill measurements. According to the results, different variations of the hydraulic conductivity profile in the disturbed zone result in varying excess pore water pressure dissipation rate and consequently varying the effective vertical stresses in the soil profile. Thus, the creep coefficient and the creep strain limit are notably influenced resulting in significant changes in the predicted settlement rate.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.5-19
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to figure out the effect of pressurized grouting on the pullout resistance and the group effect of the compression ground anchor by performing pilot-scale chamber tests and field tests. The laboratory tests are carried out for 3-types of soils which are abundant in the Korean peninsular. Experimental results showed that the enlargement of anchor diameters estimated from the cavity expansion theory matches reasonable well with that obtained from experiments. Moreover, the required injection time as a function of the coefficient of permeability of each soil type was proposed. A series of in-situ anchor pullout tests were also performed to experimentally figure out the effect of pressurized grouting on the pullout resistance. Experimental results also showed that the effect of the pressurized grouting is more prominent in a softer ground with smaller SPT-N value in all of the following three aspects: increase in anchor diameter; pullout resistance; and surface roughness. The pressurized grouting effect in comparison with gravitational grouting was found to be almost nil if the SPT-N value is more than 50. Based on experimental results, a new equation to estimate the pullout resistance as a function of the SPT-N value was proposed. And based on in-situ group anchor pullout tests results, a new group effect equation was proposed which might be applicable to decomposed residual soils which are abundant in the Korean peninsular.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.136-145
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• 2011

For a massive project related to building national industrial complexes on a soft ground applied to PVD after dredging and hydraulic fill, laboratory tests were carried out using undisturbed sample taken from various depth. Piezocone penetration and dissipation tests were carried out to assess horizontal coefficient of consolidation and initial stress in field. The ground consists of upper dredged fill and lower original clay layer having both similar marine clays. It should be, however, considered as multi-layered soft ground having different initial void ratio, initial water content, initial effective stress, and permeability and compressibility with directions. To assess initial stress of those soft layers in which have different stress history related to consolidation, CPTu test results, especially excess pore water pressure, were analyzed. It allows to find out distribution of excess pore water pressure and initial stress inner original clay layer.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.228-228
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• 2018

강변여과는 지하수 인공함양 방식 중 유도함양(induced recharge) 또는 간접함양 방식에 속한다. 이는 하천 및 강변 부근에 집수시설을 설치한 후, 미고결층 대수층(unconsolidated aquifer)의 자연 오염 저감능을 이용하여 지표수를 간접 취수하는 방식으로 수질이 불량한 지표수가 대수층을 관류하면서 희석, 화학적 이온 교환 및 반응, 흡착, 생물막(biofilm; 미생물에 의한 자연저감), 여과 등을 통하여 수질이 개선된다. 강변여과수내의 용존 농도가 높은 철과 망간은 수처리 비용증가, 용수관정 및 시설물의 수명단축을 초래한다. 따라서 강변여과 지역의 미고결 대수층에서 효과적인 철과 망간 동시 제거(vyredox)를 위해 에어서징(air surging)과 블록 서징(block surging)을 실시하기 위해서 실내 물탱크 모델(water tank model)에서 에어서징에 따른 공기 순환 우물시스템을 관찰하였으며, 이를 바탕으로 현장시험(Test bed)에 적용하였다. 미고결 대층수층에서의 철 망간은 음용수 기준치(각각 0.3 mg/L)를 초과하고 있으며, 강변여과 취수 개발 및 이용을 제한하는 요인이 되고 있다. 본 연구에서 사용된 에어서징과 블록서지 기술은 자갈층 및 미고결 대수층에 충진된 슬라임 및 폐색(clogging)을 제거함과 동시에 관정 주변의 대수층의 투수성 개선과 산화환경으로 치환되며, 대수층에 잔존하는 철/망간의 산화물들을 관정내로 빼낼 수 있는 방법이다. 따라서 서징에 따른 폐색 제거효율을 검토한 결과에서 철 망간 이온농도 저감효과와 관정 주변의 수리전도도(hydraulic conductivity) 및 저류계수(coefficient of storage)가 증가한 것으로 나타났다. 이와 같이 강변여과에 의한 폐색은 미고결층내 공기주입 및 블록서지를 통하여 철/망간 이온농도 저감 및 수리특성 개선 효과에 유용한 것으로 평가된다.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.397-416
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• 2024

This study assessed the hydrogeological properties of the deep geological environment to develop safety criteria for the natural barriers used in the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste in Korea. The assessment focused on the distribution and trends of hydraulic conductivity and permeability properties appropriate for the domestic geological environment, using various in-situ hydraulic test data collected for groundwater development and management. To develop a depth-hydrogeological property relationship model suitable for domestic conditions, the study reviewed various international research examples and applied a representative model that explains the trends of hydraulic conductivity and permeability with depth. The development of the model suitable for Korea involved applying ensemble regression analysis to account for the uncertainty of various factors in the collected data. The results confirmed that existing international depth-hydrogeological property relationship models adequately describe the characteristics of the domestic geological environment. Considering the preferred hydrogeological criteria suggested by countries like Sweden, Germany, and Canada, there is a high likelihood that a suitable geological environment exists in Korea. Additionally, the application of hydrogeological criteria indicative of low-permeability environments showed that suitable conditions for disposal construction increase at depths greater than 300 m, where the influence of fractures on groundwater flow might be minimal at depths exceeding 500 m. This research can serve as foundational information for establishing hydrogeological safety standards for natural barriers in Korea according to international regulatory guidelines.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.359-381
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• 2020

Within the framework of DECOVALEX-2019 Task D, full-scale engineered barriers experiment (FEBEX) at Grimsel Test Site was numerically simulated to investigate an applicability of implemented Barcelona basic model (BBM) into TOUGH2-MP/FLAC3D simulator, which was developed for the prediction of the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of bentonite buffer. And the calculated heater power, temperature, relative humidity, total stress, saturation, water content and dry density were compared with in situ data monitored in the various sections. In general, the calculated heater power and temperature provided a fairly good agreement with experimental observations, however, the difference between power of heater #1 and that of heater #2 could not captured in the numerical analysis. It is necessary to consider lamprophyre with low thermal conductivity around heater #1 and non-simplified installation progresses of bentonite blocks in the tunnel for better modeling results. The evolutions and distributions of relative humidity were well reproduced, but hydraulic model needs to be modified because the re-saturation process was relatively fast near the heaters. In case of stress evolutions due to the thermal and hydraulic expansions, the computed stress was in good agreement with the data. But, the stress is slightly higher than the measured in situ data at the early stage of the operation, because gap between rock mass and bentonite blocks have not been considered in the numerical simulations. The calculated distribution of saturation, water content, and dry density along the radial distance showed good agreement with the observations after the first and final dismantling. The calculated dry density near the center of the FEBEX tunnel and heaters were overestimated compared with the observations. As a result, the saturation and water content were underestimated with the measurements. Therefore, numerical model of permeability is needed to modify for the production of better numerical results. It will be possible to produce the better analysis results and more realistically predict the coupled THM behavior in the bentonite blocks by performing the additional studies and modifying the numerical model based on the results of this study.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.266-284
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• 2007

Recently, many efforts have been made to construct the first unlined tunnel, without in-situ concrete lining, in Korea. However, the lack of reliability in the performance of shotcrete as permanent tunnel support prevented from its realization. Shotcrete has been regarded to have significant problems in field application and long term performance because of unsatisfactory strength level and durability compared to those of European countries. In this study, the high strength shotcrete satisfying compressive strength over 40 MPa and flexural strength over 4.5 MPa was developed from optimized mix design. The type of accelerators and the amount of silica fume were selected as the main factors in mixing process and the analyses were carried out up to the elapsed time of 2 years. In order to evaluate the short term durability of shotcrete, an array of laboratory test consisting of freeze-thaw, carbonation chloride penetration and permeability test was performed. For long-term durability tests, specimens have been put in an operated highway tunnel to expose them to the similar environment when they are actually used as an unlined tunnel support. From the strength and durability tests, it was found that only alkali-free based accelerator satisfied the target strength of this study and also, the developed shotcrete showed very high performance in its durability.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.374-392
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• 2024

In order to successfully select a site for deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, it is important to perform the stepwise approach along with the systematic selection and survey of evaluation parameters of geological environmental characteristics suitable for the domestic geological environment. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of hydraulic conductivity, which is considered the most important evaluation parameter in the field of hydrogeology, targeting a deep-depth rock aquifer where actual disposal facilities are expected to be located. In particular, for the first time in Korea, we obtained in-situ pressure-flow data by directly conducting hydraulic tests in boreholes at depths ranging from 500 m to 750 m in various rock types distributed in Korea (granite/volcanic rock/gneiss/mudstone). And we derived hydraulic conductivity values by rock types and depth using verified analytical methods. For this purpose, precision hydraulic testing equipment developed in-house through this study was used, and detailed investigation procedures based on standard test methods were applied to field tests. As a result of the analysis, the average hydraulic conductivity value was found to be in the range of 10^-9 m/s in all granite/volcanic rock/gneiss areas. In the mudstone area, an average hydraulic conductivity value of 10^-11 m/s was derived, which was about 100 times (2 orders of magnitude) lower than that of the fractured rock aquifers. Moreover, permeability tended to slightly decrease with depth in fractured rock aquifers (granite and volcanic rock areas) containing many rock fractures. The gneiss area tended to have large local differences in permeability according to the composition of the stratum and the development of fracture zones rather than depth. In mudstone areas with weak fracture development, there was no significant variation in rock permeability according to depth. The hydraulic conductivity results by various rock types and depth presented in this study are expected to be utilized in building a foundational database for the site selection, design, and construction of disposal facilities in Korea.