• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.79-86
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• 2002

Rock mass classifications form the back bone of the empirical design approach and are widely employed in rock engineering. In this paper the inter-relations were discussed among RMR, Q-system, RCR, N, M-RMR, RMi, and L-RMR. Several relationships for the assessment of the modulus of deformation of rock mass, Poisson's ratio, uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength, cohesion and internal friction angle were also analysed and suggested.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.212-223
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• 2014

In this study, the stability analyses for metal mine roadways at a great depth were performed. In-situ stress measurements using hydrofracturing, numerous laboratory tests for rock cores and GSI & RMR classifications were conducted in order to find the physical properties of both intact rock and in-situ rock mass distributed in the studied metal mine. Through the scenario analysis and probabilistic assessment on the results of rock mass classification, the in-situ ground conditions of mine roadways were divided into the best, the average and the worst cases, respectively. The roadway stabilities corresponding to the respective conditions were assessed by way of the elasto-plastic analysis. In addition, the appropriate roadway shapes and the support patterns were examined through the numerical analyses considering the blast damaged zone around roadway. It was finally shown to be necessary to reduce the radius of roadway roof curvature and/or to install the crown reinforcement in order to enhance the stability of studied mine roadways.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.323-333
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• 1997

A rock mass is usually classified by the results of geological survey and laboratory tests on rock specimens in order to obtain the adequate properties for the numerical analysis. For these purposes a rock mass strength is estimated based on the empirical criterion proposed by Hoek and Brown and a modulus of deformation is taken with the empirical relations developed by Bieniawski, Serafim and Pereira. In addition, the $K_o$ value which is the ratio of the horizontal stress to the vertical stress is one of the most important input data in the numerical analysis. Its role on a tunnel stability analysis could be verified with the numerical results taken by a finite difference code or a distinct element code. However, a deduced value used to be applied for the $K_o$ value in most of tunnel designs, even though the patterns of stress tensor are variable with regions and depths. Thus in situ stresses were measured by a hydraulic fracturing technique on several tunnel sites and applied directly to the tunnel design for the enhancement of its precision. With those informations on in situ stresses, the safe design should be obtained economically on the road or subway tunnels.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.117-127
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the effect of in-situ rock stresses on the deformability and permeability of fractured rocks. Geological data were taken from the site investigation at Forsmark, Sweden, conducted by Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Man-agement Company (SKB). A set of numerical experiments was conducted to determine the equivalent mechanical properties (essentially, elastic moduli and Poisson's ratio) and permeability, using a Discrete Fracture Network-Discrete Element Method (DFN-DEM) approach. The results show that both mechanical properties and permeability are highly dependent on stress because of the hyperbolic nature of the stiffness of fractures, different closure behavior of fractures, and change of fluid pathways caused by deformation. This study shows that proper characterization and consideration of in-situ stress are important not only for boundary conditions of a selected site but also for the understanding of the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of fractured rocks.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.4 s.179
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• pp.451-471
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• 2006

Major projects and research topics in the field of rock mechanics are analyzed to obtain the following results: $\cdot$ Rock mechanics deals with the behavior of deformation, failure and displacement of the rock and rock mass on the basis of geological basics. Discontinuities in the rock mass are the most important parameters to control the behavior of rock mass around underground openings. $\cdot$ The objective of site investigation and testing is to determine the strength properties of the rock mass and the in situ stress regime. Specimens for laboratory and in situ tests are to be selected in order that the results of the tests give the representative properties oi the rock mass of the site in question. $\cdot$ The result of a numerical model would be better evaluated not quantitatively but qualitatively. The displacement behavior of the rock mass has to be monitored properly for the NATM (New Austrian Tunneling Method) principles. $\cdot$ The stability of rock slope is to be evaluated preferably by back analysis with strength parameters, such as cohesion and friction angle.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.12-29
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• 2019

Permeability and its change due to a fluid injection in jointed rock mass is an important factor to be well identified for a safe and successful implementation of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) projects which may accompany injection-induced hydromechanical deformation of the rock mass. In this technical report, we first reviewed important issues in evaluating initial permeability using borehole hydraulic tests and numierical approaches for understanding coupled hydromechanical properties of rock mass. Recent SIMFIP testing device to measure these hydromechanical properties directly through in-situ borehole experiments was also reviewed. The technical significance and usefulness of the device for further applications was discussed as well.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 1996

Back analysis model, capable of calculating the mechanical properties and the in-situ stresses of jointed rock mass, was developed based on the inverse method using a continuum theory. Constitutive equation for the behavior of jointed rock contains two unknown parameters, elastic modulus of intact rock and stiffness of joint, hence algorithm which determines both parameters simultaneously cannot be established. To avoid algebraic difficulties elastic modulus of intact rock was assumed to be known, since the representative value of which would be quite easily determined. Then, the ratio ($\beta$) of joint stiffness to elastic modulus of intact rock was assigned and back analysis for the behavior of jointed rock was carried-out. The value $\beta$ was repeatedly modified until the elastic modulus from back analysis became very comparable to the predetermined value. The joint stiffness could be calculated by multipling the ratio $\beta$ to the final result of elastic modulus. Accuracy and reliability of back analysis procedure was successfully testified using a sample model simulating the underground opening in the jointed rock mass. Applicability of back analysis model for the underground excavation in practice was also verified by analyzing the mechanical properties of jointed rock in which underground oil storage cavern were under construction.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.1 s.66
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• pp.43-55
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• 2007

An underground research tunnel, KURT, was constructed at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, for various in situ validation experiments related to the development of a high-level radioactive waste disposal system. KURT, which has length of 255 m (access tunnel 180 m and research modules 75 m) and size of $6m{\times}6m$ was excavated in a cryatalline rock mass. In the KURT project, different rock mechanics studies had been carried out during the concept design, site characterization, detailed design, and construction stages. From the geophysical survey, borehole investigation, and rock property tests in laboratory and in situ, the rock and rock mass properties required for the mechanicsl stability analysis of KURT could be achieved and used for the input parameters of computer simulations. In this paper, important results from the rock mechanics studies at KURT and the three-dimensional mechanical stability analysis will be introduced.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1999

The characteristics of heat conduction for the heat source boundary like an arch shape cavern are different from those for the semi-infinite or circular boundary which can be driven theoretically. A new form of transient heat conduction equation in rock mass around the arch shape cavern is evaluated with analyzing the pattern of the rock temperature distribution measured at the cold storage pilot plant. The new equation, which is driven by adopting a shape function, $SF=\sqrt{logx_0/log(x_0+x)}$ to the solution for a semi-infinite boundary, has the semi-radial form of temperature variation with distance. And, thermal properties of rock mass are estimated by comparing the rock temperature distributions by this equation with those by measurement. Thermal conductivity and specific heat of rock mass are estimated as giving the difference of 20~25% compared to those of laboratory scale. This difference seems to be caused by discontinuity like joint and water content in rock mass.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.453-462
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• 2023

Intermediate Geomaterials (IGMs) are natural formation materials that exhibit the engineering behavior (strength and compressibility) between soils and rocks. The engineering behavior of such material is highly unpredictable as the IGMs are stiffer than soils and weaker/softer than rocks. Further, the characterization of such material needs exposure to both soil and rock mechanics. In most conventional designs of geotechnical structures, the engineering properties of the IGMs are either aligned with soils or rocks, and this assumption may end up either in an over-conservative design or under-conservative design. Hence, many researchers have attempted to evaluate its actual engineering properties through laboratory tests. However, the test results are partially reliable due to the poor core recovery of IGMs and the possible sample disturbance. Subsequently, in-situ tests have been used in recent years to evaluate the engineering properties of IGMs. However, the respective in-situ test finds its limitations while exploring IGMs with different geological formations at deeper depths with the constraints of sampling. Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is the strength-based index test that is often used to explore IGMs. Moreover, it was also observed that the coefficient of variation of the design parameters (which represents the uncertainties in the design parameters) of IGMs is relatively high, and also the studies on the probabilistic characterization of IGMs are limited compared with soils and rocks. With this perspective, the present article reviews the laboratory and in-situ tests used to characterize the IGMs and explores the shear strength variation based on their geological origin.