• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.269-281
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• 1994

Microscopic study and X-ray diffraction analysis were carried out to find out rock type, tock forming minerals; and weathering characteristics of rocks at the constructing site of the churyong Tunnel, Kyongju-Gun, Kyongbuk. Seismic velocity and compressional strength were measured to evaluate mechanical properties of rock. The rock of the study area is Jurassic tuff consisting of clay minerals, crystals of quartz and feldspar, fragments of volcanic rocks and shale. Fresh tuff has compressional strength of about $443kg/\textrm{cm}^2$ and seismic velocity of about 3680m/sec in average. It is classified as soft rock. Rock fragment within tuff is andesite and it has compressional strength of about $2500kg/\textrm{cm}^2$ and seismic velocity of about 4340m/sec in average. It is classified as hard rock. A good linear relationship is found between compressional streangth and seismic velocity in both laboratory sample and in-situ rocks. Laboratory samples has seismic velocities faster about 1.5km/sec than those in-situ rocks. It is interpreted that joints, fractures, and water content in the in-situ rocks result in decreas of seismic velocity. As Tuff has more than 50% of clay minerals in matrix and shale fragments, it absorbs water easily in atmospheric condition. Therefore, though the rock in the study area is medium hard rock before weathering, it is weathered very easily in the case of exposure to natural environment, comparing with other rock.

• 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.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.226-233
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• 1998

Microcracks in rock materials, whether natural or induced, provide useful information on the engineering performance of in situ rockmasses. A population of preferentially oriented microcracks has observable effects on the physical properties of a rockmass, but their effects may not be evident if the rock material is highly anisotropic due to other causes. An experimental program was undertaken to investigate the effect of rock fabrics on the physical properties of rock materials. In this study, anisotropy in the circumferential wave velocity and the direction of induced fractures under axial point loading were measured. Rock specimens (NX-size) of the leucocractic Pocheon granite were cored from rock blocks, retaining the relative directions of each specimen. Another set of specimens was prepared from the rock cores of the same meterial, obtained in the field. The master orientation line (MOL) was set to be the representative direction of the microcracks in the specimen. Variation of the circumferential wave velocity of each specimen was then measured along the core, keeping the MOL as reference. The direction of the minimum wave velocity was nearly perpendicular to the direction of the MOL. Coring of smaller-sized (EX-size), concentric specimens from the NX specimens were then followed, and axial point loading was applied. The direction of induced fractures due to axial point loading was closely related to the MOL direction, confirming the prior test result.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.174-183
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• 2004

The knowledge of rock strength is important in assessing wellbore stability problems, effective sanding, and the estimation of in situ stress field. Numerous empirical equations that relate unconfined compressive strength of sedimentary rocks (sandstone, shale, and limestone, and dolomite) to physical properties (such as velocity, elastic modulus, and porosity) are collected and reviewed. These equations can be used to estimate rock strength from parameters measurable with geophysical well logs. Their ability to fit laboratory-measured strength and physical property data that were compiled from the literature is reviewed. While some equations work reasonably well (for example, some strength-porosity relationships for sandstone and shale), rock strength variations with individual physical property measurements scatter considerably, indicating that most of the empirical equations are not sufficiently generic to fit all the data published on rock strength and physical properties. This emphasizes the importance of local calibration before one utilizes any of the empirical relationships presented. Nonetheless, some reasonable correlations can be found between geophysical properties and rock strength that can be useful for applications related to wellhole stability where haying a lower bound estimate of in situ rock strength is especially useful.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.232-246
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• 2018

In this study, the relationship between in situ seismic wave velocities and RMR (rock mass rating) was investigated in a test bed for the examination of the basis of rock classification (RMR) based on seismic wave velocity. The seismic wave velocity showed a monotonous increase with depth. It was also found that there was no systematic correlation between the seismic wave velocity (Vp) and other parameters (RQD, joint spacing, UCS, rock core Vp, and RMR) collected at the same depth of the same borehole. However, correlative relation was observed among RMR, RQD, and joint spacing. On the other hand, when all the data in the borehole (three holes) are examined without considering the depth, Vp still shows no correlation with RMR parameters (e.g., correlative coefficient for uniaxial compressive strength and joint spacing are 0.039 and 0.091, respectively), but Vp shows weak correlative relation with RMR and RQD (correlative coefficient for RQD and RMR are 0.193 and 0.211, respectively). Thus, it is found that it is difficult to deduce physical properties of rock mass directly from seismic wave velocities, but the seismic wave velocity can be used as a tool to approximate rock mass properties because of weaker correlation between Vp and RMR with RQD. In addition, the velocity value of for soft and moderate rocks suggested by widely used construction standards is slower than that of the observed velocity, implying that the standards need to be examined and revised.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.345-350
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• 1999

In this study the results of investigation on the physical and mechanical properties of a rockfill dam body were provided. On the crest of the old Namgang dam to be excavated partially, various in-situ tests(boring with SPT, sampling of undisturbed sample, field density test, field permeability test) and geophysical investigation works were performed Rock materials, i.e., shale and sandstone, were collected, and their slake durability was evaluated using slaking durability testing method which is suggested by ISRM.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.118-129
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• 1998

A three dimensional boundary element method-BEAP3D was applied to the stability analysis of the mine openings not only to improve the stability during mining operations but also to serve the evaluation of the mine openings for further utilization. Stability analysis on the stability of the room-and-pillar stopes underneath of the old mine openings and the openings to be created by the newly proposed sublevel stoping method at the Nowhado Pyrophyllite Mine, showed that rock mass around the old and new stopes would be stable. Six stopes of a sublevel stoping designed for the Choongmu Limestone Quarry would be stable, too. A sublevel stoping method consisting of six stopes was similarly suggested for the Keumpyung Quartzite Mine. The stability can be guaranteed through out six stopes. Since mining starts from the bottom 1st sublevel to the uppermost sublevel, the safety of the stopes will improve together with the mining process. It would highly be recommended to investigate in-situ rock properties and the rock stresses for future studies. Even though the rock around the uppermost part and bottom of all the stopes have a very high factor of safety, spot reinforcements such as rock bolting would be recommended to mitigate the intermediate and minor principal stresses acting in a tensile mode.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.69-85
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• 2009

It is very important to measure reliable dynamic properties of each zone in dam for seismic design. However, the Vs values of core and rock-fill zone are seldom determined by field test. Consequently, seismic design in dam is performed using Vs values assumed or empirically determined. So, it is required that reliable Vs has to be evaluated by in-situ test. In this study, surface wave method, which is nondestructive, was applied to dam to evaluate Vs profiles of core and rock-fill zone in dam. In 6 dams, using SASW and HWAW methods, Vs profiles were evaluated reliably. D/B of Vs profiles of each zone with depth and relationship between confining pressure and Vs profiles of rock-fill zone were constructed including existing results of other dams. The evaluated D/B and proposed relationship were compared with the frequently used empirical method by Sawada and Takahashi.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.25-35
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• 2014

New technology and construction methods in civil engineering area have been noticeably improved associated with the industrial development. However, thicknesses of a lift is strictly specified for subgrade and roadbed embankment as 20 cm and 30 cm in the specification of Korea Highway. Since there has been a problem to get enough amount of soils to be used for compaction, the rocks have been replaced for those. However, there is no guideline for the quality control of rock while changing compaction efficiency of equipment and physical properties of reck while changing compaction method such as thicknesses of a lift, number of compaction and etc. The main objective of this research is to establish the specification for the rock compaction method of embankment which including thickness of lift and quality control method in Korea Expressway.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.395-402
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• 2000

The influence of the mined-out caves on the stability of the high speed railway tunnel was investigated with a series of geological logging and in-situ tests on the one hand, and with the rock mass classification using the multiple regression analysis on the other hand. The rock mass in this area can be classified as 'fair', and the condition of the discontinuities plays the most important role in the classification of the rock mass. The results of the analysis obtained by the FLAC showed that the western part of the tunnel locating at 50m above the mine cavities could be affected by subsidence associated with a considerable deformation, the magnitude of which might depend on the properties of the rock mass.