• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.301-312
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• 2017

The concept of deep borehole disposal (DBD) for high-level nuclear wastes has been around for about 40 years. Now, the Department of Energy (DOE) in the United States (U.S.) is re-examining this concept through recent studies at Sandia National Laboratory and a field test. With DBD, nuclear waste will be emplaced in boreholes at depths of 3 to 5 km in crystalline basement rocks. Thinking is that these settings will provide nearly intact rock and fluid density stratification, which together should act as a robust geologic barrier, requiring only minimal performance from the engineered components. The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB) has raised concerns that the deep subsurface is more complicated, leading to science, engineering, and safety issues. However, given time and resources, DBD will evolve substantially in the ability to drill deep holes and make measurements there. A leap forward in technology for drilling could lead to other exciting geological applications. Possible innovations might include deep robotic mining, deep energy production, or crustal sequestration of $CO_2$, and new ideas for nuclear waste disposal. Novel technologies could be explored by Korean geologists through simple proof-of-concept experiments and technology demonstrations.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.spc
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• pp.51-62
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• 2020

In this paper, an approach developed by the Finnish nuclear waste management organization, Posiva, for the construction license of a geological repository was reviewed. Furthermore, a computer program based on the approach was developed. By using the computer program, the lifetime of a copper disposal canister, which was a key engineered barrier of the geological repository, was predicted under the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) geologic conditions. The computer program was developed considering the mass transport of corroding agents, such as oxygen and sulfide, through the buffer and backfill. Shortly after the closure of the repository, the corrosion depths of a copper canister due to oxygen in the pores of the buffer and backfill were calculated. Additionally, the long-term corrosion of a copper canister due to sulfide was analyzed in two cases: intact buffer and eroded buffer. Under various conditions of the engineered barrier, the corrosion lifetimes of the copper canister due to sulfide significantly exceeded one million years. Finally, this study shows that it is necessary to carefully characterize the transmissivity of rock and sulfide concentration during site characterization to accurately predict the canister lifetime.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1987.06a
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• pp.51-80
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• 1987

In this studys a numerical analysis on the defomation of foundation layer was carried out by indroducing joint element. The method using the joust element between adj assent different materials has been originally developed for rock behavior(Goodman, et al. 1968) . The application of this method to the interface between the footing and soil layer proved satisfactory(Ghaboussi p et at. 1973). Authors tried to obtain the deformation of rrcompound foundation layerg", which vertically or horizontally or both consists of the natural(or intact) soft clay layer and the layer improved artificially in order to get high stiff-fness with replacement or chemical treatment to reduce the excessively detrimental settlemellt or lateral displacement in case of banking or building the civil structure on the soft layer. The joint conditions were classified into three categories : contacts sliding and separation. By coupling "JOINT" as a subroutine into multi-purpose code for the finite element method of the foundatlion daveloped by authors on the assumption that shearing and normal displacement can not be coupledl which terms pinon-dilatant" and by selecting modified Cam-clay modeIP the deformation analysis was performmed. The results using joint element were compared with those secured without introduction of joint element Nain results analized are as follows : 1. For the prediction of settlement and lateral desplacement, the result due to joint element was evaluated larger, which was regarded safe. 2. For the determination of ultimate bearing capacetyi the value using joint element appeared smaller by 20%, which was also safe.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.793-813
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• 2015

Characterization of discontinuous media is an endeavor that poses great challenge to engineers in practice. Since the inherent defects in cracked domains can substantially influence material resistance and govern its behavior, a lot of work is dedicated to efficiently model such effects. In order to overcome difficulties of material instability problems, one needs to comprehensively represent the geometry of cracks along with their impact on the mechanical properties of the intact material. In the present study, stress-strain results from laboratory experiments on Inada granite was used to derive crack tensor as a tool for the evaluation of fractured domain stability. It was found that the formulations proposed earlier could satisfactorily be employed to attain crack tensor via the invariants of which judgment on cracks population and induced anisotropy is possible. The earlier criteria based on crack tensor analyses were reviewed and compared to the results of the current study. It is concluded that the geometrical parameters calculated using mechanical properties could confidently be used to judge the anisotropy as well as strength of the cracked domain.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 2022

Determination of strength properties of intact rock using artificial cores has been considered in recent years. In this study, some relationships for estimating the static properties of dolomudstone cores of the Asmari reservoir were presented using artificial cores prepared from cuttings of two wells, southwest of Iran. For this purpose, first natural cuttings (NC) and 33 cores including dolomite limestone (dolomudstone), anhydrite and anhydrite dolomite were prepared between depths of 1714 and 2208 meters. Petrographic, physical, mechanical and dynamic tests were performed on cores, NC and artificial cuttings (AC) which was prepared from the residuals of dolomudstone cores. For preparing the artificial cores, the average porosity of the dolomudstone cores was considered and determined using four methods. Artificial and natural cuttings were classified as dolomite limestone and dolomite limestone to calcareous dolomite, respectively. Using ordinary Portland cement (OPC), water, AC and NC artificial cores were prepared. Results of evaluating the proposed relationships using statistical criteria showed that the static properties of the artificial cores can be used to predict the static properties of the dolomudstone cores.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.483-494
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• 2007

The properties of fracture system on road-cut slopes along the Busan-Ulsan express way under construction are investigated and analyzed. Fracture spacing distributions show log-normal form with extension fractures and negative exponential form with shear fractures. Straight line segments in log-log plots of cumulative fracture length indicate a power-law scaling with exponents of -1.13 in site 1, -1.01 in site 2 and -1.52 in site 3. It is likely that the stability and strength of rock mass are the lowest in site 1 as judged from the analyses of spacing, density and inter-section of fractures in three sites. In contrast, the highest efficiency of the fracture network for conducting fluid flow is seen in site 3 where the largest cluster occupies 73% through the window map. Based on the field survey data, this study modified weighting values of the RMR system using a multiple regression analysis method. The analysis result suggests a modified weighting values of the RMR parameters as follows; 18 for the intact strength of rock; 61 for RQD; 2 for spacing of discontinuities; 2 for the condition of discontinuities; and 17 for ground water.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2017

A geological repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste is generally constructed in host rock at depths of 500~1,000 meters below the ground surface. A geological repository system consists of a disposal canister with packed spent fuel, buffer material, backfill material, and intact rock. The buffer is indispensable to assure the disposal safety of high-level radioactive waste, and it can restrain the release of radionuclides and protect the canister from the inflow of groundwater. Since high temperature in a disposal canister is released to the surrounding buffer material, the thermal properties of the buffer material are very important in determining the entire disposal safety. Even though there have been many studies on thermal conductivity, there have been only few studies that have investigates the specific heat capacity of the bentonite buffer. Therefore, this paper presents a specific heat capacity prediction model for compacted Gyeongju bentonite buffer material, which is a Ca-bentonite produced in Korea. Specific heat capacity of the compacted bentonite buffer was measured using a dual probe method according to various degrees of saturation and dry density. A regression model to predict the specific heat capacity of the compacted bentonite buffer was suggested and fitted using 33 sets of data obtained by the dual probe method.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.55-64
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• 2017

A geological repository has been considered one of the most adequate options for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. A geological repository will be constructed in a host rock at a depth of 500~1,000 meters below the ground surface. The geological repository system consists of a disposal canister with packed spent fuel, buffer material, backfill material, and intact rock. The buffer is very important to assure the disposal safety of high-level radioactive waste. It can restrain the release of radionuclide and protect the canister from the inflow of groundwater. High temperature in a disposal canister is released into the surrounding buffer material, and thus the thermal transfer behavior of the buffer material is very important to analyze the entire disposal safety. Therefore, this paper presents a thermal conductivity prediction model for the Kyungju compacted bentonite buffer material which is the only bentonite produced in Korea. Thermal conductivity of Kyungju bentonite was measured using a hot wire method according to various water contents and dry densities. With 39 data obtained by the hot wire method, a regression model to predict the thermal conductivity of Kyungju bentonite was suggested.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.427-434
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• 2010

Load Resistance Factor Design method is used increasingly in geotechnical design world widely and resistance factors for drilled shafts are suggested by AASHTO. However, these resistance factors are determined for intact rock conditions, by comparison most of bedrocks in Korea are weathered condition, so that applying the AASHTO resistance factors is not reasonable. Thus, this study suggests the proper resistance factors for design of drilled shaft in Korea. The 22 cases of pile load test data from 8 sites were chosen and reliability-based approach is used to analyze the data. Reliability analysis was performed by First Order Second Moment Method (FOSM) applying 4 bearing capacity equations. As a result, when the Factor of Safety(FOS) were selected as 3.0, the target reliability index($\beta_c$) were evaluated about 2.01~2.30. Resistance factors and load factors are determined from optimization based on above results. The resistance factors ranged between 0.48 and 0.56 and load factor for dead load and live load are evaluated approximately 1.25 and 1.75 respectively. However, when the target reliability are considered as 3.0, the resistance factors are evaluated as approximately 50% of results when the target reliability index were 2.0.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2000

Wettability of addition silicone impression material is very important property for making an accurate restoration. This study examined the impression quality in clinical condition and the wettability of impression and die material. Four commercially available addition silicone impression material (Express, Examix, Contrast, Perfect) and three die materials (Die-Keen, Vel-Mix, Fuji-Rock) were studied. A total of 50 putty/wash and heavy body/wash impressions of wet intact permanent molar teeth were examined for definition of the gingival sulcus reproduction and then classified in quality ranking. The percentage of the sulcus reproduction ability of each material was calculated from the sulcus depths of cross-sectioned epoxy resin casts from the impressions and clinically measured sulcus depths, The same impression materials were used to produce 3 groups of die stone casts form void entrapment die had been exposed to milk. Voids in the impression body and stone casts ere counted under a stereoscopic microscope. From the experiment, the following results were obtained : 1. Sulcus reproduction ability of additional silicone impression material were diminished in order of Express, Examix, Perfect, Contrast. The significant difference was found between Perfect and other material. Heavy body/wash combination was superior In putty/wash method n Perfect impression material. 2. In direct observation, Contrast showed least void in impression body but correlations ere not found between sulcus reproduction and void production. 3. In void entrapment laboratory test, wettability were diminished in order of Examix, Contrast, Express, Perfect. Clinical impression recording seems not to correlate with laboratory test. 4. The wettability of die material to impression material was not different in Express, Examix, Contrast. But, in Perfect, Die-Keen had superior wettability to others.