• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.459-472
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• 2015

Weathering hollows which develop on various rocks are the terrain whose lithological characteristics and formation of the bed rock is under active discussion. The shore in Dapyeong-ri, Sacheon-si has alternation of strata of pelite and sandstone, and the weathering hollows develop on the shore platform and the sea cliff where sandstone is exposed. To analyze the development characteristics of weathering hollows by development of joints, interpenetration of veins and physical and chemical features of the stone, the study conducted a topographic investigation, XRD analysis and an observation using a polarizing microscope. As the result of the investigation and analysis, tafoni and gnamma are spread in the same area and new tafoni is being formed as the existing weathering hollows are destroyed by the expansion and growth of the joint. The vein, which was found to be a quartz vein, may accelerate the development of weathering hollows combining with the joint but may also hamper their growth if the veins are penetrating perpendicularly. It is generally known that weathering hollows develop regardless of the type of rocks, however, the analysis on the lithological features show that the development is limited on the fractured and broken rocks.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.20-32
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• 2008

The study shows a method called a square-inventory method, which is a better and faster method than scanline survey and window method for an analysis of slope stability. The study area is located in the Changri area, Boeun-Gun, Chungbuk, and consists of many formations of the Okcheon Supergroup. Various types of failure are observed from the phyllite including the rocks in the study area. The physical properties of meta-sedimentary rocks are that minerals of the rocks are composed of microcrystalline quartz and sericite, which are arranged parallel to bedding (or schistosity) and crenulation cleavage. Therefore, such properties affect geotechnical ones of the rock. The slope stability are analyzed by selecting 3 areas, each of which are divided into 2 or 3 slopes of $1m{\times}1m$ area that represent each of 3 investigation sites. The possibility of wedge and toppling failure is very high in all 3 areas by using square-inventory method. Although possibility of plane failure is weak in the investigation site 2, the plane failures are frequently found from the slope of site 2. The bedding (or schistosity) plane and cleavage, another types of discontinuity coexist in meta-sedimentary rocks uulike igneous rocks, and therefore are important factors to be considered together with joint structures in th ε analysis of slope stability.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.149-160
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• 2013

Volcanic activity commonly creates a highly complicated volcanic complex due to the admixture of lava flow and sedimentation of volcanic ash. The Song-Gok site is composed of volcanic rocks that collapsed at the lower part of the slope, in combination with several discontinuities in and around a fault. The results of projection analysis indicated the possibility of plane, wedge, and toppling failure in the failure section. The results of discontinuity modeling using the Distinct Element Method (DEM) revealed a total displacement of 207 mm and a joint shear displacement of 114 mm. The yield surface zone was verified at the fault plane of the failure section. In geotechnical terms, volcanic rock slopes are characteristically vulnerable to failure because of differential weathering among the various rock types, the effect of groundwater based on the permeability of the rocks, and the presence of systematic joints generated by the cooling and contraction of lava. When considering the stability of a volcanic rock slope, it is necessary to consider data such as the geological features of the rock, as obtained through detailed geological survey, and variations in discontinuities and rock blocks.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.459-468
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• 2019

The stability and safety of concrete plug structure of diversion tunnel is crucial for the impoundment of upstream reservoir in hydropower projects. The ongoing Wudongde hydropower plant in China plans to adopt straight column plugs and curved column plugs to replace the traditional expanded wedge-shaped plugs. The performance of the proposed new plug structures under high water head is then a critical issue and attracts the attentions of engineers. This paper firstly studied the joint bearing mechanism of plug and surrounding rock mass and found that the quality and mechanical properties of the interfaces among plug concrete, shotcrete, and surrounding rock mass play a key role in the performance of plug structures. By performing geophysical and mechanical experiments, the contact state and the mechanical parameters of the interfaces were analyzed in detail and provide numerical analysis with rational input parameters. The safety evaluation is carried out through numerical calculation of plug stability under both construction and operation period. The results indicate that the allowable water head acting on columnar plugs is 3.1 to 7.4 times of the designed water head. So the stability of the new plug structure meets the design code requirement. Based on above findings, it is concluded that for the studied project, it is feasible to adopt columnar plugs to replace the traditional expanded wedge-shaped plugs. It is hoped that this study can provide reference for other projects with similar engineering background and problems.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.447-457
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• 2008

Laboratory tests for single plane sliding were conducted using the model rock slope to investigate the cut slope deformability and failure mechanism due to combined effect of engineering characteristics such as angle of sliding plane, water force, joint roughness and infillings. Also the possibility of prediction of slope failure through displacement monitoring was explored. The joint roughness was prepared in forms of saw-tooth type having different roughness specifications. The infillings was maintained between upper and lower roughness plane from zero to 1.2 times of the amplitude of the surface projections. Water force was expressed as the percent filling of tension crack from dry (0%) to full (100%), and constantly increased from 0% at the rate of 0.5%/min and 1%/min upto failure. Total of 50 tests were performed at sliding angles of $30^{\circ}$ and $35^{\circ}$ based on different combinations of joint roughness, infilling thickness and water force increment conditions. For smooth sliding plane, it was found that the linear type of deformability exhibited irrespective of the infilling thickness and water force conditions. For sliding planes having roughness, stepping or exponential types of deformability were predominant under condition that the infilling thickness is lower or higher than asperity height, respectively. These arise from the fact that, once the infilling thickness exceeds asperities, strength and deformability of the sliding plane is controlled by the engineering characteristics of the infilling materials. The results obtained in this study clearly show that the water force at failure was found to increase with increasing joint roughness, and to decrease with increasing filling thickness. It seems possible to estimate failure time using the inverse velocity method for sliding plane having exponential type of deformability. However, it is necessary to estimate failure time by trial and error basis to predict failure of the slope accurately.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.137-150
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• 2002

Recently, plane failure mode occurred frequently along the bedding plane having low angle dip about 20 degree when cutting slopes were constructed in sedimentary rock region of the Gyeongsang Basin. Landslide of the Whangryeong Mountain which was occurred at Busan Metropolitan City in 1999 belongs to the category mentioned above. Reconstruction for cutting slope of the Whangryeong Mountain has finished in 2000 and final grade of reconstructed cutting slope is 1:2.0. To analyze slope failure mode for landslide of the Whangryeong Mountain, various analyses were performed such as in-situ investigation and test, drilling, laboratory test, aerial photograph interpretation, X-ray diffraction analysis, and slope stability analysis using Stereographic Projection and Limit Equilibrium methods. As the result, it is identified that tension cracks had been developed one year before the landslide took place. The tension crack semis to be formed by merging several joint sets. It appears that failure blocks broke down along the sliding planes of different layers. Risk of plane failure is conformed as a result of stability analysis using Stereographic Projection and Limit Equilibrium methods in case that greenish gray tuffaceous shales, regared as sliding planes, are weathered. From now on, a detailed investigation is needed for the thin layers which is sensitive to weathering, and stability analysis for this layer is performed at cut slope construction site having similar geological condition.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.83-93
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to present emergency rehabilitation, cause and the countermeasure of reinforcement about reinforced retaining wall and the slope collapse of the phyllite ground. The study area is broken easily because this area has rock mass discontinuity such as stratification, foliation, joint and fold. And this area consists of the ground where it happens easily to the failure of structure like reinforced retaining wall because of the phyllite ground sensitive to weathering. Counterweight fill in front of reinforced retaining wall was performed as emergency rehabilitation about displacement of reinforced retaining wall and the failure at the rear of slope on phyllite ground. After that, additional displacement didn't occur. Boring and geophysical exploration were launched to present emergency rehabilitation and develop the long-term method of reinforcement. This could grasp anticipated range of the failure section and identify internal and external factors of the cause of the slope collapse. Several methods of reinforcement were suggested by conducting the numerical analysis. When conducting design and construction of major structures at the ground which has complex discontinuities, the precise site investigation should be conducted. During construction, immediate action for over-displacement should be taken by performing the periodic measurement.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2005

To investigate the feasibility of a new concept of storing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in a lined hard rock cavern, and to develop essential technologies for constructing underground LNG storage facilities, a small pilot plant storing liquid nitrogen (LN2) has been constructed at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM). The LN2 stored in the cavern will subject the host rock around the cavern to very low temperatures, which is expected to cause the development of an ice ring and the change of ground condition around the storage cavern. To investigate and monitor changes in ground conditions at this pilot plant site, geophysical, hydrogeological, and rock mechanical investigations were carried out. In particular, geophysical methods including borehole radar and three-dimensional (3D) resistivity surveys were used to identify and monitor the development of an ice ring, and other possible changes in ground conditions resulting from the very low temperature of LN2 in the storage tank. We acquired 3D resistivity data before and after storing the LN2, and the results were compared. From the 3D images obtained during the three phases of the resistivity monitoring survey, we delineated zones of distinct resistivity changes that are closely related to the storage of LN2. In these results, we observed a decrease in resistivity at the eastern part of the storage cavern. Comparing the hydrogeological data and Joint patterns around the storage cavern, we interpret this change in resistivity to result from changes in the groundwater flow pattern. Freezing of the host rock by the very low temperature of LN2 causes a drastic change in the hydrogeological conditions and groundwater flow patterns in this pilot plant.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 1980

The rocks exposed in the investigation area are andesite of Late Cretaceous age, and syenite and aplitic granite of Bulgugsa Series of Early Cretaceous Period, which is intruded in the older andesitic rock. The strike and dip of major joint is $N10^{\circ}$ to $60^{\circ}E$, and $70^{\circ}SE$ to vertical respectively. According to seismic exploration, lower velocity zone, deemed to be fractured and/or crushed zone, is appeared along the gully center of east flank of the area. Test drilling shows that andesite bedrock is mostly very hard, massive, and very fine to medium grained and has almost 100 percent RQD and core recovery. In comparision with andesitic bedrock, intruded syenite cores show that it is highly crush especially at the depth from 55m to 63m.