• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.217-225
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• 2003

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the smeared effect due to mandrel penetration into soft ground for a vertical drain installation. Laboratory tests were performed to investigate the formation of a smear zone, the variations of strength, and the consolidation characteristics in the disturbed zone using two types(CL at Yangsan site and OH at Pohang site) of soft clayey soils. The smear zone effect was evaluated focusing on mandrel shape, mandrel size, penetration speed, and ground condition. Based on laboratory test results, the diameter of the smear zone$(d_s)$ ranged from 3.08 and 3.92 times that of mandrel$(d_m)$. It was also found that the $(d_s/d_m)$ value of the circular shape of the mandrel is smaller than those of square and rectangular shapes. The value of $(d_s/d_m)$ decreased with larger mandrel size, lower penetration speed in the CL soil, and higher penetration speed in the OH soil. However, natural water content was minimally affected by $(d_s/d_m)$. Respectively, the coefficients of horizontal consolidation$(C_{hs})$ and horizontal Permeability$(K_s)$ of smear zone ranged from 0.81 to 0.87 times, and 0.73 to 0.83 times those of the undisturbed zone. Based on this study, the values of $C_{hs}, K_s$ and unconfined compressive strength$(q_{us})$ in the smear zone were the lowest at close vicinity of the mandrel and increased linearly with distance from the mandrel. Further, the $(q_{us})$ varied from 0.5 to 0.9 times that of the undisturbed zone strength.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.85-94
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• 2012

Evaluation of the smear effect caused by mandrel penetration into soft ground for a vertical drain installation is very important to predict the consolidation time of soft ground improvement. 30 kinds of laboratory model tests considering in situ conditions were conducted to investigate the formation of a smear zone and the decrease of coefficient of permeability in the disturbed zone. Three types(C(clay):M(silt)=1:1, 0.5:0.5, and 0:1) of reconstituted samples were used for 3 dimensional smear zone test. An experimental study was performed focusing on length of mandrel penetration, mandrel shape and size, earth pressure, and ground condition(unit weight and grain size distributions). Laboratory test results show that the length of mandrel penetration is the most critical factor for the formation of smear zone. As a result, the ratio between diameter of the smear zone($d_s$) and that of mandrel($d_m$) at field using long mandrel becomes larger than conventional $d_s/d_m$. The ratio between $d_s$ and $d_m$ ranges from 1.89 and 2.48 with the sample at C:M=1:0. It was also found that the $d_s/d_m$ value with the round shape of the mandrel is smaller than that of diamond one. The value of $d_s/d_m$ decreased with larger mandrel size, lower unit weight, and higher earth pressure. However, higher silt content led to increase of $d_s/d_m$. The ratio between coefficient of horizontal permeability in the smear zone($k_{hs}$) and that of undisturbed zone($k_{ho}$) ranged from 0.70 to 0.85. The test results imply that factors and values affecting $k_{hs}/k_{ho}$ show similar tendency with $d_s/d_m$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.03b
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• pp.583-590
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• 2000

The installation of vertical drains by using a mandrel causes significant disturbance of the subsoil. Thus a smear zone may be developed with reduced permeability and increased compressibility. In this paper the extent of smear zone developing ground disturbance with the installation of mandrels are analysed by field smear zone test. The extent and the consolidation characteristics of smear zones around the mandrels is compared with the shape, the size of mandrel and penetration speed and is evaluated from the field smear test results. (circular, sqare, rectangle and oval type)

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.02a
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• pp.279-282
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• 2007

When ground disturbance takes place due to vertical drain construction through mandrel penetration, that affects excess pore water pressure dissipation time because of soft clay coefficient of permeability decreasing. Eventually, consolidation time is influenced. In this research, we measure process of excess pore water pressure dissipation before and after each other different shape's mandrel penetration through model test, and calculates range of smear zone, coefficient of permeability and horizontal coefficient of consolidation after model test. Using of test result, we grasp a degree of drainage ability drop resulting from vertical drain construction.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5C
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• pp.313-320
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• 2008

The discharge capacity testing apparatus using penetration method, being able to simulate in laboratory the condition of embedding plastic board drains in field, was developed to investigate consolidation characteristics of ground and to figure out discharge capacity of drains. The developed apparatus with a mandrel and penetrating device was designed to insert PBD into the ground prepared by previously applied pressure, being different from the conventional testing method that the drain was installed and the ground material was poured subsequently. Discharge capacity tests with the conventional apparatus as well as the newly developed one were performed to assess the applicability of the latter. As a result of tests, the conventional method showed delayed consolidation due to overall disturbance of ground and local deformation of drain caused by inhomogeneity of ground. Therefore discharge capacity of drain with the conventional apparatus was measured more or less larger than the expected values whereas discharge capacity with new one could be measured similar to the actual value in field.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.174-187
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• 2005

Recently, because of environment, cost, supply and demand factors, though applying sea-sand as horizontal drains is getting difficult that usage of Gravel has been growing in large size of construction sites, Study on engineering properties and behavior characteristics of Gravel stratum is not thoroughgoing enough. We have applied Gravel Mat as the horizontal drains in O O construction site. We also conducted several field tests such as Material property test, Geosynthetics damage test with Repeated load, Discharge capacity test performed by inflow of upper soil and In-situ PBD Penetration test to review the application of Gravel Mat. Test results show that Gravel Mat is not only advantageous in Trafficability and Water drainage by Consolidation due to its great Internal friction angle and Permeability, but also easy to penetrate with Mandrel and has great discharge capacity and guarantee of the stability against geosynthetics damage at the same time. With these benefits Gravel Mat shows great application in fields.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.161-170
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• 2006

Bender elements, composed of thin piezo-ceramics and elastic shims, have been used to measure shear wave velocities of specimens in laboratories. In a preliminary stage of their field applications, an in-house research of optimizing suitable bender elements and geometrical arrangement has been carried out in a barrel of kaolinite-water mixture. Two types of measurement configuration, similar to cross-hole and in-hole seismic testing, has been implemented. A pair of prototype instrumented rods was penetrated into a soft clay layer in the west coast and excellent shear waves were recorded. Development of penetration device(mandrel) and associated instrumented rods are in progress for deeper investigation.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.45-58
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• 1997

In this paper the factors developing ground disturbance with the penetration of PDB mandrels are analysed by using field reconnaissance and laboratory test. In the laboratory tests, the amount of smear zones around the PDB mandrels is compared with respect to the shape and the size of mandrels by penetrating model mandrels of various shapes into the reconstituted clay. The shapes of mandrels selected are circular, oval and rectangular. It was recognized from the field reconnaissance that the size and shape, driving techniques of mandrels, as well as the size and shape of anchor shoe could develop ground disturbance. The mandrels that would reduce the smear effect of clay is oval and rectangular shapes rat her than circular one. It was found that the smear effect becomes smaller as the ratio of the long and short edge of the rectangular shape mandrel becomes larger.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.37-45
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• 2006

Bender elements, composed of thin piezo-ceramics and elastic shims, have been used to measure shear wave velocities of specimens in laboratories. In a preliminary stage of their field applications, an in-house research of optimizing suitable bender elements and their geometrical arrangement has been carried out in a barrel of kaolinite-water mixture. Two types of measurement configuration, similar to cross-hole and in-hole seismic testing, have been implemented. prototype instrumented rods were penetrated into a soft clay layer in the west coast and excellent shear waves were recorded. Development of penetration device (mandrel) and associated instrumented rods are in progress for deeper investigation.