• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.49-62
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• 2024

Reckless development of the underground by rapid urbanization causes inspection delay on replacement of existing structure and installation new facilities. However, frequent accidents occur due to deviation in construction design planned by inaccurate location information of underground structure. Meanwhile, the electrical resistivity survey, knowns as non-destructive method, is based on the difference in the electric potential of electrodes to measure the electrical resistance of ground. This method is significantly advanced with multi-electrode and deep learning for analyzing strata. However, there is no study to quantitatively assess change in electrical resistance according to geometric conditions of structures. This study evaluates changes in electrical resistance through geometric parameters of electrodes and structure. Firstly, electrical resistance numerical module is developed using generalized mesh occurring minimal errors between theoretical and numerical resistance values. Then, changes in resistances are quantitatively compared on geometric parameters including burial depth, diameter of structure, and distance electrode and structure under steady current condition. The results show that higher electrical resistance is measured for shallow depth, larger size, and proximity to the electrode. Additionally, electric potential and current density distributions are analyzed to discuss the measured electrical resistance around the terminal electrode and structure.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1009-1021
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• 2016

The community structure and abundance of epilithic biofilm were bimonthly examined to know spatial and temporal patterns of biofilm biomass and taxonimical composition at the two study sites, Gosapo and Gyeokpo with different degrees of wave exposure levels from November 2010 to September 2011. Biomass was estimated by using chlorophyll a contents (Chl a), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and vegetation index (VI). Cyanobacteria such as Aphanotece spp. predominated in the proportion of 57.53% at Gosapo and of 61.12% at Gyeokpo and they are abundant in mid shore and in summer at both study sites. The diatoms Navicula spp., Achnanthes spp. and Licmophora spp. were common species and they showed an increasing trend from high to low shore. NDVI, VI, and chl a contents were the greatest at mid shore for Gosapo (0.44, 3.05, $24.56{\mu}g/cm^2$) and at low shore for Gyeokpo (0.41, 2.73, $17.98{\mu}g/cm^2$). NDVI, VI, and chl a content were all maximal in January and minimal in March at the both sites. Average NDVI, VI, and chlorophyll a contents of biofilms were greater at Gosapo (0.43, 2.89, $22.84{\mu}g/cm^2$) than Gyeokpo (0.38, 2.48, $15.48{\mu}g/cm^2$).Of three shore levels(high, mid, and low) Chl a contents were positively correlated with NDVI and VI at the two study sites indicating that non-destructive NDVI and VI values can be used in stead of destructive Chl a extraction method. In conclusion, epilithic biofilm was more abundant seasonally in winter, vertically in mid and low intertidal zone, and horizontally at wave exposed shore than in summer, at high and sheltered shore in Korea.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2016

Background: It is necessary to analyze radioactivity of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in products to ensure radiological safety required by Natural Radiation Safety Management Act. The pretreatments for the existing analysis methods require high technology and time. Such destructive pretreatments including grinding and dissolution of samples make impossible to reuse products. We developed a rapid and simple procedure of radioactivity analysis for thorium series in the products containing NORM. Materials and Methods: The developed method requires non-destructive or minimized pretreatment. Radioactivity of the product without pretreatment is initially measured using gamma spectroscopy and then the measured radioactivity is adjusted by considering material composition, mass density, and geometrical shape of the product. The radioactivity adjustment can be made using scaling factors, which is derived by radiation transport Monte Carlo simulation. Necklace, bracelet, male health care product, and tile for health mat were selected as representative products for this study. The products are commonly used by the public and directly contacted with human body and thus resulting in high radiation exposure to the user. Results and Discussion: The scaling factors were derived using MCNPX code and the values ranged from 0.31 to 0.47. If radioactivity of the products is measured without pretreatment, the thorium series may be overestimated by up to 2.8 times. If scaling factors are applied, the difference in radioactivity estimates are reduced to 3-24%. Conclusion : The developed procedure in this study can be used for other products with various materials and shapes and thus ensuring radiological safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2012

Micro-computed tomography (microCT) is an important tool for preclinical vascular imaging, with micron-level resolution. This non-destructive means of imaging allows for rapid collection of 2D and 3D reconstructions to visualize specimens prior to destructive analysis such as pathological analysis. Objectives. The aim of this study was to suggest a method for ex vivo, postmortem examination of stented arterial segments with microCT. And ex vivo evaluation of stents such as bare metal or drug eluting stents on in-stent restenosis (ISR) in rabbit model was performed. The bare metal stent (BMS) and drug eluting stent (DES, paclitaxel) were implanted in the left or right iliac arteries alternatively in eight New Zealand white rabbits. After 4 weeks of post-implantation, the part of iliac arteries surrounding the stent were removed carefully and processed for microCT. Prior to microCT analysis, a contrast medium was loaded to lumen of stents. All samples were subjected to an X-ray source operating at 50 kV and 200 ${\mu}A$ by using a 3D isotropic resolution. The region of interest was traced and measured by CTAN analytical software. Objects being exposed to radiation had different Hounsfield unit each other with values of approximately 1.2 at stent area, 0.12 ~ 0.17 at a contrast medium and 0 ~ 0.06 at outer area of stent. Based on above, further analyses were performed. As a result, the difference of lengths and volumes between expanded stents, which may relate to injury score in pathological analysis, was not different significantly. Moreover, ISR area of BMS was 1.6 times higher than that of DES, indicating that paclitaxel has inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and prevent infiltration of restenosis into lumen of stent. And ISR area of BMS was higher ($1.52{\pm}0.48mm^2$) than that of DES ($0.94{\pm}0.42mm^2$), indicating that paclitaxel has inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and prevent infiltration of restenosis into lumen of stent. Though it was not statistically significant, it showed that the extent of neointema of mid-region of stents was relatively higher than that of anterior and posterior region in parts of BMS as showing cross-sectional 2-D image. suggest that microCT can be utilized as an accessorial tool for pathological analysis.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.33-37
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• 2016

The hydration process of Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) used for backfill is the primary factor to determine the construction period. The objective of this study is to monitor the hydration process of CLSM using the Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and to establish the relationship between dielectric constant and compressive strength. The CLSM specimen is composed of cement, flyash, silt, sand, accelerator, and water. The material characteristics of the CLSM including flow, unit weight, compressive strength are investigated. To measure the dielectric constant of the CLSM during the curing time, TDR probe incorporated with a mold and a reflectometer are used. Experimental results show that the dielectric constant remains constant at early stage, and then decreases as the curing time increases. In addition, the dielectric constant is related to the compressive strength in inverse power function. This paper suggests that the TDR technique may be used as a non-destructive testing method in order to estimate the compressive strength of the CLSM mixture under construction.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2001

There is personal difference in the concentrations of trace elements in human hair according to human life or history suck as occupation, race, sex, age, food habit, social condition and so on. It is also found that the individual's deviation of elemental concentrations is reflecting the degree of environmental pollutants exposure to human body, intakes of food and metabolism. To compare the degree of accumulation in the hair tissue, human hair samples were collected from five positions of head and analyzed by non-destructive neutron activation analysis with and without washing according to IAEA's recommended method. Analytical quality control is performed using the certified reference material. The relative error of Cu, Cr, Na, Co, Mg, As, Se, Zn and those of Mn, Ca, Fe, Sr are within ${\pm}5%$ and ${\pm}10%$, respectively and the relative standard deviation of elements are within ${\pm}10%$. The deviations between the individuals and hair sampling positions were estimated. The deviation of individual was seven times more than that of positions. Under the defined condition, the difference and the correlation of elemental concentrations were compared with two different groups, office and factory workers. The result can be used as a fundamental data for human health and environment assessment.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.13-21
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• 2017

Ballasted track has been used as track system for more than 100 years. Ballasted track has advantages of low construction cost, flexible maintenance, low noise and vibration, and so on. However, ballasted track leads to continuous settlement which causes maintenance. Recently, increase in speed, traffic volume, and weight of train requires more frequent maintenance. Fouling, well-known phenomenon of accumulation of fine materials due to intrusion of subgrade and breakage of ballast materials, expedites the settlement (i.e., irregular settlement) of track. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) can be one of non-destructive tools that can evaluate fouling level of ballast. In this paper, a gain function based on the attenuation characteristics of ballast material is suggested in conjunction with Hilbert transform. Lab box tests and full-scale tests indicate that the suggested method reasonably classifies clean, fouled layers, and subgrade. However, additional study to eliminate effect of sleeper and to include the scattering features of the electromagnetic wave in ballast voids should be required in order to enhance the accuracy.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.5-12
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• 2005

Recently, geophysical prospecting methods have played very important roles in civil and environmental engineering problems. Technical advances in geophysical instruments and computer system made it possible to get underground images with very high resolution far purposes to resolve those problems. It was possible partly due to ever increasing demand for development of technologies needed to precisely detect polluted areas and prevent ground-related accidents. Based on the same demand, integrity tests of cast-in place piles draw more attention and development of accurate test procedures is required. Ultrasonic methods is one of most advanced non-destructive procedures. In the paper, a geotomography method is employed for the cast-in place pile integrity test using ultrasonic waves. The image of pile interior is scanned and scrutinized far better and more accurate decision in the cast-in place pile integrity. In this study, we firstly examined the accuracy fur tomography program with idealized synthetic models built in water tank: their position and size were changed in the tank and each case was studied. In the next stage, real concrete pile models were fabricated and images of anomaly areas inside the pile were scanned to successfully locate those areas.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.485-492
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• 2009

The thermal fatigue crack(TFC) is one of the life-limiting mechanisms at the nuclear power plant operating conditions. In order to evaluate the structural integrity, various non-destructive test methods such as radiographic test, ultrasonic test and eddy current are used in the industrial field. However, these methods have restrictions that defect detection is possible after the crack growth. For this reason, acoustic emission testing(AET) is becoming one of powerful inspection methods, because AET has an advantage that possible to monitor the structure continuously. Generally, every mechanism that affects the integrity of the structure or equipment is a source of acoustic emission signal. Therefore the noise filtering is one of the major works to the almost AET researchers. In this study, acoustic emission signal was collected from the pipes which were in the successive thermal fatigue cycles. The data were filtered based on the results from previous experiments. Through the data analysis, the signal characteristics to distinguish the effective signal from the noises for the TFC were proven as the waveform difference. The experiment results provide preliminary information for the acoustic emission technique to the continuous monitoring of the structure failure detection.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.285-294
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• 2020

This study investigated the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) over a two-decade period on public roads, focusing on the electromagnetic characteristics of the pavement dielectrics and attenuation. From the results, a typical range of characteristic value, influencing factors, and a correction method were suggested. The typical dielectrics of asphalt pavements were 4-7, as measured by an air-coupled 1 GHz GPR antenna. The dielectrics of concrete pavements were very large in the early age, but were drastically reduced with ageing. Ten years on, collection was in the range of 6-12. The dielectrics were proportional to the relative humidity (R.H.) of the atmosphere. The effects were reduced to one eighth with an overlay. Attenuation generally increased with thickness of the road layer, and also increased where there was damage. The GPR results could also vary depending on the weather conditions as well as on the characteristics of the GPR equipment, even at the same frequency. Therefore, GPR surveys should be performed on road surfaces without debris on a single, fine day. The reliability of the GPR analysis could be improved by cores and equipment calibration with other non-destructive test surveys.