• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.419-430
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• 2021

Investigation on the compressibility and shear strength of compacted loess is of great importance for the design and operation of engineering infrastructures in filling area. In this study, the mechanical behaviors of Yan'an compacted loess are investigated at various dry densities and water contents by conducting one dimensional compression and direct shear tests. And the elastic compressibility, plastic compressibility, yield stress and strength are obtained from the experiments. Results show that when water content increases, plastic compressibility parameter increases, but yield stress decreases. However, the increase of dry density leads to a decrease in plastic compressibility parameter but an increase in yield stress. In addition, elastic compressibility parameter is found to be a constant which is irrelevant to water content and dry density. As for strength, cohesion and internal friction angle is directly proportional to dry density, but inversely proportional to water content. Moreover, the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests were also performed to observe the pore size distribution and microstructure of the specimens. Finally, by using results of MIP and SEM tests, the compressibility and strength behaviours of Yan'an compacted loess are explained from the perspective of pore-size distribution and microstructure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.497-508
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• 2022

Tailings fluidization (i.e., tailings behave as being fluidized) under cyclic loading is one concern during the construction of tailings dams, especially in the shallow tailings layers. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the responses of tailings under cyclic loadings and the tailings potential for fluidization. A series of cyclic triaxial undrained and drained tests were performed on medium and dense tailings samples under various cyclic stress ratios (CSR). The results indicated that axial strain and excess pore water pressure accumulated over time due to cyclic loading. However, the accumulations were dependent on CSR values, densities, and drainage conditions. The fluidization potential analysis in this study was then evaluated based on the obtained cyclic axial strain and excess pore water pressure. As a result, tailings samples were stable (unfluidized) under small CSR values, and the critical CSR values, where the tailings fluidized, varied depending on the density of tailings samples. Tailings fluidization is triggered as cyclic stress ratios reach critical values. In this study, the critical CSR values were found to be 0.15 and 0.40 for medium and dense samples, respectively.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.69-84
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• 2020

Based on differential quadrature method (DQM) and nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT), forced vibrations of a porous functionally graded (FG) scale-dependent beam in thermal environments have been investigated in this study. The nanobeam is assumed to be in contact with a moving point load. NSGT contains nonlocal stress field impacts together with the microstructure-dependent strains gradient impacts. The nano-size beam is constructed by functionally graded materials (FGMs) containing even and un-even pore dispersions within the material texture. The gradual material characteristics based upon pore effects have been characterized using refined power-law functions. Dynamical deflections of the nano-size beam have been calculated using DQM and Laplace transform technique. The prominence of temperature rise, nonlocal factor, strain gradient factor, travelling load speed, pore factor/distribution and elastic substrate on forced vibrational behaviors of nano-size beams have been explored.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.493-502
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• 2020

The prediction of soil response under repetitive mechanical loadings remains challenging in geotechnical engineering applications. Modeling the cyclic soil response requires a robust model validation with an experimental dataset. This study proposes a unique method adopting linearity of model constant with the number of cycles. The model allows the prediction of the terminal density of sediments when subjected to repetitive changes in pore-fluid pressure based on the two-surface plasticity. Model simulations are analyzed in combination with an experimental dataset of sandy sediments when subjected to repetitive changes in pore fluid pressure under constant deviatoric stress conditions. The results show that the modified plastic moduli in the two-surface plasticity model appear to be critical for determining the terminal density. The methodology introduced in this study is expected to contribute to the prediction of the terminal density and the evolution of shear strain at given repetitive loading conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.55-65
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• 2014

Most shield tunnels are designed based on the assumption of a undrained condition. But they are operated as drained tunnels in which underground water flows and passes through a drainage facility. Therefore, it is necessary that the drainage condition be considered in the shield tunnel design. In this research, new testing device which can simulate the underground tunnel located below ground water level, was developed. Total stress and pore water pressure were examined and an inflow water into an inner pipe was measured using the testing device. Test results showed that the total stress, which was the sum of effective stress and pore pressure, increased more in an undrained condition and an inflow water into an inner pipe was proportional to the water pressure but inversely proportional to the loading stress. Consequently, if the drainage is considered in the shield tunnel design, the more economical design can be expected because of the stress reduction of the lining.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.1458-1465
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• 2010

A lot of dredging and reclaming projects are recently under way in Korea for the efficient use of limiting land space. Saemanguem area is special case of reclaiming by dredged soil. In case of a confined disposal of dredged soils by a pump dredger, generally coarse grained soils are separated from fines with dropping at the near part of the pump dredger. This kind of seperation of fine contents could be a factor of liquefaction by earthquake. In Korea, recently, earthquakes with magnitude of 3.0 or higher are distinctively increasing in 1990. In this study, cyclic shear characterics of Saemanguem Dredged sand depending on fine content were analyzed. A series of undrained cyclic triaxial test with cyclic stress ratio ($\sigma_d/{2\sigma_{{\upsilon}c}}'$) were performed on both isotropic consolidated specimen and sand with fine contents of 0%, 5%, 15%, 30%, 40% under the effective vertical stress of 100kPa and 50% and 60%, 70% of relative density for fine content of 0%, respectively. In the test results, cyclic shear strength increased by increasing of cyclic stress ratio($\sigma_d/{2\sigma_{{\upsilon}c}}'$) with increasing the relative density at the same number of cyclic under the effective confining pressure of 100kPa. It is almost highest the double amplitude(DA) 1%, 3%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% at fine content of 15% between Cyclic stress ratio($\sigma_d/{2\sigma_{{\upsilon}c}}'$) value at cyclic number five and fine content. Number of cyclic is 30 under the effective vertical stress of 100kPa, 70% of relative density for fine content of 15%. when the cyclic stress ratio at each relative density was compared at cyclic number five, the double amplitude(DA) 1%, 3%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%, and the pore-pressure ratio (${\Delta}u/{\sigma'}_c$) 0.95 value were compared; under the relative density of 70% and the effective confining pressure of 100kPa. The pore-pressure ratio (${\Delta}u/{\sigma'}_c$) 0.95 value showed a similar trend to the double amplitude (DA) 5% line.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.73-85
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• 2002

This paper is focused on studying the undrained cyclic triaxial behavior of saturated Nak-dong River sand, using anisotropically consolidated specimens. A test of isotropically consolidated specimens was performed to compare the results of the anisotropically consolidated specimens. The cyclic shear stre3ngth of the sand under various combinations of initial static shear stress and relative density was considered. Failure was defined as a 5% double amplitude cyclic strain and a 5% residual axial strain for both reversal stress and no reversal stress conditions. Using this definition, the cyclic strength of the anisotropically consolidated specimens was affected by the initial static shear stress. For anisotropically consolidated Nak-dong River dense sand, the cyclic strength is greater than that of Toyolura silica sand but is smaller than that of Dogs Bay carbonate sand. By comparing the experimental and predictecl results, it was possible to predict the residual pore pressure of Nak-dong River sand using Hyodo's model with initial static shear stress subjected cyclic loading.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.1140-1147
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to identify the effect of the degree of saturation on the resilient modulus of cohesive soils as subgrade. Six representative cohesive soils representing A-4, A-6, and A-7-6 soil types collected from road construction sites across Ohio, were tested in the laboratory to determine their basic engineering properties. Resilient modulus tests were conducted on unsaturated cohesive soils at optimum moisture content, and samples compacted to optimum conditions but allowed to fully saturate. The subgrade compacted at optimum moisture content may be fully saturated due to seasonal change. Laboratory tests on fully saturated cohesive soils showed that the resilient modulus of saturated soils decreased to less than half that of soil specimens tested at optimum moisture content. The reduction of resilient modulus would possibly be caused by the buildup of pore water pressure. In resilient modulus testing performed in this study on saturated samples, pore water pressure increases were observed. Pore water pressure and residual pore water pressure gradually increased with an increase in deviator stress.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.201-210
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• 2022

This paper presents a study regarding the influence of various water levels on the characteristics of subgrade mud pumping through a self-developed test instrument. The characteristics of mud pumping are primarily reflected by axial strain, excess pore water pressure, and fine particle migration. The results show that the axial strain increases nonlinearly with an increase in cycles number; however, the increasing rate gradually decreases, thus, an empirical model for calculating the axial strain of the samples is presented. The excess pore water pressure increases rapidly first and then decreases slowly with an increase in cycles number. Furthermore, the dynamic stress within the soil first rapidly decreases and then eventually slows. The results indicate that the axial strain, excess pore water pressure, and the height and weight of the migrated fine particles decrease significantly with a low water level. In this study, when the water level is 50 mm lower than the subgrade soil surface, the issue of subgrade mud pumping no longer exist.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.71-82
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• 2015

Recently, due to the expansion of urban infrastructure for the citizen convenience, the shield tunnel construction has increased considering the civil complaints minimization and construction stability. Most shield tunnels are designed based on the assumption of the undrained condition that underground water does not inflow, but they are operated in the field as drained tunnels with drainage facility to drain underground water. Therefore, the drained condition needs to be considered in the shield tunnel design. It is also necessary to consider the weathered granite soil that is widely distributed throughout the country and consequently is encountered in most of construction sites. In this paper, the model test which can control total stress and pore water pressure and simulate the underground tunnel located in the weathered granite soil below ground water level is conducted. Total stress, pore water pressure and an inflow water into an inner pipe were measured using the testing device. Test results showed that the total stress in a drained condition was lower than in an undrained condition because pore water pressure decreased in a drained condition and an inflow water into an inner pipe was proportional to the loading stress in a drained condition. As a result, if a drained condition is considered in the shield tunnel design, the more economical design can be expected because of the stress reduction of the lining.