• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.367-375
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• 2010

Understanding the interactions between earth materials and fluids is essential for studying the diverse geological processes in the Earth's surface and interior. In order to better understand the interactions between earth materials and fluids, we explore the effect of specific surface area and porosity on structural parameters of pore structures. We obtained 3D pore structures, using random packing simulations of porous media composed of single sized spheres with varying the particle size and porosity, and then we analyzed configurational entropy for 2D cross sections of porous media and cube counting fractal dimension for 3D porous networks. The results of the configurational entropy analysis show that the entropy length decreases from 0.8 to 0.2 with increasing specific surface area from 2.4 to $8.3mm^2/mm^3$, and the maximum configurational entropy increases from 0.94 to 0.99 with increasing porosity from 0.33 to 0.46. On the basis of the strong correlation between the liquid volume fraction (i.e., porosity) and configurational entropy, we suggest that elastic properties and viscosity of mantle melts can be expressed using configurational entropy. The results of the cube counting fractal dimension analysis show that cube counting fractal dimension increases with increasing porosity at constant specific surface area, and increases from 2.65 to 2.98 with increasing specific surface area from 2.4 to $8.3mm^2/mm^3$. On the basis of the strong correlation among cube counting fractal dimension, specific surface area, and porosity, we suggest that seismic wave attenuation and structural disorder in fluid-rock-melt composites can be described using cube counting fractal dimension.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.2_spc
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• pp.305-315
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• 2020

For geological disposal of radioactive wastes, a method was proposed to evaluate the radionuclide transport in the biosphere by calculating the elapsed time of nuclide migration. The radionuclides were supposed to be introduced from a natural barrier and reached a large surface water body following a groundwater flow in a shallow subsurface. The biosphere was defined as a shallow subsurface environment that included aquifers on a host rock. Using the proposed method, a calculation algorithm was established, and a computer code that implemented the algorithm was developed. The developed code was verified by comparing the simulation results of the simple cases with the results of the analytical solution and a public program, which has been widely used to evaluate the radiation dose using the radionuclide transport near the surface. A case study was constructed using the previous research for radionuclide transport from the hypothetical geological disposal repository. In the case study, the code calculated the mass discharge rate of radionuclide to a stream in the biosphere. Because the previous research only demonstrated the transport of radionuclides from the hypothetical repository to the host rock, the developed code in the present study could help identify the total transport of radionuclide along the complete pathway.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 2000

Support media for yeast immobilization was prepared from a porous volcanic rock used as a moisturizer in orchid growing. The rock was broken to the size of 2-3 mm and burned at $600^{\circ}C$ in a furnace in order to remove organic materials blocking the pores or treated with HCI solution or NaOH solution to remove the inorganic dirts by dissolving. Even through both the acid and the akali solution were effective the latter was not recommendable because it broke the pore structure by dissolving the elements of the media. This media was mainly consisted of SiO2 with $Al_2O_3$ as a minor component and CaO and K2O as trace elements. It had the finely developed pores of $15-80\mu\textrm{m}$size. Yeast immobilization capacity of this media was about $5{\times108}$ cells/ml bed which is large enough to be used for the practical applications. Yeast immobilization capacities of Alumina and Cordierite were much smaller than that of silica-based media. Scanning electron micrograph of Cordierite and Alumina showed uneven surfaces and small size of pores in contrast to relatively smooth surface and large pores of silica based media which means that smooth surface and large pores are desirable for the good adsorption of microbes on the media.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2012

The equation of the step-drawdown test "$s_w=BQ+CQ^p$" written by Rorabaugh (1953) is suitable for drawdown increased non-linearly in the fractured rocks. It was found that value of root mean square error (RMSE) between observed and calculated drawdowns was very low. The calculated $C$ (well head loss coefficient) and $P$ (well head loss exponent) value of well head losses ($CQ^p$) ranged $3.689{\times}10^{-19}{\sim}5.825{\times}10^{-7}$ and 3.459~8.290, respectively. It appeared that the deeper depth in pumping well the larger drawdowns due to pumping rate increase. The well head loss in the fractured rocks, unlike that in porous media, is affected by properties of fractures (fractures of aperture, spacing, and connection) around pumping well. The $C$ and $P$ value in the well head loss is very important to interpret turbulence interval and properties of high or low permeability of fractured rock. As a result, regression analysis of $C$ and $P$ value in the well head losses identified the relationship of turbulence interval and hydraulic properties. The relationship between $C$ and $P$ value turned out very useful to interpret hydraulic properties of the fractured rocks.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.201-206
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• 2006

Earth sciences is undergoing a gradual but massive shift from description of the earth and earth systems, toward process modeling, simulation, and process visualization. This shift is very challenging because the underlying physical and chemical processes are often nonlinear and coupled. In addition, we are especially challenged when the processes take place in strongly heterogeneous systems. An example is two-phase fluid flow in rocks, which is a nonlinear, coupled and time-dependent problem and occurs in complex porous media. To understand and simulate these complex processes, the knowledge of underlying pore-scale processes is essential. This paper presents a new attempt to use pore-scale simulations for understanding physical properties of rocks. A rigorous pore-scale simulator requires three important traits: reliability, efficiency, and ability to handle complex microstructures. We use the Lattice-Boltzmann (LB) method for singleand two-phase flow properties, finite-element methods (FEM) for elastic and electrical properties of rocks. These rigorous pore-scale simulators can significantly complement the physical laboratory, with several distinct advantages: (1) rigorous prediction of the physical properties, (2) interrelations among the different rock properties in a given pore geometry, and (3) simulation of dynamic problems, which describe coupled, nonlinear, transient and complex behavior of Earth systems.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.313-321
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• 2019

Diatomite is a silicic porous sedimentary rock composed of diatom frustules, used for filtration aid, filler, absorbent, abrasive, carrier, insulator, and fertilizer. During the calcination of diatomite to improve physical properties for filtration-aid application, amorphous silica is transformed to cristobalite. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy studies were carried out for 17 diatomite samples, showing that 16 diatomite samples contain cristobalite in the range of 6~100 %. Concentration of respirable cristobalite in air is regulated as harmful substances, but the residual cristobalite in food is treated as generally safe substance. The determination procedure of cristobalite content in food was established for managing food safety. Calibration curve of cristobalite filtered on silver membrane were obtained by X-ray diffraction. The lower limit of quantification was evaluated as 2.7 mg. The cristobalite was not detected in the analyses of selected food samples using the established procedure.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.115-131
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• 2008

The aim of this study is to analyze relationships between topography/geology which affects physically groundwater regime and groundwater yield properties in Pohang City using Geographic Information System (GIS). For the purpose, topographic factors such as ground elevation, ground elevation difference, ground slope, and ground regional slope, and hydrogeologic unit, and groundwater yield properties factors such as transmissivity, specific capacity, and well yield, were constructed to spatial data base. Then the relationships between topography, geology and groundwater yield properties were analyzed quantitatively using GIS overlay technique. As the results, ground-water yield of unconsolidated sediments and porous volcanic rocks is the highest among the hydrogeologic units of study area, and clastic sedimentary rock is the lowest. There are positive relationship between the elevation and elevation difference and the groundwater yield properties and negative relationship between the topographic slope and the groundwater yield properties.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.73-80
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• 2014

This study introduces and analyzes the geothermal energy availability in Non-active volcanic region. Jeju island in Korea is situated in non-active volcanic region. The island is composed of rock with high pore and clinker, scoria geological layer formed by volcanic activity about two million ago. Volcanic geological layers with porous characteristics have air, vapor, water and a underground structure through which air or water can move easily. For this reason, it is probable that the mechanism of energy acquisition is by convective heat transfer. For this presumption, the availability of underground air as energy source has been studied here through theoretical analysis and experimental data. The energy output of our system ranged from 2,485,076 kJ/day to 4,060,978 kJ/day monitored using variable velocity air flow controller. Our system has capability to be a reliable energy source irrespective of environmental changes. Consequently, underground air can be utilized for energy source and provide the optimal design of heating/cooling system.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2012

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging has been considered one of the most complicated nevertheless, one of the most powerful logging methods for the characterization on of both rocks and natural fluids in formation. NMR measures magnetized signals (polarization and relaxation) between the properties of hydrogen nucleus called magnetic moment and applied magnetic fields. The measured data set contains two important petrophysical properties such as density of hydrogen in the fluids inside the pore space and the distinct decay rate for fluid type. Therefore, after the proper data processing, key petrophysical information, not only the quantities and properties of fluids but also supplies of rock characterization in a porous medium, could be archived. Thus, based on this information, several ongoing researches are being developed in estimating aspects of reservoir productivity information, permeability and wettability since it is the key to having correct interpretation. This study goes through the basic theory of NMR at first, and then reviews NMR logging tools as well as their technical characteristics. This paper also briefly discusses the basic knowledge of NMR simulation algorithm by using Random walk.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.503-512
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• 1995

Groundwater flow in fracture networks is simulated using a discrete fracture (DF) model which assume that groundwater flows only through the fracture network. This assumption is available if the permeability of rock matrix is very low. It is almost impossible to describe fracture networks perfectly, so a stochastic approach is used. The stochastic approach assumes that the characteristic parameters in fracture network have special distribution patterns. The stochastic model generates fracture networks with some characteristic parameters. The finite element method is used to compute fracture flows. One-dimensional line element is the element type of the finite elements. The simulation results are shown by dominant flow paths in the fracture network. The dominant flow path can be found from the simulated groundwater flow field. The model developed in this study provides the tool to estimate the influences of characteristic parameters on groundwater flow in fracture networks. The influences of some characteristic parameters on the frcture flow are estimated by the Monte Carlo simulation based on 30 realizations.