• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.461-474
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• 2020

Analysing the incompatible deformation and damage evolution around the tunnels in mixed strata is significant for evaluating the tunnel stability, as well as the interaction between the support system and the surrounding rock mass. To investigate this issue, confined compression tests were conducted on upper-soft and lower-hard strata specimens containing a circular hole using a rock testing system, the physical mechanical properties were then investigated. Then, the incompatible deformation and failure modes of the specimens were analysed based on the digital speckle correlation method (DSCM) and Acoustic Emission (AE) data. Finally, numerical simulations were conducted to explore the damage evolution of the mixed strata. The results indicate that at low inclination angles, the deformation and v-shaped notches inside the hole are controlled by the structure plane. Progressive spalling failure occurs at the sidewalls along the structure plane in soft rock. But the transmission of the loading force between the soft rock and hard rock are different in local. At high inclination angles, v-shaped notches are approximately perpendicular to the structure plane, and the soft and hard rock bear common loads. Incompatible deformation between the soft rock and hard rock controls the failure process. At inclination angles of 0°, 30° and 90°, incompatible deformations are closely related to rock damage. At 60°, incompatible deformations and rock damage are discordant due that the soft rock and hard rock alternately bears the major loads during the failure process. The failure trend and modes of the numerical results agree very well with those observed in the experimental results. As the inclination angles increase, the proportion of the shear or tensile damage exhibits a nonlinear increase or decrease, suggesting that the inclination angle of mixed strata may promote shear damage and restrain tensile damage.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.296-306
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• 1998

Ongoing huge Bakun Hydropower project is including the construction of a 210 m height hydroelectric rockfill dam with an installed capacity of 2,520 MW and a power transmission system connecting to the existing networks between Sarawak and peninsula Malaysia. In order to allow the main dam construction during the dry season, the Ballui river will have to be detoured through 3 concrete lined diversion tunnels with an internal diameter of 12 m and a length of 1,400 m each. The geology of Bakun site belongs to the several thousand meters thick Belaga formation deposited from the late Cteteceous to the early Teriary in the Northwest Borneo geosyncline. The orientation of the bedding plane, strike at N55$^{\circ}$E to N70$^{\circ}$E and dip at 50$^{\circ}$SE to 70$^{\circ}$SE, is developed uniformly in Bakun sedimentary rocks. Rock mechanical characteristics of Bakun site have been classified into 4 rock mass types(RMT) depending on the degree of weathering and the occurrence of rock jointing with RMR. Graywacke(Sandstone) as well as Shale can take place together in the same rock mass type if their rock mass properties are similar. It was summarized the rock support type and support system design of underground diversion tunnels in view of rock mechanics.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.501-518
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• 2019

The rock properties measured under in-situ geological condition can be used to increase the reliability in numerical simulations with regard to the long-term performance of a high-level waste repository. In this study, the change in mechanical properties of KURT (Korea atomic energy research institute Underground Research Tunnel) granite was evaluated under the simulated THM (Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical) coupled condition due to a deep geological formation in the disposal repository. The rock properties such as uniaxial compression strength, indirect tensile strength, elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio were measured under the coupled test conditions (M, HM, TM, THM). It was found that the mechanical properties of KURT granite is more susceptible to the change in saturation rather than temperature within the test condition of this study. The changes in uniaxial compression strength and indirect tensile strength from the rock samples of dried or saturated conditions showed the maximum relative error of about 20% and 13% respectively under the constant temperature condition. Therefore, it is necessary to use the material properties of rock measured under the coupled THM condition as input parameters for the numerical simulation of long-term performance assessment of a disposal repository

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.36-46
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• 1992

Granite core samples and bulk samples were first subjected to petrographic examination to determine weathering degrees. Secondly, their physical or mechanical properties including specific gravity, porosity, sonic wave velocity and uniaxial compressive strength were measured. The results were correlated to investigate the influences between properties including physical and mechanical properties, weathering degrees, and rock textures. Porosity and P wave velocity were found the most useful indices in determining the weathering degrees of granites.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.323-331
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• 2019

The presence of defects in nature changes the physical parameters of the rock. In this paper, by studying the rock-like specimens with conjugated fractures, the horizontal angle and length are changed, and the physical parameters and failure modes of the specimens under uniaxial compression test are analyzed and compared with the results of simulation analysis. The experimental results show that the peak strength and failure mode of the rock-like specimens are closely related to the horizontal angle. When the horizontal angle is $45^{\circ}$, the maximum value is reached and the tensile failure mode is obtained. The fracture length affects the germination and propagation path of the cracks. It is of great significance to study the failure modes and mechanical properties of conjugated fracture rock-like specimens to guide the support of fractured rock on site.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.63-79
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• 1993

The design of tunnels in rock masses often demands more informations on geologic features and rock mass properties than acquired by usual field survey and laboratory testings. In practice, the situation that a perfect set of geological and mechanical input data is given to geomechanics design engineer is rare, while the engineers are asked to achieve a high level of reliability in their design products. This study presents an artificial neural network which is developed to resolve the difficulties encountered in conventional design techniques, particulary the problem of deteriorating the confidence of existing numerical techniques such as the finite element, boundary element and distinct element methods due to the incomplete adn vague input data. The neural network has inferring capabilities to identify the possible failure modes, support requirements and its timing for underground openings, from previous case histories. Use of the neural network has resulted in a better estimate of the correlation between systems of rock mass classifications such as the RMR and Q systems. A back propagation learning algorithm together with a multi-layer network structure is adopted to enhance the inferential accuracy and efficiency of the neural network. A series of experiments comparing the results of the neural network with the actual field observations are performed to demonstrate the abilities of the artificial neural network as a new tunnel design assistance system.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.224-236
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• 1992

It is very important to determine the thermo-mechanical characteristics of the rock mass surrounding the repository of radioctive waste and the LPG storage cavern. In this study, Hwasoon-Shist. Dado-Tuff adn Chunan-Tonalite were the selected rock types. Temperature dependence of the mechanical properteis such as uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength, Young's modulus was investigated by measuring the behaviour of these properties due to the variation of temperature. Also, the characteristics of strength and deformation of these rocks were examined through high-temperature triaxial compression tests with varing temperatures and confining pressures. Important results obtained are as follows: In high temperature tests, the uniaxial compressive strength and Yong's modulus of Tonalite showed a sligth increase at a temperature up to 300$^{\circ}C$ and a sharp decrease beyond 300$^{\circ}C$, and the tensile strength showed a linear decrease with increasing heating-temperature. In high-temperature triaxial compression test, both the failure stress and Young's modulus of Tonalite increased with the increase of confining pressure at constant heating-temperature, and the failure stress decreased at 100$^{\circ}C$ but increased at 200$^{\circ}C$ under a constant confining pressure. In low temperature tests, the uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths and Young's modulus of these rocks increased as the cooling-temperature is reduced. Also, the uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths of wet rock specimens are less than those of dry rock specimens.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.421-437
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• 2002

In order to quantify the anisotropic properties of rock included joints and shear behavior in joint surface, the mold is Produced for rock joint surface using gypsum Plaster and Peformed for replicated joint models made of cement mortar. Rock sample is measured using mechanical profilometer before testing and their result is expressed quantitatively. The statistical parameters and the fractal dimension by fractal theory for roughness is investigated its coordinate value for numerical process. The shear strength to the shear displacement in low level normal stress ismaintained or increased in most joint models. Their results present that this relationship is depended several roughness properties in joint model for natural rock joint. The relationship between the shear strength and the Properties for profiles estimated by some statistical parameter in roughness has the low correlation and is not constant. The result between the data for direct shear test and using Barton's equation, Barton's equation has not the effectiveness for the effect of anisotropy and has not suitable to recognizing the properties for joint surface. It means that JRC has not the properties of anisotropic rock surface. The fractal dimension is well correlated with the data of direct shear test than those of JRC. New experimental formulae using fractal dimension is comported with the anisotropic properties for direct shear test.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.535-544
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• 2007

Discontinuities developed in a sedimentary rock mass are the most important factor to determine mechanical properties of the rock mass. Parameters described discontinuities in rock mass generally connote heterogeneity and uncertainty. In this study, probabilistic statistics method was used to determine parameters of discontinuities quantitatively and objectively. The field survey was conducted at 33 sedimentary rock slopes in Ulsan area, according to the suggested methods for the quantitative description of discontinuities in rock mass(ISRM, 1978). The engineering geological characteristics of the sedimentary rocks at Ulsan area was determined as probability distribution function deduced by analyzing parameters of discontinuities.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2001

RQD is used to evaluate the degree of fracture in the rock mass and is also used as input into rock mass classification scheme, such as RMR and Q-system. However there are some drawbacks of the RQD caused by anisotropy and calculation length. Thus it is important to understand the variation of RQD in 3-D space in order to evaluate the properties of rock mass. The main purpose of this study is to reveal the distribution of RQD in the equal-angle stereo net, to investigate the effects of scanline length and joint frequency and to inquire the effect on the selection of rock mass strength parameters in the numerical analysis. Analysis has been extended to field joint survey data using same method. The results can be applied to contribute for more accurate interpretation of the results of engineering geological survey for better design and construction work.