• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.541-557
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• 2015

This research aims to analyze the fracture coalescence characteristics of brittle sandstone specimen ($80{\times}160{\times}30mm$ in size) containing various flaws (a single fissure, double squares and combined flaws). Using a rock mechanics servo-controlled testing system, the strength and deformation behaviours of sandstone specimen containing various flaws are experimentally investigated. The results show that the crack initiation stress, uniaxial compressive strength and peak axial strain of specimen containing a single fissure are all higher than those containing double squares, while which are higher than those containing combined flaws. For sandstone specimen containing combined flaws, the uniaxial compressive strength of sandstone increase as fissure angle (${\alpha}$) increases from $30^{\circ}$ to $90^{\circ}$, which indicates that the specimens with steeper fissure angles can support higher axial capacity for ${\alpha}$ greater than $30^{\circ}$. In the entire deformation process of flawed sandstone specimen, crack evolution process is discussed detailed using photographic monitoring technique. For the specimen containing a single fissure, tensile wing cracks are first initiated at the upper and under tips of fissure, and anti-tensile cracks and far-field cracks are also observed in the deformation process; moreover anti-tensile cracks usually accompanies with tensile wing cracks. For the specimen containing double squares, tensile cracks are usually initiated from the top and bottom edge of two squares along the direction of axial stress, and in the process of final unstable failure, more vertical splitting failures are observed in the ligament region. When a single fissure and double squares are formed together into combined flaws, the crack coalescence between the fissure tips and double squares plays a significant role for ultimate failure of the specimen containing combined flaws.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.345-351
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• 2017

Acid drainage in civil engineering structures such as tunnels may lead to the deposition of precipitates that clog drainage channels and pipework. In evaluating acid drainage, the Fe content of water and precipitates, indicated by reddish brown coloration of rock surfaces, rivers, and soils, may be an important factor. In this study, acid drainage was evaluated by analyzing the Fe content of reddish brown seepage water that occurred in part of a tunnel. Geological investigations around the tunnel revealed a hydrothermal alteration zone cutting the bedrock, and cropping out in the upper parts of the tunnel. Analysis of drillcore revealed many fracture zones and veins. Inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometric analyses of water, precipitates, and soil samples, collected in the seepage water zone and around the tunnel, were conducted to evaluate acid drainage. The Fe content of seepage water in the tunnel was 0.030-0.333 mg/kg, which is 2-22 times higher than in local groundwater. The Fe content of precipitates in the tunnel was 165,403-301,051 mg/kg, similar to the 206,167-422,964 mg/kg content of drillcore from the hydrothermal alteration zone located above the tunnel. It is concluded that the seepage water is derived from Fe-containing acid drainage flowing in perforated tunnel drainpipes along the fracture zones and veins around the hydrothermal alteration zone.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.101-113
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• 2006

Arching effect occurs around the unsupported excavation surface near to tunnel face when a tunnel is excavated in a stable rock mass. If a weak fracture zone exists in front of tunnel face, a displacement occurs between tunnel face and weak fracture zone due to stress concentration. If three-dimensional absolute coordinates (longitudinal, transverse, vertical direction) is measured at tunnel face by geodetic method, the ground change in front of the tunnel face can be predicted by analysing three-dimensional absolute displacement. The purpose of this study is to verify the analysis method of three-dimensional absolute displacement by comparing the trend of displacement ratio at crown and sidewall of tunnel and the influence line/trend line of crown settlement compared with TSP results in the same section.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 1996

Acoustic Emission(AE) signals are emitted by a sudden release of strain energy associated with material damage. A multi-channels of LeCroy system and piezoelectric pressure transducers are employed for AE measurement to investigate the roles of AE in the propagation of macro cracks as well as the characteris-tics of AE wave in occurrence, amplitude and dominant frequency with changes in macro loading modes. Deduced crack opening volume of micro cracks varied widely and implies that AE events could be caused by crystal dislocations on a small scale and grain boundary movements on a large scale. Amplitude of first arrival AE wave emitted during mode I test was approximately 3 times higher than those from mixed mode test, while the number of AE count in mode I test was only 25% of mixed mode. It may imply that the total energy required for generation of a given fracture surface is similar regardless in change of macroloading modes.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2005

Bentonite has been considered as a candidate buffer material in the underground repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste because of its low permeability, high sorption capacity, self sealing characteristics, and durability in nature. In this study, the potential for separation of bentonite particles caused by the groundwater erosion was studied experimentally for a Korean Ca-bentonite under the relevant repository conditions. Results showed that bentonite particles can be generated at the bentonite/granite interface and mobilized by the water flow although the intrusion of bentonite into fracture by swelling pressure was observed to be small. Different processes of mobilization of theses colloids from the compacted bentonite block have been identified in this study. The concentration of particles eluted in water was increased as the flow rate increased. Thus the result reveals that the erosion of the bentonite surface due to the groundwater flow together with intrusion processes is the main mechanism that can mobilize bentonite colloids in the fracture of the granite.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.253-262
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• 2004

Construction of tunnels in a deep crystalline host rock for a potential High-Level Radioactive Waste(HLW) repository inevitably generates an excavation disturbed zone (EDZ). There have been a series of debates on whether a permeability in an EDZ increases or not and what would be the maximum depth of an EDZ. Recent studies show mixed opinions on permeability. However, there has been an international consensus on the thickness of an EDZ; 30 cm for TBM and 1 meter for controlled blast. One of the impacts of an EDZ is on determining the distance between adjacent deposition holes. The void gap by the excavation hinders relaxation of temperature profiles so that the current Korean reference designing distance between holes should be stretched out more to keep the maximum temperature in a buffer region below 100 degrees Celsius. The other impact of an EDZ is on the long-term post closure radiological safety. To estimate the impact, the reference scenario, the well scenario, is chosen. Released nuclides diffuse through a bentonite buffer region experiencing strong sorption and reach a fracture surrounded by a porous medium. Inside a fractured porous region, radionuclides migrate by advection and dispersion with matrix diffusion into a porous medium. Finally, they reach a well assumed to be a source of potable water for local residents. The annual individual dose is assessed on this well scenario to find out the significance of an EDZ. A profound sensitivity study was performed, but all results show that the impact is negligible. Even though the role of an EDZ turns out to be limited on overall safety assessment, still it is worthwhile to study the chemical role of an EDZ, such as a potential source for natural colloids, potential sealing of an open fracture by fine clay particles generated by the process of an EDZ, and alteration of a sorption mechanism by an EDZ in the future.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.307-327
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• 2008

Geochemical study on the rocks and minerals of the Gyeongju low and intermediate level waste repository was carried out in order to provide geochemical data for the safety assessment and geochemical modeling. Polarized microscopy, X-ray diffraction method, chemical analysis for the major and trace elements, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and stable isotope analysis were applied. Fracture zones are locally developed with various degrees of alteration in the study area. The study area is mainly composed of granodiorite and diorite and their relation is gradational in the field. However, they could be easily distinguished by their chemical property. The granodiorite showed higher $SiO_2$ content and lower MgO and $Fe_2O_3$ contents than the diorite. Variation trends of the major elements of the granodiorite and diorite were plotted on the same line according to the increase of $SiO_2$ content suggesting that they were differentiated from the same magma. Spatial distribution of the various elements showed that the diorite region had lower $SiO_2,\;Al_2O_3,\;Na_2O\;and\;K_2O$ contents, and higher CaO, $Fe_2O_3$ contents than the granodiorite region. Especially, because the differences in the CaO and $Na_2O$ distribution were most distinct and their trends were reciprocal, the chemical variation of the plagioclase of the granitic rocks was the main parameter of the chemical variation of the host rocks in the study area. Identified fracture-filling minerals from the drill core were montmorillonite, zeolite minerals, chlorite, illite, calcite and pyrite. Especially pyrite and laumontite, which are known as indicating minerals of hydrothermal alteration, were widely distributed in the study area indicating that the study area was affected by mineralization and/or hydrothermal alteration. Sulfur isotope analysis for the pyrite and oxygen-hydrogen stable isotope analysis for the clay minerals indicated that they were originated from the magma. Therefore, it is considered that the fracture-filling minerals from the study area were affected by the hydrothermal solution as well as the simply water-rock interaction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.2 s.177
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• pp.163-171
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• 2006

This study is the case of groundwater development based on the geometrical fracture model of target area established only through geological fracture mapping technique. A fracture mapping of $9km^2$, eastern Munsan, has been conducted to determine geological and hydrological factors for new water well placement in the Gyeonggi gneiss complex. Geophysical exploration was not applicable because of small restricted area and dense underground utilities at the site. Form line mapping on the basis of foliation orientation and rock type revealed a synform of NS fold axis bearing to the south. An EW geological cross-section passed through the site area shows a F2 synform as a double-wall ice cream spoon shape. Three regional faults of $N20^{\circ}E,\;N30^{\circ}W$, and NS have been dragged into the site to help understand extensional fault paths. The $N20^{\circ}E$ fault with dextral sense is geometrically interpreted as a western fault of two flexural conjugate type-P shear faults in the F2 synformal fold. The NE cross-section reveals that a possible groundwater belt in the western limb of super-posed fold area is formed as a trigonal prism within 100 m depth of the intersectional space between the $N20^{\circ}E$ fault plane and the weakly sheared plane of transposed foliation. Another possible fault for water resource strikes $N40^{\circ}E$. Recommended sites for new water well placement are along the $N20^{\circ}E\;and\;N40^{\circ}E$ faults. As a result of fracture mapping, 145 ton/day of water can be produced at one well along the $N20^{\circ}E$ fault line. Exploration of groundwater in the area is succeeded only using with geological fracture mapping and interpretation of geological cross-section, without any geophysical survey. Intersection of fault generated with the F2 synformal fold and foliation supply space of groundwater reserver.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2003

Geophysical surveys(electrical resistivity, self-potential, seismic refraction, GPR) were conducted to investigate the physical properties of the subsurface, and to delineate the flow channel of leachate from a AMD(acid mine drainage), buried rock wastes and tailings, and drainage pipes at an abandoned mine(Kwangyang mine). Especially in rainy season the sites appear to be abundant in AMD leachate, characterized by electrical conductivities of 0.98-1.10 ms/S. Electrical resistivity sections indicate that the leachate flows running in two directions at southern part rise up through the narrow fracture zones at the central part and contaminates the surrounding soil and stream. Such schematic features at the anomalous zone are well correlated with negative peaks in self-potential data, the limited penetration depth in GPR data and low velocity zone in seismic refraction data. Shallow high-resistivity zone is associated with the buried rock wastes which cause the diffractions in GPR image. In addition, the events at depth of approximately 1-1.25 m in GPR sections must be the metal pipes through which AMD is drained off to the inner bay.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2020

In this paper, the transmissivities obtained from the pulse test, the slug test and the constant head test were compared each other to assess an applicability and a reliability of the hydrogeological test method, which are commonly used to derive the hydrogeological properties of a crystalline rock at un underground research facility. When comparing the results of the pulse test and the slug test, the transmissivities were very similar in the entire test section of the medium. However, there was a little discrepancy in the results in the areas where the permeability is relatively high. The results of the constant head test on the same section showed the lower transmissivity than the results of the pulse test and the slug test on the highly permeable section. This difference in permeability was considered to be due to the difference in the radius of the hydraulic effect applied in each hydraulic test. When the heterogenetic distribution of fracture affects the hydrogeological properties on crystalline rock, it is believed that the hydrogeological characteristics can be explained through a constant head test or a constant flow rate test with a large hydraulic effective radius, as well as a pulse and a slug test that can identify hydrogeological properties in a relatively short time.