• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.6C
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• pp.203-212
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• 2011

This paper investigates the caharactheristics of the earth pressure magnigue and distribution in jointed rockmass for a safe and economic design and construction of earth retaining structures installed in rock stratum. For this purpose, this study will first investigate the limitations and problems of the existing earth pressure studies and then to overcome them th study will conduct the discontinuum numerical parametric studies based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM), which can consider the joint characteristics in rock stratum. The controlled parameters include rock type and joint conditions (joint shear strength and joint angle), and the magnitude and distribution characteristics of earth pressure have been investigated considering the interactions between the ground and the retaining structures. In addition, the comparison between the earth pressures induced in rock stratum and Peck's earth pressure for soil ground has been carried out. From the comparison, it is found that the earth pressure magnitude and distribution in jointed rockmass has been highly affected by rock type and joint condition and has shown different characteristics compared with the Peck's empirical earth pressure. This result would hereafter be utilized as an important information and a useful data for the assessment of earth pressure for designing a retaining structures installed in jointed rockmass.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.303-314
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• 2009

Image analyses for sheared joint specimens are performed to study asperity degradation characteristics with respect to the roughness mobilization of rock joints. Four different types of joint specimens, which are made of high-strength gypsum materials, are prepared by replicating the three-dimensional roughness of rock joints. About twenty jointed rock shear tests are performed at various normal stress levels. The characteristic and scale of asperity degradation on the sheared joint specimens are analyzed using the digital image analysis technique. The results show that the asperity degradation characteristic mainly depends on the normal stress level and can be defined by asperity failure and wear. The asperity degradation develops significantly around the peak shear displacement and the average amount of degraded asperities remains constant with further displacement because of new degradation of small scale asperities. The shear strength results using high-strength gypsum materials can not fully represent physical properties of each mineral particles of asperities on the natural rock joint surface. However the results of this quantitative estimation for the relationship between the peak shear displacement and the asperity degradation suggest that the characterization of asperity degradation provides an important insight into mechanical characteristics and shear models of rock joints.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.373-388
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• 2003

The investigation on the rock discontinuity geometry has been usually undergone by direct measurement on the rock exposures. But this sort of field work has disadvantages, which we, for example, restriction of surveying areas and consuming excessive times and labors. To cover these kinds of disadvantages, image processing could be regarded as an altemative way, with additional advantages such as automatic and objective tools when used under adequate computerized algorithm. This study was focused on the recognition of the rock discontinuities captured in the image of rock exposure by digital camera and the production of the discontinuity map automatically. The whole process was written using macro commands builtin image analyzer, ImagePro Plus. ver 4.1(Media Cybernetic). The procedure of image processing developed in this research could be divided with three steps, which are enhancement, recognition and extraction of discontinuity traces from the digital image. Enhancement contains combining and applying several filters to remove and relieve various types of noises from the image of rock surface. For the next step, recognition of discontinuity traces was executed. It used local topographic features characterized by the differences of gray scales between discontinuity and rock. Such segments of discontinuity traces extracted from the image were reformulated using an algorithm of computer decision-making criteria and linked to form complete discontinuity traces. To verify the image processing algorithms and their sequences developed in this research, discontinuity traces digitally photographed on the rock slope were analyzed. The result showed about 75～80% of discontinuities could be detected. It is thought to be necessary that the algorithms and computer codes developed in this research need to be advanced further especially in combining digital filters to produce images to be more acceptable for extraction of discontinuity traces and setting seed pixels automatically when linking trace segments to make a complete discontinuity trace.

• 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.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.269-288
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• 2016

The jointed rock mass behavior often plays a major role in the design of underground excavation, and their failures during excavation and in operation, are usually closely related to joints. This research attempts to evaluate the effects of two basic geometric factors influencing tunnel behavior in a jointed rock mass; joints spacing and joints orientation. A hybridized indirect boundary element code known as TFSDDM (Two-dimensional Fictitious Stress Displacement Discontinuity Method) is used to study the stress distribution around the tunnels excavated in jointed rock masses. This numerical analysis revealed that both the dip angle and spacing of joints have important influences on stress distribution on tunnel walls. For example the tensile and compressive tangential stresses at the boundary of the circular tunnel increase by reduction in the joint spacing, and by increase the dip joint angle the tensile stress in the tunnel roof decreases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.03b
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• pp.281-288
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• 2000

In this study, we tried to determine failure criteria for joints of soft rock using ring shear test machine. The residual stress fellowing shear behavior was determined by the result of ring shear test and direct shear test. Ring shear test with the specimens which cover a large deformation range was adapted to measure a residual stress, and was possible to present the peak stress to present the peak stress to the residual stress at the same time. Residual stress is defined a minimal stress of specimens with a large displacement and the result of the peak residual stress is shown by a size of displacement volume. Therefore, the residual stress in soil was decided by shear stress of maximum shear stress - shear displacement(angle) based on the test result of a hyperbolic function ((equation omitted), a, b ＝ experimental constant). In this study, it was proved that the residual stress of rock joint can be determined by using of this method.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.95-102
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• 1996

In this study, a stochastic finite element model is proposed with a view to consider the uncertainty of physical properties of discontinuous rock mass in the analysis of structural behavior on underground caverns. In so doing, the LHS(Latin Hypercube sampling) technique has been applied to make up weak points of the Crude Monte Carlo technique. Concerning the effect of discontinuities, a joint finite element model is used that is known to be superior in explaining faults, cleavage, things of that nature. To reflect the uncertainty of material properties, the variables such as the the elastic modulus, the poisson's ratio, the joint shear stiffness, and the joint normal stiffness have been used, all of which can be applicable through normal distribution, log-normal distribution, and rectangulary uniform distribution. The validity of the newly developed computer program has been confirmed in terms of verification examples. And, the applicability of the program has been tested in terms of the analysis of the circular cavern in discontinuous rock mass.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.605-618
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• 2001

For the mechanical stability assessment of a deep underground high-level waste repository. computer simulations using FLAC3D were carried out and important parameters including stress ratio, depth, tunnel size, joint spacing, and joint properties were chosen from sensitivity analysis. The main effect as well as the interaction effect between the important parameters could be investigated effectively using fractional factorial design . In order to analyze the stability of the disposal tunnel and deposition hole in a discontinuous rock mass, different modelings were performed under different conditions using 3DEC and the influence of joint distribution and properties, rock properties and stress ratio could be determined. From the three dimensional modelings, it was concluded that the conceptual repository design was mechanically stable even in a discontinuous rock mass.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.201-211
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• 2016

A method for estimating rock joint size distribution using contained traces length distribution from 3D cylindrical window survey was suggested. To reduce the numerical error, an improved technique was applied. The accuracy was verified by referring to Monte-Carlo simulation and it was found that the error can be decreased with suitable gamma values.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 1997

Underground structures show different behaviors depending upon the space and the mechanical characteristics of discontinuities, such as joints, beddings, faults and shear zone. Desingning the rock structeres without considering the significance of these discontinuities can lead to false conclusions. This paper includes study on the following topics; the numerical analysis of continuous rock and discontinuous rock around a tunnel, the influences on shotcrete moment and rock-bolt axial force of tunnel due to different joint orientation and stiffness.