• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.213-222
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• 2024

Determination of jointed rock mass properties plays a significant role in the design and construction of underground structures such as tunneling and mining. Rock mass classification systems such as Rock Mass Rating (RMR), Rock Mass Index (RMi), Rock Mass Quality (Q), and deformation modulus (Em) are determined from the jointed rock masses. However, parameters of jointed rock masses can be affected by the tunnel depth below the surface due to the effect of the in situ stresses. In addition, the geomechanical properties of rocks change due to the effect of metamorphism. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to apply correlation analysis to investigate the relationships between rock mass properties and some parameters related to the depth of the tunnel studied. For this purpose, the field work consisted of determining rock mass parameters in a tunnel alignment (~7.1 km) at varying depths from 21 m to 431 m below ground surface. At the same excavation depths, thirty-seven rock types were also sampled and tested in the laboratory. Correlations were made between vertical stress and depth, horizontal/vertical stress ratio (k) and depth, k and Em, k and RMi, k and point load index (PLI), k and Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), Em and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), UCS and PLI, UCS and BTS. Relationships were significant (significance level=0.000) at the confidence interval of 95% (r = 0.77-0.88) between the data pairs for the rocks taken from depths greater than 166 m where the ratio of horizontal to vertical stress is between 0.6 and 1.2. The in-situ stress parameters affected rock mass properties as well as metamorphism which affected the geomechanical properties of rock materials by affecting the behavior of minerals and textures within rocks. This study revealed that in-situ stress parameters and metamorphism should be reviewed when tunnel studies are carried out.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.5-13
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• 2002

In tunnel design, geotechnical survey of over 200m tunnel depth is required because of its characteristical topography. For this reason, there are difficulties in collecting information of basic data in tunnel design because of large-scale costs in borehole tests, of limits to a geotechnical analysis by the existing refraction seismic survey and of analytical errors in steep mountainous area. Seismic tomography has many advantages as follows; 1) seismic velocity as absolute value is more reliable than electrical resistivity, 2) geotechnical analysis in deep tunnel depth is available by seismic velocity, 3) analytical errors is reduced in steep mountainous area. In this paper, it was found out a correlation of seismic velocity and Q in tunnel design in the neighborhood of the National Capital region and the reduction effect of tunnel construction cost using reliable rock quality by seismic tomography compared with by borehole data and electricity resistivity data.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2006

Building tunnels means dealing with what rock is encountered. Relocation of the site of the underground structure is rarely possible. Tunneling engineers and miners have to cope with the quality of the rock mass as it is. Different tunneling philosophies and different rock classification methods have been developed in various countries. Most of the rock classification methods are based on the response of the rock mass to the excavation. Tunnel support requirements could be assessed analytically, supplemented by rock mass classification predictions, and verified by measurements during construction. Rock mass classifications on their own should only be used for preliminary, planning purposes and not for final tunnel support. Design of blast pattern in tunneling projects in Korea is also mostly prepared according to the general rock classification methods such as RMR or Q. They, however, do not take into account the blast performance, and as a consequence, produce poor blasting results. In this paper, the methods of general rock classification and blast design for tunnel excavation in Korea are reviewed, and efforts to develop a new classification method, reflecting the blasting performance, are presented.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.45-55
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• 2006

This paper presents the results of full-scale uplift load tests performed on 30 passive anchors grouted to various lengths at Taean site in Korea. Various rock types were tested, ranging from highly weathered to sound gneiss. Rock anchors were installed over a wide range of rock types and qualities with a fixed anchored depth of $1{\sim}4m$. The majority of installations used SD4O-D51 no high grade steel rebar to induce rock failure prior to rod failure. In many tests, rock failure was reached and the ultimate loads were recorded along with observations of the shape and extent of the failure surface. The test results, the failure mechanisms as well as uplift capacities of rock anchors depend mostly on rock type and quality, embedded fixed length, and the strength of rebar. Based on test results, the main parameters governing the uplift capacity of the rock anchor system were determined.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.427-445
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• 2015

By means of finite element numerical simulation and pseudo-static method, the shallow-buried bilateral bias twin-tube tunnel subject to horizontal and vertical seismic forces are researched. The research includes rupture angles, the failure mode of the tunnel and the distribution of surrounding rock relaxation pressure. And the analytical solution for surrounding rock relaxation pressure is derived. For such tunnels, their surrounding rock has sliding rupture planes that generally follow a "W" shape. The failure area is determined by the rupture angles. Research shows that for shallow-buried bilateral bias twin-tube tunnel under the action of seismic force, the load effect on the tunnel structure shall be studied based on the relaxation pressure induced by surrounding rock failure. The rupture angles between the left tube and the right tube are independent of the surface slope. For tunnels with surrounding rock of Grade IV, V and VI, which is of poor quality, the recommended reinforcement range for the rupture angles is provided when the seismic fortification intensity is VI, VII, VIII and IX respectively. This study is expected to provide theoretical support regarding the ground reinforcement range for the shallow-buried bilateral bias twin-tube tunnel under seismic force.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.511-525
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• 2021

In the design of underground excavation, the shear strength (SS) is a key characteristic. It describes the way the rock material resists the shear stress-induced deformations. In general, the measurement of the parameters related to rock shear strength is done through laboratory experiments, which are costly, damaging, and time-consuming. Add to this the difficulty of preparing core samples of acceptable quality, particularly in case of highly weathered and fractured rock. This study applies rock index test to the indirect measurement of the SS parameters of shale. For this aim, two efficient artificial intelligence methods, namely (1) adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) implemented by subtractive clustering method (SCM) and (2) support vector regression (SVR) optimized by Harmony Search (HS) algorithm, are proposed. Note that, it is the first work that predicts the SS parameters of shale through ANFIS-SCM and SVR-HS hybrid models. In modeling processes of ANFIS-SCM and SVR-HS, the results obtained from the rock index tests were set as inputs, while the SS parameters were set as outputs. By reviewing the obtained results, it was found that both ANFIS-SCM and SVR-HS models can provide acceptable predictions for interlocking and friction angle parameters, however, ANFIS-SCM showed a better generalization capability.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.370-378
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• 2003

Continuous seismic refraction, reflection and echo-sounder surveys conducted at Koyna Project site provided geotechnical information which helped in choosing the alignment for Head race tunnel and in designing and choosing the site for Lake Tap. Seismic refraction survey both on land and in shallow water determined depths to bedrock and helped in inferring the bedrock quality. Seismic reflection survey mapped the subsurface stratigraphy with high resolution. Reservoir-bed and bedrock contours drawn from the results of the survey helped in choosing the tunnel alignment and the lake tap position cost effectively. It was inferred from the results of the survey that the geology and the quality of rock do not change unexpectedly around the site for extension of Head race tunnel and the lake tapping. The bedrock levels evaluated by seismic survey agreed remarkably well with those inferred in boreholes having Rock Quality Designation 90 percent or more.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.25-36
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• 2010

Tertiary unconsolidated mudstones spread throughout the eastern coast area. The demand for high quality filling materials in these areas is increasing due to harbors and large-scale residential land development. Rock produced in-situ or near site has been used as road subbase construction or reclamation materials for economical reason, but it is hard to decide appropriateness of quality specification because of its characteristics. The test results showed that unconsolidated rocks are diversely considered according to a different method of the applied geotechnical investigation. Therefore, the site of tertiary unconsolidated mudstones, the classification of rock and evaluation of rock properties that must be evaluated by objective criteria and apply a different set of criteria are needed. In addition, the environmental impact must be considered due to acid mine drainage.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2003.06b
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• pp.37-48
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• 2003

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.415-429
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• 2003

This study was objected to identify the difference of water quality and the characteristics of water contamination in adjacent bed-rock areas of Upper Hwajeonni and Guryongsan Formations in Miwon, Choongchungbuk-do, Korea. Water samples showed mainly (Ca, Mg)-$HCO_3$ type in Upper Hawjeonni Formation and (Ca, Mg)-$SO_4$ and (Ca, Mg)-$HCO_3$ types in Guryongsan Formation indicating the enrichment of $SO_4$ in major compositions. Groundwater quality could be divided into two groups based on the major weathering processes, implied by the ratio of bicarbonate to silica. Carbonate-silicate weathering predominates in Upper Hwajeonni Formation, and silicate weathering in Guryongsan Formation. Stream-water quality also appeared to be controlled by water-rock interaction. Cluster analysis identified three groups of groundwater and four groups of stream-water with distinctive geochemical characteristics. The results of factor analysis indicated that the levels of each chemical constituent in water samples derived from both natural weathering reactions and anthropogenic contamination sources. To delineate the pollution potential of water resources, Modified Pollution Index(M.P.I.) was developed. M.P.I. scores of water samples ranged from -0.08 to 0.18, with mostly positive along the rock quarry in Guryongsan Formation areas. M.P.I. scores appeared to be a useful predictor of metal contamination of water resources.