• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.149-160
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• 2013

Volcanic activity commonly creates a highly complicated volcanic complex due to the admixture of lava flow and sedimentation of volcanic ash. The Song-Gok site is composed of volcanic rocks that collapsed at the lower part of the slope, in combination with several discontinuities in and around a fault. The results of projection analysis indicated the possibility of plane, wedge, and toppling failure in the failure section. The results of discontinuity modeling using the Distinct Element Method (DEM) revealed a total displacement of 207 mm and a joint shear displacement of 114 mm. The yield surface zone was verified at the fault plane of the failure section. In geotechnical terms, volcanic rock slopes are characteristically vulnerable to failure because of differential weathering among the various rock types, the effect of groundwater based on the permeability of the rocks, and the presence of systematic joints generated by the cooling and contraction of lava. When considering the stability of a volcanic rock slope, it is necessary to consider data such as the geological features of the rock, as obtained through detailed geological survey, and variations in discontinuities and rock blocks.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.6C
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• pp.275-284
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• 2012

The Antarctic continent exposed to strong wind, very low temperature, and extremely dry condition. The freezing-thawing cycles under this extreme environment change the mechanical characteristics of rocks near the ground surface. To investigate the effect of freezing-thawing cycles under the extreme environment understand on geotechnical properties of rocks, rocks from the Antarctica were collected from two places: (1) West Antarctic Cape Burks and (2) East Antarctic Terra Nova Bay areas. The rock characteristics of these two areas were described and compared. For Terra Nova Bay area, rock characteristics of rocks near the surface and depths exceeding 2.9 m were examined. The 'near-the-surface rocks' averages of absorption rate, P-wave velocity, and unconfined compressive strength were 0.56%, 3,717 m/s, and 109MPa, respectively; while, those values of 'deep-sited rocks' were 0.24%, 4,670 m/s, and 88MPa. From the measurements, it was found that the effects of weathering were not significant on mechanical characteristics (strength) but were pronounced on physical characteristics(absorption and P-wave velocity).

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.173-185
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• 2020

Calcareous soil is originated from marine biogenic sediments and weathering of carbonate rocks. The formation history for calcareous sediment includes complex physical, biological and chemical processes. It is preferably selected as the major fill materials for hydraulic reclamation and artificial island construction. Calcareous sands possess inter pores and complex shape are liable to be damaged at normal working stress level due to its fragile nature. Thus, the engineering properties of calcareous soil are greatly affected by its high compressibility and crushability. A series of triaxial shear tests were performed on calcareous sands derived from South China Sea under different test conditions. The effects of confining pressure, particle size, grading, compactness, drainage condition, and water content on the total amount of particle breakage for calcareous soil were symmetrically investigated. The test results showed that the crushing extent of calcareous sand with full gradation was smaller than that a single particle group under the same test condition. Large grains are cushioned by surrounding small particles and such micro-structure reduces the probability of breakage for well-graded sands. The increasing tendency of particle crushing for calcareous sand with a rise in confining pressure and compactness is confirmed. It is also evident that a rise in water content enhances the amount of particle breakage for calcareous sand. However, varying tendency of particle breakage with grain size is still controversial and requires further examination.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.501-517
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• 2014

Based on a summary of the previous studies on columnar joints, this study presents research strategies and subjects to understand a formation of columnar joints, and its application in South Korea as follows; geometry of colonnade and entablature, formation mechanism and pattern change, surface morphology and internal structure, platy joint at the top and the bottom of columnar joints, crack patterns in drying starch-water slurries, using numerical models and computer graphics on joint formation, scale and geometry concerned with occurrence of volcanic rock, petrological and mineralogical study of the host rock. Additionally, more research is needed, such as deformation of column pattern during the hot state, secondary landform by alteration and weathering on the Earth's surface such as rock stream, tor and tafoni. This study will take an active role in research of columnar joint and the Cenozoic lava flow of South Korea. Results of this study will be useful to the activation of geotourism and geological field study.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2009

Existence of core stone at the inside of the Rock mass is reacting as unstable element. In particular, in case of the cut slope, even when it is not exposed, slope's discontinuity increases or strength level decreases depending on the difference in the weathering grade when it comes to the core stone, and reacts as an important element of the slope movement such as slope's rock fall or collapse. As for the slope that is subject to study, incision was completed after 20 years or so, and parts of the slope reinforcement was completed, but frequent rock fall occurs despite small amount of rainfall, and permanent stability measures are urgent. Refractional seismic survey and geological survey results were compared and analyzed, and reliability was improved by complementing the two survey methods, and stereo-graphic projection using DIPS program was conducted to analyze the characteristics of oore stone in the weathered soil slope.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.107-112
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• 2005

Road is built continuously along with development of industry and cut slope is happened necessarily in road construction. Geoengineers are executing cut slope stability analysis considering various cut slope condition such as topography, geology, hydraulic condition and so on. The Tertiary Jungja Basin is located in the southeastern coastal area of the Korea Peninsula. Jungja Basin area is created by geotectonic movement of the plate after Early Miocene epoch. The northwestern and southwestern boundary of the basin is fault zone. The Basement rock is hornfels (Ulsan Formation). Basin-fills consist of extrusive volcanic rock(Tangsa Andesites), unconsolidated fluviatile conglomerate(Kangdong Formation) and shallow brackish-water sandstone(Sinhyun Formation). The characteristics of cut slopes in this area is different with cut slopes in the other site. Soil layers in this area is unconsolidated sediments and is not formed the weathering and erosion of the rock. So, the depth of soil layer is very thick. Faults of this area are northwest-southeast and northeast-southwest direction. Expandible clay mineral as smectite, chlorite et al. detected from fault gouge using XRD. Therefore, Jungja Basin area must consider the characteristics of the faults and soil layers thickness necessarily cut slopes stability analysis.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.393-405
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• 2019

This paper evaluates the geotechnical and geo-engineering properties of the South Pars Zone (SPZ) marls in Assalouyeh, Iran. These marly beds mostly belong to the Aghajari and Mishan formations which entail the gray, cream, black, green, dark red and pink types. Marls can be observed as rock (soft rock) or soil. Marlstone outcrops show a relatively rapid change to soils in the presence of weathering. To geotechnically characterise the marls, field and laboratory experiments such as particle-size distribution, hydrometer, Atterberg limits, uniaxial compression, laboratory direct-shear, durability and carbonate content tests have been performed on soil and rock samples to investigate the physico-mechanical properties and behaviour of the SPZ marls in order to establish empirical relations between the geo-engineering features of the marls. Based on the experiments conducted on marly soils, the USCS classes of the marls is CL to CH which has a LL ranging from 32 to 57% and PL ranging from 18 to 27%. Mineralogical analyses of the samples revealed that the major clay minerals of the marls belong to the smectite or illite groups with low to moderate swelling activities. The geomechanical investigations revealed that the SPZ marls are classified as argillaceous lime, calcareous marl and marlstone (based on the carbonate content) which show variations in the geomechanical properties (i.e., with a cohesion ranging from 97 to 320 kPa and a friction angle ranging from 16 to 35 degrees). The results of the durability tests revealed that the degradation potential showed a wide variation from none to fully disintegrated. According to the results of the experiments, the studied marls have been classified as calcareous marl, marlstone and argillaceous lime due to the variations in the carbonate and clay contents. The results have shown that an increase in the carbonate content leads to a decrease in the degradation potential and an increase in the density and strength parameters such as durability and compressive strength. A comparison of the empirical relationships obtained from the regression analyses with similar studies revealed that the results obtained herein are reasonably reliable.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.128-138
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to examine potential as a geological field course of Odongdo located to the east of Yeosu city, Korea. The total area and the height from the sea level of Odongdo is about 0.13km2 and 42m, respectively. Odongdo area belongs to the Hallyeohaesang National Marine Park, and is famous for rock scenery in the rocky coast and living of rare plants. For this study, diversity of geomorphology and geology was investigated at the sites called as dragon cave, windy area, seal rocks, sunrise viewing platform, second seashore rocks and first seashore rocks along the coast of Odongdo. The results of this study are as follows: A lot of geomorphological and geological resources like sea cliff, sea cave, strata, various sedimentary rocks(conglomerate, sandstone, mudstone), andesite, fault and examples of rock weathering were found in the rocky coast of the study area. These field resources are pertinent to the field work materials for the teaching and learning of geology units in elementary school science. Odongdo is to be recommended as a site of outdoor geological field course for the elementary school students inhabited in Yeosu city and neighborhood area because each site of the rocky coast in this study area has various field work materials and the wide space for observe activities, and is equipped with the facilities as a trail for rock observation.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.255-264
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• 2023

As the demand for urban underground space increases recently, urban tunnel planning is actively progressing. In the urban area, a underground station is planned in consideration of the living environment of residents, and 2-arch tunnel is applied for the stability of existing structures and reduction of environmental damage. However, since the depth of weak rock mass is deeply distributed in the urban area due to severe weathering, careful planning is required to secure tunnel stability. In addition, if TBM mechanical excavation is applied as the main tunnel excavation method considering the composite ground in urban area, the construction connectivity with the 2-arch tunnel of the NATM concept may be deteriorated. In this study, the design case of applying TBM pre-excavation type 2-arch tunnel for the first time in Korea was mainly described. The main considerations for the segment design of TBM pre-excavation type 2-arch tunnel were explained for side tunnels. Also, a stability analysis was conducted to verify the effectiveness and adequacy of the TBM pre-excavation type 2-arch tunnel.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.03a
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• pp.423-430
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• 1999

A weathered residual soil is a soil-like material derived from the in situ weathering and decomposition of rock which has not been transported from its original location. Undisturbed sampling of residual soils is extremely difficult, which has an important effect on investigating the strength and compression characteristics. Thus, a special undisturbed sampling device (direct shear box with shoe) was developed and undisturbed samples were successfully obtained for direct shear tests, Direct shear testing was conducted under unsoaked and soaked condition. As a result, the shear strength of soaked samples was less than that of unsoaked samples, and it was verified that direct shearing of undisturbed samples can evaluate reasonably the shear strength and the slope stability.