• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.265-274
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• 2010

In many tunnels, falling or sliding of rock blocks often occur, which cannot be predicted because of the complexity of rock discontinuities and it has brought an exponential increase in costs and time to manage. It is difficult to estimate the properties of rock masses before the tunnel excavation. The observational design and construction method in tunnels has been becoming important recently. In this study, a new hybrid stochastic-deterministic rock block analysis method for the prediction of the unstable rock blocks before the tunnel excavation is proposed, and then applied to the tunnel construction based on actual rock discontinuity information observed in the field. The comparisons and investigations with the analytical results in the tunnel construction have confirmed the validity and applicability of this new hybrid stochastic-deterministic rock block analysis method in tunnels.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.723-737
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• 2016

In this paper an approach was described for determination of direction of sliding block in rock slopes containing planar non-persistent open joints. For this study, several gypsum blocks containing planar non-persistent open joints with dimensions of $15{\times}15{\times}15cm$ were build. The rock bridges occupy 45, 90 and $135cm^2$ of total shear surface ($225cm^2$), and their configuration in shear plane were different. From each model, two similar blocks were prepared and were subjected to shearing under normal stresses of 3.33 and $7.77kg/cm^{-2}$. Based on the change in the configuration of rock-bridges, a factor called the Effective Joint Coefficient (EJC) was formulated, that is the ratio of the effective joint surface that is in front of the rock-bridge and the total shear surface. In general, the failure pattern is influenced by the EJC while shear strength is closely related to the failure pattern. It is observed that the propagation of wing tensile cracks or shear cracks depends on the EJC and the coalescence of wing cracks or shear cracks dominates the eventual failure pattern and determines the peak shear load of the rock specimens. So the EJC is a key factor to determine the sliding direction in rock slopes containing planar non-persistent open joints.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.66-81
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• 2021

The effects of directional fracture tensor components and first invariant of fracture tensor on deformation moduli and shear moduli of fractured rock masses is analyzed based on regression analysis performed between 3-D fracture tensor parameters and deformability of DFN blocks. Using one or two deterministic joint sets, a total of 224 3-D discrete fracture network (DFN) cube blocks were generated with various configurations of deterministic density and probabilistic size distribution. The fracture tensor parameters were calculated for each generated DFN systems. Also, deformability moduli with respect to three perpendicular direction of the DFN cube blocks were estimated based on distinct element method. The larger the first invariant of fracture tensor, the smaller the values for the deformability moduli of the DFN blocks. These deformability properties present an asymptotic pattern above the certain threshold. It is found that power-law function describes the relationship between the directional deformability moduli and the corresponding fracture tensor components estimated in same direction.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.113-131
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• 2022

A rockburst is a common disaster in deep-tunnel excavation engineering, especially for high-geostress areas. An anomalously low friction effect is one of the most important inducements of rockbursts. To elucidate the correlation between an anomalously low friction effect and a rockburst, we establish a two-dimensional prediction model that considers the discontinuous structure of a rock mass. The degree of freedom of the rotation angle is introduced, thus the motion equations of the blocks under the influence of a transient disturbing force are acquired according to the interactions of the blocks. Based on the two-dimensional discontinuous block model of deep rock mass, a rockburst prediction model is established, and the initiation process of ultra-low friction rockburst is analyzed. In addition, the intensity of a rockburst, including the location, depth, area, and velocity of ejection fragments, can be determined quantitatively using the proposed prediction model. Then, through a specific example, the effects of geomechanical parameters such as the different principal stress ratios, the material properties, a dip of principal stress on the occurrence form and range of rockburst are analyzed. The results indicate that under dynamic disturbance, stress variation on the structural surface in a deep rock mass may directly give rise to a rockburst. The formation of rockburst is characterized by three stages: the appearance of cracks that result from the tension or compression failure of the deformation block, the transformation of strain energy of rock blocks to kinetic energy, and the ejection of some of the free blocks from the surrounding rock mass. Finally, the two-dimensional rockburst prediction model is applied to the construction drainage tunnel project of Jinping II hydropower station. Through the comparison with the field measured rockburst data and UDEC simulation results, it shows that the model in this paper is in good agreement with the actual working conditions, which verifies the accuracy of the model in this paper.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.328-338
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• 2009

Schmidt hammer test as an indirect method has so far been widely applied for determining the physical properties of intact rock, and many researchers have developed procedures for its use on rock cores, blocks and in field. Though many methods have developed upto date for indirect using, the almost were single blow which has many errors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the established as for ASTM, ISRM, BSI, Poole & Farmer and Hucka method and to suggest a new optimum test method and statistical analysis on rocks. The finding has indicated that succeeding blow has served as an optimal to predict physical properties of rocks. To conduct the experiment, researchers have examined 150 rock blocks, which include igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks in Korea nation wide.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.375-385
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• 2023

There are many joint fissures distributed in the engineering rock mass. In the process of geological history, the underground rock mass undergoes strong geological processes, and undergoes complex geological processes such as fracture breeding, expansion, recementation, and re-expansion. In this paper, the damage-stick-slip process (DSSP), an analysis model used for rock mass failure slip, was established to examine the master control and time-dependent mechanical properties of the new and primary fractures of a multi-fractured rock mass under the action of stress loading. The experimental system for the recemented multi-fractured rock mass was developed to validate the above theory. First, a rock mass failure test was conducted. Then, the failure stress state was kept constant, and the fractured rock mass was grouted and cemented. A secondary loading was applied until the grouted mass reached the intended strength to investigate the bearing capacity of the recemented multi-fractured rock mass, and an acoustic emission (AE) system was used to monitor AE events and the update of damage energy. The results show that the initial fracture angle and direction had a significant effect on the re-failure process of the cement rock mass; Compared with the monitoring results of the acoustic emission (AE) measurements, the master control surface, key blocks and other control factors in the multi-fractured rock mass were obtained; The triangular shaped block in rock mass plays an important role in the stress and displacement change of multi-fracture rock mass and the long fissure and the fractures with close fracture tip are easier to activate, and the position where the longer fractures intersect with the smaller fractures is easier to generate new fractures. The results are of great significance to a multi-block structure, which affects the safety of underground coal mining.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 1999

A powerful numerical method that can be used for that purpose is the Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) method developed by Shi in 1988. In this method, rock masses are treated as systems of finite and deformable blocks. Large rock mass deformations and block movements are allowed. Although various extensions of the DDA method have been proposed in the literature, the method is not capable of modeling water-block interaction that is needed when modeling surface or underground excavation in fractured rock. This paper presents a new extension to the DDA method. The extension consists of hydro-mechanical coupling between rock blocks and water flow in fractures. A example of application of the DDA method with the new extension is presented. The results of the present study indicate that fracture flow could have a destabilizing effect on the tunnel stability.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.82-92
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• 2011

Stereophotogrammetry is used to extract spatial information of an object by constructing a stereo-image from two or more photos. In this study, stereophotogrammetry was adopted for analyzing blast fragmentation of rock blocks in a quarry site. 2D image processing and stereophotogrammetry were applied to the fragmentation analysis of rock blocks horizontally scattered in a laboratory, and their results were compared with physical measurements using a water tank. Fragmentation of rock muckpiles was estimated in laboratory and field tests by using the stereophotogrammetry and statistical analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2003

Previous analytical models for key blocks have been based on the assumption of infinite persistent discontinuities. In this paper, a key block analysis method considering the finite persistence of discontinuities is proposed as a stability evaluation method in tunnel constructions, and then applied to an actual example site. Three-dimensional rock block identification with consideration of the persistence of discontinuities is performed by using discontinuity disk model. The removability and stability analyses of rock blocks formed by the identification method are performed. The identification method can handle convex and concave shape blocks. In order to demonstrate the applicability of this developed numerical method to the stability evaluation in tunnel constructions, the analytical results are examined and compared one another.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.364-373
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• 2016

The article presents the results and findings obtained through the assembly of opposing linear Halbach arrays from two magnet layers using large magnetic blocks from permanent NdFeB magnets, especially concerning the distribution of magnetic induction in an air gap. The use of these large blocks has led to a significant expansion of the area of magnetic field with a substantially higher value of magnetic induction in comparison with similar linear Halbach arrays composed of small magnets. The paper also discusses the determined dependences of magnetic induction on the parameters of the x, y, z coordinate system and indicates the possibilities of achieving an even stronger magnetic field in a larger volume of an air gap for application for instance in equipment for magnetic separation of raw materials, in instrument technologies and in other areas.