• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.19-25
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• 2005

A tunnel that uses the RMR method or the Q-system is called a 'modem tunnel' because the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) is not employed, even though shotcrete and rock bolts are used as support. It is known that the modem tunnel, which is supported by shotcrete, is basically different from the conventional tunnel, which is supported by steel ribs. In order to preserve the load-carrying capacity of the rock mass, loosening and excessive rock deformations must be minimized. Although it is known that this can be achieved by applying shotcrete in the case of the modem tunnel, this has not been clearly demonstrated. In order to inspect the distinctions between the conventional tunnel and the modern tunnel, their support characteristics and the rock loads of the rock mass classifications are compared. Terzaghi's rock load classification was used as the conventional tunnel's representative rock mass classification. The RMR method and the Q-system were adopted as the modem tunnel's representative rock mass classification. The study's results show that the load-carrying capacity of shotcrete, when used as the main support in the modern tunnel, is greater than the load-capacity of the steel ribs used in the conventional tunnel. Because it has been verified that the rock loads of their rock mass classifications are not different, then, according to the rock mass classifications, the load-carrying capacity of the rock mass of the modern tunnel, which uses shotcrete, is not greater than that of the conventional tunnel.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.205-215
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• 2011

In this study, we analyzed physical properties of granites and their correlation with rock mass classification methods. The granite samples were obtained from field survey, in-situ borehole tests and laboratory tests for a design phase of various roads, railways and other civil engineering works in Korea. Among the measured physical properties, the results of unit weight, compressive strength, tensile strength, seismic velocity, cohesion, friction angle, elastic modulus and deformation modulus were introduced. We also correlated these properties with the compressive strength. The results of different rock classification method of RQD, RMR, and Q-system against the granites in Korea were compared with each other, and the correlation equations were proposed in a more simplified form. We also derived RMR values using the compressive strength as well as the RQD values of in-situ drilled cores, and estimated the deformation modulus of in-situ rock mass in terms of the RMR values.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.09a
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• pp.37-42
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• 2005

Remote seismic tomography is regarded as one of the most valuable geophysical technique for the estimation of the rock mass classification in the tunnel area where hard data information such as drill logs are absent. But the results of rock mass classification based on the remote seismic tomography tend to be overestimated in practice. In this study, we propose the effective method to implement the seismic reference velocity ratio based on semblance for the improvement of rock mass classification. Also, to verify its feasibility, proposed technique was tested by using the real field data.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 1995

In this paper, a study was performed on classifying a rock mass into multiple classes as in rock mass classification systems, such as RMR system and Q system etc. In a situation with only limited quantitative data available, it was sought to employ a way of incorporating qualitative data in a systematical and reasonable manner. It is based on the realm of Geostatistics. In particular, indicator kriging technique, which is one of non-parametric approaches, was used. As a selection criterion for an optimal classification, the cost of errors was adopted. As a result, the binary rock classification method developed before was extended and generalized for multiple rock classification with its total number of classes unlimited.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.158-167
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• 1999

There are substantial difficulties in assessing the volume of soill/rock to be excavated and the cost thereof, which is attributable to the subjective and qualitative methods of rock mass classification prevailing at the moment. This paper intends to introduce more objective and quantitative rock mass classification method easily applicable to the excavation of granites in Muakjae, Seoul. As a result of such study it is proven that Schmidt hammer and point load strength tests are fairly reliable and easily applicable to estimate and quantify uniaxial compressive strength of granitic material in Seoul. In an efforts to confirm the granitic rock mass conditions in 12 meters underground, seismic refraction surveys were made on the top of vertical exposures from where underlying rock mass conditions could be directly inspected. Rock mass boundaries determined by seismic refraction methods were found to agree within a 1m variance with visible differences in rock mass conditions in the vertical exposure beneath the test site. Thus it can be concluded that detailed geotechnical mapping on cutting slopes is a most efficient, dependable and cost-effective technique in assessing likely excavation conditions of shallow granitic mass in Seoul.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-78
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• 1984

The object of this study is to offer the standarized data for the design and calculating engineering cost of the rock excavation an the construction of the 3rd and 4th Seoul Subway lines From Jnauary to March in 1983, this study was carried out by the both methods of the field and laboratary studies. In the field, the geological survey in the entire area of Seoul City and sites on the subway lines were carried out and also a site measure of uniaxial compressional strength of rock masses by using Schmidt hammer was done. The labartory studies were carsied out by a study of preuions surveyes, microscopic studies of the mineral composition and degree of weathering of rocks, and measure of uniaxial compressional strengths Finally an engineering classification of each rock masses of South Africa council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, after Bieniawski, 1974. was done. In this method of classification 6 parameters such as strength of intact rock material, rock quality designation, spacing of fractures, condition of fractures, groundwater conditions, and the effect of fracture strike and dip orientation in tunnelling were used to evaluate rating of each rock mass.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.655-666
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• 2013

A number of highway projects are in progress in Korea to accommodate increasing transportation demands. As the highway route becomes more complex, some projects include tunneling through unconsolidated sedimentary rock. Since an unconsolidated sedimentary rock mainly consists of rock and ground mass, the behavior and characteristics in unconsolidated sedimentary rock tunnel are quite different from typical rock tunnel. However, construction case histories and rock classifications method on unconsolidated sedimentary rock tunnel had not been developed or studied domestically. Consequently the case studies and rock classification system for unconsolidated sedimentary rock are required to better understand its behavior for tunneling. In this study, rock mass classification method is proposed to identify unconsolidated sedimentary rock based on point load and slake durability tests. Based on this, the proposed method of unconsolidated sedimentary rock can be applied well through comparisons with the results of convergence measurement.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.15 no.5 s.58
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• pp.369-377
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• 2005

The stability of underground openings is a major concern for the safety and productivity of mining operations. Rock mass classification methods provide the basis of many empirical design methods as well as a basis for numerical analysis. Of the many factors which influence the stability of openings, the span of the opening for a given rock mass condition provides an important parameter of design. In this paper, the critical span curves proposed by Lang, the Mathews stability graph method and the modified critical span curve suggested by the authors have been assessed. The modified critical span curve was proposed by using Mathews stability graph method. The modified critical span curve by the author have been used to assess the stability of underground openings in several limestone mines.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.358-371
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• 2018

The stability of openings in the underground mine is major concern in the operation of mines that must ensure productivity and safety. Among many rock conditions affecting cavities stability, the width and height of the opening is an important design factor. In this paper, we consider to determine the maximum unsupported span of a opening in a limestone mine by using the Q system among several rock classification schemes. In order to determine the span of the unsupported opening in the limestone mine, rock mass classifications were carried out at over 200 sites in the underground limestone mines. The relationships by using the Q system and the stability graph proposed by Mathews to determine the maximum span of the unsupported opening were derived and compared. We propose a new classification method that combines GSI and RMR rock classification systems to make it easy to use in a field.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.303-310
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• 2002

Overbreak occurred inevitably in a tunnel excavation, Is the main factor for increasing cost and time in tunnel projects. Furthermore the damage to the remained rock mass related to the overbreak can give rise to a serious safety problem in tunnels. As a rule of thumb, causes for the overbreak are inaccuracy in drilling, the wrong design of blasting and selection of explosives, and heterogeneity in rock mass. Specially, the geological features of the rock mass around periphery of an excavation are very important factors, so a lot of researches have been conducted to describe these phenomena. But the quantitative geological classification of the rock mass for the overbreak and the method for decreasing the amount of the overbreak have not been established. Besides, the technical improvement of the charge method is requested as explosives for the smooth blasting have not functioned efficiently. In this study, the working face around periphery of an excavation has been continuously sectionalized to 5∼6 parts, and the new Blastability Index for the overbreak based on 6 factors of RMD(Rock Mass Description), UCS(Uniaxial Compressive Strength) JPS(Joint Plane Spacing), JPO(Joint Plane Orientation), JPA(Joint Plane Aperture) and FM(Filling Material) is proposed to classify sections of the working face. On the basis of this classification, the distance between contour holes and the charging density are determined to minimize the overbreak. For controlling the charging density and improving the function of explosives, the New Deck Charge(N.D.C) method utilizing the deck charge method and detonation transmission in hole has been developed.