• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.4 s.173
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• pp.369-380
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• 2005

This study describes image-based approach for efficient and objective evaluation method of the rock slope stability. Three-dimensional rock slope model was reconstructed by processing stereo digital images. The model provided fundamental information for geospatial analysis of the rock slope. Methods to extract three-dimensional information about discontinuity on the rock slope and to estimate roughness of the rock surfaces were suggested. The results show that stereo digital images have potential to provide information for both quantitative and qualitative analysis of rock slope. In addition, visualization of the results increases efficiency and benefit in evaluating rock slope stability.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2009

Since weathering weakens the rock fabric and exaggerates any structural weakness, it affects mechanical properties as well as physical and chemical properties of rock. Weathering leads to a decrease in density, strength, friction angle and cohesion, and subsequently it affects negatively on the stability of rock slope. The purpose of the study is to investigate the changes of the rock slope stability caused by discontinuities which have different weathering grades. For that, the discontinuity samples which are divided into two different weathering grades are obtained from the field and tested their mechanical properties such as JCS, JRC and residual friction angle. In order to evaluate the effects on the stability of slope due to weathering, the deterministic analysis is carried out. That is, the factors of safety for planar failure are calculated for rock masses which have two different weathering grades, such as fresh and weathered rock mass. However, since the JRC and friction angle values are widely scattered and the deterministic analysis cannot consider the variation, the factors of safety cannot represent properly the stability of the rock slope. Therefore, the probabilistic analysis has been used to consider the scattered values. In the deterministic analysis, the factors of safety for the fresh discontinuity and weathered discontinuity are 1.25 and 1.0, respectively. The results indicate the fresh discontinuities are stable for planar failure and the weathered discontinuities are marginally stable. However, the probabilities of failure for the fresh discontinuity and weathered discontinuity are 25.6% and 45.9%, respectively. This shows that both discontinuities are analyzed as unstable in the probabilistic analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2012

The maximum unit point resistance ($q_{max}$) of rock socketed drilled shafts subjected to axial loads was investigated by a numerical analysis. A 3D Finite Difference Method (FDM) analysis and a Distinct Element Method (DEM) analysis were performed with varying rock elastic modulus (E), discontinuity spacing ($S_j$), discontinuity dip angle ($i_j$), and pile diameter (D). Based on the results of obtained, it was found that the ultimate point resistance ($q_{max}$) increased as rock elastic modulus (E) and rock discontinuity spacing ($S_j$) increased. But, it was found that $q_{max}$ decreased as pile diameter (D) increased. As for the influence of the dip angle of rock discontinuity ($i_j$), it was shown that $q_{max}$ decreased up to 50% of maximum value within the range of $0^{\circ}$ < $i_j$ < $60^{\circ}$ due to the shear failure at rock discontinuities. Furthermore, it was found that if $20^{\circ}{\leq}i_j{\leq}40^{\circ}$, influence of $i_j$ should be taken into account because $q_{max}$ tended to approach a minimum value as $i_j$ approached a value near the friction angle of the discontinuity (${\phi}_j$).

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2003

Field investigations of the orientations of discontinuity planes inside the borehole for designing the underground rock structures have been depend solely on the borehole image-taking techniques. But, borehole image-taking has to be processed after the completion of drilling operation and also requires the handling of highly expensive apparatus so that practical application is very restricted. In this study Discontinuity Orientation Measurement (DOM) drilling system and discontinuity analysis model RoSA-DOM are developed to acquire the reliable information of rock structure by analyzing the characteristics of joint distribution. DOM drilling system retrieves the rock core on which the reference line of pre-fixed drilling orientation is engraved. Coordinates of three arbitrary points on the joint surface relative to the position of reference line are assessed to determine the orientation of joint plane. The position of joint plane is also allocated by calculating the location of core axis at which joint plane is intersected. Then, the formation of joint set is analyzed by utilizing the clustering algorithm. Total and set spacings are calculated by considering the borehole axis as the scanline. Engineering applicability of in-situ rock mass around the borehole is also estimated by calculating the total and regional RQDs along the borehole axis.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2015

Rock mass includes such discontinuities as fault, joint, bedding, crack, schistosity, cleavage. The rock mass behavior, therefore, is influenced by the discontinuity behavior. In this study, a stability and deformation analysis method considering discontinuities in rock mass is proposed, and then applied to the rock collapse disaster site. As the method, the stability analysis by the stereographic projection method was carried out in an actual site, the deformation analysis program by the finite element method including the joint element was developed, and performed. To demonstrate the applicability of this developed stability and deformation analysis method considering discontinuities in rock mass, the analysis results are examined and compared with the failure behavior at the rock mass.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.449-458
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• 2012

A sound understanding of the structural characteristics of fractured rock masses is important in designing and maintaining earth structures because their strength, deformability, and hydraulic behavior depend mainly on the characteristics of discontinuity network structures. Despite considerable progress in understanding the structural characteristics of rock masses, the complexity of discontinuity patterns has prevented satisfactory analysis based on a 3-D rock mass visualization model. This paper presents the results of studies performed to develop rock mass visualization in 3-D to analysis the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of fractured rock masses. General and particular solutions of non-linear equations of disk-shaped fractures have been derived to calculated lines of intersection and equivalent pipes. Also, program modules have been developed to perform the calculations. The procedures developed for the 3-D fractured rock mass visualization model can be used to characterize rock mass geometry and network systems effectively. The results obtained in this study will be refined and then combined for use as a tool for assessing geomechanical problems related to strength, deformability and hydraulic behaviors of the fractured rock masses.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.3-16
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• 1999

This paper presents the results of sensitivity analysis based on an example study to verify a newly developed reliability-based model for rock slopes considering uncertainties of discontinuities and failure modes-plane, wedge, and toppling. The parameters that are needed for sensitivity analysis are the variability of discontinuity properties (orientation and strength of discontinuities), the loading conditions, and the rock slope geometry. The variability in orientation and friction angle of discontinuities, which can not be considered in the deterministic analysis, has a great influence on the rock slope stability, The stability of rock slopes including failure modes is more influenced by the selection of dip direction of cutting rock face than any other design variables, The example study shows that the developed reliability-based analysis model can reasonably assess the stability of rock slope.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.15 no.3 s.56
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• pp.185-194
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• 2005

Recently, the surrounding rock mass is understood as the major support system for the tunnel constructed in the rock mass. Generally, the rock mass contains many discontinuity planes such as joints, and thus, the tunnel behavior in the rock mass is governed by the characteristics of the discontinuity planes. In this study, the behavior of tunnel in jointed rock mass is studied by model tests and numerical analyses. The results shows that the behavior of tunnel depends on the different initial stress conditions, in case that the tunnel is excavated in the ground without any joints. When a joint is located near the tunnel, the pound stress and displacement tend to increase between the tunnel and the joint.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.393-402
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• 2012

A behavior of ridge-cut rock slope had been monitored by installing inclinometers and regional slope movement toward rear side of cut face was detected. To delineate the governing factors of slope behavior, especially backward slip of ridge-cut slope, petrographic characteristics of rock cores obtained from four drilled boreholes had been examined. BIPS images inside boreholes had been acquired and structural characteristics of slope rock had been studied. Mechanical properties of discontinuity planes distributed in the drilled core had been measured and the shear strength of coal seam imbedded-discontinuity planes also had been obtained by performing the direct shear test. Monitoring results of slope behavior had been analyzed by comprehensibly considering both the mechanical and structural characteristics of slope rock and coal seam-imbedded discontinuity planes, and the potential governance of coal seam and clay minerals embedded in the joint plane on the regional slope behavior has been also identified.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry, and Cartography Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.219-222
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• 2003

Even through hundreds of meters high steep slope is stable, only several ten meters high dull slope could be collapsed. This means that stability of slope is depend on the slope of a surface of discontinuity like faults existing in rock floor. The existence and nonexistence of a discontinuity surface have a very important effect to the stability of a rock floor slope, and examination for geologic peculiarity is one of the most important pant for investigation of stabilities. Accordingly, in the study, we extracted three dimension coordinates of slope with close photogrammetry, and through interpretations of three dimensions' position of fault within rock floor slope, we expect this will be use as a important sauces when evaluate stabilities of rock floor slope.