• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.771-784
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• 2007

This study shows the weathering characteristics of mica-schist affected by faulting and metamorphism through laboratory tests. Frozen-thaw test, which simulate the physical-chemical weathering processes in the laboratory, shows the important influence of foliation developed in mica-schist, resulting in $20{\sim}40%$ reduction of UCS according to weathering grade of rock. Slaking durability test was carried out for different weathering grade rock specimens and indicated that the specimens from fault area had a low durability index compared to other relatively fresh samples. XRD analysis allowed to estimate the dynamic evolution of mineral composition through wet-dry cycle in which the chlorite was the most important mineral leached out during slaking test. The creep test indicated that the main deformation produced along the foliation plane. The compacted clay minerals between discontinuity planes influence on the discontinuity shearing properties and result in a big difference between peak shear strength and residual strength. The results of laboratory tests on mica-schist show the possibility of a important deformation along the foliation plane or discontinuity.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.205-215
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• 2024

Manually mapping fractures in construction stone mines is challenging, time-consuming, and hazardous. In this method, there is no physical access to all points. In contrast, digital image processing offers a safe, cost-effective, and fast alternative, with the capability to map all joints. In this study, two methods of detecting the trace of discontinuities using image processing in construction stone mines are presented. To achieve this, we employ two modified Hough transform algorithms and the degree of neighborhood technique. Initially, we introduced a method for selecting the best edge detector and smoothing algorithms. Subsequently, the Canny detector and median smoother were identified as the most efficient tools. To trace discontinuities using the mentioned methods, common preprocessing steps were initially applied to the image. Following this, each of the two algorithms followed a distinct approach. The Hough transform algorithm was first applied to the image, and the traces were represented through line drawings. Subsequently, the Hough transform results were refined using fuzzy clustering and reduced clustering algorithms, along with a novel algorithm known as the farthest points' algorithm. Additionally, we developed another algorithm, the degree of neighborhood, tailored for detecting discontinuity traces in construction stones. After completing the common preprocessing steps, the thinning operation was performed on the target image, and the degree of neighborhood for lineament pixels was determined. Subsequently, short lines were removed, and the discontinuities were determined based on the degree of neighborhood. In the final step, we connected lines that were previously separated using the method to be described. The comparison of results demonstrates that image processing is a suitable tool for identifying rock mass discontinuity traces. Finally, a comparison of two images from different construction stone mines presented at the end of this study reveals that in images with fewer traces of discontinuities and a softer texture, both algorithms effectively detect the discontinuity traces.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2014

The stability of rock slope is mainly controlled by the orientation and shear strength of discontinuties in rock mass. Therefore, in kinematic analysis, the orientation of the combination of discontinuities and slope face is examined to determine if certain modes of failure can be occurred. In previous kinematic analysis, a representative orientation of the slope face and mean orientation of discontinuity set were used as input parameters. However, since the orientations of slope face varies according to locations of measurement, the representative slope face orientation could cause misunderstanding for kinematic instability. In addition, since the orientations of each discontinuity are scattered in the same discontinuity set, there is the possibility that uncertainties are involved in the procedure of kinematic analysis. Therefore, in this study, the detailed digital topographic map was used to obtain the orientation of slope face. In addition, the probabilistic analysis approach was utilized to deal properly with the uncertainties in discontinuity orientation. The proposed approach was applied to steep slopes in mountain road located in Baehuryeong, Chunncheon city, Gangwon-Do. The analysis results obtained from the deterministic and probabilistic analysis were compared to check the feasibility of proposed the analysis.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.197-208
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• 1996

Due to the constraints in pre site-investigation for tunnel, it is essential to redesign the support structures suitable for rock mass conditions such as rock strength, ground water and discontinuity conditions for safe tunnel construction. For the selection of optimum support, it is very important to carry out the rock mass classification and in-situ measurement in tunnelling. In this paper, in a mountain tunnel designed by NATM in hard rock, the selectable system for optimum support has been studied. The tunnel is situated at Chun-an in Kyungbu highspeed railway line with 2 lanes over a length of 4, 020 m and a diameter of 15 m. The tunnel was constructed by drill & blasting method and long bench cut method, designed five types of standard support patterns according to rock mass conditions. In this tunnel, face mapping based on image processing of tunnel face and rock mass classification by RMR carried out for the quantitative evaluation of the characteristics of rock mass and compared with rock mass classes in design. Also, in-situ measurement of convergence and crown settlement conducted about 30 m interval, assessed the stability of tunnel from the analysis of monitoring data. Through the results of rock mass classification and in-situ measurement in several sections, the design of supports were modified for the safe and economic tunnelling.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.193-213
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• 2020

A mathematical model to simulate more realistically the penetration of compacted bentonite buffer installed in the deposition hole into the discontinuity in the excavation damaged zone formed at the inner wall of the deposition hole in the geological repository for spent fuel is developed. In this model, the penetration of compacted bentonite is assumed to be the flow of Bingham fluid through the parallel planar rock fracture. The penetration of compacted bentonite is analyzed using the developed model. The results show that the maximum penetration depth of compacted bentonite into the rock fracture is proportioned to the swelling pressure of saturated compacted bentonite and the aperture of rock fracture. However, it is in inverse proportion to the yield strength of compacted bentonite. The viscosity of compacted bentonite dominates the penetration rate of compacted bentonite, but has no influence to the maximum penetration depth.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.164-176
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• 1992

The conical-ended borehole technique and hemispherical-ended borehole technique are proposed, for the accurate stress measurement within a rock mass. Theory of stress tensor determination and in situ measurement system are presented with successful case examples, and the characteristics of stress distribution within rock masses are examined by the multiple times measurement in a single borehole. Subsequently, the problem in relation to the numerical approach for cavern designing is discussed on the basis of the dependency of the stress discontinuity on the geological discontinuities and so on.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.147-152
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• 1999

Distribution of fracture system is an important factor to analyse instability of jointed rock slope. In the most case of rock slopes, joint distribution properties are related to potential, shape, size and locality of slope failure. The purpose of this paper is to present an application of fracture characterization related to rock slope failure. Fracture data used in this study are collected by scanline survey. Two aspects of fracture characterization for rock slope are handled in this study First, In order to determine the potential and shape of slope failure, trace length of joints is considered as the weighting factor about collected orientation data. Second, Relationship between trace length and spacing is analysed to estimate failure location and size. The distribution of fracture system is directly influenced on wedge failure. It is effective to analyse the orientation of fractures by using weighting factors associated with the trace length of fractures rather than to analyse only that of fractures. It gives a conclusion that the wedge failure occurred along the peak of fracture density(or intensity) cycles.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.669-680
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• 2005

It is very difficult to determine the failure block scale in great rock slopes. Especially, postulating entire slope domain as a failure block without attention to discontinuity trace lenth makes very confuse and difficult to design rock slopes. In this paper, we estimate realistic failure block scale using joint system simulation method and introduce the application procedures on rock slope analysis. Besides, presenting how joint characteristics measurement and statistical analysis results are applicated to slope stability analysis design flow.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.214-222
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• 1995

Geological events which are undetected by the surface geophysical or geological survey phase can cause many problems, especially when the tunnel is excavated by TBM. To detect the geological events ahead of tunnel face, a seismic method applied from VSP method is used. Generally uniaxial geophone has been used in surface seismic survey. But this time, triaxial geophone is used to reduce the noise of tunnel wave. DME(Dip moveout Enhancement) filter and diffraction stack method are used. Applying these techniques to the road tunnel in construction, it is proved that the geological events ahead of tunnel face is fairly well predicted. From the seismic trace, Vp and Vs which are related to the rock property can be also obtained. Rock property and proper support design can be dedced from these parameters.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.867-877
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• 2016

Collapse shape of tunnel roof in layered Hoek-Brown rock media is investigated within the framework of upper bound theorem. The traditional collapse mechanism for homogeneous stratum is no longer suitable for the present analysis of roof stability, and it would be necessary to propose a curve failure mode to describe the velocity discontinuity surface in layered media. What is discussed in the paper is that the failure mechanism of tunnel roofs, consisting of two different functions, is proposed for layered rock media. Then it is employed to investigate the impending roof failure. Based on the nonlinear Hoek-Brown failure criterion, the collapse volume of roof blocks are derived with the upper bound theorem and variational principle. Numerical calculations and parametric analysis are carried out to illustrate the effects of different parameters on the shape of failure mechanism, which is of overriding significance to the stability analysis of tunnel roof in layered rock media.