• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2012

The spatial variation of ground motion in Kolkata Metropolitan District (KMD) has been estimated by generating synthetic ground motion considering the point source model coupled with site response analysis. The most vulnerable source was identified from regional seismotectonic map for an area of about 350 km radius around Kolkata. The rock level acceleration time histories at 121 borehole locations in Kolkata for the vulnerable source, Eocene Hinge Zone, due to maximum credible earthquake (MCE) moment magnitude 6.2 were generated by synthetic ground motion model. Soil investigation data of 121 boreholes were collected from the report of Soil Data Bank Project, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Surface level ground motion parameters were determined using SHAKE2000 software. The results are presented in the form of peak ground acceleration (PGA) at rock level and ground surface, amplification factor, and the response spectra at the ground surface for frequency 1.5 Hz, 3 Hz, 5 Hz and 10 Hz and 5% damping ratio. Site response study shows higher PGA in comparison with rock level acceleration. Maximum amplification in some portion in KMD area is found to be as high as 3.0 times compared to rock level.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.588-597
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• 1999

Sokkuram grotto, a UNESCO cultural heritage in Kyongju Korea, was originally covered with crushed rocks over its dome with ventilating holes. The grotto was perfectly preserved for more than 12 centuries until the upper structure was replaced with a concrete dome in the early 20th century to protect from total collapse. Since then, heavy dew formed on the granite surface to seriously damage the sculptures until it was further remodeled with air-conditioning facilities in the 60s. It is considered that the original upper porous structure had a dehumidifying capability. This research is made to unveil the dehumidifying mechanism of the rock layer during the rainy season in that area. A rock layer and a concrete layer are tested in a temperature/humidity-controlled room. No dew formation is observed for the two specimen for continued sunny days or continued rainy days. However, heavy dew formed on the concrete surface for a sunny day after long rainy days. It is thought that the sun evaporates water on the ground and dew is formed at the surface as the highly humid air touches the yet cold concrete. On the contrary, no dew formation is observed for the rock layer at any time. Even in the above worst situation, air flows downward through the cool rock layer and moisture is removed before reaching inside. Temperature measurement, flow visualization, observation of dew formation and measurement of air velocity are made to verify the mechanisms.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.529-543
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• 2022

The lattice-spring-based synthetic rock mass model (LS-SRM) technique has been extensively employed in large open-pit mining and underground projects in the last decade. Since the LS-SRM requires a complex and time-consuming calibration process, a robust approach was developed using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to optimize the calibration procedure. For this purpose, numerical models were designed using the Box-Behnken Design technique, and numerical simulations were performed under uniaxial and triaxial stress states. The model input parameters represented the models' micro-mechanical (lattice) properties and the macro-scale properties, including uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), elastic modulus, cohesion, and friction angle constitute the output parameters of the model. The results from RSM models indicate that the lattice UCS and lattice friction angle are the most influential parameters on the macro-scale UCS of the specimen. Moreover, lattice UCS and elastic modulus mainly control macro-scale cohesion. Lattice friction angle (flat joint fiction angle) and lattice elastic modulus affect the macro-scale friction angle. Model validation was performed using physical laboratory experiment results, ranging from weak to hard rock. The results indicated that the RSM model could be employed to calibrate LS-SRM numerical models without a trial-and-error process.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.615-626
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• 2021

The main objective of this study is to present a fast and reliable approach to predict the swelling potential of clay-bearing rocks. Investigations showed that there is a good correlation between the swelling potential of a rock and its desire to absorb water due to its clay content which could be measured using the "Contact Angle" test as one of the most common ways to determine the wettability. In this test, the angle between a water drop and the flat rock surface on which it rests is measured. The present method is very fast and returns repeatable results and requires minimal sample preparation. Only having a saw-cut surface of a sample with any shape is all one needs to perform this test. The logic behind this approach is that the swelling potential of a rock is a function of its mineral content and molecular structure, which are not only distributed in the bulk of the sample but also reflected on its surface. Therefore, to evaluate swelling behavior, it is not necessary to wait for a sample to get wet all the way to its "internal structure" (which, due to the low permeability of clay-bearing rocks, is very slow and time-consuming). Instead, one can have a good sense of swelling potential by studying its surface. Parametric studies on the effect of moisture content, porosity, and surface roughness on the contact angle measurements showed that using a saw-cut oven-dried sample is a convenient way to evaluate the swelling potential by this method.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.9-14
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• 2002

It is common that the soil layer is few meters below the earth surface and there are rock masses below the soil layer in the view of geological characteristics in Korea. The boundary between rock and soil is clearly divided. When dealing with the stability of rock masses, as in the case of rock slopes or dam foundations, the majority of the collapses is not within the soil layer, but within the soil-rock boundary. Therefore, it is important to identify the shear strength characteristics between soil-rock contacts. It has been common practice to assume that the strength of the soil or shale represents the minimum strength present. However, it has been suggested by Patton(1968) that such an assumption may not be valid and that lower shear strengths might be obtained along the soil-rock interface than for either material alone. Then, in this thesis, introduce rock and residual soil shear strength tests and the specimen preparation and testing procedures are described in detail and also the testing results are presented and discussed.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.543-552
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• 2015

This study examines the processes of rock weathering and tafoni formation targeting tafoni at Mt. Cheonsaeng, Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. In the study area, a frequency of tafoni is high in conglomerate and conglomeratic sandstone among regional sedimentary rocks, which means that an initial stage of the formation begins a breakaway of gravel from bedrock and also exfoliation from rock surface. Geomorphologically tafoni have intensively been developed at the southfacing slope with exposed rocks, which means that its formation was favorably controlled by environmental conditions including strong influences of mechanical weathering in winter and chemical weathering in summer times. The results of measuring water content at a tafoni-bearing rock surface using GIS interpolation analysis indicate that moisture rate in/around tafoni is higher than the periphery. Thus, it is considered that moisture distribution at a rock surface plays a role in its formation. Analysis of percipitation and secondary minerals induced by chemical weathering is in progress.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.323-335
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• 2021

This paper aims to estimate the range of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) formation caused by the tunnel boring machine (TBM) advancement through dynamic three-dimensional large deformation finite element analysis. Large deformation analysis based on Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) analysis is used to accurately simulate the behavior during TBM excavation. The analysis model is verified based on numerous test results reported in the literature. The range of the formed EDZ will be suggested as a boundary under various conditions - different tunnel diameter, tunnel depth, and rock type. Moreover, evaluation of the integrity of the tunnel structure during excavation has been carried out. Based on the numerical results, the apparent boundary of the EDZ is shown to within the range of 0.7D (D: tunnel diameter) around the excavation surface. Through series of numerical computation, it is clear that for the rock of with higher rock mass rating (RMR) grade (close to 1st grade), the EDZ around the tunnel tends to increase. The size of the EDZ is found to be direct proportional to the tunnel diameter, whereas the depth of the tunnel is inversely proportional to the magnitude of the EDZ. However, the relationship between the formation of the EDZ and the stability of the tunnel was not found to be consistent. In case where the TBM excavation is carried out in hard rock or rock under high confinement (excavation under greater depth), large range of the EDZ may be formed, but less strain occurs along the excavation surface during excavation and is found to be more stable.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.465-479
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• 2008

For the quantitative identification of rock behavior in shallow tunnels, we recommend using the rock behavior index (RBI) by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the Rock Engineering Systems (RES). AHP and RES can aid engineers in effectively determining complex and un-structured rock behavior utilizing a structured pair-wise comparison matrix and an interaction matrix, respectively. Rock behavior types are categorized as rock fall, cave-in, and plastic deformation. Seven parameters influencing rock behavior for shallow depth rock tunnel are determined: uniaxial compressive strength, rock quality designation (RQD), joint surface condition, stress, pound water, earthquake, and tunnel span. They are classified into rock mass intrinsic, rock mass extrinsic, and design parameters. An advantage of this procedure is its ability to obtain each parameter's weight. We applied the proposed method to the basic design of Seoul Metro Line O and quantified the rock behavior into RBI on rock fall, cave-in, and plastic deformation. The study results demonstrate that AHP and RES can give engineers quantitative information on rock behavior.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2022

This paper presents the results of full-scale load tests performed frictional anchors to various lengths at several sites in Korea. Various rock types were tested, ranging from highly weathered shale to sound gneiss. In many tests, rock failure was reached and the ultimate loads were recorded along with observations of the shape and extent of the failure surface. Laboratory tests were also conducted to investigate the influence of the corrosion protection sheath on the bond strength. Based on test results, the main parameters governing the uplift capacity of the rock anchor system were determined. By evaluation of the ultimate uplift capacity of anchor foundations in a wide range of in situ rock masses, rock classification suitable for structural foundation was developed. Finally, a very simple and economical design procedure is proposed for rock anchor foundations subjected to uplift tensile loads.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.336-346
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• 1995

Geotechnical Information System (GTIS) for efficient management of three dimensional borehole data has been developed. Some problems were raised during the input process of borehole data, and alternative solutions were sought. According to the previous geotechnical reports, there is no unified weathering classification scheme. A criterion, 100 times/30cm from SPT, was turned out inappropriate to the discrimination of weathered rock from weathered soil. It has also been suggested that weathered soil, weathered rock, soft rock, and hard rock should be defined as CW, HW, MW, and SW~fresh condition. For better comparison of RQD, the use of NX size coring is recommended for the whole area although BX size coring has been used in excavated area. The limit of drilling depth up to 1 m from the top of surface of hard rock should be extended to avoid possible wrong interpretation of rock head due to the existence of corestone. The input data were analysed by geostatistical methods. It is found that the range in semivariogram is about 300m, and the variance of gneiss is greater than that of granite. It is because the granite data analysed came from almost single uniform rock mass(i.e.Seoul granite), but gneiss data came from the rock mass(i.e. Gyeonggi gneiss complex experienced several metamorphic metamorphic processes.