• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.25 no.10
• /
• pp.55-65
• /
• 2009

It has been well known that the infiltration of rainfall causes major surfacial slope failures in Korea. However, the hydrological and mechanical behaviors in unsaturated slopes are somewhat complex. When an analysis on unsaturated slope problems is performed, soil-water characteristics curves (SWCC) are considered as major parameters to apply. Since the weathered soil slopes are layered and stressed by overburden pressures, the response of SWCCs should account for its overburden pressure. To deal with this situation, in this study, laboratory testings were conducted to evaluate the SWCC under various overburden stress. In addition, the unsaturated shear strength was estimated using SWCC. Then the performance of unsaturated weathered soil slopes was evaluated under various conditions after applying the effect of overburden pressure on SWCCs. The results demonstrated that the effect of overburden pressure on SWCC could be substantial and the proper application to analysis is very important to enhance the prediction of slope stability.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.86 no.5
• /
• pp.673-686
• /
• 2023

Determining the properties of pile from cone penetration test (CPT) is costly, and need several in-situ tests. At the present study, two novel hybrid learning models, namely PSO-RF and HHO-RF, which are an amalgamation of random forest (RF) with particle swarm optimization (PSO) and Harris hawks optimization (HHO) were developed and applied to predict the pile set-up parameter "A" from CPT for the design aim of the projects. To forecast the "A," CPT data along were collected from different sites in Louisiana, where the selected variables as input were plasticity index (PI), undrained shear strength (S_u), and over consolidation ratio (OCR). Results show that both PSO-RF and HHO-RF models have acceptable performance in predicting the set-up parameter "A," with R² larger than 0.9094, representing the admissible correlation between observed and predicted values. HHO-RF has better proficiency than the PSO-RF model, with R² and RMSE equal to 0.9328 and 0.0292 for the training phase and 0.9729 and 0.024 for testing data, respectively. Moreover, PI and OBJ indices are considered, in which the HHO-RF model has lower results which leads to outperforming this hybrid algorithm with respect to PSO-RF for predicting the pile set-up parameter "A," consequently being specified as the proposed model. Therefore, the results demonstrate the ability of the HHO algorithm in determining the optimal value of RF hyperparameters than PSO.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.89 no.3
• /
• pp.253-263
• /
• 2024

Slope stability is generally paid more attention to in slope protection works, especially for slope containing weak layers. Two indexes of safety factor and failure model are selected to perform slope stability. Moreover, the finite element limit analysis method comprehensively combines the advantage of the limit analysis method and the finite element method obtaining the upper and lower bounds of the safety factor and the failure mode under the slope stability limit state. In this study, taking a waste dump containing a weak layer as an engineering background, the finite element limit analysis method is adopted to explore the potential failure mode. Meanwhile, the sensitivity analysis of slope stability is performed on geometrical and geotechnical parameters of the waste dump. The results show that the failure mode of the waste dump slope is two wedges if the weak layer is located on the ground surface (Model A), while the slope can be observed as three wedges failure if the weak layer is below the ground surface (Model B). In addition, both failure modes are highly sensitive to the friction angle of the weak layer and the shear strength of waste disposal, and moderately sensitive to the heap height, the dip angle and cohesion of the weak layer, while the toe cutting has limited effect on the slope stability. Moreover, the sensitivity to the excavation of the ground depends on the location of the weak layer and failure mode.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.15-23
• /
• 2012

An internal friction angle, which is one of strength parameters of granular soils, can be obtained from direct shear tests or triaxial tests. The result of traixial tests can be influenced by various experimental conditions such as confining pressure, shearing rate, specimen diameter and height, and end constraint. In this study, undrained and drained shearing behaviors of Nakdong River sand were investigated for loose (Dr = 40%) and dense (Dr = 80%) specimens with 5, 7, and 10 cm in diameter. Friction angles such as undrained total stress friction angle, undrained effective stress friction angle, and drained friction angle obtained from Mohr's stress circle slightly increased and then decreased as a diameter of a specimen increased from 5, 7 to 10 cm, regardless of relative densities. The difference between friction angles caused by different specimen size was at maximum 4.5 degrees for undrained total stress friction angle of dense specimen. In most cases, there was little difference between friction angles of large and small specimens, which was less than 2 degrees. The difference between an effective friction angle from undrained tests and a drained friction angle from drained tests was at maximum 7 degrees for loose samples but negligible for dense samples.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 2012

This paper mainly deals with the analysis of probabilistic characteristics of the disturbed function proposed to predict dynamic behavior of Geosynthetic-soil interface as the lining and cover systems used in waste landfills. Calibration and statistical property estimation of the parameters in the disturbed function model were first performed using many experimental data obtained from a new multi-purpose interface apparatus (M-PIA). In order to analyze the effect due to changes in chemical degradation and normal loads condition, probabilistic properties such as mean, coefficient of variation and distribution type of the disturbed function were evaluated using both the LHS method known to be a very efficient sampling scheme and the estimated statistical property of A and Z. As a result, variation of the disturbed function is found to range approximately from 10~28% according to the level of ${\xi}_D$ and Weibull appears to be the most adequate distribution type at almost all levels of ${\xi}_D$. It is concluded that a probabilistic safety assessment method for Geosynthetic-soil interface considering uncertainty in shear strength can be developed by utilizing probabilistic properties of the disturbed function obtained in this study.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.197-213
• /
• 2019

We simulated the fault reactivation experiment conducted at 'Main Fault' intersecting the low permeability clay formations of Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory in Switzerland using TOUGH-FLAC simulator. The fluid flow along a fault was modelled with solid elements and governed by Darcy's law with the cubic law in TOUGH2, whereas the mechanical behavior of a single fault was represented by creating interface elements between two separating rock blocks in FLAC3D. We formulate the hydro-mechanical coupling relation of hydraulic aperture to consider the elastic fracture opening and failure-induced dilation for reproducing the abrupt changes in injection flow rate and monitoring pressure at fracture opening pressure. A parametric study was conducted to examine the effects of in-situ stress condition and fault deformation and strength parameters and to find the optimal parameter set to reproduce the field observations. In the best matching simulation, the fracture opening pressure and variations of injection flow rate and monitoring pressure showed good agreement with field experiment results, which suggests the capability of the numerical model to reasonably capture the fracture opening and propagation process. The model overestimated the fault displacement in shear direction and the range of reactivated zone, which was attributed to the progressive shear failures along the fault at high injection pressure. In the field experiment results, however, fracture tensile opening seems the dominant mechanism affecting the hydraulic aperture increase.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.199-204
• /
• 2010

Members used for the Korean traditional joints have been processed by handicraft, especially with domestic red pine species. Dovetail joint is most commonly used in woodworking joinery and traditional horizontal and vertical connections. It is able to be processed much easier to cut by handicraft and machines. However, although it is processed straight forwards, it requires a high degree of accuracy to ensure a snug fit. Also, tenons and mortises must fit together with no gap between them so that the joint interlocks tightly. A few scientific studies on the dovetail joints have been conducted so far. For the effective applications of traditional joints and domestic plantation wood species, dovetail joints were assembled by larch glulam members processed by machine pre-cut. To identify the tensile properties of through dovetail joints, larch glulam with 150 150mm in cross section were prepared. Furthermore, various geometric parameters of dovetai joints such as width, length, and tenon angle, were surveyed. The ends in the mortise was cracked mainly at a low strength level in the control specimens without reinforcements. The maximum tensile strengths of reinforced specimens considering real connections such as capital joint and headpiece on a column, increasedby handicraft, especially with domestic red pine species. Dovetail joint is most commonly used in woodworking joinery and traditional horizontal and vertical connections. It is able to be processed much easier to cut by handicraft and machines. However, although it is processed straight forwards, it requires a high degree of accuracy to ensure a snug fit. Also, tenons and mortises must fit together with no gap between them so that the joint interlocks tightly. A few scientific studies on the dovetail joints have been conducted so far. For the effective applications of traditional joints and domestic plantation wood species, dovetail joints were assembled by larch glulam members processed by machine pre-cut. To identify the tensile properties of through dovetail joints, larch glulam with 150 150mm in cross section were prepared. Furthermore, various geometric parameters of dovetai joints such as width, length, and tenon angle, were surveyed. The ends in the mortise was cracked mainly at a low strength level in the control specimens without reinforcements. The maximum tensile strengths of reinforced specimens considering real connections such as capital joint and headpiece on a column, increased by two times with shear failures on the tenon than the control specimens. The maximum tensile strength was obtained in the specimen of 25 degrees, and no difference was observed in the changes of neck widths.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2010.05a
• /
• pp.39-40
• /
• 2010

The demands for longer span and reduction of story height have greatly increased as building structures become much larger and higher in recent years. Although the development of flexural members for reducing story height or making long span has been studied by many researchers and engineers, there is still a lack of efficient systems that meet these two demands simultaneously. This study aimed at developing a new composite beam system suitable for long span and reduction of story height, and proposed a prestressed composite beam with corrugated web. It has great resistance against non-symmetric construction load due to its strong out-of-plane shear strength with relatively small member height as well as good constructability and economic efficiency by removing/minimizing form work. The corrugated webs also make accordion effect introducing larger effective prestressing force to top and bottom flanges, which causes larger upward camber reducing the member deflection. Five full-scale specimens with key test parameters, which are web sectional shapes and number of drape points, were tested to understand their flexural behavior and to verify the performance of the proposed method. The experimental test results showed that the proposed prestressed composite beam had greater flexural strength and stiffness than the ordinary non-prestressed composite beam.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.20 no.8
• /
• pp.103-111
• /
• 2004

There are some problems in evaluating the bearing capacity of decomposed granite soils by general equations on account of their inherent compressibility and crushability. In order to investigate this kind of the engineering characteristics on decomposed granite soils in detail, it is necessary to how the micro property of the single particle composing the granite soils, and then the relevance to the macro characteristics of the soils has to be cleared. The reason why the single particle properties are not studied is first the difficulty to find out some regulating parameters, and secondly little understanding of its significance. Furthermore, the water in the decomposed granite soils accelerates the particle crushing. Consequently, increasing of compressibility and decreasing of shear strength would occur. Actually, when the ground settlement is a big issue in the embanked ground using the decomposed granite soils, the sensitive change of compressibility due to the change of water content in the ground becomes conspicuous. In this study, the single particle strength characteristics are studied and microscopic particle shape analyses are performed. In addition the compressibility of the decomposed granite soils and water content effect on the compressibility are analysed based on the test results.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 1988

Assuming that tidal level is constantly changed with an amplitude of 10 meters and a cycle of 12 hours, the slope stability for a typical dyke is analysed. The variation of pore water pressure within the dyke during the tidal change is obtained using a computer program, FLUMP, which is incorporated with saturated-unsaturated and transient flow. The results show that the variation of free water surface and distribution of pore water pressure within the dyke during the tidal fluctuations can be clearly predicted with the computer program. When a tide is lowered to the minimum level, the predicted pressure head is higher than the level of the free water surface in some parts of the dyke; that is, excess pore water pressure is generated in a zone affected by the tidal change. Also an unsaturated zone which shows negative pore water pressure is temporally created when a tide is lowered. The shear strength of the zone can be predicted based on the proposal suggested by Fredlund et al. It is emphasized that the excess pore water pressure generated during tidal fluctuations and strength parameters for the unsaturated zone should be considered in analyzing the slope stability of dykes. When those are considered, the critical slip surface seems to be located below the free water surface obtained when a tide is at the lowest.