• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.95-108
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• 2023

Soft soil ground is a crucial factor limiting the development of the construction of transportation infrastructure in coastal areas. Soft soil is characterized by low strength, low permeability and high compressibility. However, the ordinary treatment method uses Portland cement to solidify the soft soil, which has low early strength and requires a long curing time. Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an emerging method to address geo-environmental problems associated with geotechnical materials. In this study, a method of bio-cementitious mortars consisting of MICP and cement was proposed to stabilize the soft soil. A series of laboratory tests were conducted on MICP-treated and cement-MICP-treated (C-MICP-treated) soft soils to improve mechanical properties. Microscale observations were also undertaken to reveal the underlying mechanism of cement-soil treated by MICP. The results showed that cohesion and internal friction angles of MICP-treated soft soil were greater than those of remolded soft soil. The UCS, elastic modulus and toughness of C-MICP-treated soft soil with high moisture content (50%, 60%, 70%, 80%) were improved compared to traditional cement-soil. A remarkable difference was observed that the MICP process mainly played a role in the early curing stage (i.e., within 14 days) while cement hydration continued during the whole process. Micro-characterization revealed that the calcium carbonate filling the pores enhanced the soft soil.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.793-806
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• 2016

The pozzolanic characteristics of a sludge incinerated into ash were determined in this study. Lime is commonly used as a stabilizer for the treatment of soils, whereas sewage sludge ash (SSA) is often applied with lime to improve soft subgrade soil. In this study, a cohesive soil categorized as A-4 (low-plasticity clay) by AASHTO classifications was mixed with SSA/lime with a 3:1 ratio. Nano-$SiO_2$ was also added to the soil. To identify changes in the workability, strength, permeability, and shear strength of the soft subgrade soil, basic soil tests were conducted, and the microstructure of the treated soil was analyzed. The results indicate that SSA/lime mixtures improve the properties of soft subgrade soil and transform the soil from "poor subgrade soil" to "good to excellent subgrade soil" with a CBR > 8. Additionally, the addition of 2% nano-$SiO_2$ increases the unconfined compressive strength of soft subgrade soil treated with SSA/lime mixture by approximately 17 kPa. However, the swelling of the treated soil increased by approximately 0.1% after the addition of nano-$SiO_2$ and lime. Thus, soil swelling should be considered before lime and nano-$SiO_2$ are applied to soft subgrade soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09a
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• pp.940-950
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• 2010

In case of uneven surcharge like backfill or embankment after constructing caisson applied on the deep soft marine deposits, lateral deformation of soft soils would happen due to plastic deformation of soil particles by increase of excess pore water pressure. Lateral deformation of soil will result in the caisson displacement which affects soft soil-caisson structure safety. Soft soil was improved by soil compaction pile method, and then gravity caisson was installed. Soil deformations were monitored and analyzed with step by step backfill and embankment behind the caisson. Amount and speed of lateral deformation after the installation of caissons were closely related with the time of backfill and embankment. The relationship between maximum lateral displacement($\Delta_y$) in front of caisson and settlement($\Delta_s$) can be expressed as $\Delta_y=(0.0871)\Delta_s+122.95$. Soft soil depth did not affect the lateral displacement of caisson in this study, which can be explained the soft soil improvement under the caisson by S.C.P. method. Substantially the amount and speed of the lateral deformation of caisson were closely related with the uneven surcharging rate behind caisson.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.281-302
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• 2010

An extended model for the response of a rigid footing on a reinforced foundation bed on super soft soil is proposed by incorporating the rough membrane element into the granular bed. The super soft soil, the granular bed and the reinforcement are modeled as non-linear Winkler springs, non-linear Pasternak layer and rough membrane respectively. The hyperbolic stress-displacement response of the super soft soil and the hyperbolic shear stress-shear strain response of the granular fill are considered. The finite deformation theory is used since large settlements are expected to develop due to deformation of the super-soft soil. Parametric studies quantify the effect of each parameter on the stress-settlement response of the reinforced foundation bed, the settlement and tension profiles.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.505-516
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• 2020

In recent years, Nano-technology significantly invaded the field of Geotechnical engineering, particularly in soil stabilisation techniques. Stabilisation of weak soil is envisioned to modify various soil characteristics by the addition of natural or synthetic materials into the virgin soil. In the present study, laboratory experiments were executed to investigate the influence of nano-silica particles in the consistency limits, compressive strength of the soft clay blended with cement. The results revealed that the high compressibility behaviour of soft clay modified to medium-stiff condition with fewer dosages of cement and nano-silica. The mechanism behind the strength development is verified with the previous researches as well as from Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction test (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. Based on the results, the presence of nano-silica in soft clay blended with cement has a positive effect on the behaviour of soil. This technique proves to be very economical and less detrimental to the environment.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 1977

This experiment was conducted in order to find out the drawing performance of a two-wheel tractor under different levels of the soil moisture and hardness, so as to obtain some basic data for improving their drawing performance. With fairly homogeneous soil, 5 levels of soil moisture contents (8, 13, 17, 20 and 23%) and 3 levels of soil hardness (0 , 2 and 4kg/$cm^2$) were selected for this experiment.The summerized results are as follows ;1. The draft force, on the hard soil (hardness ; 4kg/$cm^2$), had a distinct tendency to decrease with the increasing soil moisture. On the medium soil (hardness ; 2 kg/$cm^2$), and the soft soil (hardness ; 0kg$cm^2$), the draft force showed the highest when the moisture contents were within the range of 16-19%.But the maximum draft force, on the soft soil, was higher than that on the medium soil by 10 %. 2. The driving axle torque increased with increasing soil by 10 %. 3.The values of horizontal distance between the soil reaction point and axle shaft were within the range of 0~10cm , and it had the tendency to increase with the increasing soil moisture. Also, it s value was the largest on the hard soil and the smallest on the soft soil. 4.The tractive efficiency decreased with the increasing soil moisture. On the hard soil, the average value of tractive efficiency was higher than that on the medium soil by 19.0% and that on the soft soil was lower than that on the medium soil. 5.The traction ratio were within the range of 30 ~45%, and their changing tendency with respect to the soil moisture was similar to that in the case of the draft force. 6. The travel resistance ratio tended to increased with increasing soil moisture, and the highest value was found on the soft soil, and the lowest on the hard soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.553-560
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• 2002

The improvement effect of soft ground is estimated by unconfined strength mainly. The unconfined strength of solidification agent treated soil is likely to vary with ununiformed mixing ratio and water content change of in-situ ground place by place. So, it is unreasonable to apply a solidification agent mixing ratio obtained from laboratory test results on all over the soft ground. In this study, it was analysed how the unconfined strength would be effected by the water content of soft ground. For this study, a series of unconfined compressive tests are peformed on various water content soil samples. The test results showed that the strength was fallen to 30∼80% by two times increase of water content approximately, This means that strength of solidification agent treated soil is influenced greatly by water content of raw soft ground and mixing ratio of solidification agent. It was suggested that the method how to decide the mixing ratio with soft ground water content.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.09a
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• pp.61-69
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• 2000

It is not easy to find a good soil condition due to the shortage of suitable land for construction work. The earth structure and buildings can be constructed over the soft soil. The soft soil must be treated either using the reinforcement element or dewatering. Most of land reclamation projects are being implemented along the south coast or west coast of the Korean Peninsula. The soils in these areas are covered with the soft marine clay, so soil and site improvement is the most important things to do. Pile foundation at the bottom of embankment can be constructed either in the soft ground or in the soil contaminated area. The purpose of this research is to develop "geogrid-reinforced piled embankment method" to prevent the differential settlement and increase the bearing capacity of soil. In this study, the effectiveness of the geogrid-reinforcement was studied by varying the space between piles and reinforcement conditions. Also, the geotechnical engineering properties of the embankment material and foundation soil were determined through the laboratory tests as well as the field tests. As a result, the site that the pile-spacing S = 3b with geogrid reinforcement is the most effective to reduce the differential settlement and increase load bearing capacity.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.13-22
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• 2018

The southwestern part of Korean Peninsula, which length is about 13,000 km, is largely formed with soft cohesive soil ground and when it is developed, the low bearing capacity and excessive settlement of soft ground give many problems. In particular, a lot of clayey soil is deserted due to high moisture content and weakness, and areas formed with soft ground. In this study it was performed unconfined compression test, CBR tests, laboratory frost heaving test, and wheel tracking test in order to determine the optimum mixture ratio of paper sludge ash added chemical stabilizer with soft soil for consideration of its frost heaving and strength characteristics. As a results of the above experiments, when the soft soil is mixed with 6% of chemical stabilizer to improve the soft soil for utilizing as a subgrade soil material. It is satisfied the quality standard of fill materials, and the results of this research are expected to be used as an appropriate usage standard for utilization of on-site soil generated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.672-679
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• 2008

During recent years, the large soft ground improvements very rapidly increase with industrial development and it is the types and scales of structure that is enlarged by degree. Then, we must enter construct equipment to improve soft ground and we fulfilled works by carrying out soft clay soil to gain trafficability for them. For improving the soft ground, we lay geotextile on soft clay ground and fill the filter sand that can drain the pore water. Then, we landfill cover soil for come by trafficability of construction tools. Ater that we penetrate vertical drain for dehydration through soft ground. there are very complicated works. For these reason we suggest the methods of soft ground improvement constructions.