• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1147-1159
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• 2018

This study focuses on the verification of a rapid protection automation system using an inflatable structure. The inflatable structure is an automatic rapid protection system against human and material damage when the subsea tunnel is flooded. Especially, it is essential for construction and operation of subsea tunnels. In this study, we have experimentally verified the rapid protection automation system using the inflatable structure designed for this problem. In order to verify this, a model tunnel with a 40: 1 reduction ratio was constructed, and air pressure of 0.1 bar and 0.15 bar was injected to divide the tunnel according to the expansion rate at 10 sec and 20 sec. According to the results of the study, the protection efficiency was better at 0.15 bar than 0.1 bar when the expansion structure was expanded, and the protection efficiency and influent control efficiency were different according to the pneumatic injection time of the inflating structure. As a result of this study, it was found that the higher the internal air pressure of the inflated structure and the faster the inflation of rate, the more effectively the inflated structure was inflated. As a result of this study, it is necessary to further study the wedge type structure which is useful for the storage method of expansion structure, shape and expansion derivative, inhibition of expansion structure during protection and control of inflow water.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.552-567
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• 2017

The floating crane vessel in waves gives rise to the motion of the lifted object which is connected to the hoisting wire. The dynamic tension induced by the lifted object also affects the motion responses of the floating crane vessel in return. In this study, coupled motion responses of a floating crane vessel and a lifted subsea manifold during deep-water installation operations were investigated by both experiments and numerical calculations. A series of model tests for the deep-water lifting operation were performed at Ocean Engineering Basin of KRISO. For the model test, the vessel with a crane control system and a typical subsea manifold were examined. To validate the experimental results, a frequency-domain motion analysis method is applied. The coupled motion equations of the crane vessel and the lifted object are solved in the frequency domain with an additional linear stiffness matrix due to the hoisting wire. The hydrodynamic coefficients of the lifted object, which is a significant factor to affect the coupled dynamics, are estimated based on the perforation value of the structure and the CFD results. The discussions were made on three main points. First, the motion characteristics of the lifted object as well as the crane vessel were studied by comparing the calculation results. Second, the dynamic tension of the hoisting wire were evaluated under the various wave conditions. Final discussion was made on the effect of passive heave compensator on the motion and tension responses.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.345-360
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• 2021

This paper presents an analytical approach to calculate the buckling load of the cylindrical ring structures subjected to both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressures. Based on the conservative law of energy and Timoshenko beam theory, a theoretical formula, which can be used to evaluate the critical pressure of buckling, is first derived for the simplified cylindrical ring structures. It is assumed that the hydrodynamic pressure can be treated as an equivalent hydrostatic pressure as a cosine function along the perimeter while the thickness ratio is limited to 0.2. Note that this paper limits the deformed shape of the cylindrical ring structures to an elliptical shape. The proposed analytical solutions are then compared with the numerical simulations. The critical pressure is evaluated in this study considering two possible failure modes: ultimate failure and buckling failure. The results show that the proposed analytical solutions can correctly predict the critical pressure for both failure modes. However, it is not recommended to be used when the hydrostatic pressure is low or medium (less than 80% of the critical pressure) as the analytical solutions underestimate the critical pressure especially when the ultimate failure mode occurs. This implies that the proposed solutions can still be used properly when the subsea vehicles are located in the deep parts of the ocean where the hydrostatic pressure is high. The finding will further help improve the geometric design of subsea vehicles against both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressures to enhance its strength and stability when it moves underwater. It will also help to control the speed of the subsea vehicles especially they move close to the sea bottom to prevent a catastrophic failure.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.109-117
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• 2016

This paper is focused on the determination of friction parameter which is a predominant factor in the design of inflatable structure system. This inflatable structure system is very valuably used to protect passively and rapidly the possibilities of tunnel damages by flooding threats and unusual leakage to be occurred during and after underground infrastructure construction. In particular, this system should be necessary in subsea tunnel. This study presents the experimental results obtained from the relative friction characteristics tests of the fabric materials that constitute the inflatable structure. In order to evaluate the relative friction behaviour of the inflatable structure system, friction tests and scaled model tunnel friction tests are carried out. The friction tests are carried out to determine the friction coefficient for different surface conditions between tunnel and inflatable structure. These friction coefficients are then evaluated and compared with the result obtained from the model tunnel friction tests. Interaction behaviours between tunnel and system are also reviewed and described in this study. The results clearly show that the friction coefficients derived from scaled model slippage tests are about 12% lower than values obtained from the friction tests. In addition, this study will be necessary to verify the real friction behaviour with prototype tests before applying in practice.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.161-177
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• 2017

This paper presents the design considerations and field applications on inflatable structure system to protect rapidly flooding damages in large section tunnel. This inflatable structure system is very valuably used to protect passively and rapidly the possibilities of tunnel damages by flooding threats and unusual leakage to be occurred during and after underground infrastructure. In particular, this system should be necessary in subsea tunnel. The predominant factors in the design of inflatable structure system are the leakage and friction characteristics between the inflater and tunnel liner. The analytical and experimental studies are performed to develop the design considerations and to examine the design parameters of the inflatable structure system. The analytical solutions are developed using membrane theory to suggest the design considerations. The relative friction tests of several fabric materials are also carried out to determine the friction characteristics according to the different friction conditions between inflater and tunnel surface. The test results show that the friction coefficients in wet surface condition are about 20% lower than the values in dry surface condition. In addition, virtual design of tunnel protection system for two virtual subsea tunnel sites which is under reviewing in Korea, is carried out based on this research. It is expected that the results of this research will be very useful to understand the inflater structure design and development the technology of tunnel protection structures in the future.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.583-603
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• 2023

Recently, the advancement of mechanical tunnel boring machine (TBM) technology and the characteristics of subsea railway tunnels subjected to hydrostatic pressure have led to the widespread application of shield TBM methods in the design and construction of subsea railway tunnels. Subsea railway tunnels are exposed in a constant pore water pressure and are influenced by the amplification of seismic waves during earthquake. In particular, seismic loads acting on subsea railway tunnels under various ground conditions such as soft ground, soft soil-rock composite ground, and fractured zones can cause significant changes in tunnel displacement and stress, thereby affecting tunnel safety. Additionally, the dynamic response of the ground and tunnel varies based on seismic load parameters such as frequency characteristics, seismic waveform, and peak acceleration, adding complexity to the behavior of the ground-tunnel structure system. In this study, a finite difference method is employed to model the entire ground-tunnel structure system, considering hydrostatic pressure, for the investigation of dynamic behavior of subsea railway tunnel during earthquake. Since the key factors influencing the dynamic behavior during seismic events are ground conditions and seismic waves, six analysis cases are established based on virtual ground conditions: Case-1 with weathered soil, Case-2 with hard rock, Case-3 with a composite ground of soil and hard rock in the tunnel longitudinal direction, Case-4 with the tunnel passing through a narrow fault zone, Case-5 with a composite ground of soft soil and hard rock in the tunnel longitudinal direction, and Case-6 with the tunnel passing through a wide fractured zone. As a result, horizontal displacements due to earthquakes tend to increase with an increase in ground stiffness, however, the displacements tend to be restrained due to the confining effects of the ground and the rigid shield segments. On the contrary, peak compressive stress of segment significantly increases with weaker ground stiffness and the effects of displacement restrain contribute the increase of peak compressive stress of segment.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2021.11a
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• pp.89-90
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• 2021

Undersea bases built in the deep sea are built in more extreme environments than in space. In addition, it requires the convergence of mechanics, electronics, shipbuilding, meteorology, and diving science, marine physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. Undersea base can be constructed through the fusion of various technologies. The development of extreme technology for undersea construction will be the most advanced technology in each field, and it will be applied to space and other fields, so it will be an opportunity to preempt the latest technology.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1061-1071
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• 2018

A subsea tunnel, being a super-sized underground structure must ensure safety at the time of earthquake, as well as at ordinary times. At the time of earthquake, in particular, of a subsea tunnel, a variety of response behaviors are induced owing to relative rigidity to the surrounding ground, or difference of displacement, so that the behavior characteristics can be hardly anticipated. The investigation aims to understand the behavior characteristics switched by earthquake of an imaginary subsea tunnel which passes through a fault zone having different physical properties from those of the surrounding ground. In order to achieve the aim, dynamic response behaviors of a subsea tunnel which passes through a fault zone were observed by means of indoor experiments. For the sake of improved earthquake resistance, a shape of subsea tunnel to which flexible segments have been applied was considered. Afterward, it is believed that a D/B can be established through 3-dimensional earthquake resistance interpretation of various grounds, on the basis of verified results from the experiments and interpretations under various conditions. The present investigation performed 1 g shaking table test in order to verify the result of 3-dimensional earthquake resistance interpretation. A model considering the similitude (1:100) of a scale-down model test was manufactured, and tests for three (3) Cases were carried out. Incident seismic wave was introduced by artificial seismic wave having both long-period and short-period earthquake properties in the horizontal direction which is rectangular to the processing direction of the tunnel, so that a fault zone was modeled. For numerical analysis, elastic modulus of the fault zone was assumed 1/5 value of the modulus of individual grounds surround the tunnel, in order to simulate a fault zone. Resultantly, reduced acceleration was confirmed with increase of physical properties of the fault zone, and the result from the shaking table test showed the same tendency as the result from 3-dimensional interpretation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2015

This study presents a 3-dimensional flow-structure interaction analysis of subsea risers in water flows. Two structural connectors (flat and circular couplers) were intentionally devised and numerically tested using ANSYS CFX to investigate how these couplers behave under the water flows. In the flow analysis, the water field was constructed with an inlet, outlet, and symmetric boundary conditions. As a result, the responses (drag coefficients and pressure fields) were obtained and the pressure fields were applied for the structural analysis. Finally, the structural responses (displacements and equivalent stresses) of the risers were measured to demonstrate the efficiency of the riser connectors.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.295-303
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• 2015

This paper presents the study of leakage effect due to multi-cell inflater of rapid protection system to protect the possibilities of tunnel damages by flooding threats and unusual leakage to be occurred during and after subsea tunnel construction. Particularly, this protect system should be necessary in subsea tunnel. This research concentrates the physical model tests due to several multi-cell inflater to study protection capacity of leakage between the inflater and tunnel liner. A 27:1 small scale model are used in the model tests. The leakage rate, water pressure and axial displacement of inflater are measured during the model tests. According to the results, the minium leakage rate clearly shows in the case of two-cell inflater compared with in other cases. It is concluded that the results of this research will be very useful to understand the fundamental information of inflater structure design and development the technology of tunnel protection structures in the future.