• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.357-371
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• 2023

In cable tunnel construction using TBM, the vertical shaft is an essential structure for entrance and exit of TBM equipment and power lines. Since a shaft penetrates the ground vertically, it often encounters rock mass. Blasting or rock splitting methods, which are mainly used to the rock excavation, cause public complaints due to the noise, vibration and road occupation. Therefore, mechanical excavation using vertical shaft excavation machine are considered as an alternative to the conventional methods. However, at the current level of technology, the vertical excavation machine has limitation in its performance when applied for high strength rock with a compressive strength of more than 120 MPa. In this study, the potential utilization of waterjet technology as an excavation assistance method was investigated to improve mechanical excavation performance in the hard rock formations. Rock cutting experiments were conducted to verify the cutting performance of the abrasive waterjet. Based on the experimental result, it was found that ensuring excavation performance with respect to changing in ground conditions can be achieved by adjusting waterjet parameters such as standoff distance, traverse speed and water pressure. In addition, based on the relationship between excavation performance, uniaxial compressive strength and RQD, it was suggested that excavation performance could be improved by artificially creating joints using the abrasive waterjet. It is expected that these research results can be utilized as fundamental data for the introduction of vertical shaft excavation machines in the future.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.39-58
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• 2024

Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) use multiple disc cutters to excavate tunnels through rock. These cutters wear out due to continuous contact and friction with the rock, leading to decreased cutting efficiency and reduced excavation performance. The rock's abrasivity significantly affects cutter wear, with highly abrasive rocks causing more wear and reducing the cutter's lifespan. The Cerchar Abrasivity Index (CAI) is a key indicator for assessing rock abrasivity, essential for predicting disc cutter life and performance. This study aims to develop a new method for effectively estimating CAI using rock strength, petrological characteristics, linear regression, and machine learning. A database including CAI, uniaxial compressive strength, Brazilian tensile strength, and equivalent quartz content was created, with additional derived variables. Variables for multiple linear regression were selected considering statistical significance and multicollinearity, while machine learning model inputs were chosen based on variable importance. Among the machine learning prediction models, the Gradient Boosting model showed the highest predictive performance. Finally, the predictive performance of the multiple linear regression analysis and the Gradient Boosting model derived in this study were compared with the CAI prediction models of previous studies to validate the results of this research.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.305-313
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• 2020

The use of cable tunnels for electric power transmission as well as their construction in difficult conditions such as in subsea terrains and large overburden areas has increased. So, in order to efficiently operate the small diameter shield TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), the estimation of advance rate and development of a design model is necessary. However, due to limited scope of survey and face mapping, it is very difficult to match the rock mass characteristics and TBM operational data in order to achieve their mutual relationships and to develop an advance rate model. Also, the working mechanism of previously utilized linear cutting machine is slightly different than the real excavation mechanism owing to the penetration of a number of disc cutters taking place at the same time in the rock mass in conjunction with rotation of the cutterhead. So, in order to suggest the advance rate and machine design models for small diameter TBMs, an EPB (Earth Pressure Balance) shield TBM having 3.54 m diameter cutterhead was manufactured and 19 cases of full-scale tunneling tests were performed each in 87.5 ㎥ volume of artificial rock mass. The relationships between advance rate and machine data were effectively analyzed by performing the tests in homogeneous rock mass with 70 MPa uniaxial compressive strength according to the TBM operational parameters such as thrust force and RPM of cutterhead. The utilization of the recorded penetration depth and torque values in the development of models is more accurate and realistic since they were derived through real excavation mechanism. The relationships between normal force on single disc cutter and penetration depth as well as between normal force and rolling force were suggested in this study. The prediction of advance rate and design of TBM can be performed in rock mass having 70 MPa strength using these relationships. An effort was made to improve the application of the developed model by applying the FPI (Field Penetration Index) concept which can overcome the limitation of 100% RQD (Rock Quality Designation) in artificial rock mass.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.423-446
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• 2023

Shield TBM tunnel linings are segmented into segments and rings. This study investigates the response characteristics of the stress and displacement of the segment lining under seismic waves through modeling that considers the interface behavior between segments by applying a shell interface element to the contact surface between segments and rings. And there is no management criteria for ovaling deformation of segment linings in Korea. So, this study the ovality criteria and meaning of segment lining. The results of study showed that the distribution patterns of stress and displacement under seismic waves were similar between continuous linings and segment linings. However, the maximum values of stress and displacement showed differences from segment linings. The stress distribution of the continuous lining modeled as a shell type has a stress distribution that has continuity in the 3D cylindrical shape, but the segment lining is concentrated outside the segment, and the largest stress occurs at the location where the contact surface between the segment and the ring is concentrated. This intermittent and localized stress distribution shows an increasing as the ovality of the lining increases at seismic waves. The ovality at which the increase in stress distribution begins to show irregularity and localization is about 150‰. Ovality of 150‰ is an unrealistic value that cannot represent actual lining deformation. Therefore, the ovality of the segment lining increase with depth, but it does not have a significant impact on the stability caused by seismic load.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1998.10b
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• pp.871-876
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• 1998

The SHOT PATCH System Remitar is a mortar shotcreting system which used fairly small machine and equipment, and is applied for shortcrete tunnel linings, in particular for small bore tunnels of aqueducts by the TBM(Tunnel Boring Machine) method, and for repairing tunnels suffering from spring water and deterioration. This study shows the characteristics of the new mortar shotcreting system, the SHOT PATCH System Remitar, which exhibits excellent shotcrete performance.

• 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.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.196-206
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• 2003

In order to investigate the workability of Raise Boring Machine(RBM) such as utilization, penetration rate and advance rate, a vertical shaft of 98 m in length and 3.05 m in diameter was constructed in the layer of conglomerate by using the RBM in this study. In addition, field data from tow different construction sites including water-pump power plant tunnel, roadway tunnel and mining tunnel by RBM were collected and analyzed. The results show that the average weekly bored length is 19.3 m and its average utilization is between 54.3 % and 75.1 % very higher than that of the TBM(Tunnel Boring Machine). It also turns out that the bit force increases linearly with respect to the increase of the RPM(revolution per minute) of RBM. However, the net penetration rate decreases with the increase of bit force, RPM of RBM and depth of shaft. The findings of this study can be used to provide the useful information for the design of shaft and the selection of RBM.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.59-79
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• 2006

The successful execution of shield tunnelling depends on the cutting ability of cutter. So the selection of shape, size and material of cutter according to geology condition is important work. Since shield tunnelling method was first invented in 1881, the cutting tool for rock has been developed owing to various experiments and researches, the study for soil, however, is insufficient. This paper introduces the shield tunnelling that will be carried out on weathered rock section (920m) of Seoul Subway Line 7 Extension C703. The shape and the material of cutter are discussed required for execution without replacement of cutter tool as well as for advance of excavation efficiency. In addition the estimation method of cutter abrasion in case of excavation on weathered soil is proposed and verified. Specially, the coefficient of abrasion for different soil and cutter is proposed by means of investigation into construction example of foreign country.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.199-209
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• 2021

Alternative methods of rock cutting have been introduced to substitute and to improve the traditional mechanical rock excavation methods (e.g., TBM and roadheader). Undercutting methods have been recently studied in some countries. In undercutting, several additional cutting parameters are involved in its cutting process compared to the traditional rock-cutting. As a fundamental study, this paper introduces the concept of undercutting method with actuated disc, lab-scaled testing system, and testing procedures of undercutting by the system. Also, we present the calculation methods of cutter forces and specific energy, and discuss the results of undercutting tests compared to those of traditional rock-cutting methods.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.99-118
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• 2018

Recently, the limit state design method in the design of the structure is in global trend, but it is limited to a few structures in Korea. Since the introduction of the limit state design method has recently been attempted for tunnels, which are the main underground structures, it is surely necessary to understand the latest limit state design method. Therefore, based on the recently published AASHTO LRFD Road Tunnel Design and Construction Guide Specification (2017), structural load factors and load combinations were reviewed, and various factors which should be applied for the review of structures have been analyzed. In this study, utility tunnel section and subway tunnel sections used in Korea were analyzed by the limit state design method, and we have analyzed the direction of application of limit state design method through studying the tendency of member force by various influential factors such as ground conditions, load modifier and joint stiffness.