• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.83-94
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• 2023

Unlike the conventional triaxial test cells for cylindrical specimens, which impose uniform lateral confining pressures, the GREAT (Geo-Reservoir Experimental Analogue Technology) cell can exert differential radial stresses using eight independently-controlled pairs of lateral loading elements and thereby generate horizontal stress fields with various magnitudes and orientations. In the preceding companion paper, GREAT cell tests were numerically simulated under different mechanical loading conditions and the validity of the numerical model was investigated by comparing experimental and numerical results for circumferential strain. In the present study, we simulated GREAT cell tests for an artificial sample containing a fracture under both mechanical loading and fluid flow conditions. The numerical simulation was carried out by varying the mechanical properties of the fracture surface, which were unknown. The numerical responses (circumferential strains) of the sample were compared with experimental data and a good match was found between the numerical and experimental results under certain mechanical conditions of the fracture surface. Additionally, the effect of fluid flow conditions on the mechanical behavior of the sample was investigated and discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2008

It has been recognized that the behaviour of unsaturated soil plays an important role in geomechanics. However, up to now, only a few experimental data are available for the technical difficulties related to both volume changes and suction measurements. In this study, the volume changes of unsaturated compacted silty soil were monitored with proximeter during various triaxial compression tests, which gave a realistic estimation in the volume changes of unsaturated soil sample. From the test results, the behaviours of wetting-induced collapses are observed during the drainage/water absorption tests. Under exhausted-drained conditions during shearing, the shear strength increases with an increasing initial suction. On the other hand, the volume changes become small with an increase in the initial suction. And, the volumetric strain during shearing is independent of the confining pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.387-395
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• 2003

Model tests were conducted to study the behavior of the piled raft foundation system on sands. Especially in this study, the method using the triaxial compression apparatus was devised and used to apply the confining pressure which is considered difficult in the existing model test on the soil. Steel rods (6mm dia.) and aluminum plates (8mm thickness, 50mm dia.) were used to simulate piles and rafts respectively. Jumunjin standard sands were used to ensure the homogeneity of the sample. After the sample with the piled raft model was laid inside the triaxial cell, the confining pressure was applied and then the compressive force was applied. The increase and/or decrease ratio of the bearing capacity, the load distribution ratio between raft and piles and the effect of settlements decrease depending on the confining pressure, the number of piles and the length of piles were analyzed and the bearing capacity and skin friction of the pile was calculated. By the results of these experiments, the bearing capacity increased and the settlement decreased with this piled raft foundation system. Especially the effect was larger with the increase of the number of piles than with the increase of length of piles. Hereafter, the study of the load transfer mechanism of piles under confining pressure would be made possible using these small model tester like triaxial compression apparatus.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.15-21
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• 2003

A series of triaxial compression tests were performed on samples of compacted granite soil in a modified triaxial cell that allowed separate control of pore air pressure ($U_a$) and pore water pressure ($U_w$) in order to examine the characteristics of pore pressure, volume change and stress-strain behavior during undrained loading conditions. Triaxial samples of unsaturated and saturated compacted granite soil, 50mm in diameter and 100mm in height, were prepared by compaction in a mould. These samples were tested at 3 different suction values (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 kgf/cm$^2$) for unsaturated compacted granite soil and at 3 different confining stresses (1.0, 2.0, 4.0 kgf/cm$^2$). Results showed that only effective cohesion increased with little variation of friction angle, according to matric suction.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.599-608
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• 2018

This study investigates the feasibility of adopting the results of the UC (unconfined compression) test to assess the total cohesion of the unsaturated soil. A series of laboratory tests were conducted on samples of unsaturated lateritic soils of northern Taiwan. Specifically, the unconfined compression test was combined with the pressure plate test to obtain the unconfined compression strength and its matric suction of the samples. Soil samples were first compacted at designated water content and then subjected to the wetting process for saturation and the subsequent drying process to its target suction using the apparatus developed by the authors. The correlations among the matric suction, the unconfined compression strength and the total cohesion were studied. As a result, a simplified method to estimate the total cohesion using the unconfined compressive strength is suggested. The calculated results compare reasonably with the unsaturated triaxial test results. Current results show good performance; however, further study is warranted.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.74-83
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• 1994

A series of isotropic consolidation tests, undrained and drained triaxial compression tests was carried out to investigate the physical characteristics and behaviours of marine silty sands collected from the western coast of Korea. This study also included a theoretical development of the constitutive equation to evaluate stress-strain relationship and volume change of silty sands. The results and main conclusions of the study are summarized as follows; 1. Isotropic compression and swelling index are linearly decreased with an increase in relative density. 2. Both undrained shear strengh and elastic modulus are increased with an increase in relative density and confining pressure. 3. Internal friction angles obtained from drained and undrained compression tests of the soils are proportional to relative density. 4. The phenomenon of dilatancy of each sample is less profound when confining stress is increased but more profound when relative density is increased. 5. The slope of critical state lines is 1.78 for Saemangum, 1.70 for Siewha and 1.26 for Sukmoon sands. 6. In this study, Drucker-Praper type criterion is used and hardening function of Cap model is modified by hyperbolic fuction. This will improve a lack of physical meaning of hardening parameters in conventional Cap model. 7. A newly developed constitutive equation to the forementioned silty sands and checked its applicability. This is in good agreement with the measured data.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.69-78
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• 2022

Geotextile tubes are widely used to prevent erosion in coastal areas and to replace the backfill for shore slopes in the reclamation of land using dredged soil. In this study, The triaxial confining pressures were chosen as 10kPa, 50kPa, or 100kPa for the specimens reinforced with geotextile considering the condition in the site. The strain behavior under various compressive stresses was then identified. At strains 0% to 7%, the stress-strain behavior was the same due to the effect of initial strain hardening, in which the force was exerted according to the relaxation of the geotextile regardless of the confining pressure (≤100kPa). At strains of 7% or more, the specimen with the small confining pressure had smaller deformation under load, which increases the tensile resistance provided by the reinforcing geotextile. Brittle fracture was then observed due to strain softening and the deviator stress abruptly decreased. This is different from the phenomenon in which the shear strength increases as the confining pressure increases in general triaxial compression tests. In the geoxtile-confined tests, geotextiles are primarily subjected to tensile displacement. Thereafter, the modulus of elasticity increases rapidly, which exhibits the elastic behavior of the geotextile.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.673-680
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• 2002

The mechanical characteristics and compressibility of Light-Weighted Foam Soil (LWFS) are investigated. LWFS is composed of the dredged soil from offshore, cement and foam to reduce the unit-weight and increase compressive strength. For this purpose, the unconfined compression tests and triaxial compression tests are carried out on the prepared specimens of LWFS with various conditions such as initial water contents, cement contents, and confining stresses. The test results of LWFS indicated that the stress-strain relationship and the compressive strength are strongly influenced by the cement contents rather than the intial water contents of the dredged soils. In this study, the normalized factor considering the ratio of initial water contents, cement contents, and foam contents is suggested to evaluate the relationship between compressive strength and normalized factor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.1181-1192
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• 2008

A laboratory investigation was carried out into effects of strain rate on undrained shear behavior of Holocene clay underneath Kobe Airport with an objective to evaluate the factor of safety of the retaining structure built on it. It was examined in a series of triaxial compression and extension tests performed using different rate of axial straining. A comparative compression test in which the strain rate was changed in steps was also carried out. Similar tests were performed in constant-volume direct shear box (DSB) test. And, the deformation characteristics of the clay were also examined in order to evaluate the variation of stiffness during undrained shearing. It was found that the undrained strength increased with not only the shear rate but also the consolidation period. ISOTACH properties seemed a key to govern the undrained shear behavior.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.31-38
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• 2012

Water glass chemical grouts are primarily used in ground injection projects. Natural and Durable Stabilizer (NDS), Space Grout Rocket (SGR), and other similar materials composing of inorganic accelerating agents with ultra fine cement have been gaining popularity as ground improvement material in South Korea. However, there are questions as to grouting results and environmental issues caused by NDS grout. This study uses the injection method in mudstone embarkment to evaluate the differences in strength, permeability, and optimum injection volume through the use of uniaxial and triaxial compression tests and fish poison tests for NDS and SGR materials. After 28 days, results showed SGR and NDS to have a 50% increase in strength and 50% decrease in permeability with the proper injection rate at 50%.