• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1059-1075
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate the freezing and thawing resistance of the existing drainage system for leakage treatment of underground concrete structures operating in cold regions. The freezing and thawing test was conducted on 4 types of drainage system specimens to evaluate the freezing and thawing resistance of the drainage system. The freezing and thawing resistance was evaluated on 4 types of Hotty-gel, as a waterproofing material, connection methods and on two methods to fix the drainage board with Hotty-gel on the surface of cement concrete specimen. One cycle of the freeze-thaw testing was 48 hours (24 hours of freezing and 24 hours of thawing), and the temperatures of freezing and thawing were at $-18^{\circ}C$ and $10^{\circ}C$, respectively. Among the 4 types of Hotty-gel connection methods, leakage occurred after 28 cycles (8 weeks) of freeze-thawing only in the Hotty-gel connection method with the 'V' groove applied to the corner of the drainage board. No leakage occurred in the 3 types of Hotty-gel connection methods. In two fixing methods, leakage occurred in the method of fixing the drainage board on the cement concrete specimen using the washer, screw and plastic wall plug. Leakage occurred at one point after 10 cycles (3 weeks) of freezing and thawing. After 28 cycles (8 weeks) of freezing and thawing, leakage point increased to 5 points. As time passed, the leak point was not increased, but the amount of leakage was increased at each leak point. The Hotty-gel connection method with cross-sectional diagonal shape was evaluated to be the highest in the production efficiency considering the production time and manufacturing method of the Hotty-gel connection shape. In the construction efficiency considering the construction time and construction method, the fixing method of air nailer, fixed nail and washer was superior to that of the washer, screw and plastic wall plug.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.451-464
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• 2022

The high-level nuclear waste repository is a deep geological disposal system exposed to complex environmental conditions such as high temperature, radiation, and ground-water due to handling spent nuclear fuel. Continuous exposure can lead to cracking and deterioration of the structure over time. On the other hand, the high-level nuclear waste repository requires an ultra-long life expectancy. Thus long-term structural health monitoring is essential. Various sensors such as an accelerometer, earth pressure gauge, and displacement meter can be used to monitor the health of a structure, and a piezoelectric sensor is generally used. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a highly durable sensor based on the durability assessment of the piezoelectric sensor. This study designed an accelerated life test for durability assessment and life prediction of the piezoelectric sensor. Based on the literature review, the number of accelerated stress levels for a single stress factor, and the number of samples for each level were selected. The failure mode and mechanism of the piezoelectric sensor that can occur in the environmental conditions of the high-level waste repository were analyzed. In addition, two methods were proposed to investigate the maximum harsh condition for the temperature stress factor. The reliable operating limit of the piezoelectric sensor was derived, and a reasonable accelerated stress level was set for the accelerated life test. The suggested methods contain economical and practical ideas and can be widely used in designing accelerated life tests of piezoelectric sensors.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.617-628
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• 2022

A ground support pattern should be designed by properly integrating various support materials in accordance with the rock mass grade when constructing a tunnel, and a technical decision must be made in this process by professionals with vast construction experiences. However, designing supports at the early stage of tunnel design, such as feasibility study or basic design, may be very challenging due to the short timeline, insufficient budget, and deficiency of field data. Meanwhile, the design of the support pattern can be performed more quickly and reliably by utilizing the machine learning technique and the accumulated design data with the rapid increase in tunnel construction in South Korea. Therefore, in this study, the design data and ground exploration data of 48 road tunnels in South Korea were inspected, and data about 19 items, including eight input items (rock type, resistivity, depth, tunnel length, safety index by tunnel length, safety index by rick index, tunnel type, tunnel area) and 11 output items (rock mass grade, two items for shotcrete, three items for rock bolt, three items for steel support, two items for concrete lining), were collected to automatically determine the rock mass class and the support pattern. Three machine learning models (S1, A1, A2) were developed using two machine learning algorithms (SVR, ANN) and organized data. As a result, the A2 model, which applied different loss functions according to the output data format, showed the best performance. This study confirms the potential of support pattern design using machine learning, and it is expected that it will be able to improve the design model by continuously using the model in the actual design, compensating for its shortcomings, and improving its usability.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.233-252
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• 2021

This paper is a study to improve the efficiency of mixing technology in the shield TBM chamber. Currently, the number of construction cases using the TBM method is increasing in Korea. According to the increasing use of TBM method, research on TBM method such as Disc Cutter, Cutter bit, and Segment also shows an increasing trend. However, there is little research on the mixing efficiency in chamber and chamber. In order to improve the smooth soil treatment and the behavior of the excavated soil, a study was conducted on the change of the mixing efficiency according to the effective mixing bar arrangement in the chamber. In the scale model experiment, the ground was composed using plastic materials of different colors for ease of identification. In addition, the mixing bar arrangement was different and classified into 4 cases, and the particle size distribution was classified into single particle size and multiple particle size, and the experiment was conducted with a total of 8 cases. The rotation speed of the cutter head of all cases was the same as 5 RPM, and the experiment time was also carried out in the same condition, 1 minute and 30 seconds. In order to check the mixing efficiency, samples at the upper, middle (left or right), and lower positions of each case were collected and analyzed. As a result of the scaled-down model experiment, the mixing efficiency of Case 4 and Case 4-1 increased compared to Case 1 and Case 1-1, which are actually used. Accordingly, it is expected that the mixing efficiency can be increased by changing the arrangement of the mixing bar in the chamber, and it is considered to be effective in saving air as the mixing efficiency increases. Therefore, this study is considered to be an important indicator for the use of shield TBM in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.479-499
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• 2019

State assessment of an operational tunnel is usually done by performing visual inspection and durability tests by following the detailed guideline for safety inspection (SI) and/ or precision inspection for safety and diagnosis (PISD). In this study, 12 NATM tunnels, which have been operational for more than 10 years, were inspected to figure out the cause of longitudinal cracks for the purpose of modifying the scoring items in the state assessment NATM tunnel related to the longitudinal crack and the thickness of concrete lining. All investigated tunnels were classified into four groups depending on the shape and usage of each tunnel. The causes of longitudinal crack occurrence were analyzed by investigating the correlations between the longitudinal crack and the following four factors: the patterns of ground excavation; construction state of primary support system; characteristics of material properties of the concrete lining; and thickness of lining which was obtained by Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) tests. It was found that influencing factors causing longitudinal cracks in the lining were closely related with the construction condition of the primary support system, i.e. shotcrete, rockbolt, and steel-rib; crack occurrences were not much affected by the excavation patterns. As for the properties of concrete lining materials, occurrence of the longitudinal crack was mostly affected by the following three items: w/c ratio; contents of cement; and strength of lining. When estimating the lining thickness of the concrete lining by GPR tests and taking thickness effect into account in the statement assessment, it was concluded that increase of the index score by an average of 0.03 (ranging from 0.01 up to 0.071) is needed; a more realistic way of state assessment should be proposed in which the increased index score caused by lack of lining thickness should be taken into account.

• 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 Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1125-1146
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• 2018

Segment lining applied to the TBM tunnel is mainly made of concrete, and it requires sufficient structural capacity to resist loads received during the construction and also after the completion. When segment lining is design to the Limit State Design, both Ultimate Limit State (ULS) and Service Limit State (SLS) should be met for the possible load cases that covers both permanent and temporary load cases - such as load applied by TBM. When design segment lining, it is important to check structural capacity at the joints as both temporary and permanent loads are always transferred through the segment joints, and sometimes the load applied to the joint is high enough to damage the segment - so called bursting failure. According to the various design guides from UK (PAS 8810, 2016), compression stress at the joint surface can generate bursting failure of the segment. This is normally from the TBM's jacking force applied at the circumferential joint, and the lining's hoop thrust generated from the permanent loads applied at the radial joint. Therefore, precast concrete segment lining's joints shall be designed to have sufficient structural capacity to resist bursting stresses generated by the TBM's jacking force and by the hoop thrust. In this study, bursting stress at the segment joints are calculated, and the joint's structural capacity was assessed using Leonhardt (1964) and FEM analysis for three different design cases. For those three analysis cases, hoop thrust at the radial joint was calculated with the application of the most widely used limit state design codes Eurocode and AASHTO LRFD (2017). For the circumferential joints bursting design, an assumed TBM jack force was used with considering of the construction tolerance of the segments and the eccentricity of the jack's position. The analysis results show reinforcement is needed as joint bursting stresses exceeds the allowable tensile strength of concrete. This highlights that joint bursting check shall be considered as a mandatory design item in the limit state design of the segment lining.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.899-915
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• 2018

In this study, in order to construct an eco-friendly advanced road transportation network, the multi-layer tunnel, which is a small-sized car road, is designed to have a height of less than 60 cm. However, the shape of the tunnel is low and the height of the traffic sign is small. In order to solve these problems, traffic sign characters were designed in three dimensions, and the possibility of applying the design of the three - dimensional sign that can obtain greater visibility than the existing signs at the same distance and the possibility verification through virtual simulation were performed. The three-dimensional sign is horizontally installed on the ceiling of the multi-layer tunnel. To be seen vertically, it is enlarged by a certain ratio by the perspective, and the width and height are enlarged. Respectively. In addition, 3D simulation was performed to verify the visibility of the stereoscopic signs when the driver ran through the stereoscopic sign design specifications. As a result of the design and experimental study, it was confirmed that the stereoscopic sign could be designed through the theoretical formula and that it could provide the driver with a larger traffic sign character because there is no limitation of the facility limit compared to the existing vertical traffic sign. Also, we confirmed that it can be implemented in the side wall by using the stereoscopic sign design principle installed on the ceiling part. It was confirmed that the design of the stereoscopic sign can be designed to be smaller as the distance that the driver visually recognizes the sperm is shorter, the height of the protrusion vertically at the lower part of the stereoscopic sign becomes higher. As a result of 3D simulation running experiment based on the design information of the stereoscopic sign, it was confirmed that the stereoscopic sign is visually the same as the vertical sign at the planned distance. Although the detailed research and institutional improvement of stereoscopic signs have not been made in Korea and abroad, it is evolved into a core technology of new road traffic facilities through various studies through the possibility of designing and applying stereoscopic signs developed through this study Expect.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.279-299
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• 2019

Recently occurred earthquake Gyeongju and Pohang served as a momentum to remind that Korean peninsular is not a safety zone from earthquake anymore. The importance of seismic design, therefore, have been realized and researches regarding design response spectrum have been actively carried out by many researchers and engineers. Current tunnel seismic design method is conducted to check safety of tunnel structure by dynamic numerical analysis with condition of completed lining installation, so, it is impossible to consider safety of tunnel behavior under construction. In this study, therefore, dynamic numerical analysis considering seismic wave propagations has been performed after back analysis using results from field monitoring of tunnel under construction in fractured zone and 1st reinforcement (shotcrete, rockbolt) behaviour are analyzed. Waves are classified by period characteristic (short and long). As a result, the difference depending on period characteristic is minor, and increasements of displacement are obtained at crown displacement due to seismic wave is 28~31%, 14~16% at left side of tunnel in the fractured zone, 13~27% at right side of tunnel in the bed rock, respectively. In case of shotcrete axial force is increased 113~115% at tunnel crown, 102% at left side, 106~110% at right side, respectively. Displacement and axial force of rockbolts which are selected by type of anchored grounds (only fractured zone, fractured zone and bed rock, only bedrock) are analyzed, as a result, rockbolt which is anchored to fractured zone and bed rock at the same time are weaker than any other case.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.587-609
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• 2019

Short-and long-term stabilities of bentonite, favored material as buffer in geological repositories for high-level waste were reviewed in this paper in addition to alternative design concepts of buffer to mitigate the thermal load from decay heat of SF (Spent Fuel) and further increase the disposal efficiency. It is generally reported that the irreversible changes in structure, hydraulic behavior, and swelling capacity are produced due to temperature increase and vapor flow between $150{\sim}250^{\circ}C$. Provided that the maximum temperature of bentonite is less than $150^{\circ}C$, however, the effects of temperature on the material, structural, and mineralogical stability seems to be minor. The maximum temperature in disposal system will constrain and determine the amount of waste to be disposed per unit area and be regarded as an important design parameter influencing the availability of disposal site. Thus, it is necessary to identify the effects of high temperature on the performance of buffer and allow for the thermal constraint greater than $100^{\circ}C$. In addition, the development of high-performance EBS (Engineered Barrier System) such as composite bentonite buffer mixed with graphite or silica and multi-layered buffer (i.e., highly thermal-conductive layer or insulating layer) should be taken into account to enhance the disposal efficiency in parallel with the development of multilayer repository. This will contribute to increase of reliability and securing the acceptance of the people with regard to a high-level waste disposal.