• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.31-45
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• 2019

In this study the spatial variability of soils is substantiated physically and numerically by using random field theory. Heterogeneous samples are fabricated by combining nine homogeneous soil clusters that are assumed to be elements of an adopted random field. Homogeneous soils are prepared by mixing different percentages of kaolin and bentonite at water contents equivalent to their respective liquid limits. Comprehensive characteristic laboratory tests were carried out before embarking on direct shear experiments to deduce the basic correlations and properties of nine homogeneous soil clusters that serve to reconstitute the heterogeneous samples. The tests consist of Atterberg limits, and Oedometric and unconfined compression tests. The undrained shear strength of nine soil clusters were measured by the unconfined compression test data, and then correlations were made between the water content and the strength and stiffness of soil samples with different consistency limits. The direct shear strength of heterogeneous samples of different stochastic properties was then evaluated by physical and numerical modelling using FISH code programming in finite difference software of $FLAC^{3D}$. The results of the experimental and stochastic numerical analyses were then compared. The deviation of numerical simulations from direct shear load-displacement profiles taken from different sources were discussed, potential sources of error was introduced and elaborated. This study was primarily to explain the mathematical and physical procedures of sample preparation in stochastic soil mechanics. It can be extended to different problems and applications in geotechnical engineering discipline to take in to account the variability of strength and deformation parameters.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.559-567
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• 2018

Technological innovations in sustainable materials for soil improvement have attracted considerable interest due to energy crisis and environmental concerns in recent years. This study presents results of a comprehensive investigation on utilization of nanocarbons in reinforcement of a residual soil mixed with 0, 10 and 20% bentonite. Effects of adding proportionate quantities (0, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1 and 0.2%) of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers to soil samples of different plasticities were evaluated. The investigation revealed that the inclusion of nanocarbons into the soil samples significantly improved unconfined compressive strength, Young's modulus and indirect tensile strength. It was observed that carbon nanofibers showed better performance as compared to carbon nanotubes. The nanosized diameter and high aspect ratio of nanocarbons make it possible to distribute the reinforcing materials on a much smaller scale and bridge the inter-particles voids. As a result, a better 'soil-reinforcing material' interaction is achieved and desired properties of the soil are improved at nanolevel.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.291-302
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• 2009

A compression lap splice can be calculated longer than a tension lap splice in high strength concrete according to current design codes. New criteria for the compression lap splice including the effects of concrete strength are required for practical purpose of ultra-high strength concrete. Characteristics of compression lap splice have been extensively investigated and main parameters are derived. In addition, an experimental study has been conducted with column specimens in concrete strength of 40 and 60 MPa. The strength of the compression lap splice consists of bond and end bearing and two contributors are combined. Therefore, combined action of bond and end bearing should be assessed. Compared with tension splices, concrete strength significantly affects the strength of compression splices due to short splice length and existence of end bearing. Test results show that the splice strength can be evaluated to be proportional to square root of compressive strength of concrete. The stress states of concrete surrounding spliced bars govern the strengths of bond and end bearing. Because the axial stress of the concrete is relatively high, the splice strength is not dependent on clear spacing. End bearing strength is not affected by splice length and clear spacing and is expressed with a function of the square root of concrete strength. The failure mode of specimens is similar to side-face blowout of pullout test of anchors and the strength of end bearing can be evaluated using the equation of side-face blowout strength. Because the stresses developed by bond in compression splices are nearly identical to those in tension splices, strength increment of compression splices is attributed to end bearing only.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.83-92
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• 2021

In this study, effective porosity measurement, electron microscope (SEM) observation, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), slaking, swelling, and unconfined compression strength according to water immersion were analyzed to evaluate the properties of mudstone with high porosity in Pohang. As a result of the test for 16 square samples (5 cm), the effective porosity was 14.67% on average, higher than porosity of general mudstone, and electron microscope observation confirmed that the porosity was actually high. As a result of X-ray diffraction analysis, the swelling clay mineral content was 2.3~4.1%, which was lower than the results of previous studies in Pohang. The slake durability index was 37.73~87.73%, showing low to medium durability, which was lower than the results of previous studies. It was confirmed that the swelling property rapidly expanded to 1.79~1.82% of maximum swelling strain in the major axis direction for 30 minutes. As the properties of decreasing the unconfined compression strength according to water immersion, the samples rapidly weathered after 10 minutes of water immersion, and the strength decreased. It was confirmed that the results of previous studies related to mudstone in Pohang were different. This is judged to be due to the high porosity of mudstone in study.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4C
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• pp.247-253
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• 2008

This paper investigates the mechanical characteristics of waste tire powder-added lightweight soil in which dredged soils, waste tire powder and bottom ash were reused. In this study, 5 groups of soil samples were prepared with varing contents of waste tire powder ranged from 0% to 100% at 25% intervals by the dredged soil weight. The mixed soil samples were subjected to unconfined compression and elastic wave tests to investigate their unconfined compressive strengths and dynamic properties. Test results showed that the unconfined compressive strength and unit weight decreased as the waste tire powder contents increased, but axial strain at failure increased. Also stress-strain relationship of waste tire powder-added lightweight soil showed a ductile behavior rather than a brittle behavior. The result of elastic wave tests indicated that the higher waste tire powder content, the lower elastic wave velocity and the lower shear modulus (G).

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.19-26
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• 2012

Recently the world has been suffering from difficulties related to the demand and supply of energy due to the democratic movements sweeping across the Middle East. Consequently, many have turned their attention to never-developed extreme regions such as the polar lands or deep sea, which contain many underground resources. This research investigated the strength and initial elastic modulus values of eternally frozen ground through a uniaxial compression test and indirect tensile test using frozen artificial soil specimens. To ensure accurate test results, a sandymud mixture of standard Jumunjin sand and kaolinite (20% in weight) was used for the specimens in these laboratory tests. Specimen were prepared by varying the water content ratio (7%, 15%, and 20%). Then, the variation in the strength value, depending on the water content, was observed. This research also established three kinds of environments under freezing temperatures of $-5^{\circ}C$, $-10^{\circ}C$, and $-15^{\circ}C$. Then, the variation in the strength value was observed, depending on the freezing environment. In addition, the tests divided the loading rate into 6 phases and observed the variation in the stress-strain ratio, depending on the loading rate. The test data showed that a lower freezing temperature resulted in a larger strength value. An increase in the ice content in the specimen with the increase in the water content ratio influenced the strength value of the specimen. A faster load rate had a greater influence on the uniaxial compression and indirect tensile strengths of a frozen specimen and produced a different strength engineering property through the initial tangential modulus of elasticity. Finally, the long-term strength under a constant water content ratio and freezing temperature was checked by producing stress-strain ratio curves depending on the loading rate.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.59-67
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• 2016

The strength of frozen soils is affected by size and shape of particles, and the amount of ice and unfrozen water. The objective of this study is to characterize the unfrozen water content and the unconfined compressive strength of the frozen soils according to the degree of saturations and silt fractions. The specimens are mixtures of sand, silt, and water. The silt fractions (SF), which are the ratio of the silt weight ($W_{silt}$) to the sand weight ($W_{sand}$), are 10% and 30%. In addition, the degrees of the saturation are 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The specimens are frozen under the temperature of $-10^{\circ}C$ conditions. The uniaxial compression tests are conducted for 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours after freezing to determine proper freezing time. The freezing time of 24 hours is chosen because the unconfined compressive strengths of specimens after 24 hours freezing times are similar to each other. Furthermore, the unfrozen water content is monitored during freezing using the TDR system. The unfrozen water content increases with the increase of the silt fraction and degree of saturation. The unconfined compressive strength of the frozen soils exponentially increases with increasing the degree of saturation. This study shows that the amount of ice has more influence on the strength of the frozen soils than the amount of unfrozen water.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.821-832
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• 2008

The hazard warning levels are necessary for the rational design and safety construction of underground space, as mountain and urban tunnel. Sakurai provided the hazard warning levels for assessing the stability of tunnels using the critical strain of rock mass, which is defined as a ratio between uni-axial compressive strength and the Young's modulus. The concept of critical strain guidelines is introduced in this study for the assessment of tunnel safety during excavation. Moreover, in this paper, the critical strain properties of sedimentary rock in Korea has investigated and analysed in detail by Lab. test, as the uniaxial and triaxial compression tests. Finally, critical strain properties of sedimentary rock on uniaxial and triaxial stress condition is discussed the relationship of failure strain values, uniaxial and triaxial compression strengths, confining pressure and Young's modulus.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.5-13
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• 2004

Strength and compressibility characteristics of Light-Weighted Foam Soil (LWFS) are experimentally investigated in the paper. LWFS is composed of the dredged soils, cement and air foam to reduce unit-weight and to increase compressive strength. For these purposes, both unconfined compression tests and triaxial compression tests are carried out fer artficially prepared specimens of LWFS with various initial water contents, cement contents, mixing ratio of silty dredged soils and different confining stresses. The experimental results of LWFS indicate that the stress-strain relationship and the compressive strength are strongly influenced by cement contents rather than intial water contents of the edged soils. In this paper, the normalizing scheme considering the ratio of initial water contents, cement contents, and air foam contents has been proposed to evaluate the relationship between compressive strength of LWFS and a normalized factor.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.643-662
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• 2018

One of the methods for investigation of mechanical behavior of materials is numerical simulation. For simulation, its need to model behavior is close to real condition. PFC is one of the rock mechanics software that needs calibration for models simulation. The calibration was performed based on simulation of unconfined compression test and Brazilian test. Indeed the micro parameter of models change so that the UCS and Brazilian test results in numerical simulation be close to experimental one. In this paper, the effect of four micro parameters has been investigated on the uniaxial compression test and Brazilian test. These micro parameters are friction angle, Accumulation factor, expansion coefficient and disc distance. The results show that these micro parameters affect the failure pattern in UCS and Brazilian test. Also compressive strength and tensile strength are controlled by failure pattern.