• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.475-483
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• 2016

A numerical analysis model capable of predicting the shape, the size and the potentiality of collapse of tetrahedral blocks considering the persistence obtained from the field survey of joint distribution around the underground excavation surface has been developed. Numerical functions of analyzing both the exposed trace distribution on the excavation surface and the formation of tetrahedral block controlled by the extent of joint surface have been established and linked to the previously developed three dimensional deterministic block analysis model. To illustrate the reliability of advanced numerical model the case of underground excavation in which the collapse of rock block had practically taken place was studied. Representative orientations of joint sets was determined based on the joint distribution pattern observed on the excavation surfaces. The formation of block on the roof of underground opening was analyzed to unveil the potential tetrahedral block the shape of which was very similar to the collapsed rock block. Mechanisms of collapse process has been also analyzed by considering the three dimensional shape of tetrahedral block.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.117-127
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• 2010

Gound excavation is frequently executed in unsaturated soil conditions. In this paper, the effect of apparent cohesion in unsaturated soils on the ground behavior during underground excavation is studied. The VPPE (Volumetric Pressure Plate Extractor) test, the unsaturated triaxial test and the trap-door test were carried out to figure out how the behavior of soils varies depending on the variation of apparent cohesion. The test results show that the ground behavior is almost identical if the soil is either fully dry or fully saturated. However, if the soil is partially-saturated with the increase of water content, the ground behaves quite differently. In summary, the apparent cohesion in unsaturated soils plays key roles when excavating underground structures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.344-351
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• 2005

In this paper, a reliability-groundwater flow program is developed by coupling the 2-D finite element numerical groundwater flow program with first and second order reliability program. From the parametric study of hydraulic conductivity of soil layers, the increase of both mean and variance of hydraulic conductivity results in the increase of probability of exceeding the threshold hydraulic head. The probability of failure was more sensitive to parameters of weathered granitic soil and rock located at the middle and bottom of the excavation than those at the other locations. It can be recommended from this study that the reliability method, which can include the uncertainty of soil parameters, should be performed together with the deterministic analysis to compensate the weakness of the latter analysis for the groundwater flow problem of underground excavations.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.130-138
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• 1998

Comprehensive monitoring system for the safe and economical excavation of underground opening has been established by employing the 3 independent models each of which can i) predict the ultimate convergence, ii) assess the in-situ stresses and the elastic modulus of excavating rock, iii) calculate the time-dependent opening behavior with respect to the face advance rate and support pressure at the equilibrium state. Accuracy of each model has been verified through illustrative examples. The step-by-step procedures of comprehensive monitoring system for analyzing the rock behavior and the optimum support installation has been explained. The capability and applicability of this system to the practical excavation also has been discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.65-84
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• 2002

The Observational Method proposed by Terzaghi can be applied for the safe and economic construction projects where the exact prediction of the behavior of the structures is difficult as in the underground excavation. The method consists of measuring lateral displacement, ground settlement and axial force of supports in the earlier stage of the construction and back analysis technique to find the best fit design parameters such as earth pressure coefficient, subgrade reaction etc, which will minimize the gap between calculated displacement and measured displacement. With the results, more reliable prediction of the later stage can be obtained. In this study, back analysis programs using the Direct Method, based on the Hill Climbing Method were made and evaluated, and to overcome the limits of the method, Genetic Algorithm(GA) was applied and tested for the actual construction cases.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.103-110
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• 1996

In this paper, behaviour of underground structural systems due to excavation and change of groundwater level is analyzed using finite elements. Equilibrium equations based on the effective pressure theory and transient flow equations considering the groundwater level are derived. Integration equations are derived using Galerkin's approximation and time dependent analysis is employed to compute groundwater level change and pore pressures. This computed pore pressures are employed in equilibrium equations and then finally displacements and stresses are computed. The developed program is applied to analyze the behaviour of ground excavation below the groundwater level. The program is also applied to multi-step excavation at the same model. The results show that the displacements of the ground surface are much influenced by the change of the groundwater level. Therefore, it is concluded that the change of the groundwater level should be considered in order to analyze the behaviour of the underground structural systems accurately

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.6 no.4 s.22
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• pp.45-52
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• 2006

Top Down method is more widely used in downtown construction, recently. As underground construction constitutes a significant portion of the total construction cost and time in Top Down construction, it is important to develop a construction method to reduce the time required in underground works. The purpose of this study is to analyze load carrying capacity of Top Down prefounded columns on different excavation schedule. When several floors are excavated, the valid buckling length of prefounded column is increased and allowable buckling stress is decreased. The result shows that all columns are safe in buckling down to B3 story whether 2 or 3 stories are excavated. However, several columns are not safe from B4 story when 2 or 3 stories are excavated straightly. With these results, a process can be designed that the first three stories in the basement are excavated, and then excavate B4 story after placing concrete on B1 and B2 floor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.49-83
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• 2005

ESCP Project showed an urban excavation case and introduced design method for case of Soil-Structure behavior in urban excavation. In this case, a retaining structures design to analysis the behavior of retaining wall and adjacent structures in urban excavations was applied by using a Elasto-plastic beam and limit Equilibrium analysis and soil-structure interaction analysis. Reliable design of earth retaining structures and the ground adjacent to braced wall in urban excavation are often difficult due to many variable factors. The ground settlement and the damage of adjacent structures in urban excavation has been an imprtant issue. Therefore, the stability of the adjacent structures must be secured with the excavation support and research on the protection of adjacent structure is necessary.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.7-10
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• 2008

As the land price in the downtown area increases, buildings are becoming bigger, deeper and higher. Consequently, the importance of underground construction has increased. Although construction engineers make every effort to complete underground construction without any problem, construction failures like landslides and the collapse of a retaining wall occur because of the uncertainty of the soil conditions as well as the unexpected risks of excavation work. In order to prevent potential excavation accidents, it is essential to understand the causes and impacts of such accidents. However, there are only a few examples of construction failures, which show the economic impact on accidents during excavation because of the sensibility of the information. This paper presents two cases of excavation accidents, which were investigated by construction insurance company. The compensation for the accidents paid by the insurance company was compared with the estimated costs calculated based on the estimation method for excavation accidents proposed by our previous study. The comparison results showed that the estimate calculated by our method was much less than the actual compensation because the estimate solely focused on the construction costs whereas the compensation included other external factors.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2002

In this study, a numerical stability analysis was performed for a large tunnel considering excavation sequence. In most cases, stability of a tunnel is analyzed based on the stability of the final excavation stage only. In this study, stability analysis of a tunnel was performed at each excavation stage. In summary, it can be inferred that there is no problem in stability of the tunnel. However, thorough and careful measurements are recommended. Also, it is found that the stability of the tunnel at the 5th excavation stage when the right half of the main tunnel is excavated is rather lower than that of the tunnel at the final excavation stage.