• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.20-32
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• 2008

The study shows a method called a square-inventory method, which is a better and faster method than scanline survey and window method for an analysis of slope stability. The study area is located in the Changri area, Boeun-Gun, Chungbuk, and consists of many formations of the Okcheon Supergroup. Various types of failure are observed from the phyllite including the rocks in the study area. The physical properties of meta-sedimentary rocks are that minerals of the rocks are composed of microcrystalline quartz and sericite, which are arranged parallel to bedding (or schistosity) and crenulation cleavage. Therefore, such properties affect geotechnical ones of the rock. The slope stability are analyzed by selecting 3 areas, each of which are divided into 2 or 3 slopes of $1m{\times}1m$ area that represent each of 3 investigation sites. The possibility of wedge and toppling failure is very high in all 3 areas by using square-inventory method. Although possibility of plane failure is weak in the investigation site 2, the plane failures are frequently found from the slope of site 2. The bedding (or schistosity) plane and cleavage, another types of discontinuity coexist in meta-sedimentary rocks uulike igneous rocks, and therefore are important factors to be considered together with joint structures in th ε analysis of slope stability.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.320-327
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• 2011

In this study, for stemming effect in blast of the mortar block body, the crushed granite sand as fine aggregate, which is waste rock obtained at the ○○ limestone mine, was investigated to compare with stemming materials such as sea sand, river sand, clayed soil and water can be acquired easily at the field. The mortar block body was manufactured with the dimensions of 50 cm width, 50 cm length and 70 cm height. The direct shear and sieve separator test were performed, and the properties of friction resistance were analyzed by the extrusion test for five stemming materials. Axial strain of steel bar and ejection velocity of stemming materials due to the explosive shock pressure in blasthole with the stemming length of 10 cm and 20 cm in the mortar blast test were measured by the dynamic data acquisition system. Among stemming materials, axial strain showed the largest value at the crushed granite sand as fine aggregate, and the ejection velocity was the smallest value at the stemming of water. The results has shown correlate with harden unit weight in blasthole, particle size distribution, shear resistance, and extrusion strength of stemming materials. The ejection velocity of stemming material at the mouth of blasthole and the axial strain of steel bar in the inside of blasthole tend to be inversely proportional to each other, represent exponentially.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.153-168
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• 2010

A fifth equation is required to determine the five independent elastic constants of a transversely isotropic rock from compression test of a single specimen. As an approximation proposed by Saint-Venant has been used for long time, it may cause an erroneous result in some cases, especially for specimen with low angle of anisotropy. Three equations were suggested replacing this traditional equation and proved to be applicable by the model analysis in the previous studies. As Saint-Venant's approximation is turned out the same as the first one of them, it has the characteristics that the apparent Young's modulus is monotonously increasing according to the anisotropic angle. The methodology to analyze the elastic constants from four independent strain measurements by uniaxial compressive test of a single standard specimen is concisely described, and the necessity and compatibility of new suggested equations are discussed. Saint-Venant's approximation can determine the elastic constants close to true values and other equations may be unnecessary in specimens with medium to large angle. Nevertheless, they may become applicable because they can produce the almost same amount. For the specimens of small angle of anisotropy, Saint-Venant's approximation may result in out of general ranges or thermodynamic constraints, but other suggested equations can produce the almost true value. Thus they can be applied before other alternative equation is known. The guide map constructed by model study may decide the most compatible one of the three equations.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.396-408
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• 2016

Rock fracture mechanics has been widely applied to various fields of rock and civil engineering. But most researches covered mode I behavior, though mode II behavior is dominant in rock engineering. Until now, there is only one ISRM suggested method for mode II toughness of rock. A new SCC (Short Core in Compression) mode II toughness test method was developed considering 1) application of confining pressure, 2) easiness of notch creation, 3) utilization of existing equipment, 4) simple test procedure. The stress intensity factors were determined by 3D finite element method considering line and distributed loading conditions. The tests with granite specimens were carried out using MTS 815 rock test system with a loading rate of 0.002 mm/s. The mean value of mode II fracture toughness of granite showed $2.33MPa{\sqrt{m}}$. Mode I toughness of the same granite was $1.12MPa{\sqrt{m}}$, determined by Brazilian disk test and $K_{IIC}/K_{IC}=2.08$. The smooth fracture surface with rock powder formation also supported mode II behavior of SCC method. The SCC method can be used for the determination of mode II fracture toughness of rocks based on the current results.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.363-374
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• 2016

All five independent elastic constants of a transversely isotropic rock sometimes need to be determined from a single specimen. Saint-Venant approximation has been widely used for a long time in the analysis of single specimen test. This paper has proven how this empirical equation can be mathematically transformed into a form of the apparent Young's modulus based on theory of elasticity. The transformed equation is a monotonous function on anisotropic angle and can be useful in the analysis of the in-situ stress measurement in an anisotropic rock mass. The estimations of data in literatures have shown that the measured values of $G^2$ are uniform on anisotropic angles and smaller than that of Saint-Venant's case. This decrement may be caused by sliding of the interface of strata and the decrement rate is inferred to relate well with the combination of bonding condition of strata and strength of rock material. Accumulation of these kinds of studies in the future enables to define the decrement and to determine elastic constants of a transversely isotropic rock from a single specimen from modifying Saint-Venant approximation.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.384-395
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• 2016

Both the roughness measurement tests and the multi-stage shear tests were carried out on the 110 rock joint samples in order to investigate the influences of rock type, joint roughness and normal stress on the shear behaviour of rock joints. Test samples were composed of quartz porphyry, dacite, granite and gneiss, which were classified into three detailed groups according to their JRC values. Roughness parameters of rock joints were analyzed by roughness measurement tests, and shear characteristics were also investigated by multi-stage shear tests. Both peak shear strength and shear stiffness were increased as both joint roughness and normal stress were increased, whereas dilation angles showed lower values at the lower roughness and higher normal stress conditions. Besides, shear characteristics obtained from all tests of four different rock types with different rock strengths showed irrelevant details, therefore the influences of both joint roughness and normal stress on shear behaviors were found to be more considerable than the strength of intact rock. The results obtained from both multi-stage shear tests and direct shear tests were finally compared, where the dilation angles obtained from multi-stage shear tests were found to be valid only for the first normal stress conditions.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.156-169
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• 2018

The relationship between the mechanical and textural properties of sedimentary rocks has been studied for decades. However, inconsistencies in the results have arisen from both the inhomogeneity of natural rocks and the difficulties encountered in controlling just one textural factor of interest in each experiment. This work produced artificial sedimentary rocks to enable control of every independent parameter at all times. Their homogeneity lowered the deviation of the results, and thus they produced clearer correlations than for natural rocks. The samples were made by mixing bassanite powder with water and silica sand, which produced rocks consisting of sand and gypsum cement. The effect of grain content and size on mechanical properties such as uniaxial compressive strength, Young's modulus, and seismic velocity was estimated. Increasing grain content lowered the compressive strength but raised Young's modulus and seismic velocity. Overall, grain size did not linearly affect the mechanical properties of the samples, but affected them in some way. In future, these results can be compared and integrated with similar experiments using different cement or grain types. This should allow comparison of the effects of the rock constituents themselves and their interactions, with applicability to all kinds of sedimentary rocks.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.232-246
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• 2018

In this study, the relationship between in situ seismic wave velocities and RMR (rock mass rating) was investigated in a test bed for the examination of the basis of rock classification (RMR) based on seismic wave velocity. The seismic wave velocity showed a monotonous increase with depth. It was also found that there was no systematic correlation between the seismic wave velocity (Vp) and other parameters (RQD, joint spacing, UCS, rock core Vp, and RMR) collected at the same depth of the same borehole. However, correlative relation was observed among RMR, RQD, and joint spacing. On the other hand, when all the data in the borehole (three holes) are examined without considering the depth, Vp still shows no correlation with RMR parameters (e.g., correlative coefficient for uniaxial compressive strength and joint spacing are 0.039 and 0.091, respectively), but Vp shows weak correlative relation with RMR and RQD (correlative coefficient for RQD and RMR are 0.193 and 0.211, respectively). Thus, it is found that it is difficult to deduce physical properties of rock mass directly from seismic wave velocities, but the seismic wave velocity can be used as a tool to approximate rock mass properties because of weaker correlation between Vp and RMR with RQD. In addition, the velocity value of for soft and moderate rocks suggested by widely used construction standards is slower than that of the observed velocity, implying that the standards need to be examined and revised.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 2012

The potential repository domains for A-KRS (Advanced Korean Reference Disposal System for High Level Wastes) in geological characteristics of KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) facility site were proposed to develop a repository system design and to perform the safety assessment. The host rock of KURT facility site is one of major Mesozoic plutonic rocks in Korean peninsula, two-mica granite, which was influenced by hydrothermal alteration. The topographical features control the flow lines of surface and groundwater toward south-easterly and all waters discharge to Geum River. Fracture zones distributed in study site are classified into order 2 magnitude and their dominant orientations are N-S and E-W strike. From the geological features and fracture zones, the potential repository domains for A-KRS were determined spatially based on the following conditions: (1) fracture zone must not cross the repository; and (2) the repository must stay away from the fracture zones greater than 50 m. The western region of the fracture zones in the N-S direction with a depth below 200 m from the surface was sufficient for A-KRS repository. Because most of the fracture zones in N-S direction were inclined toward the east, we expected to find a homogeneous rock mass in the western region rather than in the eastern region. The lower left domain of potential domains has more suitable geological and hydrogeological conditions for A-KRS repository.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2012

Groundwater flow simulations were performed to obtain data of groundwater flow used in a safety assessment for a hypothetical geological disposal facility assumed to be located in the KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) site. A regional scale modeling of the groundwater flow system was carried out to make boundary conditions for a local scale modeling. And, fracture zones identified at the study site were involved in the local scale groundwater flow model. From the results of the local scale modeling, a hydraulic head distribution was indicated and it was used in a particle tracking simulation for searching pathway of groundwater from the location of the hypothetical disposal facility to the surface where the groundwater reached. The flow distance and discharge rate of the groundwater in the KURT site were calculated. It was thought that the modeling methods used in this study was available to prepare the data of groundwater flow in a safety assessment for a geological disposal facility of radioactive wastes.