• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.544-547
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• 2003

The objective of this study is to investigate the contamination levels and dispersion patterns of arsenic and heavy metals and to estimate the bioaccessible fraction of the metals in soil and plant samples in the vicinity of the abandoned Songcheon Au-Ag mine. Tailings, soils, plants (Chinese cabbage, red pepper, soybean, radish, sesame leaves, green onion, lettuce, potato leaves, angelica and groundsel) and waters were collected around the mine site. After appropriate preparation, all samples were analyzed for As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Elevated levels of As and heavy metals were found in tailings. Mean concentrations of As in agricultural soils were higher than the permissible level. Especially, maximum level of As in farmland soil was 513 mg/kg. The highest concentrations of As and Zn were found in Chinese cabbage (6.7 mg/kg and 359 mg/kg, respectively). Concentrations of As, Cd, and Zn in most stream waters which are used for drinking water around this mine area were higher than the permissible levels regulated in Korea. Maximum levels of As, Cd and Zn in stream waters were 0.78 mg/L, 0.19 mg/L and 5.4 mg/L, respectively. These results indicate that mine tailings can be the main contamination sources of As and heavy metals in the soil-water system in the mine area. The average of estimated bioaccessible fraction of As in farmland soils were $3.7\%$ (in simulated stomach) and $10.8\%$ (in simulated small intestine). The highest value of bioaccessible fraction of metal in farmland soils was $46.5\%$ for Cd.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.534-544
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• 2014

The effects of microbial iron reduction and oxidation on the immobilization and mobilization of copper were investigated in a high concentration of sulfate with synthesized Fe(III) minerals and red earth soils rich in amorphous Fe (hydr)oxides. Batch microcosm experiments showed that red earth soil inoculated with subsurface sediments had a faster Fe(III) bioreduction rate than pure amorphous Fe(III) minerals and resulted in quicker immobilization of Cu in the aqueous fraction. Coinciding with the decrease of aqueous Cu, $SO_4{^{2-}}$ in the inoculated red earth soil decreased acutely after incubation. The shift in the microbial community composite in the inoculated soil was analyzed through denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Results revealed the potential cooperative effect of microbial Fe(III) reduction and sulfate reduction on copper immobilization. After exposure to air for 144 h, more than 50% of the immobilized Cu was remobilized from the anaerobic matrices; aqueous sulfate increased significantly. Sequential extraction analysis demonstrated that the organic matter/sulfide-bound Cu increased by 52% after anaerobic incubation relative to the abiotic treatment but decreased by 32% after oxidation, indicating the generation and oxidation of Cu-sulfide coprecipitates in the inoculated red earth soil. These findings suggest that the immobilization of copper could be enhanced by mediating microbial Fe(III) reduction with sulfate reduction under anaerobic conditions. The findings have an important implication for bioremediation in Cu-contaminated and Fe-rich soils, especially in acid-mine-drainage-affected sites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.09a
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• pp.463-471
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• 2009

Cemented soils or concrete are usually cured under moisture conditions and their strength increases with curing time. An insufficient supply of water to cemented soils can contribute to hydration process during curing, which results in the variation of bonding strength of cemented soils. In this study, by the consideration of in situ water supply conditions, cemented sand with cement ratio less than 20% was prepared by air dry, wrapped, and underwater conditions. A series of unconfined compression tests were carried out to evaluate the effect of curing conditions on the strength of cemented soils. The strength of air dry curing specimen was higher than those of wrapped cured specimen when cement ratio was less than 10%, whereas it was lower when cement ratio was greater than 10%. Regardless of cement ratio, air dry cured specimens were stronger than underwater cured specimens. A strength increase ratio with cement ratio was calculated based on the strength of 4% cemented specimen. The strength increase ratio of air dry cured specimen was lowest and that of wrapped and underwater cured ones increased by square. Strength of air dry cured specimen dropped to maximum 30% after wetting when cement ratio was low. However, regardless of cement ratio, strength of wrapped specimens dropped to an average 10% after wetting.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.123-131
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• 2005

In this research, shaking table tests for three types of gravity quay wall system were performed to analyze the influence of excess pore pressure in backfill soils on the natural frequency of gravity quay wall systems. The elastic modulus of backfill soils was also estimated from the back analyses using the results of the shaking table tests. From the test results, it was observed that as the magnitude of excess pore pressures increased, the natural frequency of the gravity quay wall system decreased and vice versa. The natural frequency was about 44Hz when no excess pore pressure was generated in backfill soils, and decreased to about 16Hz at the pore pressure ratio of 0.55. The elastic modulus of backfill soils reached the constant maximum value when the pore pressure ratio was less than 0.2, and abruptly decreased as the pore pressure ratio became larger than that. The elastic modulus of backfill soils decreased to $10\%$ of the maximum value when the pore pressure ratio was 0.55.

• 한국생태학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.80-80
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• 1998

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2004.03b
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• pp.722-729
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• 2004

The horizontal movement of sloping ground due to flow liquefaction has caused many pile foundations to fail, especially those in ports and harbor structures. In this study, a virtual case is assumed in which flow liquefaction is induced by earthquake loads in a fully saturated infinite sand slope with a single pile installation. Under the assumption that the movement of liquefied ground is viscous fluid flow, the influence of ground movement due to flow liquefaction on the pile behavior was analyzed. Since the liquefied soil is assumed as a viscous fluid, its viscosity must be evaluated, and the viscosity was estimated by the dropping ball method ,md the pulling bar method. Finally, the influence of the flow of liquefied soil on a single pile installed in an infinite slope was analyzed by a numerical method.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.341-380
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• 2023

This study evaluates the seismic fragilities in fill slopes in South Korea through parametric finite element analyses that have been barely investigated thus far. We consider three slope geometries for a slope of height 10 m and three slope angles, and two soil types, namely frictional and frictionless, associated with two soil states, loose and dense for frictional soils and soft and stiff for frictionless soils. The input ground motions accounting for four site conditions in South Korea are obtained from one-dimensional site response analyses. By comparing the numerical modeling of slopes using PLAXIS^2D against the previous studies, we compiled suites of the maximum permanent slope displacement (D_max) against two ground motion parameters, namely, peak ground acceleration (PGA) and Arias Intensity (I_A). A probabilistic seismic demand model is adopted to compute the probabilities of exceeding three limit states (minor, moderate, and extensive). We propose multiple seismic fragility curves as functions of a single ground motion parameter and numerous seismic fragility surfaces as functions of two ground motion parameters. The results show that soil type, slope angle, and input ground motion influence these probabilities, and are expected to help regional authorities and engineers assess the seismic fragility of fill slopes in the road systems in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.351-357
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• 2000

This study was carried out to find out characteristics and contamination status of the urban-forest soils. Both topsoil (0-20 cm) and subsoil (40-60 cm) samples were collected from Namsan, Changdeok-palace, Seongjusan and Odaesan (control). The samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties, heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) and anion $(NO_3\;^-,\;SO_4\;^{2-})$ contents. Soil pH of Odaesan was the highest followed by Namsan, Changdeok-palace and Seongjusan. The anion concentrations of the soil samples were in the order of Namsan, Seongjusan > Changdeok-palace > Odaesan. The relationships between soil pH and the anion concentrations showed highly significant negative correlation, which indicated acidification of soil due to air pollutants such as $NO_3\;^-$ and $SO_4\;^{2-}$ was going on. The heavy metal contents of the soils of urban-forest were higher than those of control. Heavy metal contents in the topsoil were higher than those in the subsoil. Since urban-forest soils were quite vulnerable to acidification and heavy metal accumulation due to chronic exposure to air pollutants such as automobile exhaust, a comprehensive countermeasure not to deteriorate urban-forest ecology must be prepared in the near future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.09a
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• pp.829-834
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• 2009

Alluvial soil is one of the most difficult grounds for tunneling works due to the insufficient ground strength and excessive ground water inflow. Dduk island in Seoul has a wide alluvium developed by two rivers, Han and Jung-Ryang. Subway tunnel of $\bigcirc\bigcirc$ line planed across Dduk island has highly poor ground conditions due to small cover and deeply developed alluvium. Moreover, much part of this tunnel is located parallel to the bridge foundations of another railway with a small horizontal distance. Original design was done in 2002 and construction has been in progress. During the construction, tunnel design has been partly changed and adjusted for the complex ground condition and the demand from related organizations. This paper intend to introduce the urban tunnel design and construction in alluvial soils. This line could be divided three sections(A, B, C) according to ground and adjacent conditions. Section A is featured by mixed tunnel faces consisted with alluvial soils and weathered or weak rocks. The feature of section B is that tunnel underpasses near the bridge foundations of another subway. Lastly, section C with a very short length is the most difficult construction conditions due to the small cover, poor ground, obstacles on and underneath ground surface.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.167-176
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• 2009

Land cover changes associated with urbanization have driven climate change and pollution, which alter properties of ecosystems at local, regional, and continental scales. Thus, the relationships among urban ecological variables such as community composition, structure, health, soil and functioning need to be better understood to restore and improve urban ecosystems. In this study, we discuss urban ecosystem management and research from a futuristic perspective based on analyses of vegetation structure, composition, and successional trends, as well as the chemical properties of soils and the distribution of heat along an urban-rural gradient. Urban thermo-profile analysis using satellite images showed an obvious mitigating effect of vegetation on the Seoul heat island. Community attributes of Quercus mongolica stands reflected the effects of urbanization, such as pronounced increases in disturbance-related and pollution-tolerant species, such as Styrax japonica and Sorbus alnifolia. Retrogressive successional trends were detected in urban sites relative to those in rural sites. Changes in the urban climate and biotic environment have the potential to significantly influence the practice and outcomes of ecological management, restoration and forecasting because of the associated changes in future bio-physical settings. Thus, for management (i.e., creation and restoration) of urban green spaces, forward-thinking perspectives supported by historical information are necessary.