• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.8 no.3 s.29
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• pp.115-127
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• 2006

The purpose of field monitoring system in KHC-Test Road is to provide the performance data for environmental loadings from pavement surface. Among them, water content reflectometer(WCR) are used for measuring the volumetric water content of pavement subgrades. However, WCRs are not well-calibrated based on the local field conditions. A need therefore exists for improving equations for predicting water content using the proper field and laboratory calibrations. Based on the study performed, calibrations based on various soil characteristics and density conditions are well fitted to the data from fields. So, it is recommended to use the suggested general calibration of WCR to the compacted subgrade soils in test road for predicting the volumetric water content.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.147-154
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• 2005

This study deals with the calibration of low-frequency water content reflectometer for measuring the volumetric water content of soils in landfill final cover layer, and the validity of calibrations was evaluated by electrical conductivity and index properties of the soils. Linear calibrations concerning volumetric water content to WCR period provided good agreement with the data. Analysis of the calibration data indicates that the slope of the calibration decreases as the electrical conductivity of the soil increases. Lower slopes correspond to soils with greater clay content, organic content, liquid limit, and plasticity index, which typically have higher electrical conductivity. It could be well explained that WCR can operate in a lower frequency range.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.1199-1204
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• 2005

The purpose of field monitoring system in KHC-Test Road located at Joongbu-Inland Highway, is to provide the performance data for traffic and environmental loadings from pavement surface. Among them, water content reflectometers(WCR) are used to measure the volumetric water content of subgrades soils used in test roads. However, most of the WCRs are not well-calibrated based on the field conditions. In this study, the laboratory based test is performed at various density conditions to evaluate the volumetric water content in subgrade Soils with a WCR. Based on the laboratory testings, the effect of density on WCR measurement are well evaluated for predicting the volumeric water content.of subgrades soils in KHC-Test road.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2015

Dielectric constant depends on the variation of soil water content, and the estimation of soil water content using time domain reflectometry (TDR) has been studied by many researchers. The purpose of this study is the development and application of TDR penetrometer (TDRP) in order to evaluate the soil water content according to the penetration depth. The TDRP consists of cone, sleeve, driving rod, hammer, and guide. Three electrodes, which are used to measure the dielectric constant of soils, are mounted on the surface of sleeve and, in turn, connected with coaxial cable and time domain reflectometer. To establish the relationship between the volumetric water content and dielectric constant, several laboratory tests by using the TDRP are performed in the specimens with a variety of volumetric water content. The experimental results show that the dielectric constant is strongly correlated to volumetric water content as polynomial equations with an order of 3. In addition, the volumetric water content calculated from the dielectric constant is similar to that obtained from the sample weight. In the field, a small sampler is used to compare the volumetric water content calculated from the dielectric constant with the volumetric water content obtained from the sample. The results of field application demonstrate that the volumetric water content estimated by the TDRP shows similar trend to the gravimetric water content of sample. This study suggests that the TDRP is effectively used to evaluate the volumetric water content of unsaturated soils according to the penetration depth.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.25-34
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• 2020

Studies on nondestructive evaluation methods using electromagnetic waves have been commonly conducted to evaluate necking defects in bored piles. However, the propagation of electromagnetic waves are affected by water contents of surrounding materials. This study aims to investigate a suitability of electromagnetic waves for evaluating necking defects in bored piles embedded in sandy soils through laboratory experiments. Laboratory experiments are performed with a model pile having a necking defect. The diameter and length of model pile are 600 mm and 1 m, respectively, and the model pile is embedded in sandy soils with different water contents of 10%, 20%, and 30%. For the propagation of electromagnetic waves, a transmission line is configured in reinforcement cage using an electrical wire. The generation and detection of electromagnetic waves are conducted using a time domain reflectometer. Experimental results show that the peak amplitude of electromagnetic waves reflected at the necking defect decreases with an increase in the water content in sandy soils. In addition, the velocity of electromagnetic waves reflected from the toe of the model pile decreases win an increase in the water content. However, estimated locations of the necking defects are almost the same to that of the actual location of the necking defect. This study demonstrates that electromagnetic waves may be an effective method for evaluating necking defects in bored piles embedded in sandy soils

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2011

The practice of asphalt pavement recycling has grown rapidly over the decade, one of which is the cold in-place recycling with the foamed asphalt (CIR-foam) or the emulsified asphalt (CIR-emulsion). Particularly, in Iowa, the CIR has been widely used in rehabilitating the rural highways because it significantly increases the service life of the existing pavement. The CIR layer is typically overlaid by the hot mix asphalt (HMA) to protect it from water ingress and traffic load and obtain the required pavement structure and texture. Most public agencies have different curing requirements based on the number of curing days or the maximum moisture contents for the CIR before placing the overlay. The main objective of this study is to develop a moisture loss index that the public agency can use to monitor the moisture content of CIR layers in preparation for a timely placement of the wearing surface. First, the moisture contents were measured in the field using a portable time domain reflectometry (TDR) device. Second, the weather information in terms of rain fall, air temperature, humidity and wind speed was collected from the same location. Finally, a moisture loss index was developed as a function of initial moisture content, air temperature, humidity and wind speed. The developed moisture loss index based on the field measurements would help the public agency to determine an optimum timing of an overlay placement without continually measuring moisture conditions in the field.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.293-306
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• 2023

This study proposes and demonstrates a smart monitoring system that uses transmission lines embedded in a reinforced concrete structure to detect the presence of defects through changes in the electromagnetic waves generated and measured by a time-domain reflectometer. Laboratory experiments were first conducted to identify the presence of voids in steel-concrete composite columns. The results indicated that voids in the concrete caused a positive signal reflection, and the amplitude of this signal decreased as the water content of the soil in the void increased. Multiple voids resulted in a decrease in the amplitude of the signal reflected at each void, effectively identifying their presence despite amplitude reduction. Furthermore, the electromagnetic wave velocity increased when voids were present, decreased as the water content of the soil in the voids increased, and increased with the water-cement ratio and curing time. Field experiments were then conducted using bored piles with on-center (sound) and off-center (defective) steel-reinforcement cage alignments. The results indicated that the signal amplitude in the defective pile section, where the off-center cage was poorly covered with concrete, was greater than that in the pile sections where the cage was completely covered with concrete. The crosshole sonic logging results for the same defective bored pile failed to identify an off-center cage alignment defect. Therefore, this study demonstrates that electromagnetic waves can be a useful tool for monitoring the health and integrity of reinforced concrete structures.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.316-325
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• 2001

To develope a technique for efficiently managing fertilizer for cucumber, a quick test method to quantify nitrate content in soil solution and leaf petiole juice using a simple instrument was investigated. Among the nitrate analyzing instruments such as compact ion meter, nitrate ion meter, and test strip with reflectometer, the paper test-strip used in conjunction with a hand-held reflectometer was most closely correlated with ion chromatography method in nitrate content, and then it would be suggested with a tool that a farmer can use rapidly, conveniently and accurately for nitrate analysis in a field. Nitrate content in soil solution collected by porous cup was very variable on the lapsed time after drip irrigation and the sampling positions such as soil depth and the distance from dripper. As a result, a significant correlation between nitrate contents of soil solutions and 2M KCl soil extract was not found. However, nitrate content in soil solution extracted with a volume basis (soil:water=1:2) showed the highly significant correlation with that in 2M KCl extract. Nitrate contents of cucumber leaf petiole juices was greatly different between upper and lower leaves. Eleven to sixteen positioned-leaf would be a proper sampling position to determine nitrate content in leaf petiole for evaluating nutrient state by plant tissue analysis. From the secondary regression equations between nitrate contents of soil and petiole juice and the yield of cucumber, nitrate levels for real time diagnosis were estimated as $400mg\;l^{-1}$ soil solution by porous cup. $300mg\;l^{-1}$ in a soil volume extraction, and $1400mg\;l^{-1}$ in petiole juice from spring to summer season. In addition, the maximum yield of cucumber fruit in pot test was obtained in nitrate $1500mg\;l^{-1}$ level of petiole juice, which was similar to nitrate $1400mg\;l^{-1}$ in greenhouse trial.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.377-385
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• 2015

We constructed a model test apparatus to evaluate the dependence of the saturation velocity (V_s) in soils on rainfall intensity (I_R). The apparatus comprises a soil box, a rainfall simulator, and measuring sensors. The model grounds (60 cm × 50 cm × 15 cm) were formed by Joomunjin standard sand with a relative density of 75%. The rainfall simulator can control the rainfall intensity to reenact the actual rainfall in a soil box. Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) sensors and tensiometers were installed in the soils to measure changes in the volumetric water content and matric suction due to rainfall infiltration. During the tests, the soil saturation was determined by raising the groundwater table, which was formed at the bottom of the soil box. [Please check that the correct meaning has been maintained.] The wetting front did not form at the ground surface during rainfall because the soil particles were uniform and the coefficient of permeability was relatively high. Our results show that the suction stress of the soils decreased with increasing volumetric water content, and this effect was most pronounced for volumetric water contents of 20%-30%. Based on a regression analysis of the relationship between rainfall intensity and the average saturation velocity, we suggest the following equation for estimating the saturation velocity in soils: V_savg (cm/sec) = 0.068I_R (mm/hr).