• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.189-214
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• 2000

Three study areas of Kwanak campus(Seoul National University), Gapyung and Boeun were selected and classified according to bedrock types in order to investigate soil-gas radon concentrations. Several soil-gas samples showed relatively high radon concentrations in the residual soils which derived from granite bedrock. It also showed that water content of soil and the degree of radioactivity disequilibrium was a secondary factor governing radon emanation and distribution of radon radioactivity. The results of radon concentrations and working levels for forty rooms in Kwanak campus, Seoul National University, showed that indoor basement rooms under poor ventilation condition can be classified as high radon risk zone having more than EPA guideline(4 pCi/L). Some results of section analysis which was surveyed in the fault zone of Kyungju and Gapyung area confirmed the existence of fault-associated radon anomalies with a meaning of radon risk zone.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.583-595
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• 2014

The chemical properties and composition (pH, CaO, Fe, $HCO{_3}^-$, and $SO{_4}^{2-}$) of groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW) from the northern (non-carbonate bedrock) and southern (carbonate bedrock) sections of the Daedong River, Pyeongyang were analyzed and compared period of the 1930s. In the southern section, the GW and SW has a higher pH and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ concentration, but lower $HCO{_3}^-$ and Fe levels than in the north. This finding reflects a reaction that formed acid by replacing metal ions in inorganic salts by hydrogen, which resulted from the oxidation of organic material in a clay layer.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.503-518
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• 2001

In this paper, the procedure for deriving an infinite element that is compatible with the quadrilateral Q8 element is first summarized. Enhanced by a self mesh-expansion procedure for generating the impedance matrices of different frequencies for the region extending to infinity, the infinite element is used to simulate the far field of the soil-structure system. The structure considered here is of the box type and the soils are either homogeneous or resting on a bedrock. Using the finite/infinite element approach, a parametric study is conducted to investigate the effect of open and in-filled trenches in reducing the structural vibration caused by a train passing nearby, which is simulated as a harmonic line load. The key parameters that dominate the performance of wave barriers in reducing the structural vibrations are identified. The results presented herein serve as a useful guideline for the design of open and in-filled trenches concerning wave reduction.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.149-164
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• 2014

One of the most advanced classes of techniques for ground response analysis is based on the use of Transfer Functions. They represent the ratio of Fourier spectrum of amplitude motion at the free surface to the corresponding spectrum of the bedrock motion and they are applied in frequency domain usually by FFT method. However, Fourier spectrum only shows the dominant frequency in each time step and is unable to represent all frequency contents in every time step and this drawback leads to inaccurate results. In this research, this process is optimized by decomposing the input motion into different frequency sub-bands using Wavelet Multi-level Decomposition. Each component is then processed with transfer Function relating to the corresponding component frequency. Taking inverse FFT from all components, the ground motion can be recovered by summing up the results. The nonlinear behavior is approximated using an iterative procedure with nonlinear soil properties. The results of this procedure show better accuracy with respect to field observations than does the Conventional method. The proposed method can also be applied to other engineering disciplines with similar procedure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.6
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• pp.531-542
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• 2024

This study proposes a ground anchor using electromagnetic induction and utilizes an extended structure using hinges and links and mounting and sensing using electromagnets. The aim is to secure the anchor force, excluding grout, and to secure various sensing capabilities, including ground behavior. We propose a design based on the drilling diameter of 150 mm, and the materials used were STS304 and Aluminum 6061-T6. Computerized analysis was performed to confirm structural safety and functional implementation. The pull-out experiment was conducted by simulating the bedrock environment on a model earthwork as an experiment to check whether anchor force was generated by the insertion and tension of the anchor. The environmental pollution of grout, the difficulty of removing strands, and the inability to check whether the anchor is seated, which were pointed out as disadvantages of the existing ground anchor, were solved. Therefore, this study suggest that it can be effectively utilized as a secure and monitored anchoring solution in eco-friendly construction practices, including the installation of landslide prevention barriers.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.371-379
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• 2010

Fresh water injection test in a fractured bedrock aquifer was applied as an efficient approach to lower saline concentrations in the saltwater-freshwater transition zone formed by seawater intrusion in a coastal area. The methodology and effectiveness of fresh water injection for hydraulically controlling seawater intrusion is overwhelmingly site dependent, and there is an urgent need to characterize the permeable fractures or unconsolidated porous formations which can allow for seawater flow and transport. Considering aquifer characteristics, injection and monitoring boreholes were optimally designed and completed to inject fresh water through sand layer and fractured bedrock, respectively. We devised and used the injection system using double packer for easy field operation and maintenance. Overall fracture distribution was systematically identified from borehole image logs, and the section of fresh water injection was decided from injection test and monitoring. With fresh water injection, the fluid electrical conductivity of the monitoring well started to be lowered by the inflow of fresh water at the specific depth. And this inflow leaded to the replacement of the fluid in the upper parts of the borehole with fresh water. Furthermore, the injection effect lasted more than several months, which means that fresh water injection may contribute to the mitigation of seawater intrusion in a coastal area.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.231-247
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• 2024

In the field of high-level radioactive waste disposal targeting deep rock environments, hydraulic characteristic information serves as the most important key factor in selecting relevant disposal sites, detailed design of disposal facilities, derivation of optimal construction plans, and safety evaluation during operation. Since various rock types are mixed and distributed in a small area in Korea, it is important to conduct preliminary work to analyze the hydrogeological characteristics of rock aquifers for various rock types and compile the resulting data into a database. In this paper, we obtained hydraulic conductivity data, which is the most representative field hydraulic characteristic of a high-depth volcanic bedrock aquifer, and also analyzed and evaluated the field data. To acquire field data, we used a high-performance hydraulic testing system developed in-house and applied standardized test methods and investigation procedures. In the process of hydraulic characteristic data analysis, hydraulic conductivity values were obtained for each depth, and the pattern of groundwater flow through permeable rock joints located in the test section was also evaluated. It is expected that the series of data acquisition methods, procedures, and analysis results proposed in this report can be used to build a database of hydraulic characteristics data for high-depth rock aquifers in Korea. In addition, it is expected that it will play a role in improving technical know-how to be applied to research on hydraulic characteristic according to various bedrock types in the future.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.157-175
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• 2008

A brief review of the research works on ground vibrations caused by trains moving in underground tunnels is first given. Then, the finite/infinite element approach for simulating the soil-tunnel interaction system with semi-infinite domain is summarized. The tunnel is assumed to be embedded in a homogeneous half-space or stratified soil medium. The train moving underground is modeled as an infinite harmonic line load. Factors considered in the parametric studies include the soil stratum depth, damping ratio and shear modulus of the soil with or without tunnel, and the thickness of the tunnel lining. As far as ground vibration is concerned, the existence of a concrete tunnel may somewhat compensate for the loss due to excavation of the tunnel. For a soil stratum resting on a bedrock, the resonance peak and frequency of the ground vibrations caused by the underground load can be rather accurately predicted by ignoring the existence of the tunnel. Other important findings drawn from the parametric studies are given in the conclusion.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.425-430
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• 1998

The results of radon $(^{222}Rn)$ concentrations and working levels (WL) for forty rooms in Kwanak Campus, Seoul National University on granite bedrock of Jurassic age showed that radon concentration have mean value of 3.0 pCi/L and 0.011 for working level. A number of rooms where these values exceed the EPA's action level are five (13%). It was also suggested that indoor basement rooms in poor ventilation condition can be classified as extremely high radon risk zone having more than 4 pCi/L and 0.020 WL. It was proved that inflow of soil-gas was a primary factor that governs indoor radon level by comparison of soil-gas radon concentrations with indoor radon concentrations.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.409-416
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• 2012

In this study, an electrical resistivity survey and a drilling investigation were conducted at an animal carcass disposal site. Chemical analysis of leachate collected from the site was also performed (sampling times: May 2011 and June 2012). Five lines of dipole-dipole electrical resistivity surveys were carried out, along with drilling investigations at 3 points within the disposal areas and 11 points near the disposal site. Two-dimensional inverse modeling of the collected resistivity data was performed to evaluate the properties (size, depth, and form) of the disposal site. Leachate analysis showed that pH of leachate decreased from 7.4 to 6.7, while Eh changed from -358 mV to -48 mV over time. In addition, dissolved ions increased due to the progression of carcass decomposition. Results of the electrical resistivity survey indicated that low resistivity zones (minimum value, $0.64{\Omega}m$) existed at a depth of 8 m from the surface. Considering the bedrock location and carcass disposal depth, there was no evidence of bedrock contamination by leachate. The results of the electrical resistivity survey are consistent with those of the drilling investigation, which indicates that electrical resistivity effectively depicted the properties of the disposal site. This study demonstrates that electrical resistivity survey is a suitable technique for investigation of animal carcass disposal sites.