• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.16-22
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• 2020

The Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology is developing a free-fall cone penetration test system (FFCPT) that can acquire the characteristics of the seabed surface soil. To obtain the data through the FFCPT, a method of storing the signals for the entire time or a method of storing the signal for user-defined time can be considered. For efficient data storage and management, it is advantageous that data be stored by user definition. Therefore, this study analyzed the basic behavior using the signal acquired through a sensor mounted in the FFCPT and developed a trigger method to recognize the start and end of data storage using a depth sensor. The start and endpoints of the fall were determined using the moving average difference of 3 and 0.03 seconds of the depth signal. A real sea-trial test was performed using the FFCPT, and the developed trigger was operated normally.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.99-105
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• 2018

Soils are generally classified as fine-grained or coarse-grained depending on the percentage content of the primary constituents. In reality, soils are actually made up of mixed and composite constituents. Soils primarily classified as fine-grained, still consists of a range of coarse particles as secondary constituents in between 0% to 50%. A laboratory scale model test was conducted to investigate the influence of coarse particles on the physical (e.g., density, water content, and void ratio) and mechanical (e.g., quick undrained shear strength) properties of primarily classified fine-grained cohesive soils. Pure kaolinite clay and sand-mixed kaolinite soil (e.g., sand content: 10%, 20%, and 30%) having various water contents (60%, 65%, and 70%) were preconsolidated at different stress levels (0, 13, 17.5, 22 kPa). The quick undrained shear strength properties were determined using the conventional Static Cone Penetration Test (SCPT) method and the new Fall Cone Test (FCT) method. The corresponding void ratios and densities with respect to the quick undrained shear strength were also observed. Correlations of the physical properties and quick undrained shear strengths derived from the SCPT and FCT were also established. Comparison of results showed a significant relationship between the two methods. From the results of FCT and SCPT, there is a decreasing trend of quick undrained shear strength, strength increase ratio ($S_u/P_o$), and void ratio (e) as the sand content is increased. The quick undrained shear strength generally decreases with increased water content. For the same water content, increasing the sand content resulted to a decrease in quick undrained shear strength due to reduced adhesion, and also, resulted to an increase in density. Similarly, it is observed that the change in density is distinctively noticeable at sand content greater than 20%. However, for sand content lower than 10%, there is minimal change in density with respect to water content. In general, the results showed a decrease in quick undrained shear strength for soils with higher amounts of sand content. Therefore, as the soil adhesion is reduced, the cone penetration resistances of the FCT and SCPT reflects internal friction and density of sand in the total shear strength.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.23-29
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• 2009

A sand-cone method is commonly used to determine the density of the compacted soils. This method uses a calibration container to determine the bulk-density of the sand for use in the test. The density of the test or compacted soil is computed on the assumption that the calibration container has approximately the same size or volume and allows the sand to fall approximately the same height as a test hole in the field. However, in most cases the size or shape of test hole is not exactly the same as the calibration container. There is certain discrepancy between sand particle settlement or arrangement in the laboratory calibration and in the field testing, which may cause an erroneous determination of in-situ density. The sand filling process is simulated in the laboratory and its effect on the determination of density is investigated. Artificially-made holes with different heights and bottom shapes are prepared to simulate various shapes of the test hole in the field. The sands with different gradations are used in the testing to examine how sand grain size influences the determination of density in the field.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2013

The risks of debris flows caused by climate change have increased significantly around the world. Recently, landslide disaster prevention technology is more focused on the failure and post-failure dynamics to mitigate the hazards in flow-prone area. In particular, we should define the soil strength and flow characteristics to estimate the debris flow mobility in the mountainous regions in Korea. To do so, we selected known ancient landslides area: Inje, Pohang and Sangju debris flows. Firstly we measured physical and mechanical properties: liquidity index and undrained shear strength by fall cone penetrometer. From the test results, we found that there is a possible relationship between liquidity index and undrained shear strength, $C_{ur}=(1.2/I_L)^{3.3}$, in the selected areas, even though they were different in geological compositions. Assuming that the yield stress is equal to the undrained shear strength at the initiation of sliding, we examined the flow characteristics of weathered soils in Korea. When liquidity index is given as 1, 1.5 and 3.0, the debris flow motion of weathered soils is compared with that of mud-rich sediments, which are known as low-activity clays. At $I_L=1$, it seems that debris flow could reach approximately 250m after 5 minutes. As liquidity index increased from 1 to 3, the debris flow propagation of weathered soils is twice than that of low-activity clays. It may be due to the fact that soil masses mixed with the ambient water and then highly fragmented during flow, thereby leading to the high mobility. The results may help to predict the debris flow propagation and to develop disaster prevention technology at similar geological settings, especially for the weathered soils, in Korea.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.79-90
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• 2012

Air pluviation method is widely adopted for preparation of large, uniform and repeatable sand beds of desired densities for laboratory studies to simulate in-situ conditions and obtain test results which are highly reliable. This paper presents details of a portable traveling pluviator recently developed for model sand bed preparation. The pluviator essentially consisted of a hopper, orifice plates for varying deposition intensity, combination of flexible and rigid tubes for smooth travel of material, and a set of diffuser sieves to obtain uniformity of pluviated sand bed. It was observed that sand beds of lower relative density can be achieved by controlling height of fall, whereas, denser sand beds could be obtained by controlling deposition intensity. Uniformity of pluviated sand beds was evaluated using cone penetration test and at lower relative densities minor variation in density was observed with depth. With increase in relative density of sand bed higher repeatability of uniform pluviation was achieved.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1993

In the fall of 1992, growth characteristics and cone-bearing behaviour of crown top shoots were investigated on Pin us koraiensis trees, belonging to age class VII and IV, in the School Forests, College of Forestry, Kangwon National University to obtain basic information for the design of Korean pine cone harvesting machine. The results were summarized as follows. 1. The length of terminal main shoots and lateral shoots of the trees in age class IV was 27~56cm and 18~47cm, respectively, both of which were significantly higher than those of the trees in age class VII. 2. There was no significant difference between two age classes in the branching angle ($24{\sim}89^{\circ}$) of lateral shoots and in the diameter (10~30mm) of two-year-old main shoots. However, one-year-old terminal main shoots of age class IV showed the higher diameter (9~18mm) than those of age class VII. 3. Mean cone number per tree was 5, and mean fresh weight of cone was 272g. No significant difference was found in these traits between both age classes. 4. Cones, on an average, hung on the two-year-old main shoots 15cm above the basal ends in age class VII and 33cm above in age class IV. Both lengths are equivalent to one half and four fifths of the shoots, respectively. 5. The fresh weight range of crown-top shoots containing cones was 1.0~7.4kg.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 2019

Soil compaction is one of the most important activities in the area of civil works, including road construction, airport construction, port construction and backfilling construction of structures. Soil compaction, particularly in road construction, can be categorized into subgrade compaction and roadbed compaction, and is significant work that when done poorly can serve as a factor causing poor construction due to a lack of compaction. Currently, there are many different types of compaction tests, and the plate bearing test and the unit weight of soil test based on the sand cone method are commonly used to measure the degree of compaction, but many other methods are under development as it is difficult to secure economic efficiency. For the purpose of this research, a portable penetration meter called the Free-Fall Penetration Test (FFPT) was developed and manufactured. In this study, a homogeneous sample was obtained from the construction site and soil was classified through a sieve analysis test in order to perform grain size analysis and a specific gravity test for an indoor test. The principle of FFPT is that the penetration needle installed at the tip of an object put into free fall using gravity is used to measure the depth of penetration into the road surface after subgrade or roadbed compaction has been completed; the degree of compaction is obtained through the unit weight of soil test according to the sand cone method and the relationship between the degree of compaction and the depth of the penetration needle is verified. The maximum allowable grain size of soil is 2.36 mm. For $A_1$ compaction, a trend line was developed using the result of the test performed from a drop height of 10 cm, and coefficient of determination of the trend line was $R^2=0.8677$, while for $D_2$ compaction, coefficient of determination of the trend line was $R^2=0.9815$ when testing at a drop height of 20 cm. Free fall test was carried out with the drop height adjusted from 10 cm to 50 cm at increments of 10 cm. This study intends to compare and analyze the correlation between the degree of compaction obtained from the unit weight of soil test based on the sand cone method and the depth of penetration of the penetration needle obtained from the FFPT meter. As such, it is expected that a portable penetration tester will make it easy to test the degree of compaction at many construction sites, and will lead to a reduction in time, equipment, and manpower which are the disadvantages of the current degree of compaction test, ultimately contributing to accurate and simple measurements of the degree of compaction as well as greater economic feasibility.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.411-418
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• 2002

In domestic road construction sites, the compaction control based on strength are widely performed through the direct method with high accuracy, such as Plate Loading Test or Field CBR test. It is impossible to manage all construction sites using the direct method because the direct method requires heavy reaction loads and long measurement time. Therefore, it is necessary to apply the indirect method that could control the relative density of construction sites on the whole. Indirect methods, such as Cone Penetration Test and Fall Cone Test, require extra time for data analyzing and fixed area for test device. In this paper, the field applicability of Soil Impact Hammer (SIH) was investigated comparing with the results of field measurement tests and laboratory compaction tests. SIH developed by Japan Construction Administration and Asanuma Ltd., is a kind of indirect methods for compaction checking. According to the results of SIH performed in domestic road construction site, the subgrade reaction modulus obtained from SIH are similar to that from Plate loading tests in the range of 10 to 40. In comparison with laboratory compaction test, similar compaction line are shown in the dry side of optimum moisture contents.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.63-69
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• 2009

The undisturbed specimens used in this research were sampled in the field by the sequential sampling method. In addition, four testing methods were applied to identify for the characteristics and classification of weathered strata. N-value by standard penetration test was obtained from in the field and then analyzed using normalization method. Other methods such as X-ray grain size distribution, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy(XRF), and fall cone test were carried out in the lab. These analyzed results indicate that distribution of particle, composition of minerals are changed in accordance with the degree of weathering, unusual strata and depth. Consequently, the weathered strata can be extensively separated into two parts according to the test results and each part was shown different in the strata characteristics. It can be prospected that mechanical characteristics should be different, even though mechanical tests were not applied. Furthermore, these results not only make up for the error by one testing method but also contribute more effectively and economically to the design and the construction.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.47-59
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• 2017

This study aims to analyze geomorphologically Jaein Falls in Hantangang Lava Plateau for the landform structure, landform classification, falls dissection and recession. The height and recession length of the Falls are approximately 18m and 340m. after dissection valley arrive at area of the Jijangbong Volcanic Rock Complex of Mesozoic era, the fall will disappear. The structure of the dissection valley shows totally well vertical columnar joint near falls and plunge pool, colluvial talus deposits toward lower reach by the freezing-thawing and wet-dry activities, and alluvial cone and delta in estuary to Hantangang River. The Falls' age date and recession rate in the valley maybe relate to the age of the lava plateau. The estimated recession rate of the fall should be 8.75m/ka to 2.3m/ka, depending on the age 500ka to 40ka in lava plateau.