• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.25 no.2_spc
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• pp.16-27
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• 2020

Nitrate contamination has received much attention at local as well as regional scales. The domestic situation is not out of exception, and it has been reported to be very serious, particularly within agricultural areas as a result of excessive usage of nitrogen fertilizers. Meanwhile, nitrate can be naturally attenuated by denitrification in subsurface environments. The denitrification occurs through biotic (biological) and abiotic processes, and numerous previous studies preferentially focused the former. However, abiotic denitrification seems to be significant in specific environments. For this reason, this study reviewed the previous studies that focused on abiotic denitrification processes. Firstly, the current status of nitrate contamination in global and domestic scales is presented, and then the effect of geological media on denitrification is discussed while emphasizing the significance of abiotic processes. Finally, the implications of the literature review are presented, along with future research directions that warrant further investigations. The results of previous studies demonstrated that several geological agents could play a vital role in reducing nitrate. Iron-containing minerals such as pyrite, green rust, magnetite, and dissolved ferrous ion are known to be powerful electron donors triggering denitrification. In particular, it was proven that the rate of denitrification by green rust was comparative to that of biological denitrification. The results indicate that abiotic denitrification should be taken into account for more accurate evaluation of denitrification in subsurface environments.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.153-164
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• 2017

The geological factors for causing ground subsidence are very diverse. It can be affected by any geological or extrinsic influences, and even within the same geological factor, the soil depression impact factor can be determined by different physical properties. As a result of reviewing a large number of papers and case histories, it can be seen that there are seven categories of ground subsidence factors. The depth and thickness of the overburden can affect the subsidence depending on the existence of the cavity, whereas the depth and orientation of the boundary between soil and rock are dominant factors in the ground composed of soil and rock. In case of soil layers, more various influencing factors exist such as type of soil, shear strength, relative density and degree of compaction, dry unit weight, water content, and liquid limit. The type of rock, distance from the main fracture and RQD can be influential factors in the bedrock. When approaching from the hydrogeological point of view, the rainfall intensity, the distance and the depth from the main channel, the coefficient of permeability and fluctuation of ground water level can influence to ground subsidence. It is also possible that the ground subsidence can be affected by external factors such as the depth of excavation and distance from the earth retaining wall, groundwater treatment methods at excavation work, and existence of artificial facilities such as sewer pipes. It is estimated that to evaluate the ground subsidence factor during the construction of underground structures in urban areas will be essential. It is expected that ground subsidence factors examined in this study will contribute for the reliable evaluation of the ground subsidence risk.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.277-294
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• 2012

The characteristics of temporal spacial radon variation in soil according to parent rock type and affecting factors were studied in Busan, Korea. The concentration of $^{222}Rn$ in soils and their parent elements ($^{226}Ra$,$^{228}Ra$, U and Th) in rocks and soils were measured at 24 sites in Busan area. The distribution and transportation behavior of these parent elements were analyzed and their correlations to radon concentration in soil were determined. Topographic effects were also evaluated. Two in-situ radon measurement (soil probe and buried tube) methods were applied to measure radon concentration in soil and their accuracies were evaluated. The spatial variation of radon in soil generally reflected U concentration in the parent rock. Average radon concentrations were higher in plutonic rocks than in volcanic rocks and were decreased in the order of felsic>intermediate>mafic rock. However, the radon concentrations were significantly varied in soils developed from same parent rocks due to the disequilibrium of U and $^{226}Ra$ between rock and soil. As results, the correlation of these element concentrations between rocks and soils was very low and radon concentrations in soils had highly co-related to the concentrations of these elements in soils. Th and $^{228}Ra$ show complex enrichment characteristics, differing significantly with U, in soils developed from same parent rock because the geochemical behavior of these elements during weathering and soil developing process was different with U. The radon concentrations in the same depth of soil in slope area were also different according to positions. The radon concentrations in soils developed from same parent rocks (19 sites at Pusan National University) varied 6.8~29.8Bq/L range because of small scale topographic variation. The opposite seasonal variation pattern of radon were observed according to soil properties. It was determined that buried tube method is more accurate method than soil probe method and was very advantageous application for the analysis for the characteristics of temporal spacial radon variation in soil.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.475-488
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• 2017

Geotechnical data contributes substantially to the cost of engineering projects due to increasing cost of site investigations. Existing information in the form of soil maps can save considerable time and expenses while deciding the scope and extent of site exploration for a proposed project site. This paper presents spatial interpolation of data obtained from soil investigation reports of different construction sites and development of soil maps for geotechnical characterization of Multan area using ArcGIS. The subsurface conditions of the study area have been examined in terms of soil type and standard penetration resistance. The Inverse Distance Weighting method in the Spatial Analyst extension of ArcMap10 has been employed to develop zonation maps at different depths of the study area. Each depth level has been interpolated as a surface to create zonation maps for soil type and standard penetration resistance. Correlations have been presented based on linear regression of standard penetration resistance values with depth for quick estimation of strength and stiffness of soil during preliminary planning and design stage of a proposed project in the study area. Such information helps engineers to use data derived from nearby sites or sites of similar subsoils subjected to similar geological process to build a preliminary ground model for a new site. Moreover, reliable information on geometry and engineering properties of underground layers would make projects safer and economical.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.535-542
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• 2000

The investigated cut-slope is located in Odong-Ri, Hoebuk-Myun, Boeun-Gun and composed of quartzite and phyllitic rocks (approximately 80 meters in length and 25 meters in height). During the investigation, the groundwater which was inferred to the natural pipe of slope was continuously flowing in the upper part of slope. The investigation for discontinuity properties in this area was carried out to decide the rock mass rating and strength parameters. To analyze the stability of cut-slope, lower equal-area hemisphere projection method was used. And laboratory test was done to evaluate engineering properties of soil which was sampled in the non-failure and failure area The inferred causes of cut-slope failure are the geometric relationship between the orientation of cut-slope and geological structures such as joints, faults which is distributed in the slope. And direct cause of failure is the increase of water content due to the heavy rainfall.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.217-227
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to analyze the correlation of soil properties in coastal soft ground. For the purpose of this study, several coastal soft ground areas were selected. Many large scale construction works are being executed and will increase continuously in these soft ground areas. So, soil property in these areas is very important. The grounds forming coastal areas are affected by seawater movement. So, most of these areas consist of alluvium stratum. Therefore, soil properties of eastern and southern coastal areas are very complex. Many laboratory tests were executed with disturbed and undisturbed soil samples. Undisturbed samples were taken by using thin walled tubes and transported into the laboratory with caution, so as not to disturb the sample. The consistent rate of fine-grained content in these areas is over 90%. Also, these areas contain higher water content and clay content. Therefore, knowing these soil properties, it is possible to safely design fabrics and constructions.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.313-322
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• 2011

On September 2007, numerous slopes at Jeonranam-Do collapsed as a result of rainfall related to Typhoon Nari. Failure occurred at a road cut-slope on the ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ detour road, damaging transport infrastructure. This study aims to determine the cause of failure based on field investigations, the geotechnical properties of soil, clay mineral composition, and quantitative analysis. The studied cut slope consists of weathered soil that originated from volcanic rocks, and minor faults and a mafic dyke. Surface water tends to seep into the soil because the roadway is not sealed and because of poorly installed drainage. Sieve and XRD analyses indicate that soils in the failure zone are ML and CH, which are prone to swelling due to the presence of clay minerals such as smectite and vermiculite. The slope failed due to the improper construction of drainage facilities, the presence of geological weak zones, and high soil contents of swelling clay.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.101-113
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• 2001

Structural and geological engineering properties of the rock mass distributed in the Yokmang mountain area were investigated to detenninc the usable cut-out volume and quarrying efficiency. The study area is located in the southern tip of the Yangsan fault system which controls the geological structure of the Kvungsang basin. As a result, the study area is mainly composed of andesicic. rhyolitic. and granitic rocks of the Cretaceous Kyungsang Supergroup and a series of right-handed strike-slip faults is developed along NNE-SSW direction. These regional faults significantly affect the spatial and meclwnical characteristics of joints such as spacing, frequency, and compressive strength. The joint frequency is highest along the fault zones and decreases toward the remote region. Based on the geological information obtained from the field survey, the detailed structure of the Yokmang mountain was analyzed and the volume of the rock mass was assessed. Considering the minimum rock block size required for the construction of a coastal dumping site, potential cut-out volume is then estimated to be 4,018,000m$^3$ the volume % of which is 48% of Yokmang mountain including the soil and weathered rock and 61% of the unweathered rock mass.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.577-590
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• 2024

With increasing demand for nuclear power generation, nuclear structures are being planned and constructed worldwide. A grave safety concern is that these structures are sensitive to large-magnitude shaking, e.g., during earthquakes. Seismic response analysis, which requires P- and S-wave velocities, is a key element in nuclear structure design. Accordingly, it is important to determine the P- and S-wave velocities in the Gyeongju and Pohang regions of South Korea, which are home to nuclear power plants and have a history of seismic activity. P- and S-wave velocities can be obtained indirectly through a correlation with physical properties (e.g., N values, Young's modulus, and uniaxial compressive strength), and researchers worldwide have proposed regression equations. However, the Gyeongju and Pohang regions of Korea have not been considered in previous studies. Therefore, a database was constructed for these regions. The database includes physical properties such as N values and P- and S-wave velocities of the soil layer, as well as the uniaxial compressive strength, Young's modulus, and P- and S-wave velocities of the bedrock layer. Using the constructed database, the geological characteristics and distribution of physical properties of the study region were analyzed. Furthermore, models for predicting P- and S-wave velocities were developed for soil and bedrock layers in the Gyeongju and Pohang regions. In particular, the model for predicting the S-wave velocity for the soil layers was compared with models from previous studies, and the results indicated its effectiveness in predicting the S-wave velocity for the soil layers in the Gyeongju and Pohang regions using the N values. The proposed models for predicting P- and S-wave velocities will contribute to predicting the damage caused by earthquakes.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2010

The soil tests have been performed on the specimens obtained from about 1,150 sites including landslides and non-landslides areas in natural terrains for last 10 years. Based on the results of those tests, the average soil properties are estimated and the simple equations for estimating permeability are proposed according to geologic conditions. The average permeability in Granite and Mudstone sites is higher than other sites and the content of silt and clay in Mudstone and Gneiss sites is higher than other sites. The correlation analysis and the regression analysis were performed to estimate the coefficient of permeability according to geological conditions. As the result of the correlation analysis, the coefficient of permeability is selected as a dependent variable, and the silt and clay contents, the water contents and the dry unit weights are selected as independent variables. As the result of the regression analysis, the silt and clay contents and the void ratio were involved commonly in the linear regression equations according to geological conditions. To verify the proposed the linear regression equations, the measured result of the coefficient of permeability at other sites was compared with the result predicted with the proposed equations. As the result of comparison, there were a little bit different between them for some data. However the difference was relatively small. Therefore, the linear regression equations for estimating the coefficient of permeability according to geological conditions may be applied to Korean soils. However, these equations should be verified and corrected continuously to improve the accuracy.