• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.545-552
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• 2018

Blast-induced ground vibrations by a significant amount of explosives may cause many problems for mining slope stability. Geological discontinuities have a significant influence on the transmission of dynamic pressure of detonation and according to their position relative to the slope face may have damaging or useful impacts on the slope stability. In this study, the effect of geological discontinuities was investigated by modelling a slope with geological discontinuities through applying the dynamic pressure in three-dimensional discrete element code (3DEC). The geological discontinuities in four states that generally apperceived in mine slopes are considered. Given the advantages of the pressure decay function defined by some researcher, this type of function was used to develop the pressure-time profile. The peak particle velocities (PPV) values were monitored along an axis by utilization of Fish programming language and the results were used as an indicator to measure the effects. As shown in the discontinuity-free model, PPV empirical models are reliable in rocks lacking discontinuities or tightly jointed rock masses. According to the other results, the empirical models cannot be used for the case where the rock mass contains discontinuities with any direction or dip. With regard to PPVs, when the direction of discontinuities is opposite to that of the slope face, the dynamic pressure of detonation is significantly damped toward the slope direction at the surface of discontinuities. On the other hand, when the discontinuities are horizontal, the dynamic pressure of detonation affects the rock mass to a large distance.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.535-544
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• 2007

Discontinuities developed in a sedimentary rock mass are the most important factor to determine mechanical properties of the rock mass. Parameters described discontinuities in rock mass generally connote heterogeneity and uncertainty. In this study, probabilistic statistics method was used to determine parameters of discontinuities quantitatively and objectively. The field survey was conducted at 33 sedimentary rock slopes in Ulsan area, according to the suggested methods for the quantitative description of discontinuities in rock mass(ISRM, 1978). The engineering geological characteristics of the sedimentary rocks at Ulsan area was determined as probability distribution function deduced by analyzing parameters of discontinuities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.87-92
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• 2002

Engineering geological studies were conducted for igneous rocks in southeast Korean peninsula. The purpose of the study is to establish zoning in view of engineering geology in ground construction. For engineering geological implication, lithology, lineament structure and discontinuities were surveyed and analysed. Using constructed data, We compared geological and engineering geological characteristics and made out the detailed engineering geological map. The map responses engineering characteristics such as weathering degrees, discontinuity systems of different rock types.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.03a
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• pp.339-346
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• 1999

The stability of rock slope is considered to have a deep relation with types of rocks because types of rocks have their own typical weathering profiles, geological structures and characteristics of failures. Therefore it is essential for the evaluation of rock slope stability to analyze geological and engineering characteristics in rock mass. The data which collected from investigated slopes in sedimentary rock of Kyengsang Basin along highways were analyzed. Primary factors affecting slope stability in rock mass are: dips and strikes of slopes and discontinuities, shear strength of discontinuities, slope geometry and geological structures etc.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 2004

We have examined the applicability of the triaxial drill-bit VSP method (TAD-VSP) to the geological survey of possible sites for a high-level radioactive waste disposal repository. The seismic energy generated by a drill bit is measured by a downhole multi-component detector, and the resulting signals are processed to image the geological structure deep underground. In order to apply the TAD-VSP method to civil-engineering-scale drilling, we have developed a small but highly sensitive and precise three-component downhole seismic measurement system, and recorded drill-bit signals at a granite quarry. We have successfully imaged discontinuities in the granite, possibly related to fractures, as highly reflective zones. The discontinuities imaged by the TAD-VSP method correlate well with the results of other borehole observations. In conclusion, the TAD-VSP method is usable in geological investigations for civil engineering because the equipment is compact and it is simple to acquire the drill-bit signal.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.463-478
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• 2021

The subjects of the study are the sedimentary rock slope of the Mesozoic Gyeongsang Supergroup, which has a high risk of failure. The orientation of the slope-face represents a variety of changing characteristics. The rocks of the slope shall be sandstone, siltstone and dacite, and discontinuities shall develop beddings, shear joints, extension joints, and dacite dyke boundary planes. The type and scale of failure varies depending on the type of rock and the strike/dip of the discontinuities, but the toppling failure prevails. Based on the face-mapping data, SMR, physical and mechanical testing of rocks, analysis and review of the stereonet projections and the critical equilibrium analysis, all four representative sections required a countermeasure method because the acceptable safety factor during dry and rainy seasons were far below Fs = 1.5 and Fs = 1.2. After applying the countermeasure method, both the dry and wet conditions of the slope exceeded the allowable safety factor. In particular, the face-mapping data of the slope-face, the geological cross-sections of several representative sections perpendicular to the slope-face, and the critical equilibrium analysis and the presentation of countermeasure methods that have been reviewed based on them are expected to be reasonable tools for the slope stability. In addition, it will be possible to use it as basic data for performance evaluation for slope maintenance.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.309-332
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• 2021

Natural barrier systems surrounding the geological repository for the high-level radioactive waste should guarantee the hydraulic performance for preventing or delaying the leakage of radionuclide. In the case of the behavior of a crystalline rock, the hydraulic performance tends to be decided by the existence of discontinuities, so the coupled hydro-mechanical(HM) processes on the discontinuities should be characterized. The discontinuum modelling can describe the complicated behavior of discontinuities including creation, propagation, deformation and slip, so it is appropriate to model the behavior of a crystalline rock. This paper investigated the coupled HM processes in discontinuum modelling such as UDEC, 3DEC, PFC, DDA, FRACOD and TOUGH-UDEC. Block-based discontinuum methods tend to describe the HM processes based on the fluid flow through the discontinuities, and some methods are combined with another numerical tool specialized in hydraulic analysis. Particle-based discontinuum modelling describes the overall HM processes based on the fluid flow among the particles. The discontinuum methods that are currently available have limitations: exclusive simulations for two-dimension, low hydraulic simulation efficiency, fracture-dominated fluid flow and simplified hydraulic analysis, so it could be improper to the modelling the geological repository. Based on the concepts of various discontinuum modelling compiled in this paper, the advanced numerical tools for describing the accurate coupled HM processes of the deep geological repository should be developed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.161-184
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• 2001

Rock masses usually contain such features as bedding planes, faults, fissures, fractures, joints and other mechanical defects which, although formed from a wide range of geological processes, posses the common characteristics of low shear strength, negligible tensile strength and high fluid conductivity compared with the surrounding rock material. In the engineering context here, the discontinuities can be the single most important factor governing the deformability, strength and permeability of the rock mass. Moreover, a particularly large and persistent discontinuity could critically affect the stability of any surface or underground excavation. For these reasons, it is necessary to develop a thorough understanding of the geometrical, mechanical and hydrological properties of discontinuities and the way in which these will affect rock mechanics and hence rock engineering.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.555-566
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• 2007

In general, RMR classification system is used for the support design of a tunnel. Face mapping during excavation and RMR-based rock classifications are conducted in order to provide information for complementary changes to preliminary survey plans and for continuous geological estimations in direction of tunnel route. Although they are ever so important, there are not enough time for survey in general and sometimes even face mapping is not available. Linear regression analysis for the estimation of mediating RQD and condition of discontinuities, which require longer time and more detailed observation in RMR, was performed and optimum regression equations are suggest as the result. The geological data collected from tunnels were analyzed in accordance with three rock types as sedimentary rock, phyllite and granite to see geological effects, generally not been considered in previous researches. Parameters for the regression analysis were set another RMR factor.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.12-20
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• 2011

The gravity measurement was conducted at 256 stations around Chungju Lake to study subsurface geological distributions and subterranean mass discontinuities by the results of gravity anomaly in Metamorphic Complex, Okcheon Group, Great Limestone Group of Choson Supergroup, and Cretaceous biotite granites. Okcheon Group showed a high Bouguer gravity anomaly while Great Limestone Group of Choson Supergroup relatively a low anomaly. The mean depth of subterranean mass discontinuities is about 2.0 km and downward along the Suchangri Formation from the Hwanggangri and Moonjuri formations. In general, Okcheon Group appeared shallower than the depth of Great Limestone Group of Choson Supergroup when imaging the subterranean mass discontinuities from the Bouguer gravity anomaly.