• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.111-119
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• 2019

The high-speed railway system is mainly composed of tunnel, bridge, and viaduct to meet the straightness needed for keeping the high speed up to 400 km/s. Seismic fragility for the high-speed railway infrastructure can be assessed as two ways: one way is studying each element of infrastructure analytically or numerically, but it requires lots of research efforts due to wide range of railway system. On the other hand, empirical method can be used to access the fragility of an entire system efficiently, which requires case history data. In this study, we collect the 2004 M_W 6.6 Niigata earthquake case history data to develop empirical seismic fragility function for a railway system. Five types of intensity measures (IMs) and damage levels are assigned to all segments of target system for which the unit length is 200 m. From statistical analysis, probability of exceedance for a certain damage level (DL) is calculated as a function of IM. For those probability data points, log-normal CDF is fitted using MLE method, which forms fragility function for each damage level of exceedance. Evaluating fragility functions calculated, we observe that T=3.0 spectral acceleration (SA_T3.0) is superior to other IMs, which has lower standard deviation of log-normal CDF and low error of the fit. This indicates that long-period ground motion has more impacts on railway infrastructure system such as tunnel and bridge. It is observed that when SA_T3.0 = 0.1 g, P(DL>1) = 2%, and SA_T3.0 = 0.2 g, P(DL>1) = 23.9%.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.169-193
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• 2016

In order to characterize the Neotectonic crustal deformation and current stress field in and around the Korean Peninsula and to interpret their tectonic implications, this paper synthetically analyzes the previous Quaternary fault and focal mechanism solution data and recent geotechnical in-situ stress data and examines the characteristics of crustal deformations and tectonic settings in and around East Asia after the Miocene. Most of the Quaternary fault outcrops in SE Korea occur along major inherited fault zones and show a NS-striking top-to-the-west thrust geometry, indicating that the faults were produced by local reactivation of appropriately oriented preexisting weaknesses under EW-trending pure compressional stress field. The focal mechanism solutions in and around the Korean Peninsula disclose that strike-slip faulting containing some reverse-slip component and reverse-slip faulting are significantly dominant on land and in sea area, respectively. The P-axes are horizontally clustered in ENE-WSW direction, whereas the T-axes are girdle-distributed in NNW direction. The geotechnical in-situ stress data in South Korea also indicate the ENE-trending maximum horizontal stress. The current crustal deformation in the Korean Peninsula is thus characterized by crustal contraction under regional ENE-WSW or E-W compression stress field. Based on the regional stress trajectories in and around East Asia, the current stress regime is interpreted to have resulted from the cooperation of westward shallow subduction of the Pacific Plate and collision of Indian and Eurasian continents, whereas the Philippine Sea plate have not a decisive effect on the stress-regime in the Korean Peninsula due to its high-angle subduction that resulted in dominant crust extension of the back-arc region. It is also interpreted that the Neotectonic crustal deformation and present-day tectonic setting of East Asia commenced with the change of the Pacific Plate motion during 5~3.2 Ma.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.5-19
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• 2019

Considering the natural phenomenon in which steep slopes ($65^{\circ}{\sim}85^{\circ}$) consisting of rock mass remain stable for decades, slopes steeper than 1:0.5 (the standard of slope angle for blast rock) may be applied in geotechnical conditions which are similar to those above at the design and initial construction stages. In the process of analysing the stability of a good to fair continuum rock slope that can be designed as a steep slope, a general method of estimating rock mass strength properties from design practice perspective was required. Practical and genealized engineering methods of determining the properties of a rock mass are important for a good continuum rock slope that can be designed as a steep slope. The Genealized Hoek-Brown (H-B) failure criterion and GSI (Geological Strength Index), which were revised and supplemented by Hoek et al. (2002), were assessed as rock mass characterization systems fully taking into account the effects of discontinuities, and were widely utilized as a method for calculating equivalent Mohr-Coulomb shear strength (balancing the areas) according to stress changes. The concept of calculating equivalent M-C shear strength according to the change of confining stress range was proposed, and on a slope, the equivalent shear strength changes sensitively with changes in the maximum confining stress (${{\sigma}^{\prime}}_{3max}$ or normal stress), making it difficult to use it in practical design. In this study, the method of estimating the strength properties (an iso-angle division method) that can be applied universally within the maximum confining stress range for a good to fair continuum rock mass slope is proposed by applying the H-B failure criterion. In order to assess the validity and applicability of the proposed method of estimating the shear strength (A), the rock slope, which is a study object, was selected as the type of rock (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary) on the steep slope near the existing working design site. It is compared and analyzed with the equivalent M-C shear strength (balancing the areas) proposed by Hoek. The equivalent M-C shear strength of the balancing the areas method and iso-angle division method was estimated using the RocLab program (geotechnical properties calculation software based on the H-B failure criterion (2002)) by using the basic data of the laboratory rock triaxial compression test at the existing working design site and the face mapping of discontinuities on the rock slope of study area. The calculated equivalent M-C shear strength of the balancing the areas method was interlinked to show very large or small cohesion and internal friction angles (generally, greater than $45^{\circ}$). The equivalent M-C shear strength of the iso-angle division is in-between the equivalent M-C shear properties of the balancing the areas, and the internal friction angles show a range of $30^{\circ}$ to $42^{\circ}$. We compared and analyzed the shear strength (A) of the iso-angle division method at the study area with the shear strength (B) of the existing working design site with similar or the same grade RMR each other. The application of the proposed iso-angle division method was indirectly evaluated through the results of the stability analysis (limit equilibrium analysis and finite element analysis) applied with these the strength properties. The difference between A and B of the shear strength is about 10%. LEM results (in wet condition) showed that Fs (A) = 14.08~58.22 (average 32.9) and Fs (B) = 18.39~60.04 (average 32.2), which were similar in accordance with the same rock types. As a result of FEM, displacement (A) = 0.13~0.65 mm (average 0.27 mm) and displacement (B) = 0.14~1.07 mm (average 0.37 mm). Using the GSI and Hoek-Brown failure criterion, the significant result could be identified in the application evaluation. Therefore, the strength properties of rock mass estimated by the iso-angle division method could be applied with practical shear strength.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.35-42
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• 2016

There are many reclamation projects domestically and internationally which requires large quantity of reclaimable materials. To provide enough reclaimable soils which are limited in land, there have been various research focusing on the dredged soils in the marine environments. As a part of this research, a GIS based 3D dredging reclamation visualization program was developed for the volume estimation of dredged soils in 2015. The developed program is based on the digitized spatial information of the site investigation data with a consideration of the reliability of the data. Prior to the validation with the comparisons with the actual dredged volume measurement data, the developed program was compared with the commercial 3D visualization program with 3D visualized results from the test site near the Gunjang harbor. The validation of the developed program was performed in terms of the degree of visualized precision, the sectional and profiling of soil layers and the dredged volume estimation results. Based on the comparisons, both commercial and developed program show similar dredged volume with minor discrepancies in soil layers.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.08a
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• pp.48-64
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• 1999

For quantitative evaluation of geotechnical engineering properties such as rippability and diggability, clear interpretation on the subsurface velocity structures should be preceded by figuring out top soil, weathered and soft rock layers, shape of basement, fracture zones, geologic boundary and etc. from the seismic refraction data. It is very important to set up suitable field parameters, which are the configuration of profile and its length, spacings of geophones and sources and topographic conditions, for increasing field data quality Geophone spacing of 3 to 5m is recommended in the land slope area for house land development and 5 to 10m in the tunnel site. In refraction tomography technique, the number of source points should be more than a half of available channel number of instrument, which can make topographic effect ignorable. Compared with core logging data, it is shown that the velocity range of the soil is less than 700m/s, weathered rock 700${\~}$1,200m/s, soft rock 1,200${\~}$1,800m/s. And the upper limit of P-wave velocity for rippability is estimated 1,200 to 1,800m/s in land slope area of gneiss. In case of tunnel site, it is recommended in tunnel design and construction to consider that tunnel is in contact with soft rock layer where three lineaments intersecting each other are recognized from the results of the other survey.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.163-174
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• 2001

For quantitative evaluation of geotechnical engineering properties such as rippability and diggability, clear interpretation on the subsUJiace velocity structures should be preceded by figuring out top soil, weathered and soft rock layers, shape of basement, fracture zones, geologic boundary and etC. from the seismic refraction data. It is very important to set up suitable field parameters, which are the configuration of profile and its length, spacings of geophones and sources and topographic conditions, for increasing field data Quality. Geophone spacing of 3 to 5m is reconunended in the land slope area of house land development site. In refraction tomography technique, the number of source points should be more than a Cluarter of available channel number of instrument and the subsurface structure interpretation can be decreased the artifact of inversion by topographic effect. Compared with core logging data, it is shown that the velocity range of the soil is less than 700m/s, weathered rock 700~1,200m/s, soft rock 1,200~1,800m/s on the velocity tomogram section. And the upper limit of P-wave velocity for rippability is estimated 1,200 to 1,800m/s in land slope area of gneiss.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.11-22
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• 2019

This study was conducted to identify the causes of the unusually high number of rock slope failures during an expressway construction in Yangsan fault system. The shear strength (cohesion and internal friction angle) of 128 slopes of discontinuities including bedding, joint, and fault planes were re-evaluated through the examination of face mapping and back analysis. The re-evaluated values were analyzed and then compared with the existing data and values used in the design. As a result, the re-evaluated cohesion and friction angles were very low compared to the existing data and the values applied in the design. This incongruity was pointed as the primary reason for the rock slopes failures during the construction. This may be related to the inherent features of clastic sedimentary rocks in the study area, and the discontinuities in the sedimentary rocks in this region played a significant role. Especially, bedding discontinuity showed a big difference compared to the existing data. The shear strength depended on the type of discontinuity in case of clay filled in discontinuity. However, shear strength was independent on the type of discontinuity in case of shattered materials filled in discontinuity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.02a
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• pp.32-41
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• 2000

Sand drain as a vertical drainage is widely used in soft ground improvement Recently, sand, the principal source of sand drain, is running out. The laboratory model tests were carried out to utilize gravel as a substitute for sand. Though which the characteristics of gravel are compared to those of sand for engineering purpose. Two cylindrical containers for the model test were filled with marine clayey soil from the west coast of Korea with a column in the center, one with sand, the other with gravel. Vibrating wire type piezometers were installed at the distance of 1.0D, 1.5D and 2.0D from the center of the column. The characteristics of consolidation were studied with data obtained from the measuring instrument place on the surface of the container. The parameter study was performed on the marine clayey soil before and after the test in order to verify the effectiveness of the improvement. The clogging effect was checked at various depth in gravel column after the test. In-situ tests area was divided into two areas by material used. One is Sand Drain(SD) and Sand Compaction Pile(SCP) area, the other is Gravel Drain(GD) and Gravel Compaction Pile(GCP) area. Both areas were monitored to obtain the information on settlement, pore water pressure and bearing capacity by measuring instruments for stage loading caused by embankment. The results of measurements were analyzed. According to the test results, the settlement was found to be smaller in gravel drain than in sand drain. The increase in bearing capacity by gravel pile explains the result. The clogging effect was not found in gravel column. It is assumed that gravel is relatively acceptable as a drainage material. Gravel is considered to be a better material than sand for bearing capacity, and it is found that bearing capacity is larger when gravel is used as a gravel compaction pile than as a gravel drain.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.849-862
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• 2017

With growing interests in using bacterial biopolymers in geotechnical practices, identifying mechanical properties of soft gel-like biopolymers is important in predicting their efficacy in soil modification and treatment. As one of the promising candidates, dextran was found to be produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The model bacteria utilize sucrose as working material and synthesize both soluble and insoluble dextran which forms a complex and inhomogeneous polymer network. However, the traditional rheometer has a limitation to capture in situ properties of inherently porous and inhomogeneous biopolymers. Therefore, we used the particle tracking microrheology to characterize the material properties of the dextran polymer. TEM images revealed a range of pore size mostly less than $20{\mu}m$, showing large pores > $2{\mu}m$ and small pores within the solid matrix whose sizes are less than $1{\mu}m$. Microrheology data showed two distinct regimes in the bacterial dextran, purely viscous pore region of soluble dextran and viscoelastic region of the solid part of insoluble dextran matrix. Diffusive beads represented the soluble dextran dissolved in an aqueous phase, of which viscosity was three times higher than the growth medium viscosity. The local properties of the insoluble dextran were extracted from the results of the minimally moving beads embedded in the dextran matrix or trapped in small pores. At high frequency (${\omega}>0.2Hz$), the insoluble dextran showed the elastic behavior with the storage modulus of ~0.1 Pa. As frequency decreased, the insoluble dextran matrix exhibited the viscoelastic behavior with the decreasing storage modulus in the range of ${\sim}0.1-10^{-3}Pa$ and the increasing loss modulus in the range of ${\sim}10^{-4}-1\;Pa$. The obtained results provide a compilation of frequency-dependent rheological or viscoelastic properties of soft gel-like porous biopolymers at the particular conditions where soil bacteria produce bacterial biopolymers in subsurface.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.193-205
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• 2003

Fine grained granite, porphyritic granite and biotite granite together with intruded and extruded andesitic rocks are distributed in the study area which is bounded by the Yangsan and Dongrae faults. A new domestic road is being constructed along the area between the two major faults. The NNE trending Bupki fault and NE trending Myungkog fault are also developed within the area cross the road. The sheeting joints with dips of less than 30 degrees are only developed in the area of granite outcrop. High angle joints can be divided into 3 sets, such as, NE trending, NW trending and nearly EW trending joints. The joint space is mostly more than 20cm and the joint compressive strength is more than 100 MPa. These data show that even though the study area is situated between large faults, the ground condition is good because the damage zone of the Yangsan and Dongrae faults is relatively narrow.