• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2002

Stability analysis of rocky embankment slopes is done by both the limit equilibrium method and the finite difference method. The height or the rocky embankment is approximately 40 m and the side slope is 1 vertical to 1.5 horizontal. The cohesion and internal friction angle of rock debris are assumed zero and 43$^{\circ}$, respectively. For finite difference analysis, strength reduction method is used to calculate the saft factor of the slope. As a result, the safety factor of the slope is discovered to be 1.4 by using either methods. Considering that the design criteria of the safety factor is 1.3, it can be judged that the rock fragments embankment slope is in a stable state.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.127-139
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• 2019

Available methods to determine the ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations may not be accurate enough owing to the complicated failure mechanism and diversity of the underlying soils. Accordingly, applying new methods of artificial intelligence can improve the prediction of the ultimate bearing capacity. The M5' model tree and the genetic programming are two robust artificial intelligence methods used for prediction purposes. The model tree is able to categorize the data and present linear models while genetic programming can give nonlinear models. In this study, a combination of these methods, called the M5'-GP approach, is employed to predict the ultimate bearing capacity of the shallow foundations, so that the advantages of both methods are exploited, simultaneously. Factors governing the bearing capacity of the shallow foundations, including width of the foundation (B), embedment depth of the foundation (D), length of the foundation (L), effective unit weight of the soil (${\gamma}$) and internal friction angle of the soil (${\varphi}$) are considered for modeling. To develop the new model, experimental data of large and small-scale tests were collected from the literature. Evaluation of the new model by statistical indices reveals its better performance in contrast to both traditional and recent approaches. Moreover, sensitivity analysis of the proposed model indicates the significance of various predictors. Additionally, it is inferred that the new model compares favorably with different models presented by various researchers based on a comprehensive ranking system.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.161-175
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• 2016

A series of experimental studies are conducted on the deformation and shear strength property of compacted loess. The results reveal that the relationships of both the initial moisture content (w) and the initial degree of compaction (K) of compacted loess with cohesion (w) and the angle of internal friction (${\varphi}$) are linear. The relationship between the secant modulus ($E_{soi}$) and K is also linear. The relationship between $E_{soi}$ and w can be fitted well by a second-order polynomial. Further, when the influences of w and K are ignored, the relationship between the confined compression strain (${\varepsilon}$) and vertical pressure (p) can be expressed by a formula. A correction formula for the deformation of compacted loess caused by a change in w and K is derived on the basis of the study results.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.99-115
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• 2014

Uncertainties in design variables and design equations have a significant impact on the safety of geotechnical structures like retaining walls and slopes. This paper presents a possible framework for obtaining the partial safety factors based on reliability approach for different random variables affecting the stability of a reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall and a slope under static loading conditions. Reliability analysis is carried out by Mean First Order Second Moment Method, Point Estimate Method, Monte Carlo Simulation and Response Surface Methodology. A target reliability index ${\beta}$ = 3 is set and partial safety factors for each random variable are calculated based on different coefficient of variations of the random variables. The study shows that although deterministic analysis reveals a safety factor greater than 1.5 which is considered to be safe in conventional approach, reliability analysis indicates quite high failure probability due to variation of soil properties. The results also reveal that a higher factor of safety is required for internal friction angle ${\varphi}$, while almost negligible values of safety factors are required for soil unit weight ${\gamma}$ in case of cantilever retaining wall and soil unit weight ${\gamma}$ and cohesion c in case of slope. Importance of partial safety factors is shown by analyzing two simple geotechnical structures. However, it can be applied for any complex system to achieve economization.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.283-293
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• 2019

Evaluating the stability of the excavation face of the cross-river shield tunnel with good accuracy is considered as a nonlinear and multivariable complex issue. Understanding the stability evaluation method of the shield tunnel excavation face is vital to operate and control the shield machine during shield tunneling. Considering the instability mechanism of the excavation face of the cross-river shield and the characteristics of this engineering, seven evaluation indexes of the stability of the excavation face were selected, i.e., the over-span ratio, buried depth of the tunnel, groundwater condition, soil permeability, internal friction angle, soil cohesion and advancing speed. The weight of each evaluation index was obtained by using the analytic hierarchy process and the entropy weight method. The evaluation model of the cross-river shield construction excavation face stability is established based on the idea point method. The feasibility of the evaluation model was verified by the engineering application in a cross-river shield tunnel project in China. Results obtained via the evaluation model are in good agreement with the actual construction situation. The proposed evaluation method is demonstrated as a promising and innovative method for the stability evaluation and safety construction of the cross-river shield tunnel engineerings.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.41-47
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• 2019

This paper deals with the reliability analysis of foundation for an offshore wind turbine system. Reliability analyses were carried out for suction bucket foundation considering the uncertainties in soil and structural parameters. In reliability analysis, the vertical and lateral resistances are defined as base limit states. The case studies were carried out using the preliminarily designed foundations at western-south mainland sea of Korea. From reliability analyses, vertical resistance for free-slip condition has overall lower reliability index, and submerged unit weight and internal friction angle of seabed soil are governing factors in vertical and lateral resistance in this case.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.419-430
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• 2021

Investigation on the compressibility and shear strength of compacted loess is of great importance for the design and operation of engineering infrastructures in filling area. In this study, the mechanical behaviors of Yan'an compacted loess are investigated at various dry densities and water contents by conducting one dimensional compression and direct shear tests. And the elastic compressibility, plastic compressibility, yield stress and strength are obtained from the experiments. Results show that when water content increases, plastic compressibility parameter increases, but yield stress decreases. However, the increase of dry density leads to a decrease in plastic compressibility parameter but an increase in yield stress. In addition, elastic compressibility parameter is found to be a constant which is irrelevant to water content and dry density. As for strength, cohesion and internal friction angle is directly proportional to dry density, but inversely proportional to water content. Moreover, the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests were also performed to observe the pore size distribution and microstructure of the specimens. Finally, by using results of MIP and SEM tests, the compressibility and strength behaviours of Yan'an compacted loess are explained from the perspective of pore-size distribution and microstructure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.573-582
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• 2021

From the effect of bound water, this study aims to seek the potential reasons for difference of mechanical experiment results of subgrades soils. To attain the comparatively test condition of bound water, dry forming (DF) and wet forming (WF) were used in the specimen forming process before testing, series of laboratory tests, i.e., CBR tests, direct shear tests and compaction tests. The measured optimal moisture contents, maximum dry densities, CBR, cohesion c, and internal friction angle 𝜑 were given contrastive analysis. Then to detect the adsorptive bound water in the subgrade soils, the thermal gravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) test were employed under different heating rates. The free water, loosely bound water and tightly bound water in soils were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. It was found that due to the different dehydration mechanics, the lost bound water in DF and WF process show their own characteristics. This may lead to the different mechanical properties of tested soils. The clayey particles have a great influence on the bound water adsorbed ability of subgrade soils. The more the clay content, the greater the difference of mechanical properties tested between the two forming methods. Moreover, in highway construction of southern China, the wet forming method is recommended for its higher authenticity in simulating the subgrade filed humidity.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.473-480
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• 2023

Acid rain of soils has a significant impact on mechanical properties. An X-ray diffraction test, scanning electron microscope (SEM) test, laser particle size analysis test, and triaxial unconsolidated undrained (UU) test were carried out in red clay soils with different compaction degrees under the effect of different concentrations of acid. The experiments demonstrated that: the dissolution effect of acid rain on colluvium weakened with the increase in the compacting degree under the condition of certain pH values, i.e., the damage to the structure of red clay soil was relatively light, where the number of newly increased pores in the soil decreased and the agglomeration of soil particles increased; for the same compacting degree, the structural gap decreased, and the agglomeration increased with the increase in the pH value (acidity decreases) of the acid rain; the dissolution rate of Si, Al, Fe, and other elemental minerals and cement in red clay soil was found to be higher under the effect of acid rain, in turn destroying the original structure of the soil body and producing a large number of pores. This is macroscopically expressed as the decrease of the soil cohesion and internal friction angle, thereby reducing the shear strength of the soil body.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.379-387
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• 2010

In this study, a case study was introduced for the design of a twin tunnel along high speed national highway Route 12 from Damyang to Sungsan. It was related to determine the optimal tunnel support pattern and excavation method based on a risk analysis in order to incorporate the uncertainty of ground properties. To this end, three alternatives with different amounts of support and excavation method were selected and risk analysis was performed by applying Monte Carlo simulation technique, respectively. Stability of the tunnel was quantified by the factor of safety. To improve the result, the 729 cases of the combination of ground properties (deformation modulus, cohesion, and internal friction angle) satisfying a Gaussian distribution were generated and applied. Also, stability of the tunnel was confirmed by analyzing the distribution of both displacement and shotcrete bending stress.