• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.605-618
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• 2001

For the mechanical stability assessment of a deep underground high-level waste repository. computer simulations using FLAC3D were carried out and important parameters including stress ratio, depth, tunnel size, joint spacing, and joint properties were chosen from sensitivity analysis. The main effect as well as the interaction effect between the important parameters could be investigated effectively using fractional factorial design . In order to analyze the stability of the disposal tunnel and deposition hole in a discontinuous rock mass, different modelings were performed under different conditions using 3DEC and the influence of joint distribution and properties, rock properties and stress ratio could be determined. From the three dimensional modelings, it was concluded that the conceptual repository design was mechanically stable even in a discontinuous rock mass.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.50-65
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• 2011

Analysis of correlation and behavior characteristics at elastic wave velocity have studied on Korean rock data after checking population size and Chi-square method. Behavior characteristics are quite different from each rock and mechanical parameters at elastic wave velocity. This study shows it is necessary to analize correlation to rock behavior characteristics for correct answer from natural rock.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.501-518
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• 2019

The rock properties measured under in-situ geological condition can be used to increase the reliability in numerical simulations with regard to the long-term performance of a high-level waste repository. In this study, the change in mechanical properties of KURT (Korea atomic energy research institute Underground Research Tunnel) granite was evaluated under the simulated THM (Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical) coupled condition due to a deep geological formation in the disposal repository. The rock properties such as uniaxial compression strength, indirect tensile strength, elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio were measured under the coupled test conditions (M, HM, TM, THM). It was found that the mechanical properties of KURT granite is more susceptible to the change in saturation rather than temperature within the test condition of this study. The changes in uniaxial compression strength and indirect tensile strength from the rock samples of dried or saturated conditions showed the maximum relative error of about 20% and 13% respectively under the constant temperature condition. Therefore, it is necessary to use the material properties of rock measured under the coupled THM condition as input parameters for the numerical simulation of long-term performance assessment of a disposal repository

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.499-511
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• 2015

The creep property of salt rock significantly influences the long-term stability of the salt rock underground storage. Triaxial creep tests were performed to investigate the creep behavior of salt rock. The test results indicate that the creep of salt rock has a nonlinear characteristic, which is related to stress level and creep time. The higher the stress level, the longer the creep time, the more obvious the nonlinear characteristic will be. The elastic modulus of salt rock decreases with the prolonged creep time, which shows that the creep damage is produced for the gradual expansion of internal cracks, defects, etc., causing degradation of mechanical properties; meanwhile, the creep rate of salt rock also decreases with the prolonged creep time in the primary creep stage, which indicates that the mechanical properties of salt rock are hardened and strengthened. That is to say, damage and hardening exist simultaneously during the creep of salt rock. Both the damage effect and the hardening effect are considered, an improved Maxwell creep model is proposed by connecting an elastic body softened over time with a viscosity body hardened over time in series, and the creep equation of which is deduced. Creep test data of salt rock are used to evaluate the reasonability and applicability of the improved Maxwell model. The fitting curves are in excellent agreement with the creep test data, and compared with the classical Burgers model, the improved Maxwell model is able to precisely predict the long-term creep deformation of salt rock, illustrating our model can perfectly describe the creep property of salt rock.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.241-251
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• 2010

The polar region is in the limelight for an academic worth as well as plenty of natural resources. The study on the polar region was reviewed for better understanding of the polar region and its rock properties. The antarctica has a windy and dry climate along with the lowest temperature on the earth. The thermal distribution according to depth in the area was reported: The freezing-thawing process was repeated in shallow depth, and the temperature falls down below zero under the specific depth. There is a great temperature difference between the atmosphere and rock. A research reported for the degree of weathering of the antarctic slope by using Schmidt hammer and Taffoni test. The rock specimens weathered by repeated freezing-thawing process were tested of the shore hardness and uniaxial compressive strength: The rock strength gradually decreased as the freezing-thawing process was repeated. The comprehensive mechanical properties of the polar region rocks and the relationship between the laboratory weathering test result and the real rock property change in the site remain as future research topics.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.535-547
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• 2022

Failure patterns of rock specimens represent valuable information about the mechanical properties and crack evolution mechanism of rock. Several kinds of research have been conducted regarding the failure mechanism of brittle material, however; the influence of brittleness on the failure mechanism of rock specimens has not been precisely considered. In the present study, experimental and numerical examinations have been made to evaluate the physical and mechanical phenomena associated with rock failure mechanisms through the uniaxial compression test. In the experimental part, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests equipped with Acoustic Emission (AE) have been conducted on rock samples with three different brittleness. Then, the numerical models have been calibrated based on experimental test results for further investigation and comparing the micro-cracking process in experimental and numerical models. It can be perceived that the failure mode of specimens with high brittleness is tensile axial splitting, based on the experimental evidence of rock specimens with different brittleness. Also, the crack growth mechanism of the rock specimens with various brittleness using discrete element modeling in the numerical part suggested that the specimens with more brittleness contain more tensile fracture during the loading sequences.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.33-43
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• 2004

The six grades weathering system is normally used in weathered rock classification. In this study. fresh and weathered rock block of grade I to V were sampled in Jang-soo ana but samples of the grade VI was omitted from this study. The variation quantities of chemical weathering indices with weathering degree are smaller than those of physical and mechanical properties. Increase of Weathering degree is well indicated by physical and mechanical properties such as strength, hardness, ultrasonic velocity and slake durability result. Especially, absorption and porosity ratio is a good indicator. As weathering proceeds. a number of the cracks affect the rock deformation. Therefore, stress-strain curves of weathered rocks in unconfined state are quite different from ones of fresh rocks.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.206-213
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• 2003

Laboratory testing of representative rock specimens is of fundamental necessity for the successful design and/or assessment of facilities associated with many kinds of underground exploitation, including the geological disposal of radioactive nuclear waste. As a fundamental and systematic study, a series of measurements of the physical, mechanical and hydraulic properties of Inada granite and Shirahama sandstone, two rock types that are widely available in Japan, have been performed. This paper presents the results of a study of the effective porosity, density, compressive and shear wave velocity, unconfined compressive strength and permeability of the two rocks. The anisotropy and the effects of confining pressure on the permeability of the rocks, as well as the relationships among the physical, mechanical and hydraulic properties, are also investigated and discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
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• 2007.03a
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• pp.130-139
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• 2007

We have carried out numerical compression experiments to estimate the mechanical properties (Mohr-Coulomb and elastic) of corestone-bearing saprolites in Beolgyo area. The studied saprolite, consisting of mechanically much stronger corestone and weaker matrix, is a weathering product of the Precambrian granitic gneiss in the Youngnam massif. Since the saprolite consists of larger corestones with diameter up to 2m, it is impossible to directly measure the mechanical properties by physical experiments. We have measured the mechanical properties of corestone and matrix from naturally occurring saprolite and have used them as a reference for our numerical model. Then, we mixed each material and carried out biaxial compression tests while varying the volume percentage of corestones from 0 to 57%. We found that both cohesion and internal friction angle increase with the volume percentage of corestones while elastic modulus remains constant. We found the results from numerical experiments are in contradiction to what is known from physical experiments using artificial saprolites. This may be due to a possibility that the sharp and discrete nature of interface between corestone and matrix in physical experiments differs from the gradual interfacial nature in numerical modelling and natural saprolites.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2000

When tunnels or underground structures are constructed in anisotropic rock mass, designers and constructors have to consider the anisotropic characteristics in rock mass because their physical and mechanical properties are depended on the anisotropic angles(${\beta}$). In this study, therefore, we have first investigated the mechanical behavior of the gneiss specimen from lab. tests, and then have analysed the behavior of specimens for to the transversely isotropic model in elastic medium using the FLAC program. The results of this study were summarized as follows; 1) In the result of the variation tests, in general, the properties of strength were depended on the angle of inclination in spite of the hard rock. And except for the shear strength test, the lowest and peak stress were appeared at 60$^{\circ}$ and 90$^{\circ}$respectively. 2) The results of specimen modeling analysis using FDM well indicated the mechanical behaviors of the specimen of transversely isotropic model.