• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.627-638
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• 2019

Estimation of representative elementary volume (REV) of jointed rock masses is critical to predict the mechanical behavior of field-scale rock masses. The REV of jointed rock masses at site is strongly influenced by stress state. The paper proposed a method to systematically studied the influence of confining stress on the REV of jointed rock masses with various strengths (weak, medium and strong), which were sourced from the water inlet slope of Xiaowan Hydropower Station, China. A finite element method considering material heterogeneity was employed, a series of two-dimensional (2D) models was established based on the Monte-Carlo method and a lot of biaxial compressive tests were conducted. Numerical results showed that the REV of jointed rock masses presented a step-like reduction as the normalized confining stress increased. Confining stress weakened the size effect of jointed rock masses, indicating that the REV determined under uniaxial compression test can be reasonably taken as the REV of jointed rock masses under complexed in-situ stress environment.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.85-99
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• 2022

Rock discontinuities, as weak interfaces in rock, control mechanical properties of rock mass. Presence of discontinuities complicates the engineering properties of rock, which is the root of anisotropy and heterogeneity that have nonnegligible influences on the rock engineering. Morphological characteristics of discontinuities in natural rock are an important factor influencing the mechanical properties, particularly roughness, of discontinuities. Therefore, the accurate measurement and characterization of morphologies of discontinuities are preconditions for studying mechanical properties of discontinuities. Taking discontinuities in red sandstone as research objects, the research obtained three-dimensional (3D) morphologies of discontinuities in natural rock by carrying out 3D morphological scanning tests. The waviness and roughness were separated from 3D morphologies of rock discontinuities through wavelet transform. In addition, the calculation method for the overall slope root mean square (RMS) as well as slope RMSs of waviness and roughness of 3D morphologies of discontinuities considering the shear direction was proposed. The research finally determined an evaluation method for 3D morphologies of discontinuities by quantitatively characterizing 3D morphologies with the mean value of the three slope RMSs.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.703-716
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• 2016

In this paper, we have investigated shear horizontal wave propagation in a layered structure, consisting of granular macromorphic rock (Dionysos Marble) substrate underlying a viscoelastic layer of finite thickness. SH waves characteristics are affected by the material properties of both substrate and the coating. The effects of microstructural parameter "characteristic length" of the substrate, along with heterogeneity, internal friction and thickness of viscoelastic layer are studied on the dispersion curves. Dispersion equation for SH wave is derived. Real and damping phase velocities of SH waves are studied against dimensionless wave number, for different combinations of various parameters involved in the problem.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2008

In the case of a circular shaft, it is expected that asymmetric loads should apply on the surface rather than symmetric loads due to geographical factors and the non-homogeneity of the jointed rock masses. In this study, discontinuous numerical analysis was carried in order to analyze the characteristics of asymmetric load distribution on the wall of the circular shaft due to anisotropy caused by heterogeneity of rock masses affected by the discontinuities like as a Joint. And it was also analyzed that the effect of the mechanical properties varied with the rock mass rating and horizontal stress with depth had influence in the asymmetric load on the wall of the shaft. In the case of considering the effect of the joint as variable, asymmetric load ratio $(R_p)$, which was defined as the ratio of the load subtracted minimum from maximum to minimum, was below 25% in the hard rock. As regarding the variation of the rock mass rating with depth as variable, the value of $R_p$ was below than 25% in the hard rock, and the value between 30% and 40% in the soft rock. On the other hand, the $R_p$ of fractures rock was between $45{\sim}50%$ which value was much higher than that in better rock mass rating.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.333-342
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• 2017

In this study, the heterogeneity of internal structure of various igneous rocks acquired in Korea was quantified and correlated with the seismic velocity and the point load strength. Three-dimensional X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) was used to obtain information on the internal structure of the rock specimen, and the representative unit length (LR) was calculated by applying a statistical technique to the CT images. We also proposed an estimation equation to predict the mechanical properties of rocks from the relationship between LR, acoustic velocity and point load strength. In the proposed method, it is shown that the characterization of internal structure of rocks could be utilized as an indirect index to account for the mechanical behavior of rocks by substituting physical laboratory testing for non-destructive test.

• 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.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.593-600
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• 2016

To understand the mechanical properties of rock masses and intact rock in Korea, data from 4,280 in situ and laboratory tests from 107 tunnels on general national roads were analyzed. The mechanical properties (unit weight, cohesion, friction angle, modulus of deformation, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength, coefficient of permeability, and specific gravity) were analyzed by rock types and strength of rock in each rock type. The results of analysis, the mean specific gravity was highest in gneiss. The coefficient of permeability and Poisson's ratio show the highest mean values in granite and metamorphic rock, respectively. In addition, the unit weight, cohesion and friction angle in sedimentary rock, modulus of deformation, Young's modulus, uniaxial compressive strength and tensile strength in volcanic rock have the highest mean values. The values for each mechanical property showed wide ranges by the heterogeneity and anisotropy of rock masses in spite of detailed analysis by rock type and classification of rocks according to the strength.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.285-294
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• 2007

Material properties of geomaterials are usually heterogeneous. And the limitted number of investigation for the subsurface material properties in terms of boreholes are not sufficient enough for identifying the heterogeneity. In most civil engineering work, pre-investigation results can be different from those by in-situ inspection during the construction work. With these points of view, a new analysis concept aiming to evaluate the uncertainty resulted from the heterogeneity of the geomaterial properties as well as to enhance a construction workability and design qualify by a prompt feedback of in-situ conditions was proposed. It was accomplished by linking the Element Free analysis and pre-developed stochastic methods represented by Karhunen-Loeve expansion. Simple ID problem was solved by the developed method, and its validity as well as the characteristic results by different stochastic methods were clarified.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.119-126
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• 2002

A reliability analysis is performed to investigate the influence of the uncertainty from few in-situ samples and inherent heterogeneity of the ground on the probability of failure for a rock cut slope. The results are compared with those of deterministic slope stability analysis. The random variables used are unit weight of the rock, the angle of potential slope of failure, and cohesion and internal friction angle of joints. It was found that the rock slope in which the factor of safety satisfied the minimum safety factor in the deterministic analysis has high probability of failure in the reliability analysis when the weak geological strata are involved in the cut slope. The probability of failure of rock slope is most sensitive to the mean and standard deviation of cohesion in rock joint among the random soil parameters included in the reliability analysis. Sensitivities of the mean values are larger than those of standard deviations, which means that accurate estimation of the mean for the in-situ geotechnical properties is important.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 1996

Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic results are reported for the Ogcheon amphibolites from the central part of the Ogcheon Belt. Rb-Sr and Pb-Pb whole rock isotope data plot greatly scattered in the isochron diagrams due to later alteration or metamorphism, whereas the Sm-Nd whole rock isotope data define a linear array with an age of $1270{\pm}220$ Ma ($1{\sigma}$). Considering several geochemical features of the amphibolites, the 1270 Ma linear array may be not a true but an apparent mixing isochron due to source heterogeneity.