• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.355-365
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• 2000

As large underground projects such as radioactive waste disposal, hot water and heat storage, and geothermal energy become influential, the study, which consider all aspects of thermics, hydraulics and mechanics would be needed. Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical coupling analysis is one of the most complex numerical technique because it should be implemented with the combined three governing equations to analyze the behavior of rock mass. In this study, finite element code, which is based on Biot's consolidation theory, was developed to analyze the thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling in continuum rock mass. To verify the implemented program, one-dimensional consolidation model under the isothermal and non-isothermal conditions was analyzed and was compared with the analytic solution. The parametric study on two-dimensional consolidation was also performed and the effects of several factors such as poisson's ratio and hydraulic anisotropy on rock mass behavior were investigated. In the future, this program would be revised to be used for analysis of general discontinuous media with incorporating discrete joint model.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.757-767
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• 2015

Rock mass is an important engineering material. In hydropower engineering, rock mass of bank slope controlled the stability of an arch dam. However, mechanical characteristics of the rock mass are not only affected by lithology, but also joints. On the basis of field geological survey, this paper built rock mass material containing parallel concentrated joints with different dip angle, different number under different stress conditions by PFC (Particle Flow Code) numerical simulation. Next, we analyzed mechanical property and fracture features of this rock mass. The following achievements have been obtained through this research. (1) When dip angle of joints is $15^{\circ}$ and $30^{\circ}$, with the increase of joints number, peak strength of rock mass has not changed much. But when dip angle increase to $45^{\circ}$, especially increase to $60^{\circ}$ and $75^{\circ}$, peak strength of rock mass decreased obviously with the increase of joints number. (2) With the increase of confining stress, peak strengths of all rock mass have different degree of improvement, especially the rock mass with dip angle of $75^{\circ}$. (3) Under the condition of no confining stress, dip angle of joints is low and joint number is small, existence of joints has little influence on fracture mode of rock mass, but when joints number increase to 5, tensile deformation firstly happened at joints zone and further resulted in tension fracture of the whole rock mass. When dip angle of joints increases to $45^{\circ}$, fracture presented as shear along joints, and with increase of joints number, strength of rock mass is weakened caused by shear-tension fracture zone along joints. When dip angle of joints increases to $60^{\circ}$ and $75^{\circ}$, deformation and fracture model presented as tension fracture zone along concentrated joints. (4) Influence of increase of confining stress on fracture modes is to weaken joints' control function and to reduce the width of fracture zone. Furthermore, increase of confining stress translated deformation mode from tension to shear.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2014

Direct shear tests have been initiated to understand the characteristics of joints which crucially affect the stability of rock mass. In this research, numerical approach in direct shear tests has been initiated using 3DEC on the basis of 3D distinct element method. Normal loads were altered in four different levels on artificial joint tests depending on the sawtooth angle and strengths on constant normal stress conditions, measuring the peak shear strength according to the direct shear tests under laboratory condition. Also results obtained from mechanical properties through laboratory test were used to perform numerical modeling, and shear strength obtained from the modeling was used to compare with laboratory direct shear test. As a result numerical analysis from distinct element method can simulate well on the shear behavior of rockmass.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.375-386
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• 2021

In this paper, a study of stability and health of a newly-built railway tunnel is presented. The field test was implemented to monitor the secondary lining due to the significant cracking behaviors influenced the stability and health of the tunnel structure. Surface strain gauges were installed for monitoring the status of crack openings, and the monitoring outputs demonstrated that the cracks were still in the developing stage. Additionally, adjacent tunnel and poor condition of surrounding rock were identified as the causes of the lining cracking by systematically characterizing the crack spatial distribution, tunnel site and surrounding rock conditions. Reconstruction of partial lining and reconstruction of the whole secondary lining were designed as the maintenance projects for different cracking regions based on the construction feasibility. For assessing the health conditions of the reinforced lining, embedded strain gauges were set up to continuously measure the strain and the internal force of the reconstructed structures. For the partially reconstructed lining, the outputs show the maximum tensile elongation is 0.018 mm during 227 days, which means the structure has no obvious deformation after maintenance. The one-year monitoring of full-section was implemented in the other two completely reconstructed cross-sections by embedded strain gauge. The outputs show the reconstructed secondary lining has undertaken the pressure of surrounding rock with the time passing. According to the calculated compressive and tensile safety factors, the completely reconstructed lining has been in reliable and safe condition during the past year after reinforcement. It can conclude that the aforementioned maintenance projects can effectively ensure the stability and health of this tunnel.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.236-247
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• 2009

Overpopulation has significantly increased the use of underground spaces in urban areas, and led to the developments of shallow-depth underground space. Due to unexpected rock fall, however, it is very necessary to understand and categorize the rock mass behaviors prior to the tunnel excavation, by which unnecessary casualties and economic loss could be prevented. In case of cave-in, special attention should be drawn since it occurs faster and greater in magnitude compared to rock fall and plastic deformation. Types of cave-in behavior are explained and categorized using seven parameters - Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS), Rock Quality Designation (RQD), joint surface condition, in-situ stress condition, ground water condition, earthquake & ground vibration, tunnel span. This study eventually introduces a new index called Cave-in Behavior Index (CBI) which explains the behavior of cave-in under given in-situ conditions expressed by the seven parameters. In order to assess the mutual interactions of the seven parameters and to evaluate the weighting factors for all the interactions, survey data of the experts' opinions and Rock Engineering Systems (RES) were used due to lack of field observations. CBI was applied to the tunnel site of Seoul Metro Line No. 9. UDEC analyses on 288 cases were done and occurrences of cave-in in every simulation were examined. Analyses on the results of 288 cases of simulations revealed that the average CBI for the cases when cave-in for different patterns of tunnel support was estimated by a logistic regression analysis.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.304-315
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• 2003

In this paper, the DDA method with a new hydro-mechanical algorithm is used to study the effect of rock discontinuities on uplift and seepage in concrete gravity dam foundations. This paper presents an alternative method of predicting uplift and seepage at the base of concrete gravity dams. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to study the importance of several parameters on dam stability such as the orientation, spacing, and location of discontinuities. The study shows that joint water flow and adverse geological conditions could result in unusual uplift at the base of concrete gravity dams, well in excess of what is predicted with the classical linear or hi-linear pressure assumption. It is shown that, in general, the DDA program with the hydro-mechanical algorithm can be used as a practical tool in the design of gravity dams built on fractured rock masses.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.207-213
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• 2020

Umbrella Arch Method (UAM) often employed in the tunnel construction under poor rock mass conditions in Korea. Insertion of steel pipes at the periphery of the tunnel and infiltration of grouts along the pipes into the rock masses increases tunnel stability. There are two major effects of grouts expected at the tunnel face: 1) increase of face stability by enhancing the frictional resistance of discontinuities and 2) decrease of permeability along the rock masses. Increase of resistance and decrease of permeability requires a certain curing time for the grout. In Korea, we require 24 hours for curing of grout, which means no progress of excavation for 24 hours after infiltration of grouts. This step delays the tunnel construction sequences. To eliminate such inefficiency, we propose MTG (Method for Tunnel construction using Grouting technology), which uses extended length of steel pipes (14 m) compared to conventional pipe roof method (12 m). The merit of MTG is the reduction of curing time. Because of the approximately 2 m extension of the length of steel pipe, blasting can be done after infiltration of grouting. For this paper, we conducted experiments on the shear strength behaviors of grout infilled rock joint with elapsing of curing time and blasting induced vibration. The results show that blasting induced vibration under MTG does not influence the mechanical features of grout material, which indicates no influence on the mechanical behaviors of grout, contributing to the stability of tunnels during excavation. This result indicates that MTG is a cost effective and fast construction method for tunneling in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2011

In this study, correlation between measured deformation modulus using pressuremeter and RMR value conducted in 10 sites is analyzed, and applicability of the conventional empirical formulas to the rock masses in Korea are analyzed, It is found that if RMR is below 40, the correlation between deformation modulus and RMR accords Kim Gyo-won's formula and Aydan, Serafim and Pereira's one well, but if the RMR exceeds 40, the correlation was lower than those from the formula. Such results may be attribute to the fact that during classification of RMR, scores are weighed relatively more in joint conditions and apertures than such highly correlational items as uniaxial compression strength or RQD, and RMR would not be evaluated qualitatively due to different weathering degrees and rock mass types as well as engineers' personal errors. Sandstone among sedimentary rocks are quite well accord with suggested equation, but correlation of other rocks are due to large variance. In this study, correlation expressions of various rocks are proposed as the function of exponential based on the field test data.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.207-218
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• 2022

In submerged floating tunnels (SFTs), a next-generation maritime transportation infrastructure, the tunnel module floats in water due to buoyancy. For the effective and economical use of SFTs, connection with the ground is inevitable, but the stability of the shore connection is weak due to stress concentration caused by the displacement difference between the subsea bored tunnel and the SFT. The use of an elastic joint has been proposed as a solution to solve the stability problem, but it changes the dynamic characteristics of the SFT, such as natural frequency and mode shape. In this study, the finite element method (FEM) was used to simulate the elastic joints in shore connections, assuming that the ground is a hard rock without displacement. In addition, a small-scale model test was performed for FEM model validation. A parametric study was conducted on the resonance behavior such as the natural frequency change and velocity, stress, and reaction force distribution change of the SFT system by varying the joint stiffness under loading conditions of various frequencies and directions. The results indicated that the natural frequency of the SFT system increased as the stiffness of the elastic joint increased, and the risk of resonance was the highest in the low-frequency environment. Moreover, stress concentration was observed in both the SFT and the shore connection when resonance occurred in the vertical mode. The results of this study are expected to be utilized in the process of quantitative research such as designing elastic joints to prevent resonance in the future.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.59-63
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• 2021

This study presented the characteristics and additive effects of the grout with mixing ratio for developing of high-efficiency grouting technology under high depth conditions. The laboratory investigation were conducted with Portland cement (OPC) and micro cement (S8000-E) including viscosity experiments, particle size analysis experiments, Gel-Time experiments and uniaxial compressive strength experiments. As a result of the viscosity experiment, it was shown that OPC is advantageous in terms of viscosity, but S8000-E is suitable when considering the passage of rock joint intervals through particle size analysis. The Gel-Time experiment shows that it is not that difficult with injection as a grout material even when silica fume (SF) was applied. The strength of the cured material is improved as increase in the content of silica fium (SF). Within the range of the study, the optimal mixing ratio obtained through various experiments is S8000-E, w/c=70%, silica fium (SF)=6%, and 7 days.