• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.81-95
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• 2020

Measurement of the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the rock is critical to assess the quality of the rock mass ahead of a tunnel face. In this study, extensive field studies have been conducted along 3,885 m of the new Nagasaki tunnel in Japan. To predict UCS, a hybrid model of artificial neural network (ANN) based on genetic algorithm (GA) optimization was developed. A total of 1350 datasets, including six parameters of the Measurement-While- Drilling data and the UCS were considered as input and output parameters respectively. The multiple linear regression (MLR) and the ANN were employed to develop contrast models. The results reveal that the developed GA-ANN hybrid model can predict UCS with higher performance than the ANN and MLR models. This study is of great significance for accurately and effectively evaluating the quality of rock masses in tunnel engineering.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2021

Large deformation and rapid pressure propagation take place inside the rock mass under the dynamic loads caused by the explosives, on quarry faces in order to extract aggregate material. The complexity of the science of rock blasting is due to a number of factors that affect the phenomenon. However, blasting engineering computations could be facilitated by innovative software algorithms in order to determine the results of the violent explosion, since field experiments are particularly difficult to be conducted. The present research focuses on the design of a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) code, for investigating in detail the behavior of limestone under the blasting effect of Ammonium Nitrate & Fuel Oil (ANFO). Specifically, the manuscript presents the FEA models and the relevant transient analysis results, simulating the blasting process for three types of limestone, ranging from poor to very good quality. The Finite Element code was developed by applying the Jones-Wilkins-Lee (JWL) equation of state to describe the thermodynamic state of ANFO and the pressure dependent Drucker-Prager failure criterion to define the limestone plasticity behavior, under blasting induced, high rate stress. A progressive damage model was also used in order to define the stiffness degradation and destruction of the material. This paper performs a comparative analysis and quantifies the phenomena regarding pressure, stress distribution and energy balance, for three types of limestone. The ultimate goal of this research is to provide an answer for a number of scientific questions, considering various phenomena taking place during the explosion event, using advanced computational tools.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.366-372
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• 2014

The generalized Hoek-Brown (H-B) function provides a unique failure condition for a jointed rock mass, in which the strength parameters of rock mass are deduced from the intact values by use of the GSI value. Since it is actually the only failure criterion which accounts for the rock mass conditions in a systematic manner, the generalized H-B criterion finds many applications to the various rock engineering projects. Its nonlinear character, however, limits more active usage of this criterion. Accordingly, many attempts have been made to understand the generalized H-B condition in the framework of the M-C function. This study presents the closed-form expression relating the tangential cohesion to the tangential friction angle, which is derived by the non-dimensional stress transformation of the generalized H-B criterion. By use of the derived equation, it is investigated how the relationship between the tangential cohesion and friction angle of the generalized H-B criterion varies with the quality of rock masses. When only the variation of GSI value is considered, it is found that the tangential friction angle decreases with the increase of GSI, while the tangential cohesion increases with GSI value.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.469-484
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• 2021

Rock mass classification results have a great influence on construction schedule and budget as well as tunnel stability in tunnel design. A total of 3,526 tunnels have been constructed in Korea and the associated techniques in tunnel design and construction have been continuously developed, however, not many studies have been performed on how to assess rock mass quality and grade more accurately. Thus, numerous cases show big differences in the results according to inspectors' experience and judgement. Hence, this study aims to suggest a more reliable rock mass classification (RMR) model using machine learning algorithms, which is surging in availability, through the analyses based on various rock and rock mass information collected from boring investigations. For this, 11 learning parameters (depth, rock type, RQD, electrical resistivity, UCS, V_p, V_s, Young's modulus, unit weight, Poisson's ratio, RMR) from 13 local tunnel cases were selected, 337 learning data sets as well as 60 test data sets were prepared, and 6 machine learning algorithms (DT, SVM, ANN, PCA & ANN, RF, XGBoost) were tested for various hyperparameters for each algorithm. The results show that the mean absolute errors in RMR value from five algorithms except Decision Tree were less than 8 and a Support Vector Machine model is the best model. The applicability of the model, established through this study, was confirmed and this prediction model can be applied for more reliable rock mass classification when additional various data is continuously cumulated.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2004

Various kinds of rock mass properties, which can be obtained from laboratory tests as well as field tests, can be reasonably applied to the design of earth structures. An extrapolation technique can be used for this application and it generally guarantee its quality from a sufficient amount of test results because it is based on the RMR value in most cases. When the confident RMR can not be obtained because of the insufficient testing results, the Monte Carlo Simulation technique can be introduced fer deducing the proper RMR and this assessed RMR can be reused fur the major input parameters. Authors' proposed method can be verified from the comparison between the results of numerical analysis and the evidences of field site.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

The shaped charge were made for identifying the effect of controled blasting using relatively low VOD explosive for cutting rock mass with changing quality and thickness of metal liner. The metal liner was attached on both sides of a charge for directional cutting, when the shaped charge exploded in rock mass. Also, a efficiency of shaped charge was identified by concrete member experiment. And a center guide used for maintaining stand-off between shaped charge and hole wall. A case of Fe liner of thickness 0.8mm formed the deepest notch of experiments and the directional cutting of concrete member was identified.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2011

To clarify the distribution of joints and fracture zones in the Cheongju granitic mass, we analyzed drill-core and geophysical well-logging data obtained at two boreholes located 30 m from each other. Lithological properties were investigated from the drill-core data and the samples were classified based on the rock mass rating (RMR) and on rock quality designation (RQD). Subsurface discontinuities within soft and hard rocks were examined by geophysical well-logging and cross-hole seismic tomography. The velocity structures constructed from seismic tomography are well correlated with the profile of bedrock depth, previously mapped from a seismic refraction survey. Dynamic elastic moduli, obtained from full waveform sonic and ${\gamma}-{\gamma}$ logging, were interrelated with P-wave velocities to investigate the dynamic properties of the rock mass. Compared with the correlation graph between elastic moduli and velocities for hard rock at borehole BH-1, the correlation points for BH-2 data showed a wide scatter. These scattered points reflect the greater abundance of joints and fractures near borehole BH-2. This interpretation is supported by observations by acoustic televiewer (ATV) and optical televiewer (OTV) image loggings.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.1882-1889
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• 2007

Surveying rocks for engineering aims for prediction of geological feature of the construction site. Conventionally, survey information at outcrops and bore holes are projected to the construction sites, such as tunnel and slopes, and rock properties of the sites are predicted by interpretations of specialists. This system, the "Fracjection", aims to assist the specialist for visualization of the projected fractures from borehole and outcrop survey. The Fracjection accepts the BIPS and outcrop survey data to its database and allows plotting them in AutoCad map. The software also reads elevation data from contours of the topographic map and constructs DEM of the construction sites. With user's guide, it generates 3D excavation sites such as slopes and tunnels at the topographic map. The s/w projects borehole and outcrop surveyed fractures onto the modeled excavation surface and allows analysis of failure criteria, such as plane, wedge, and toppling failures by built-in stereonet function. Projected fractures can further be analyzed for structural homogeneities and rock mass quality. Moving window style correlation comparison of stereonet plots are used for formal analyses, and RQD type counts of the projected fractures are adopted for the latter analyses.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 2019

In this study, the in situ deformation moduli, which were measured by borehole loading tests at basaltic rock masses located in the northeastern onshore and offshore and the northwestern onshore of Jeju Island, were examined in relation to RQD and RMR. The measured deformation moduli were also compared with the estimated deformation moduli from conventional empirical formulas using RQD and RMR. In addition, the measured deformation moduli were analyzed with respect to both the velocity ratio ($V_P/V_S$) and dynamic Poisson's ratio, which were obtained from the elastic wave velocities measured by velocity logging tests. As results, with only RQD, it was inappropriate to evaluate the quality of the Jeju island basaltic rock masses, which are characterized by vesicular structures, to select a measurement method of in situ deformation moduli, and to estimate the deformation moduli. On the other hand, it was desirable to evaluate the quality of the Jeju Island basaltic rock masses, and to estimate the deformation moduli by using RMR. The conventional empirical formulas using RMR overestimated the deformation moduli of the Jeju Island basaltic rock masses. There was qualitative consistency in the relation between velocity ratio and deformation moduli. To estimate appropriately the deformation moduli of the Jeju Island basaltic rock masses, empirical formulas were proposed as the function of RMR and velocity ratio, respectively.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.555-566
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• 2007

In general, RMR classification system is used for the support design of a tunnel. Face mapping during excavation and RMR-based rock classifications are conducted in order to provide information for complementary changes to preliminary survey plans and for continuous geological estimations in direction of tunnel route. Although they are ever so important, there are not enough time for survey in general and sometimes even face mapping is not available. Linear regression analysis for the estimation of mediating RQD and condition of discontinuities, which require longer time and more detailed observation in RMR, was performed and optimum regression equations are suggest as the result. The geological data collected from tunnels were analyzed in accordance with three rock types as sedimentary rock, phyllite and granite to see geological effects, generally not been considered in previous researches. Parameters for the regression analysis were set another RMR factor.