• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.63-70
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• 2000

The quantitative analyses and the mechanical interpretation of discontinuity planes are the most important factor for the study of strength and deformation properties of rock masses containing discontinuity planes. However, the relationship between the factors investigated in the field and the actual mechanical properties of discontinuity planes is not fully understood. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of density, length, and spacing of joints on elastic modulus of rock masses as these values vary. A new parameter which has a direct relation with the elastic modulus of discontinuity planes is also preposed in this study. The combination of finite element methods and homogenization methods has been used for the numerical analyses of a uintcell with discontinuity planes, which is generated using random-number generation methods. The elastic modulus of the discontinuity plane is found from the numerical analyses. The final results propose not only the relation between the investigation parameters of discontinuity planes and the elastic modulus of rock masses but also a new parameter, an effect area ratio having a linear relation with the elastic modulus of rock masses.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.93-105
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• 2012

This paper compares the two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) approaches for the numerical determination of the equivalent mechanical properties of fractured rock masses. Both orthogonally-fractured model and discrete fracture networks (DFN) were used for the geometry and 2D models were cut in various directions from 3D model to compare their mechanical properties. Geological data were loosely based on the data available from Sellafield, UK. Analytical method based on compliance tensor transformation was used for investigation in orthogonally fractured rock and numerical experiments were conducted on fractured rock mass with DFN geometry. It is shown that 2D approach always overestimates the elastic modulus of fractured rock masses by a factor of up to around two because fractures are assumed to be perpendicular to the model plane in 2D problems. Poisson ratios tend to have larger values in 2D analysis while there is opposite trend in some sections. The study quantitatively demonstrates the limitation of the 2D approach that uses the simplified model from true 3D geometry.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.15 no.2 s.55
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• pp.119-128
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• 2005

Although the evaluation of the mechanical properties and behavior of jointed rock masses is very important for the design of tunnel and underground openings, it has always been considered the most difficult problem. One of the difficulties in describing the rock mass behavior is the selection of the appropriate constitutive model. This limitation may be overcome with the progress in discrete element software such as PFC, which does not need the user to prescribe a constitutive model for rock mass. In this paper, a 30\;m\;\times\;30\;m\;\times\;30\;m m jointed rock mass of road tunnel site was analyzed. h discrete fracture network was developed from the joint geometry obtained from core logging and surface survey. Using the discontinuities geometry from the DFN model, PFC simulations were carried out, starting with the intact rock and systematically adding the joints and the stress-strain response was recorded for each case. With the stress-strain response curves, the mechanical properties of jointed rock masses were determined. As expected, the presence of joints had a pronounced effect on mechanical properties of the rock mass. More importantly, getting the mechanical response of the PFC model doesn't require a user specified constitutive model.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.245-259
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• 2003

Refering to the articles "Squeezing rocks in tunnels(Barla, 1995)" and "Tunnelling under squeezing rock conditions(Barla 2002)" this article deals with technologies for design, stability analysis and construction of the tunnel being driven in the squeezing rock mass. The definition of this type of behavior was proposed by ISRM(1994). The identification and quantification of squeezing is given according to both the empirical and semi-empirical methods available to anticipate the potential of squeezing problems in tunnelling. Based on the experiences and lessons learned in recent years, the state of the art in modem construction methods was reported, when dealing with squeezing rock masses by either conventional or mechanical excavation methods. The closed-form solutions available for the analysis of the rock mass response during tunnel excavation are described in terms of the ground characteristic line and with reference to some elasto-plastic models for the given rock mass. Finally numerical methods were used for the simulation of different models and for design analysis of complex excavation and support systems, including three-dimensional conditions in order to quantify the influence of the advancing tunnel face to the deformation behavior of the tunnel.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1991.04a
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• pp.20-25
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• 1991

In order to predict properly the effects of ground motion associated wi th earthquakes on underground radioactive waste disposal facilities, understanding of the structural behavior of an underground opening in discontinuous rook masses subjected to dynamic loadings is essential. Therefore, this paper includes literature review on computational models for discontinuous rook masses and on mathematical models for the structural analysis of underground openings. Then, structural analyses of underground openings using the distinct element computer program written for the static and dynamic analysis of discontinuous rook masses have been performed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 1994

There has been considerable research dealing with the influence of surface roughness along surfaces of rock discontinuities in relation to the peak shear strength of rock masses. Concepts accepted recently for measuring such strength include estimation of a roughness coefficient such as developed by Barton's studies. The method for estimation the Joint Roughness Coefficient (JRC) value of a measured roughness profile is subjective. The aim of this research is to estimate the JRC value of the roughness of a surface profile in a rock mass system using an objective method. The study of roughness of surfaces has included measurement of fractal geometric characteristics. Once the irregularity of the surface has been described by the fractal dimension, the spatial variation of the surface irregularities can be described using variogram and drift analysis. An empirical relationships between the roughness profiles of selected JRC ranges and their fractal dimension with variogram and drift were derived. The application of analyses of fractal dimension, variogram and drift was novel for the analysis of roughness profiles. Also, an empirical equation was applied to experimental data.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.63-79
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• 1993

The design of tunnels in rock masses often demands more informations on geologic features and rock mass properties than acquired by usual field survey and laboratory testings. In practice, the situation that a perfect set of geological and mechanical input data is given to geomechanics design engineer is rare, while the engineers are asked to achieve a high level of reliability in their design products. This study presents an artificial neural network which is developed to resolve the difficulties encountered in conventional design techniques, particulary the problem of deteriorating the confidence of existing numerical techniques such as the finite element, boundary element and distinct element methods due to the incomplete adn vague input data. The neural network has inferring capabilities to identify the possible failure modes, support requirements and its timing for underground openings, from previous case histories. Use of the neural network has resulted in a better estimate of the correlation between systems of rock mass classifications such as the RMR and Q systems. A back propagation learning algorithm together with a multi-layer network structure is adopted to enhance the inferential accuracy and efficiency of the neural network. A series of experiments comparing the results of the neural network with the actual field observations are performed to demonstrate the abilities of the artificial neural network as a new tunnel design assistance system.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.535-570
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• 2017

There are only few cases where cause and location of failure of a rock structure are limited to a single discontinuity. Usually several discontinuities of limited size interact and eventually form a combined shear plane where failure takes place. So, besides the discontinuities, the regions between adjacent discontinuities, which consist of strong rock and are called material or rock bridges, are of utmost importance for the shear strength of the compound failure plane. Shear behaviour of persistent and non-persistent joint are different from each other. Shear strength of rock mass containing non-persistent joints is highly affected by mechanical behavior and geometrical configuration of non-persistent joints located in a rock mass. Therefore investigation is essential to study the fundamental failures occurring in a rock bridge, for assessing anticipated and actual performances of the structures built on or in rock masses. The purpose of this review paper is to present techniques, progresses and the likely future development directions in experimental testing of non-persistent joint failure behaviour. Experimental results showed that the presence of rock bridges in not fully persistent natural discontinuity sets is a significant factor affecting the stability of rock structures. Compared with intact rocks, jointed rock masses are usually weaker, more deformable and highly anisotropic, depending upon the mechanical properties of each joint and the explicit joint positions. The joint spacing, joint persistency, number of rock joint, angle of rock joint, length of rock bridge, angle of rock bridge, normal load, scale effect and material mixture have important effect on the failure mechanism of a rock bridge.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09a
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• pp.790-799
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• 2010

The Upper Devonian Grossmont Formation in Alberta, Canada reserves an estimated 50 billion cubic meters of bitumen and possess about 1/6 of the total bitumen resources in northern Alberta. However, unlike the overlying Athabasca oil sands, non conventional bitumen resources has not been developed as yet. The carbonate rocks of Grosmont Formation have been subject to various stages of diagenesis, including dolomatization and karstification with a strong effect on the distribution of porosity and permeability, which resulted in highly heterogeneous reservoirs. An extensive fracture logging and mapping was performed on total of six boreholes located in the study area to explore the characteristics of fracture geometry system and the subsurface structures of carbonates reservoir that holds bitumen. Fractal dimension was used as a measure of the statistical homogeneity of the fractured rock masses. The applicability of random Cantor dust, Dc, as a fractal parameter was examined systematically. The statistical homogeneity of fractured carbonates rock masses was investigated in the study area. The structural domains of the rock masses were delineated depthwise according to estimated Dc. The major fracture orientation was dominated by horizontal beddings having dip of $0-20^{\circ}$. Also, fractures having high dip angles existed with relatively low frequency. Three dimensional fracture network modeling for each structural domain has been performed based on fracture orientation and intensity, and some representative conceptual models for carbonates reservoir in the study area has been proposed. The developed subsurface conceptual models will be used to capture the geomechanical characteristics of the carbonates reservoir.

• 한국터널공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.87-104
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• 2005

Rock masses represent natural systems that are inherently complex and in which multiple mechanisms occur. Rock engineering systems such as tunnel and slope interact with surrounding systems through an exchange of both mass and energy. Accordingly the complex nature of rock masses calls for a system approach, and the open nature of rock engineering even requires the engineering to be controlled by a system approach for surrounding environments. However, traditional methods cannot take all variables and their interactions into account and are limited to the system with single mechanisms. Therefore, they are not proper for a complex and open system, and also cannot portray the whole system. Thus, a system approach is indispensable to rock engineering for dealing with the whole of a complex and open system. In this paper Mechanism Path Analysis Methodology (MPAM) Is Introduced for a system approach to rock engineering. The analysis by the methodology gives us all the information of systems behavior in the context of the whole system in order to accomplish the optimum design in accordance with the project objectives and analysis purposes. As an application a conventional model for the evaluation of TBM tunneling performance system is analyzed by MPAM and the result is compared with that by a traditional method.