• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.28-53
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• 2024

In general, high-level radioactive waste (HLW) generated as a result of nuclear power generation should be disposed within the country. Determination of the disposal site and host rock for HLW deep geological repository is an important issue not only scientifically but also politically, economically, and socially. Considered host rock types worldwide for geological disposal include crystalline rocks, sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, and salt dome. However, South Korea consists of various rock types except salt dome. This paper not only analyzed the geological and rock mechanical characteristics on a nationwide scale with the preliminary results on various rock type studies for the disposal host rock, but also reviewed the characteristics and possibility of various rock types as a host rock through deep drilling surveys. Based on the nationwide screening for host rock types resulted from literature review, rock distributions, and detailed case studies, Jurassic granites and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks (Jinju and Jindong formations) were derived as a possible candidate host rock types for the geological disposal. However, since the analyzed data for candidate rock types from this study is not enough, it is suggested that the disposal rock type should be carefully determined from additional and detailed analysis on disposal depth, regional characteristics, multidisciplinary investigations, etc.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.328-338
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• 2009

Schmidt hammer test as an indirect method has so far been widely applied for determining the physical properties of intact rock, and many researchers have developed procedures for its use on rock cores, blocks and in field. Though many methods have developed upto date for indirect using, the almost were single blow which has many errors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the established as for ASTM, ISRM, BSI, Poole & Farmer and Hucka method and to suggest a new optimum test method and statistical analysis on rocks. The finding has indicated that succeeding blow has served as an optimal to predict physical properties of rocks. To conduct the experiment, researchers have examined 150 rock blocks, which include igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks in Korea nation wide.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.491-498
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• 2018

The Earth Mechanics Institute (EMI) was established at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) in 1974 to develop innovations in rock mechanics research and education. During the last four decades, extensive rock mechanics research has been conducted at the EMI. Results from uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), point load index (PLI), punch penetration (PP), and many other types of tests have been recorded in a database that has been unexamined for research purposes. The EMI database includes over 20,000 tests from over 1,000 different projects including mining and underground construction, and analysis of this database to identify relationships has been started with preliminary results reported here. Overall, statistically significant correlations are identified between bulk density and mechanical strength properties through UCS, BTS, PLI, and PP testing of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. In this paper, bulk density is considered as a surrogate metric that reflects both mineralogy and porosity. From this analysis, sedimentary rocks show the strongest correlation between the UCS and bulk density, whereas metamorphic rocks exhibit the strongest correlation between UCS and PP. Data trends in the EMI database also reveal a linear relationship between UCS and BTS tests. For the singular case of rock coral, the database permits correlations between bulk density of the core versus the deposition depth and porosity. The EMI database will continue under analysis, and will provide additional insightful and comprehensive understanding of the variation and predictability of rock mechanical strength properties and density. This knowledge will contribute significantly toward the increasingly safe and cost-effective geostructures and construction.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.63-70
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• 2017

Radon concentrations were measured in 250 groundwater samples collected from the Goesan area where uraniferous black slate and granites abundantly occur in the formations. The measured radon levels ranged from 0.90 to 7,218.7 Bq/L with the median value of 54.3 Bq/L, similar to the value measured in the nationwide survey in 4,853 wells (52.1 Bq/L). The median value was highest in the Cretaceous granite area (390.0 Bq/L) while it was as low as 20.0~58.8 Bq/L in the Ogcheon meta-sedimentary rock areas. About 23.6% of the total samples exceeded the WHO guideline value of 100 Bq/L established in 2011. The exceeding rate was 69.0, 39.4, and 7.0~13.7% in the Cretaceous granite area, Jurassic granite area, and Ogcheon meta-sedimentary rock areas, respectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.393-398
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• 1991

The Buyeo-Cheongyang area, in the south-western area of Gyeonggi massif, comprises Precambrian and Mesozoic metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. The original rock of metamorphic rocks was studied by geochemical examination and statistical analyses of the trace elements in the gneisses, schists, shale and granitic rocks. Average abundance of Cu,Cr,Pb,Ni,Co,Mn,Li and Zn elements from gneisses have similar to those from shale and schists. However the gneisses have higher Cr,Ni,Co,Mn,Li abundance than those from the granite. Abundance range and frequency distribution of the trace elements in the gneiss show a marked trend sedimentary origin, that is, standard deviation have far the higer than that of igneous origin. Also it is wide dispersion and irregularly distribution. For that reason, this gneiss is regard as sedimentary original rocks with schists.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.652-661
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• 2006

The cut slopes in Jinju area constitute the Cretaceous Sedimentary rock which is one of the most poor ground conditions. The geological rocks of the cut slopes are correlated with Jinju Formation. Most of the rocks consist of Black Shale layer, but the lower parts consist of Alkorsic White Sandstone. So, It is characteristic of the differential weathering due to the difference of rock species. Moreover, vertical joints which concentrate on the released rock and weak rock fragments are accompanied with minor faults. We make out face mapping about each slopes through the detailed field-study and deduce RMR and SMR from the field data. The strength properties of rocks were obtained from references, indoor tests, and Back Analysis method. And, choosing properties were used in the stability analysis as stereographic projection and limit equilibrium analysis and we establish the countermeasures for the cut slopes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.253-266
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• 2021

In this paper, we discuss a mathematical method for determining the return energy of the wave from the sample and comparing it with the mechanical energy consumed to change the dimension of the sample in the triaxial test of the rock. We represent a method to determine the mechanical energy and then we provide how to calculate the return energy of the wave. However, the static energy and pulse return energy will show higher amounts with axial pressure increase. Three types of clastic sedimentary rocks including sandstone, pyroclastic rock, and argillitic tuff were selected. The sandstone showed the highest strength, Young's modulus and ultrasonic P and S waves' velocities versus others in the triaxial test. Also, from the received P wavelet, the calculated pulse wave returning energy indicated the best correlation between axial stress compared to wave velocities in all specimens. The fact that the return energy decreases or increases is related to increasing lateral stress and depends on the geological characteristics of the rock. This method can be used to determine the stresses on the rock as well as its in-situ modulus in projects that are located at high depths of the earth.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.173-200
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• 1992

The quality of groundwater in the central part of Taegu City is influenced by upstreams of Sin-stream and Beomeo-stream because the stream waters are main source of the groundwater, and chemical composition of the upstream waters has close relationship with andesite and monzonite in the igneous rock terrain. The pH of upstreams are weak acid ~ neutral in the igneous rock area and weak alkaline in the sedimentary rock area. Contents of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ in the streams are apparently high, and $Na^{+}$ content is only slightly high in the sedimentary rock area. But $K^{+}$ content is lower in the Panyaweol formation area than in the monzonite area. The contents of heavy metals and $N0_3^{-}$ are also higher in the sedimentary rock area of residential sections and industrial complexes than those in the igneous rock area. The groundwater is contaminated in comparison to the upstream water of the igneous rock areas, and there are some differences in pollution level between the Panyaweol formation area of residential sections and the Haman formation area of industrial complexes. K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cl, $SO_4$ and $NO_3$ contents in the Haman formation area are relatively higher than those in the Panyaweol formation area. But pH is nearly equal in the two areas. The content of heavy metal ions is still lower than the drinking water standard of Korea and only slightly differs in the two sedimentary rock areas. But the groundwater in the Haman formation area is considerably contaminated by Kongdanstream and Dalseo-stream.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.463-478
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• 2021

The subjects of the study are the sedimentary rock slope of the Mesozoic Gyeongsang Supergroup, which has a high risk of failure. The orientation of the slope-face represents a variety of changing characteristics. The rocks of the slope shall be sandstone, siltstone and dacite, and discontinuities shall develop beddings, shear joints, extension joints, and dacite dyke boundary planes. The type and scale of failure varies depending on the type of rock and the strike/dip of the discontinuities, but the toppling failure prevails. Based on the face-mapping data, SMR, physical and mechanical testing of rocks, analysis and review of the stereonet projections and the critical equilibrium analysis, all four representative sections required a countermeasure method because the acceptable safety factor during dry and rainy seasons were far below Fs = 1.5 and Fs = 1.2. After applying the countermeasure method, both the dry and wet conditions of the slope exceeded the allowable safety factor. In particular, the face-mapping data of the slope-face, the geological cross-sections of several representative sections perpendicular to the slope-face, and the critical equilibrium analysis and the presentation of countermeasure methods that have been reviewed based on them are expected to be reasonable tools for the slope stability. In addition, it will be possible to use it as basic data for performance evaluation for slope maintenance.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.5-17
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• 2000

The physical and mechanical properties of the sedimentary rocks deposited in Taegu and Kyongbuk region have been measured in the laboratory and at the field. Four kinds of rocks such as the shale, the mudstone, the siltstone and the sandstone were the object of this study. In sedimentary rock joint, bedding made it impossible to extract cores for uniaxial compressive test. Some correlations between the uniaxial compressive strength and the other characteristic values such as Point load index, Schmidt hammer rebound, Brazilian strength, P-wave velocity and Absorption ratio are made. The chemical and mineral compositions are also investigated by the XRF and XRD analysis. In addition, the weathering grade of rocks are classified by the quantitative indices of Point load index, Schmidt hammer rebound and Absorption ratio.