• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.641-656
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• 2019

In this study, a machine learning method was proposed to use in predicting optimal replacement period of shield TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) disc cutter. To do this, a large dataset of ground condition, disc cutter replacement records and TBM excavation-related data, collected from a shield TBM tunnel site in Korea, was built and they were used to construct a disc cutter replacement period prediction model using a machine learning algorithm, SVM (Support Vector Machine) and to assess the performance of the model. The results showed that the performance of RBF (Radial Basis Function) SVM is the best among a total of three SVM classification functions (80% accuracy and 10% error rate on average). When compared between ground types, the more disc cutter replacement data existed, the better prediction results were obtained. From this results, it is expected that machine learning methods become very popularly used in practice in near future as more data is accumulated and the machine learning models continue to be fine-tuned.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.209-222
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• 2024

The Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) shield Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is widely used for underground tunnel construction for its advantages, such as eliminating the need for additional facilities compared to the slurry shield TBM, which requires Slurry Treatment Plant (STP). During EPB shield TBM excavation, a soil conditioning technique is employed to enhance the physical properties of the excavated soil by injecting additives, thus broadening the range of applicable ground conditions to EPB shield TBMs. This study explored the use of xanthan gum, a type of biopolymer, as an alternative to the commonly used polymer additive. Biopolymers, derived from biological sources, are fully biodegradable. In contrast to traditional polymers such as polyacrylic acid, which contain environmentally harmful components, xanthan gum is gaining attention as an eco-friendly material due to its minimal toxicity and environmental impact. Test conditions with similar workability were established through slump tests, and the rheological characteristics were assessed using a laboratory pressurized vane shear test apparatus. The experiments demonstrated that, despite exhibiting similar workability, the peak strength in the flow curve decreased with increasing the content of xanthan gum. Consequently, a correlation between the xanthan gum content and peak strength was established. Replacing the traditional polymers with xanthan gum could enable stable EPB shield TBM operation by reducing equipment load, in addition to offering environmental benefits.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-46
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• 2020

In the current work, a series of three-dimensional finite element analyses have been carried out to understand the behaviour of pre-existing single piles to adjacent tunnelling by considering the tunnel face pressures and the relative location of pile tips with respect to the tunnel. The numerical modelling has analysed the effect of the face pressures on the pile behaviour. The analyses concentrate on the ground settlements, the pile head settlements, the axial pile forces and the shear stress transfer mechanism at the pile-soil interface. The head settlements of the pile (the vertical distance between the pile and the tunnel: 0.25D, where D is the tunnel diameter) directly above the tunnel crown with the face pressure 50% of the in-situ horizontal soil stress at the tunnel springline decreased by about 38% compared to corresponding settlements with a face pressure 25% of the in-situ horizontal soil stress at the tunnel springline. Furthermore, it was found that the smaller the face pressure, the larger the tunnelling-induced ground movements and the axial pile forces were and the higher the degree of the shear strength mobilisation at the pile-soil interface. When the piles were outside the tunnel influence zone, compressive pile forces were developed due to tunnelling. It has been found that the ground settlements and the pile settlements are heavily affected by the face pressures and the position of the pile tip relative to the tunnel. In addition, the computed results have been compared with relevant studies previously reported in literature. The behaviour of the piles has been extensively examined and analysed by considering the key features in great detail.

• Magazine of korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.34-46
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• 2009

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1995.03a
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• pp.161-174
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• 1995

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.483-496
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• 2013

This paper presents the shield TBM technology in soft ground tunnelling. In order to perform this study, a scale model test was carried out using the developed small scaled shield TBM machine. The various instrumentations were conducted during the simulation of tunnelling. In addition, the ground behavior due to the shield TBM operation parameters was measured during the simulation. Based on the simulation results, the stability of the ground was evaluated and the fundamental shield TBM tunnelling technique in the soft ground was suggested. In conclusion, design's reliability through laboratory small scale model test about Shield-TBM section was obtained, and both the improvement plan for safety during construction and the construction plan for securing airport runway's safety during tunnel passing by Shield-TBM propulsion were suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.63-72
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• 2017

This study estimates the degree of influence of factors influencing ground surface settlement during tunnel excavation using Shield tunneling trough 3D FE-analyses. Numerical analysis was carried out by considering face pressure, skinplate pressure, excavation length, soil model, element size and soil material properties. Also, Actually constructed shield TBM comparative analysis was conducted by compared with Volume loss model, Pressure model and field measurement data. Skinplate pressure and soil model were the most influential factors, and the analysis results were similar to field measurements when the appropriate skinplate pressure was applied according to the passing stratum.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.593-603
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• 2017

A high-efficiency simplified modelling approach is proposed for investigating the nonlinear responses of reinforced concrete linings of shield tunnels. Material and geometric nonlinearities are considered in the analysis of the lining structures undergoing large deformation before ultimately losing the load-carrying capacity. A beam-spring element model is developed to capture the force-transfer mechanism between lining segments and radial joints. The developed model is validated by comparing analyzed results to experimental results of a single-ring lining structure under two loading conditions: the ground overloading and the lateral unloading respectively. The results show that the lining structure under the lateral unloading due to excavation on the both sides of the tunnel is more vulnerable compared to the case of ground overloading on the top of the tunnel. A parameter study is conducted and results indicate that the lateral pressure coefficient has the greatest influence on the behaviour of the lining structure.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.69-86
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• 2022

The railway is widely used to transport passengers and freight due to its punctuality and large transport capacity. The recent remarkable development in construction technology enables various subsea railway tunnels for continent-continent or continent-island connectivity. In Korea, design and construction experience is primarily based on the successful completion of the Boryeong subsea tunnel (2021) and the Gadeok subsea tunnel (2010). However, frequent earthquakes with diverse magnitudes, globally induced and continuously increased the awareness of seismic risks and the frequency of domestic earthquakes. The effect of an earthquake on the subsea tunnel is very complicated. However, ground conditions and seismic waves are considered the main factors. This study simulated four ground types of 3-dimensional numerical models, such as soil, rock, composite, and fractured zone, to analyze the effect of ground type and seismic wave. A virtual subsea railway shield tunnel considering external water pressure was modeled. Further, three different seismic waves with long-term, short-term, and both periods were studied. The dynamic analyses by finite difference method were performed to investigate the displacement and stress characteristics. Consequently, the long-term period wave exhibited a predominant lateral displacement response in soil and the short-term period wave in rock. The artificial wave, which had both periodic characteristics, demonstrated predominant in the fractured zone. The effect of an earthquake is more noticeable in the stress of the tunnel segment than in displacement because of confining effect of ground and structural elements in the shield tunnel. 

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1003-1022
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• 2018

In the current work, a series of three-dimensional finite element analyses were carried out to understand the behaviour of a pre-existing single pile to the changes of the tunnel face pressures when a shield TBM tunnel passes underneath the pile. The numerical modelling analysed the results by considering various face pressures (25~100% of the in-situ horizontal stress prior to tunnelling at the tunnel springline). In the numerical modelling, several key issues, such as the pile settlements, the axial pile forces, the shear stresses have been thoroughly analysed for different face pressures. The head settlements of the pile with the maximum face pressure decreased by about 44% compared to corresponding settlement with the minimum face pressure. Furthermore, the maximum axial force of the pile developed with the minimum face pressure. The tunnelling-induced axial pile force at the minimum face pressure was found to be about 21% larger than that with the maximum face pressure. It has been found that the ground settlements and the pile settlements are heavily affected by the face pressures. In addition, the influence of the piles and the ground was analysed by considering characteristics of the soil deformations. Also, the apparent safety factor of the piles are substantially reduced for all the analyses conducted in the current simulation, resulting in severe effects on the adjacent piles. Therefore, the behaviour of the piles, according to change the face pressures, has been extensively examined and analysed by considering the key features in great details.