• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.167-178
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• 2019

Open-pit (OP) and underground (UG) mining are usually used to exploit shallow and deep ore deposits, respectively. When mine deposit starts from shallow subsurface and extends to a great depth, sequential use of OP and UG mining is an efficient and economical way to maintain mining productivity. However, a transition from OP to UG mining could induce significant rock movements that cause the slope instability of the open pit. Based on Yanqianshan Iron Mine, which was in the transition from OP to UG mining, a large-scale two-dimensional (2D) model test was built according to the similar theory. Thereafter, the UG mining was carried out to mimic the process of transition from OP to UG mining to disclose the triggered rock movement as well as to assess the associated slope instability. By jointly using three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning, distributed fiber optics, and digital photogrammetry measurement, the deformations, movements and strains of the rock slope during mining were monitored. The obtained data showed that the transition from OP to UG mining led to significant slope movements and deformations that can trigger catastrophic slope failure. The progressive movement of the slope could be divided into three stages: onset of micro-fracture, propagation of tensile cracks, and the overturning and/or sliding of slopes. The failure mode depended on the orientation of structural joints of the rock mass as well as the formation of tension cracks. This study also proved that these non-contact monitoring technologies were valid methods to acquire the interior strain and external deformation with high precision.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.427-439
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• 2012

In this study, an experiment with large-scale model was performed according to raising embankment in order to investigate the behaviour of failure due to overtopping. The pore water pressure, earth pressure and settlement by high water level, a rapid drawdown and overtopping were compared and analyzed. Also, seepage analysis and slope stability analysis were performed for steady state and transient conditions. The pore water pressure and earth pressure for inclined core type showed high value at the base of the core, but they showed no infiltration by leakage. The pore water pressure and earth pressure by overtopping increased at the upstream slope and core, it is considered a useful data that can accurately estimate the possibility of failure of the reservoir. The behavior of failure due to overtopping was gradually enlarged towards the downstream slope from reservoir crest, and the inclined core after the raising embankment was influenced significantly to prevent the reservoir failure. The pore water pressure distribution for steady state and transient condition showed positive (+) pore water pressure on the upstream slope, it was gradually changed negative (-) pore water pressure on the downstream slope. The pore water pressure by overtopping showed a larger than the high water level at the downstream slope, it was likely to be the piping phenomenon because the hydraulic gradients showed largely at the inclined core and reservoir crest. The safety factor showed high at the steady state, and transient conditions did not show differences depending on the rapid drawdown.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.16 no.2 s.48
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• pp.135-143
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• 2006

This study presents the results of a series of laboratory scale slope failure experiments aimed at clarifying the process and the condition leading to the initiation of rainfall-induced slope failures. For the evaluation of hydrologic response of the model slopes in relation the process of failure initiation, measurements were focused on the changes in volumetric water content during the initiation process. The process leading to failure initiation commences by the development of a seepage face. It appears reasonable to conclude that slope failures are a consequence of the instability of seepage area formed at the slope surface during rainfall period. Therefore, this demonstrates the importance of monitoring the development seepage area for useful prediction about the timing of a particular failure event. The hydrologic response of soil slopes leading to failure initiation is characterized by three phases (phase I, II and III) of significant increase in volumetric water content in association with the ingress of wetting front and the rise of groundwater level within the slope. The period of phase III increase in volumetric water content can be used to initiate advance warning towards a failure initiation event. Therefore, for the concept outlined above, direct and continuous monitoring of the change in volumetric water content is likely to provide the possibility for the development of a reliable and effective means of predicting the occurrence of rainfall-induced slope failures.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.2 s.61
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• pp.146-155
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• 2006

The target slope of this study, formed during the construction of highway, is the very high infinite slope where sliding began along the discontinuity. Although an attempt was made to stabilize the upper part of the slope by installing the rock anchors, large scale failure was occurred at the lower part if the reinforced area. Afterwards, subsequent failures were observed two times. To investigate the cause of the failure, residual shear strength was measured by performing the direct shear test of rock specimen of the site. The anchor design was based on the pull-out test. Considering the slope surface where the undulation was severe and the variation of strength was very large, buttressing was used to obtain the required anchoring capacity.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.19-28
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• 2005

This paper presents a laboratory investigation on the failure mechanism of geosynthetic reinforced slopes using 1/5-scale reduced model. The components of the model were selected with due consideration of the similitude law and the step-by-step actual wall construction procedure was closely simulated. The model tests successfully replicated the failure mechanism with relative density, slope and vertical spacing.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.18
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• pp.7-16
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• 1998

This paper is an experimental study of investigating the reinforcing effect and the behavior of cohesionless slope installed with reticulated root pils. Reduced scale model tests with plane strain conditions were performed to study the behavior of the strip footing located on the surface of cohesionless slopes reinforced with root piles. Model tests were carried out with Jumunjin Standard Sand of 45% relative density prepared by raining method to have an uniform slope foundation during tests. Slope of model foundation was 1 : 1.5 and a rigid model slop. Parametric model tests were performed with changing location of model footing, arrangements of root piles and angles of pile installation. On the other hands, the technique with camera shooting was used to monitor sliding surface formed with discontinuty of dyed sand prepared during formation o foudation. From test results, parameters affecting the behavior of model footing were analyzed qualitatively to evaluate their effects on the characteristic of load - settlement, ultimate bearing capacity of model footing and failure mechanism based on the formation of failure surface.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 2019

Medium-scale levee experiments were performed to monitor the infiltration and failure of levee body by applying fiber optic temperature sensing. In this study, bio-polymer soil was spread in the levee slope to increase the strength and intensity. Therefore, the infiltration and failure by overflows were produced in a different way compared to general soil type of levees. This was also observed in the experiment data for temperature changes monitored by fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing system. Through the analysis of temperature changes at specific location by time, the location and initiation time for physical changes and infiltration in levee body could be identified based on temperature variation. In this experiment, the time of rapid changes in temperature was ahead in the inland slope rather than the forceland slope. It was corresponding to the levee failure sequence of first inland slope failure and then the forceland slope failure.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.115-129
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• 2015

The cut-slope of a large-sectional tunnel portal is recognized as a potential area of weakness due to unstable stress distribution and possible permanent displacement. This paper presents a case study of a slope failure and remediation for a large-scale cut-slope at a tunnel portal. Extensive rock-slope brittle failure occurred along discontinuities in the rock mass after 46 mm of rainfall, which caused instability of the upper part of the cut-slope. Based on a geological survey and face mapping, the reason for failure is believed to be the presence of thin clay fill in discontinuities in the weathered rock mass and consequent saturationinduced joint weakening. The granite-gneiss rock mass has a high content of alkali-feldspar, indicating a vulnerability to weathering. Immediately before the slope failure, a sharp increase in displacement rate was indicated by settlement-time histories, and this observation can contribute to the safety management criteria for slope stability. In this case study, emergency remediation was performed to prevent further hazard and to facilitate reconstruction, and counterweight fill and concrete filling of voids were successfully applied. For ultimate remediation, the grid anchor-blocks were used for slope stabilization, and additional rock bolts and grouting were applied inside the tunnel. Limit-equilibrium slope stability analysis and analyses of strereographic projections confirmed the instability of the original slope and the effectiveness of reinforcing methods. After the application of reinforcing measures, instrumental monitoring indicated that the slope and the tunnel remained stable. This case study is expected to serve as a valuable reference for similar engineering cases of large-sectional slope stability.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.5-17
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• 2012

The moment responses of electric pole foundations for a railway were investigated using real-scale load tests. Large overturning moments were applied to two circular rigid piles with a 0.75 m diameter and a 2.5 m embedded depth; the circular rigid piles were installed in an actual railway embankment fill. Two different loading directions-toward the fill slope and toward the track -were applied to evaluate the influence of the fill slope on the moment capacities of the foundations. It was found that the failure of the foundations that were constructed according to Korean railway practices exhibited a sudden overturning pattern without any significant pre-failure displacement. The moment capacity toward the fill slope was less than the moment capacity toward the track by 30%. From the test results, the geometry factor (K), which accounted for the reduction of the moment capacity, due to the fill slope, was 0.7. Moment capacities determined from the load tests were compared with those predicted from three existing design methods, and their applicability was discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2017

This research conducted the two types of model tests to examine the failure parameters by levee overflow, those were the pilot-scale levee (model height 0.4~0.8 m) and real scale levee (model height 1.0 m). The procedure of levee failure by overflow was succeeded to the following three steps: At first step, the local scouring on levee slope was happened and the overflow velocity was increased slowly. At second step, the enlarged scouring surface and the rapid overflow velocity were succeeded. At last, the levee section was broken totally and the overflow velocity was decreased because of the wide failure surface of levee. The levee failure angle (${\theta}$) was appeared bigger than slope failure angle of Rankine earth pressure. The enlarged levee height (H) made the faster overflow velocity (${\upsilon}$) of the levees, therefore additional tractive force was applied to it, futhermore the failure angle (${\theta}$) and failure surface (A) were enlarged. Because the sand sample for pilot-scale and real scale tests had the same diameter, the critical scouring velocity of each type was also the same, and the scouring properties were governed by variation of overflow velocity.