• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.17-28
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to measure the volumetric water content of unsaturated soils during drying and wetting process by using volumetric pressure plate extractor (VPPE) incorporated with time domain reflectometry (TDR). The VPPE consists of a pressure cell, a pressure regulator, a burette system and a TDR probe. Two samples with different initial void ratios were prepared in the pressure cell, and the air pressure at the range of 0.1 kPa - 50 kPa was applied to adjust the matric suction by the pressure regulator. The burette system was used to measure the volumetric water content change of the sample according to the matric suction. In addition, the TDR probe, installed in the cell, was used to evaluate the dielectric constant from the reflected signal of the electromagnetic wave at the probe. The volumetric water content of specimen was estimated by the empirical equation between the volumetric water content and dielectric constant, which was calibrated with the Jumunjin sand. The test results show that the volumetric water content calculated by TDR probe is strongly correlated to the measured value by burette system. The hysteresis occurs during drying and wetting process. Furthermore, the degree of hysteresis reduces in the repeated process. This study suggests that TDR may be effectively used to evaluate the water content soil for the determination of water characteristic curve of unsaturated soils.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.85-92
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• 2003

Generally, ordinary portland cement(OPC) is widely used for grouting to reduce permeability of ground under the foundations of structures. But, it is hard to be injected into the microscopic voids, fissures and crevices in soil or rock formation for the OPC material. Therefore new method what is called MSG(Micro Silica Grouting) has been developed recently to improve the weak point of the OPC material. In this case study, in order to verify performance of the MSG's water cut-off, trial injections were performed in rear of CIP(Cast in Place Pile) on the site A(weathered soil) and B(alluvial soil) that are constructed for the subway No. 9 nowadays. To take the proper grouting method of the MSG in the trial injecting, the injections are carried out for grouting types(constant pressure or fixed Quantity) and grouting methods(1.5shot or 2.0shot) and to confirm the effects of water cut-off and the injection range of the MSG, the tests of permeability and indicator(phenolphthalein) response were performed before and after the injection. Through the tests results, we could affirm the effects of water cut-off of the MSG and the injection range for the weathered and alluvial soil layers near the Han River. Finally we could make sure the application of the MSG method in actual construction under the layers.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.145-157
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• 2023

This paper aims at investigating the face stability of large-diameter underwater shield tunnels considering seepage in soft-hard uneven strata. Using the kinematic approach of limit upper-bound analysis, the analytical solution of limit supporting pressure on the tunnel face considering seepage was obtained based on a logarithmic spiral collapsed body in uneven strata. The stability analysis method of the excavation face with different soft- and hard-stratum ratios was explored and validated. Moreover, the effects of water level and burial depth on tunnel face stability were discussed. The results show the effect of seepage on the excavation face stability can be accounted as the seepage force on the excavation face and the seepage force of pore water in instability body. When the thickness ratio of hard soil layer within the excavation face exceeds 1/6D, the interface of the soft and hard soil layer can be placed at tunnel axis during stability analysis. The reliability of the analytical solution of the limit supporting pressure is validated by numerical method and literature methods. The increase of water level causes the instability of upper soft soil layer firstly due to the higher seepage force. With the rise of burial depth, the horizontal displacement of the upper soft soil decreases and the limit supporting pressure changes little because of soil arching effect.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2010

The paper presents a comparison between a semi-implicit time integration linear finite element implementation and fully-implicit nonlinear Newton-Raphson finite element implementation of a triphasic small strain mixture formulation of an elastic partially saturated porous medium. The pore air phase pressure pa is assumed atmospheric, i.e., $p_a$ = 0, although the formulation and implementation are general to handle increase in pore air pressure as a result of loading, if needed. The solid skeleton phase is assumed linear isotropic elastic and partially saturated 'consolidation' in the presence of surface infiltration and traction is simulated. The verification of the implementation against an analytical solution for partially saturated pore water flow (no deformation) and comparison between the two implementations is presented and the important of the porosity-dependent nature of the partially saturated permeability is assessed on comparison with a commercial code for the partially saturated flow with deformation. As a result, the response of partially saturated permeability subjected to the porosity influences on the saturation of a soil, and the different behaviors of the partially saturated soil between staggered and monolithic coupled programs is worth of attention because the negative pore water pressure in the partially saturated soil depends on the difference.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.51-57
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the soil water characteristic curve and prediction of void ratio with net stress and matric suction using the linear elastic and volumetric deformation analysis method on unsaturated silty. The unsaturated soil tests were conducted using a modified oedometer cell and specimens were prepared at water content 2 times of liquid limit and required void ratio. The axis translation technique was used to create the desired matric suctions in the samples. It is shown that soil water characteristic curve and volumetric water content were affected significantly by preconsolidation pressure. As a matric suction increases, the reduction ratio of void ratio was shown to considerably small. Also, the predicted and measured void ratio for unsaturated soils using the linear elastic and volumetric deformation analysis showed good agreement as net stress and matric suction increases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.295-302
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• 2000

Earthquakes not only produce additional load on the structures and underlying soil, but also change the strength characteristics of the soil. Therefore, in order to analyze soil structures for stability, the behaviour after earthquake must be considered. In this paper, a series of cyclic triaxial tests and monotonic triaxial tests were carried out to investigate the undrained shear strength and liquefaction strength characteristics of Nak-Dong River sand soils which were subjected to cyclic loading. The sample was consolidated in the first stage and then subjected to stress controlled cyclic loading with 0.1Hz. After the cyclic loading, the cyclic-induced excess pore water pressure was dissipated by opening the drainage valve and the sample was reconsolidated to the initial effective mean principal stress(p/sub c/'). After reconsolidation, the monotonic loading or cyclic loading were applied to the specimen. In the results, the undrained shear strength and liquefaction strength characteristics depended on the pore pressure ratio(Ur=U/p/sub c/'). The volume change following reconsolidation can be a function of cyclic-induced excess pore water pressure and the maximum double amplitude of axial strain.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.15-21
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• 2003

A series of triaxial compression tests were performed on samples of compacted granite soil in a modified triaxial cell that allowed separate control of pore air pressure ($U_a$) and pore water pressure ($U_w$) in order to examine the characteristics of pore pressure, volume change and stress-strain behavior during undrained loading conditions. Triaxial samples of unsaturated and saturated compacted granite soil, 50mm in diameter and 100mm in height, were prepared by compaction in a mould. These samples were tested at 3 different suction values (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 kgf/cm$^2$) for unsaturated compacted granite soil and at 3 different confining stresses (1.0, 2.0, 4.0 kgf/cm$^2$). Results showed that only effective cohesion increased with little variation of friction angle, according to matric suction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.1047-1054
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is the understanding to changes in the characteristic of soil structure and classification, atterberg limits, undrained shear strength and consolidation of clayey soil dependent on pH of soil pore water. A series of tests including consistency tests, uniaxial compressive tests, vane tests and oedometer tests are performed on. The test results indicated that pH changes in the soil pH resulted in changes in the soil structure and classification, stress-strain behavior. Specially, when pH is conditioned to 7, liquid limit, undrained shear strength and preconsolidation pressure are the largest.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09c
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• pp.135-139
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• 2010

A construction technique to install the soil-bentonite (SB) cut-off wall for in-situ geoenvironmental containment by employing the trench cutting and re-mixing deep wall method is first presented in this paper. The laboratory test results on the hydraulic barrier performance of SB in relation to the chemical compatibility are then discussed. Hydraulic conductivity tests using flexible-wall permeameters as well as swell tests were conducted for SB specimens exposed to various types and concentrations of chemicals (calcium chloride, heavy fuel oil, ethanol, and/or seawater) in the permeant and/or in the pore water of original soil. For the SB specimens in which the pore water of original soil did not contain such chemicals and thus the sufficient bentonite hydration occurred, k values were not significantly increased even when permeated with the relatively aggressive chemical solutions such as 1.0 mol/L $CaCl_2$ or 50%-concentration ethanol solution. In contrast, the SB specimens containing $CaCl_2$ in the pore water had the higher k values. The excellent linear correlation between log k and swelling pressure implies that the swelling pressure can be a good indicator for the hydraulic barrier performance of the SB.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.55-65
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• 2009

It has been well known that the infiltration of rainfall causes major surfacial slope failures in Korea. However, the hydrological and mechanical behaviors in unsaturated slopes are somewhat complex. When an analysis on unsaturated slope problems is performed, soil-water characteristics curves (SWCC) are considered as major parameters to apply. Since the weathered soil slopes are layered and stressed by overburden pressures, the response of SWCCs should account for its overburden pressure. To deal with this situation, in this study, laboratory testings were conducted to evaluate the SWCC under various overburden stress. In addition, the unsaturated shear strength was estimated using SWCC. Then the performance of unsaturated weathered soil slopes was evaluated under various conditions after applying the effect of overburden pressure on SWCCs. The results demonstrated that the effect of overburden pressure on SWCC could be substantial and the proper application to analysis is very important to enhance the prediction of slope stability.