• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2018

The physical properties and unsaturated characteristics of acid sulfate soils were investigated and analyzed. As the results of measuring physical properties of the acid sulfate soils obtained around the Ilkwang mine area, the dry unit weight is $1.246t/m^3$ and this soil is classified into the silty sand (SM) by USCS. Soil Water Characteristics Curves (SWCC) of the drying and wetting paths were measured by the automated SWCC apparatus. Also, Hydraulic Conductivity Functions (HCF) of the drying and wetting paths were estimated by the van Geunchten (1980) model which is the most well-known parameter estimation method. The hydraulic conductivity of acid sulfate soils in the dry path was continuously decreased with increasing the matric suction. However, the hydraulic conductivity in the wetting path was decreased relatively small with increasing matric suction and decreased suddenly just before water entry value of matric suction. Meanwhile, the hysteresis phenomenon was occurred in SWCCs and HCFs during the drying and wetting paths.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.123-133
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• 2001

Since most of soil slopes are in an unsaturated state, it is necessary to consider the unsaturated characteristics of soil slopes, in order to obtain more reasonable results. Therefore in this study we supplemented a slope stability analysis program to consider them, based on the concept of limit equilibrium. We also applied an optimization technique to search for a failure surface. Besides, we carried out experiments to obtain the unsaturated soil properties required in the analysis with weathered granite soils. We formulated a nonlinear apparent cohesion relationship with the matrix suction to be able to apply the unsaturated shear strength characteristics to the stability analysis. In addition, we intended to obtain more accurate soil water characteristic curves(SWCC) by measuring the change in volume of the specimen in the SWCC tests. As a result, we could appropriately assess the change of the safety factor according to the rainfall intensity and duration, by considering the variation of suction, permeability, and shear strength caused by the infiltration of rainfall into slopes.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.171-181
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• 2004

This study was conducted to explore the tensile strength models in granular soil at the full range of unsaturated state. Direct tension experiments were carried out with a newly developed direct tension technique. The measured experimental data were compared with theoretical models developed by Rumpf and Schubert for monosized ideal particulate solids at the unsaturated state. To do this, the soil-water characteristic curve obtained from a suction-saturation experiment was used to define the unsaturation state and the negative pore water pressure with different water content levels, which are important factors in theoretical tensile strength models. The nonlinear behavior of the tensile strength for unsaturated granular soil at the pendular state is appropriately simulated with Rumpf's model. For the funicular and capillary states, the predicted trend by Schubert's model is properly matched with the experimental data: tensile strength steadily increases and reaches a maximum value and then decreases until it reaches zero. This comparison supports the concept that the tensile strength of unsaturated real granular soil can be approximately simulated with theoretical models.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.301-311
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• 2020

In this study, shear strength behavior of fine-grained soils was investigated under unsaturated conditions. The samples in the unsaturated state were subjected to a net normal stress (σ-u_a) of 40 kPa and different matric suctions (u_a-u_w) of 50, 100 and 150 kPa. The matric suction values applied in the triaxial tests were selected according to the bubbling pressures determined from the SWC curves. The study was carried out on prepared re-constituted cylindrical samples by uniaxial consolidation of soil slurries. First, consolidated drained (CD) triaxial compression tests were performed on the saturated samples and the cohesion and angle of internal friction were determined. After that, drained triaxial compression tests under matric suctions were performed on the unsaturated samples. In order to obtain unsaturated test results, cohesion and internal friction angle values of saturated samples were used. The nonlinear surface representing the shear strength surface was approximated consisting of two planes (double planar surface). The reason for the nonlinear behavior of some soils is that the amount of sand content contained in it is relatively high and the bubbling pressure/permanent water content value is relatively low.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.219-231
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• 2022

Geotechnical materials such as silt, fine sand, or coarse granular soils may be unstable under undrained shearing or during rainfall infiltration starting an unsaturated state. Some researches are available describing the instability of coarse granular soils in drained or undrained conditions. However, there is a need to investigate the instability mechanism of unsaturated silty soil considering the effect of degree of compaction and net confining stress under partially and fully drained conditions. The specimens in the current study are compacted at 65%, 75%, & 85% degree of compaction, confined at pressures of 60, 80 & 120 kPa, and tested in partially and fully drained conditions. The tests have been performed in two steps. In Step-I, the specimens were sheared in constant water content conditions (a type of partially drained test) to the maximum shear stress. In Step-II, shearing was carried in constant suction conditions (a type of fully undrained test) by keeping shear stress constant. At the start of Step-II, PWP was increased in steps to decrease matric suction (which was then kept constant) and start water infiltration. The test results showed that soil instability is affected much by variation in the degree of compaction and confining stresses. It is also observed that loose and medium dense soils are vulnerable to pre-failure instability i.e., instability occurs before reaching the failure state, whereas, instability in dense soils instigates together with the failure i.e., failure line (FL) and instability line (IL) are found to be unique.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.377-385
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• 2015

We constructed a model test apparatus to evaluate the dependence of the saturation velocity (V_s) in soils on rainfall intensity (I_R). The apparatus comprises a soil box, a rainfall simulator, and measuring sensors. The model grounds (60 cm × 50 cm × 15 cm) were formed by Joomunjin standard sand with a relative density of 75%. The rainfall simulator can control the rainfall intensity to reenact the actual rainfall in a soil box. Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) sensors and tensiometers were installed in the soils to measure changes in the volumetric water content and matric suction due to rainfall infiltration. During the tests, the soil saturation was determined by raising the groundwater table, which was formed at the bottom of the soil box. [Please check that the correct meaning has been maintained.] The wetting front did not form at the ground surface during rainfall because the soil particles were uniform and the coefficient of permeability was relatively high. Our results show that the suction stress of the soils decreased with increasing volumetric water content, and this effect was most pronounced for volumetric water contents of 20%-30%. Based on a regression analysis of the relationship between rainfall intensity and the average saturation velocity, we suggest the following equation for estimating the saturation velocity in soils: V_savg (cm/sec) = 0.068I_R (mm/hr).

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.281-295
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• 2010

A new, automated apparatus is proposed for calculating the Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC), representing a simple and easily applied testing device for continuous measurements of the volumetric water content and suction of unsaturated soils. The use of this apparatus helps to avoid the errors that arise when performing experiments. Consequently, the apparatus provides greater accuracy in calculating the SWCC of unsaturated soils. The apparatus is composed of a pressure panel, flow cell, water reservoir, air bubble trap, balance, sample-preparation accessories, and measurement system, among other components. The air pressure can attain 300 kPa, and a general test can be completed in a short time. The apparatus can simply control the drying process and wetting process. The changes in volumetric water content that occur during the drying and wetting processes are shown directly in the SWRC program, in real time. As a case study, we performed an SWCC test of Joomunjin sand (75% relative density) to measure matric suction and volumetric water content during both the drying and wetting processes. The test revealed hysteresis behavior, whereby the water content on the wetting curve is always lower than that on the drying curve for a specific matric suction, during the wetting and drying processes. Based on the test results, SWCCs were estimated using the Brooks and Corey, van Genuchten, and Fredlund and Xing models. The van Genuchten model performed best for the given soil conditions, as it yielded the highest coefficient of determination.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.8-13
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• 2003

Soil, ground water, and sea bed are exposed to a continuous accumulation of polluted materials, causing serious environmental damage. It has been reported that such pollution causes a massive mortality of fish stock in rivers due to the resuspension of toxic chemicals, occurring during strong wind conditions. Therefore, it becomes apparent that there is an immediate demand for the restoration treatment of polluted river bed (or sea bed) sediment layers. Pollution levels of major rivers and ports, such as Paldang, Kyungan rivers, and Masan port, are becoming of great public concern, and are posing a serious environmental threat. In particular, the pollution of the Shi-hwa river has become a nation wide issue for the last few years. In spite of such public concern, the pollution levels of such rivers or ports are worsening everyday. In this study, an environmentally sound engineering package is introduced that helps to restore the polluted river bed or sea bed sediments. This engineering package consists of a suction facility, followed by a series of mechanical, chemical, and biological treatment units. The suction facility is designed to minimize secondary pollution that occurs from the resuspension of toxic materials during suction. The sea bed cleaning engineering package is designed to be installed on the top of a floating barge. Such a combination of environmental plant and shipbuilding technology provides a cost-effective solution, minimizing the transportation between suction and treatment facilities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.495-496
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• 2014

The suction method is the substructure installation using the water pressure difference generated by discharging water inside the pile by the pumping operation, after the intrusion by the self-weights of a large hollow steel pipe or a concrete structure. It is known as the low-noise and low-vibration method against the general pile driven method and eco-friendly, also. Most current design and safety assessment of the support structure and considering only the static load, however, the importance of dynamic behavior becomes magnified as the size of wind power generator increases. This study measures the natural frequency of the suction pile prototype about the penetration depth as a part of basic research and analyzed the interaction between the soil and the structure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2019

This paper presents the results of parametric analyses to compute the axial capacity of a suction pile using 2D and 3D finite element approaches. The study is intended to simplify the process of analyzing suction piles from 3D to 2D model. The research focuses on obtaining the coefficient to be applied into the 2D model in order to obtain results that are as close as possible to the 3D model. Two 2D models were used in the analysis, namely the plane strain and axisymmetric models. The analyses were performed using two actual offshore soil data of the North and West Java Indonesia. The study reveals that the simplification of model through 2D Finite Element is achievable by applying the appropriate coefficient to the stiffness parameters. The results show that the simplified model of the 2D FEA provides more conservative results (with the difference between 2% to 7%) than the 3D FEA.