• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.457-470
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• 2021

In this study, the pull-out behavior of a tunnel-type anchorage for suspension bridges was investigated using experimental tests and image processing analyses. The study focused on evaluating the initial failure behavior and failure mode of the tunnel-type anchorage. In order to evaluate the failure mode of tunnel-type anchorage, a series of scaled model tests were conducted based on the prototype anchorage of the Ulsan Grand Bridge. In the model tests, the anchorage body and surrounding rocks were fabricated using a gypsum mixture. The pull-out behavior was investigated under plane strain conditions. The results of the model tests demonstrate that the tunnel-type anchorage underwent a wedge-shaped failure. In addition, the failure mode changed according to the differences in the physical properties of the surrounding rock and the anchorage body and the size of the anchor plate. The size of the anchor plate was found to be an important parameter that determines the failure mode. However, the difference in physical properties between the surrounding rock and the anchorage body did not affect its size. In addition, this study analyzed the initial failure behavior of the tunnel-type anchorage through image analysis and confirmed that the failure was sequentially transferred from the inside of the tunnel to the surrounding rock according to the image analysis. The reasonable failure mode for the design of the tunnel-type anchorage should be wedge-type rather than pull-out type.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.143-150
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• 2022

This paper presents an experimental study on the flexural performance of concrete members strengthened with external steel plates for the purpose of improving seismic performance. In order to strengthen the structure, a strengthening method was applied that wraps the walls and columns with steel members. The partial section of the wall with the longest span in the structure was manufactured in real size and the strengthening effect was confirmed by performing a static load test. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the strengthened section exhibited sufficient flexural performance satisfied to the seismic requirements, but the behavior until failure was not obtained because of actuator capacity. It was confirmed that the strengthened member resists the out-of-plane moment with a composite behavior. It was verified that the stiffness and load carrying capacity of the strengthened member were improved compared to the non-strengthened member by displacement and strain measurements.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2022

In mountainous areas of China, concrete poles with connectors are widely employed in power transmission due to its convenience of manufacture and transportation. The bearing capacity of the poles must have degenerated over time, and most of the steel connectors have been corroded. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) offers a durable, light-weight alternative in strengthening those poles that have served for many years. In this paper, the bearing capacity and failure mechanism of CFRP sheet strengthened existing reinforced concrete poles with corrosion steel connectors were investigated. Four poles were selected to conduct flexural capacity test. Two poles were strengthened by single-layer longitudinal CFRP sheet, one pole was strengthened by double-layer longitudinal CFRP sheets and the last specimen was not strengthened. Results indicate that the failure is mainly bond failure between concrete and the external CFRP sheet, and the specimens fail in a brittle pattern. The cross-sectional strains of specimens approximately follow the plane section assumption in the early stage of loading, but the strain in the tensile zone no longer conforms to this assumption when the load approaches the failure load. Also, bearing capacity and stiffness of the strengthened specimens are much larger than those without CFRP sheet. The bearing capacity, initial stiffness and elastic-plastic stiffness of specimen strengthened by double-layer CFRP are larger than those strengthened by single-layer CFRP. Weighting the cost-effective effect, it is more economical and reasonable to strengthen with single-layer CFRP sheet. The results can provide a reference to the same type of poles for strengthening design.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2023

The structural analysis module is an essential part of any integrated structural system. Diverse integrated systems today require, from the analysis module, efficient real-time responses to real-time input such as earthquake signals, extreme weather-related forces, and man-made accidents. An integrated system may also be for the entire life span of a civil structure conceived during the initial conception, developed throughout various design stages, effectively used in construction, and utilized during usage and maintenance. All these integrated systems' essential part is the structural analysis module, which must be automated and computationally efficient so that responses may be almost immediate. The finite element method is often used for structural analysis, and for automation, many effective finite element meshes must be automatically generated for a given analysis. A computationally efficient finite element mesh generation scheme based on the r-h method of mesh refinement using strain deviations from the values at the Gauss points as error estimates from the previous mesh is described. Shape factors are used to sort out overly distorted elements. A standard cantilever beam analyzed by four-node plane stress elements is used as an example to show the effectiveness of the automated algorithm for a time-domain dynamic analysis. Although recent developments in computer hardware and software have made many new applications in integrated structural systems possible, structural analysis still needs to be executed efficiently in real-time. The algorithm applies to diverse integrated systems, including nonlinear analyses and general dynamic problems in earthquake engineering.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.23-36
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• 2006

This study presents the development of a new closed-form analytical solution for the ultimate bearing capacity of an embedded wall in a granular mass. The closed-form analytical solution consists of upper and lower bound solutions (UB and LB). The calculated values from these bound solutions were compared with the author's two-dimensional laboratory wall model loading test and finite element analysis in the plastic region. The comparison showed that ultimate bearing loads from both the model test and finite element analysis are located between UB and LB. In particular, the ultimate bearing load from LB showed good agreement with the ultimate bearing load values from both the model test and finite element analysis. However, the calculated value from the conventional empirical form subjected to plane-strain conditions was shown to be much smaller than the LB.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2009

On plane strain condition, many researchers have investigated the earth pressure according to the shape of wall, and standardized method has been applied to the design of the retaining wall. But on cylindrical diaphragm wall, at-rest earth pressure has been generally used. Even though this method is on conservative side, it may lead to over-design. In this paper, the application of convergence confinement method to the calculation of the earth pressure acting on the cylindrical diaphragm wall of a shaft was suggested. In addition, a model test was carried out to investigate the distributions of earth pressure. Model test results show that the earth pressures of diaphragm wall are about 1.4 times larger than active earth pressure and about 0.8 times less than at-rest earth pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.15-26
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• 2010

This paper presents the results of a three-dimensional finite element analysis on a geosynthetic-reinforced bridge abutment. Examples on the use of mechanically stabilized earth bridge abutment in north America are first presented. A three-dimensional finite element analysis on a 4.8 m high, 14 m wide geosynthetic-reinforced bridge abutment was performed to investigate the 3D behavior of the geosynthetic-reinforced bridge abutment and the load carrying capacity of the bridge abutment in the three-dimensional space. The results are then presented in a way that the three-dimensional behavior of the abutment can be identified in terms of wall displacements and reinforcement forces. It is shown that the wall facing displacements as well as the reinforcement forces in the abutment are smaller than those computed based on a plane strain approximation.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.149-160
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• 2008

Offshore pile foundations are prone to lateral soil pressures resulting from embankment construction for the reclamation on deepwater soft clay. Since the 1990s, offshore reclamation has actively progressed in Korea, connecting with the development of Songdo newtown, Incheon newport, and Busan newport representatively. Special attention has been given to lateral soil-structure interaction problems related to passively-loaded offshore pile foundations. Based on a plane strain large deformation finite element (LDFE) approach, this paper presents the results of investigation into undrained (short-term) and drained (long-term) behavior of passively-loaded offshore pile foundations. This study examines the effects of major factors, such as soil profile, pile head boundary condition, magnitude of embankment load, and average degree of consolidation. The results allowed quantification of differences in the magnitude of lateral soil pressure acting on the piles between undrained and drained phases.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.89-97
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• 2006

This study investigated the effect of relative density on the thickness of shear zone. Digital image processing was used to measure the thickness of shear zone under plane strain conditions. A suitable epoxy resin was injected into the sample and the thickness of the shear zone was investigated. Four independent condition samples were prepared and the thickness of the shear zone was measured. The results indicated that the thickness of shear zone increases as the initial density of sample increases, and during the shear, the void ratios of the shear zone were changed, but the thickness of shear zone was not changed. In addition, the result of measurement of the thickness showed that the thickness of shear zone was almost fixed before critical state, but beyond critical state, the thickness of shear zone sharply increases as relative density increases.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.491-505
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• 2023

The practical usage of underground space and demand for vehicular tunnels necessitate the construction of non-circular wide rectangular tunnels. However, constructing large tunnels in soft clayey soil conditions with no ground improvement can lead to excessive ground deformations and collapse. In recent years, in situ ground improvement techniques such as jet grouting and deep cement mixing are often utilized to perform cement-stabilisation around the tunnel boundary to prevent large deformations and failure. This paper discusses the stability characteristics and failure behaviour of a wide rectangular tunnel in cement-treated soft clays. First, the plane strain finite element model is developed and validated with the results of centrifuge model tests available in the past literature. The critical tunnel support pressures computed from the numerical study are found to be in good agreement with those of centrifuge model tests. The influence of varying strength and thickness of improved soil surround, and cover depth are studied on the stability and failure modes of a rectangular tunnel. It is observed that the failure behaviour of the tunnel in improved soil surround depends on the ratio of the strength of improved soil surround to the strength of surrounding soil, i.e., q_ui/q_us, rather than just q_ui. For low q_ui/q_us ratios,the stability increases with the cover; however, for the high strength improved soil surrounds with q_ui >> q_us, the stability decreases with the cover. The failure chart, modified stability equation, and stability chart are also proposed as preliminary design guidelines for constructing rectangular tunnels in the improved soil surrounded by soft clays.