• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.226-232
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• 2011

In this study, an optimized design of a triaxial load cell has been developed by the use of finite element analysis, design of experiment and response surface method. The developed optimal design was further validated by both stress-strain analysis and natural vibration analysis under an applied load of 30 kgf. When vertical, horizontal, and axial loads of 30 kgf were applied to the load cell with the optimal design, the calculated strains were satisfied with the required strain range of $500{\times}10^{-6}{\pm}10%$. The natural vibration analysis exhibited that the fundamental natural frequency of the optimally designed load cell was 5.56 kHz and higher enough than a maximum frequency of 0.17 kHz which can be applied to the load cell for wind-tunnel tests. The satisfactory sensitivity in all triaxial directions also suggests that the currently proposed design of the triaxial load cell enables accurate measurements of the multi-axial forces in wind-tunnel tests.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.635-636
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• 2010

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.311-318
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• 2000

In constructions of dams and ports structure, gravels are used as principle structural materials. Gravels have different material property compared with other materials like soil and concretes, etc. For example, material properties of gravels obtained from normal triaxial compression test are usually overestimated due to scale and penetration effects. Also, material properties of gravels under dynamic loads are the main interest when structural behavior of rockfill dam under earthquake loads is analyzed. The development of large triaxial compression apparatus is needed for the better estimation of material property of gravel. This paper reports work in progress to development of large triaxial compression apparatus.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.455-465
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• 2008

In this study, the load distribution and deformation of rock-socketed drilled shafts subjected to axial load are investigated based on small scale model tests. In order to analyze the effects of major influencing factors of end bearing capacity, Hoek-cell triaxial tests were performed. From the test results, it was found that the initial slope of end bearing load transfer (q-w) curve was highly dependent on rock mass modulus and pile diameter, while the ultimate unit toe resistance ($q_{max}$) was influenced by rock mass modulus and the spacing of discontinuities. End bearing load transfer function of drilled shafts socketed in rock was proposed based on the Hoek-cell triaxial test results and the field loading tests which were performed on granite and gneiss in South Korea. Through the comparison with pile load tests, it is found that the load-transfer curve by the present study is in good agreement with the general trend observed by field loading tests, and thus represents a significant improvement in the prediction of load transfer of drilled shaft.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.219-230
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• 2022

The Geo-Reservoir Experimental Analogue Technology (GREAT) cell was designed to recreate the thermal-hydro-mechanical conditions of deep subsurface in the laboratory. This apparatus can generate a polyaxial stress field using lateral loading elements, which rotate around the longitudinal axis of a sample and is capable of performing a fluid flow test for samples containing fractures. In the present study, numerical simulations were carried out for triaxial compression tests using the GREAT cell and the mechanical behavior of samples under different conditions of lateral loading was investigated. We simulated an actual case, in which triaxial compression tests were conducted for a polymer sample without fractures, and compared the results between the numerical analysis and experiment. The surface strain (circumferential strain) of the sample was analyzed for equal and non-equal horizontal confining pressures. The results of the comparison showed a good consistency. Additionally, for synthetic cases with a fracture, we investigated the effect of the friction and type of fracture surface on the deformation behavior.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.83-94
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• 2023

Unlike the conventional triaxial test cells for cylindrical specimens, which impose uniform lateral confining pressures, the GREAT (Geo-Reservoir Experimental Analogue Technology) cell can exert differential radial stresses using eight independently-controlled pairs of lateral loading elements and thereby generate horizontal stress fields with various magnitudes and orientations. In the preceding companion paper, GREAT cell tests were numerically simulated under different mechanical loading conditions and the validity of the numerical model was investigated by comparing experimental and numerical results for circumferential strain. In the present study, we simulated GREAT cell tests for an artificial sample containing a fracture under both mechanical loading and fluid flow conditions. The numerical simulation was carried out by varying the mechanical properties of the fracture surface, which were unknown. The numerical responses (circumferential strains) of the sample were compared with experimental data and a good match was found between the numerical and experimental results under certain mechanical conditions of the fracture surface. Additionally, the effect of fluid flow conditions on the mechanical behavior of the sample was investigated and discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.5-17
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• 2010

Coarse granular material is used as important fill material in most of large embankments such as railway, road, dam and so on. Therefore, the accurate design parameters of the coarse granular material are necessarily required in design and construction. The behavior of the coarse granular material was not well understood because of the lack of large testing equipment capable of coarse granular material. A large triaxial testing system was developed in this research, capable of large specimens of 500 mm, 300 mm and 150 mm in diameter. In the new large triaxial testing system, the load cell is installed inside the triaxial cell and axial displacement is measured locally on a specimen in order to improve control and measurement in small strain level. Urethane specimens of 300 mm and 50 mm in diameter were prepared. The large triaxial tests were performed on the 300 mm diameter urethane specimens while RC/TS and impact echo tests on the 50 mm diameter urethane specimens to verify this testing system. In this verification test results, we could ascertain the reasonable test results of the KRRI large triaxial testing system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.852-855
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• 2010

Numerical simulations for large scale triaxial tests with large diameter rockfill materials are conducted using distinct element method. For generation of compacted assembly with specific grain size distribution and initial material porosity, the clump logic method and expansion of generated particles are adapted. With micro parameters which are chosen by calibration process, discrete particle modelling of triaxial test in case of other confining stress and cyclic loading condition were conducted. Also numerical simulations of fluid injection into particulate materials were conducted to observe cavity initiation and propagation using distinct element method. The fluid scheme solves the continuity and Navior-Stokes equations numerically, then derives pressure and velocity vectors for fixed grid by considering the existence of particles within the fluid cell.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.402-413
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• 2006

Strength evaluation of soft soils is a formidable task because of difficulties in sampling, specimen preparation and setting in triaxial cells. In undrained triaxial testing, sampling disturbance, verticality of specimen and bedding effect give a great influence on shear strength measurements. In the other hand, shear wave measurements of specimens are less influenced by these factors. In this research, the bender elements were attached top cap and base pedestal of triaxial cell and shear wave velocities were measured. To initiate a methodology to evaluate shear strength indirectly by measuring shear wave velocity, a relationship between shear strength and shear wave velocity was developed with kaolinite specimens consolidated in the laboratory. Undrained shear strength turns out to increase linearly with shear wave velocity. Stress-strain curves can also be predicted with a hyperbolic model and shear wave measurements.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.640-649
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• 2010

Coarse granular materials such as gravel and crushed stone have been used as an important fill materials to large soil structure of railway, road, dam and so on. Although much studies for general soil materials have been carried out domestically, the studies for coarse materials were insufficient. Particularly, it is the level in which the study for dynamic properties(Elastic modulus and damping ratio) of coarse materials, applies the foreign country literature. This is due to the lack of large equipment for element test. But large soil structures made of coarse granular materials are generally important infrastructures. Therefore, the reliable design parameters for coarse materials should be obtained for safe and economic design, construction and maintenance. Triaxial test is the laboratory test method that is capable of controlling a confining pressure and boundary condition. In this project, we made a multi-purpose large triaxial testing system. This testing system is able to test coarse granular materials with maximum particle diameter of 100mm and support both the load control and displacement control. The load cell is installed inside of triaxial cell and the axial displacement is measured locally in order to control and measure more accurately in the small strain level. The verification test of this testing system was carried out with urethane verification specimens. So, from now on the useful information for coarse granular materials are expected to suggested by performing many tests with various material and condition.