• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.221-242
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• 2021

A numerical study of the performance assesment of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes in improved Korean reference disposal system (KRS⁺) for high-level radioactive waste is conducted using TOUGH2-MP/FLAC3D simulator. Decay heat from high-level radioactive waste increases the temperature of the repository, and it decreases as decay heat is reduced. The maximum temperature of the repository is below a maximum temperature criterion of 100℃. Saturation of bentonite buffer adjacent to the canister is initially reduced due to pore water evaporation induced by temperature increase. Bentonite buffer is saturated 250 years after the disposal of high-level radioactive waste by inflow of groundwater from the surrounding rock mass. Initial saturation of rock mass decreases as groundwater in rock mass is moved to bentnonite buffer by suction, but rock mass is saturated after inflow of groundwater from the far-field area. Stress changes at rock mass are compared to the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion and the spalling strength in order to investigate the potential rock failure by thermal stress and swelling pressure. Additional simulations are conducted with the reduced spacing of deposition holes. The maximum temperature of bentonite buffer exceeds 100℃ as deposition hole spacing is smaller than 5.5 m. However, temperature of about 56.1% volume of bentonite buffer is below 90℃. The methodology of numerical modeling used in this study can be applied to the performance assessment of coupled THM processes for high-level radioactive waste repositories with various input parameters and geological conditions such as site-specific stress models and geothermal gradients.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.167-183
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• 2021

It is essential to understand the complex thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) coupled behavior in the engineered barrier system and natural barrier system to secure the high-level radioactive waste repository's long-term safety. The heat from the high-level radioactive waste induces thermal pressurization and vaporization of groundwater in the repository system. Groundwater inflow affects the saturation variation in the engineered barrier system, and the saturation change influences the heat transfer and multi-phase flow characteristics in the buffer. Due to the complexity of the coupled behavior, a numerical simulation is a valuable tool to predict and evaluate the THMC interaction effect on the disposal system and safety assessment. To enhance the knowledge of THMC coupled interaction and validate modeling techniques in geological systems. DECOVALEX, an international cooperation project, was initiated in 1992, and KAERI has participated in the projects since 2008 in Korea. In this study, we introduced the main contents of all tasks in the DECOVALEX-2023, the current DECOVALEX phase, to the rock mechanics and geotechnical researchers in Korea.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.573-590
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• 2020

This study presents the current status of DECOVALEX-2023 project Task G and our research results so far. Task G, named 'Safety ImplicAtions of Fluid Flow, Shear, Thermal and Reaction Processes within Crystalline Rock Fracture NETworks (SAFENET)' aims at developing a numerical method to simulate the fracture creation and propagation, and the coupled thermohydro-mechanical processes in fracture in crystalline rocks. The first research step of Task G is a benchmark simulation, which is designed for research teams to make their modelling codes more robust and verify whether the models can represent an analytical solution for displacements of a single rock fracture. We reproduced the mechanical behavior of rock and embedded single fracture using a three-dimensional grain-based distinct element model for the simulations. In this method, the structure of the rock was represented by an assembly of rigid tetrahedral grains moving independently of each other, and the mechanical interactions at the grains and their contacts were calculated using 3DEC. The simulation results revealed that the stresses induced along the embedded fracture in the model were relatively low compared to those calculated by stress analysis due to stress redistribution and constrained fracture displacements. The fracture normal and shear displacements of the numerical model showed good agreement with the analytical solutions. The numerical model will be enhanced by continuing collaboration and interaction with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G and validated using various experiments in a further study.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.52-65
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• 2021

In this study, authors analyzed the vapor cloud explosion induced by propane leak at the PEMIX Terminal, which is the propane storage facility outside of Mexico City. TNT equivalence mass for the leaked 4750 kg propane was estimated to be 9398 kg. Blast parameters such as peak overpressure, positive phase duration, and impact at 40-400 (m) away from the center of the explosion were calculated by applying TNT Equivalency Method and Multi-Energy Method. The probability of damage due to lung damage, eardrum rupture, head impact, and whole-body displacement impact by applying the probit function obtained using blast parameters was evaluated. The peak overpressure obtained using Multi-Energy Method was found to be greater than the peak overpressure obtained by applying the TNT Equivalency Method at all distances considered, but it was evaluated that there was no significant difference from the points above 200 m. The peak overpressure obtained by Multi-Energy Method was computed to assess the extent of damage to the structure, and it was shown that structures within 100 m of the explosion center would collapse completely, and that the glasses of the structures 400 m away would be almost broken. The probability of death due to lung damage was shown to vary depending on a human body's position located in the propagating direction of shock wave, and if there is a reflecting surface in the immediate surroundings of a human body, the probability of death was estimated to be the greatest. The impact of shock wave on lung damage, eardrum rupture, head impact, and whole-body displacement impact was evaluated and found to affect whole-body impact < lung damage < eardrum rupture

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.509-518
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• 2020

This study constructed a new simulation platform, including mesh generation process, numerical simulation, and post-processing for results analysis based on exploration data to perform real-scale numerical analysis considering the actual geological structure efficiently. To build the simulation platform, we applied for open-source programs. The source code is open to be available for code modification according to the researcher's needs and compatibility with various numerical simulation programs. First, a three-dimensional model(3D) is acquired based on the exploration data obtained using a drone. Then, the domain's mesh density was adjusted to an interpretable level using Blender, the free and open-source 3D creation suite. The next step is to create a 3D numerical model by creating a tetrahedral volume mesh inside the domain using Gmsh, a finite element mesh generation program. To use the mesh information obtained through Gmsh in a numerical simulation program, a converting process to conform to the program's mesh creation protocol is required. We applied a Python code for the procedure. After we completed the stability analysis, we have created various visualization of the study using ParaView, another open-source visualization and data analysis program. We successfully performed a preliminary stability analysis on the full-scale Dokdo model based on drone-acquired data to confirm the usefulness of the proposed platform. The proposed simulation platform in this study can be of various analysis processes in future research.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.16-25
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• 2020

Multi-setting smart-investigation of the ground and large uncharged hole boring (MSP) method to reduce the blast-induced vibration in a tunnel excavation is carried out over 50m of long-distance boring in a horizontal direction and thus has been accompanied by deviations in boring alignment because of the heavy and one-directional rotation of the rod. Therefore, the deviation has been adjusted through the boring machine's variable setting rely on the previous construction records and expert's experience. However, the geological characteristics, machine conditions, and inexperienced workers have caused significant deviation from the target alignment. The excessive deviation from the boring target may cause a delay in the construction schedule and economic losses. A deep learning-based prediction model has been developed to discover an ideal initial setting of the MSP machine. Dropout, early stopping, pre-training techniques have been employed to prevent overfitting in the training phase and, significantly improved the prediction results. These results showed the high possibility of developing the model to suggest the boring machine's optimum initial setting. We expect that optimized setting guidelines can be further developed through the continuous addition of the data and the additional consideration of the other factors.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.71-77
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• 2011

Recently, non-destructive stress measurement method using magnetic anisotropy sensor has been applied to the construction site such as steel bridges and steel pipes. In addition, steel rib used in the tunnel construction site was found to be possible to measure the stress by non-destructive method. In this study, steel loading experiments using magnetic anisotropy sensor developed in Japan and strain gauges were conducted to derive stress sensitivity curve for domestic steel SS400. Also, additional steel loading experiments and numerical analysis were performed for evaluation of applicability for non-destructive stress measurement method using magnetic anisotropy sensor. As a result of this study, stress sensitivity curves for domestic steel SS400 were derived using output voltage measured by magnetic anisotropy sensor and average of stress measured by strain gauges depending on the measurement location. And as a result of comparing additional steel loading experiments with the numerical analysis, error level of magnetic anisotropy sensor is around 20MPa. When considering the level of the yield stress(245MPa) of steel, in case of using magnetic anisotropy sensor in order to determine the stress status of steel, it has sufficient accuracy in engineering. Especially, magnetic anisotropy sensor can easily identify the current state of stress which considers residual stress at steel structure that stress measurement sensor is not installed, so we found that magnetic anisotropy sensor can be applied at maintenance of steel structure conveniently.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.270-288
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• 2021

We proposed a numerical method to simulate the hydro-mechanical behavior of rock fracture using a grain-based distinct element model (GBDEM) in the paper. As a part of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G, we verified the method via benchmarks with analytical solutions. DECOVALEX-2023 Task G aims to develop a numerical method to estimate the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes within the crystalline rock fracture network. We represented the rock sample as a group of tetrahedral grains and calculated the interaction of the grains and their interfaces using 3DEC. The micro-parameters of the grains and interfaces were determined by a new methodology based on an equivalent continuum approach. In benchmark modeling, a single fracture embedded in the rock was examined for the effects of fracture inclination and roughness, the boundary stress condition and the applied pressure. The simulation results showed that the developed numerical model reasonably reproduced the fracture slip induced by boundary stress condition, the fracture opening induced by fluid injection, the stress distribution variation with fracture inclination, and the fracture roughness effect. In addition, the fracture displacements associated with the opening and slip showed good agreement with the analytical solutions. We expect the numerical model to be enhanced by continuing collaboration and interaction with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G and validated in further study experiments.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.697-705
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• 2021

Currently, roadway operation agencies provide interior zones of tunnels with emergency information including crash, fire, and vehicles' stop, through state-of-the-art technologies such as variable message signs and radio-based broadcast systems. However, when coping with an emergency in tunnel interior zones, such information could be too late for drivers to access. A radio-based emergency alert system at the access zones of freeway tunnels, on the other hand,could be a good alternative for solving this problem. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess user acceptability of such an alternative system. To carry out this study, an online survey was conducted on 762 drivers, and the survey results were analyzed using a structural equation modeling to identify factors affecting acceptability of the proposed system. As a result, driver characteristics such as age group, driving frequency, and driving career, utilization of conventional traffic information, and usefulness of conventional traffic information have a positive impact on acceptability. It is expected that the findings of the study will be a basis to effectively address and deploy a new emergency alert system at the access zones of freeway tunnels.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.593-609
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• 2021

We proposed a numerical method for the thermo-mechanical behavior of rock fracture using a grain-based distinct element model (GBDEM) and simulated thermally induced fracture slip. The present study is the benchmark simulation performed as part of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G, which aims to develop a numerical method to estimate the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes within the crystalline rock fracture network. We represented the rock sample as an assembly of Voronoi grains and calculated the interaction of the grains (blocks) and their interfaces (contacts) using a distinct element code, 3DEC. Based on an equivalent continuum approach, the micro-parameters of grains and contacts were determined to reproduce rock as an elastic material. Then, the behavior of the fracture embedded in the rock was characterized by the contacts with Coulomb shear strength and tensile strength. In the benchmark simulation, we quantitatively examined the effects of the boundary stress and thermal stress due to heat conduction on fracture behavior, focusing on the mechanism of thermally induced fracture slip. The simulation results showed that the developed numerical model reasonably reproduced the thermal expansion and thermal stress increment, the fracture stress and displacement and the effect of boundary condition. We expect the numerical model to be enhanced by continuing collaboration and interaction with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G and validated in further study experiments.