• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.15 no.4 s.57
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• pp.275-287
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• 2005

At the planning and design stages of a development of underground space or tunneling project, the information regarding ground conditions is very important to enhance economical efficiency and overall safety In general, the information can be expressed using RMR or Q-system and with the geophysical exploration image. RMR or Q-system can provide direct information of rock mass in a local scale for the design scheme. Oppositely, the image of geophysical exploration can provide an exthaustive but indirect information. These two types of the information have inherent uncertainties from various sources and are given in different scales and with their own physical meanings. Recently, RMR has been estimated in unsampled areas based on given data using geostatistical methods like Kriging and conditional simulation. In this study, simulated annealing(SA) is applied to overcome the shortcomings of Kriging methods or conditional simulations just using a primary variable. Using this technique, RMR and the image of geophysical exploration can be integrated to construct the spatial distribution of RM and to evaluate its uncertainty. The SA method was applied to solve an optimization problem with constraints. We have suggested the practical procedure of the SA technique for the uncertainty evaluation of RMR and also demonstrated this technique through an application, where it was used to identify the spatial distribution of RMR and quantify the uncertainty. For a geotechnical application, the objective functions of SA are defined using statistical models of RMR and the correlations between RMR and the reference image. The applicability and validity of this application are examined and then the result of uncertainty evaluation can be used to optimize the tunnel layout.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.279-286
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• 2003

Many trials to set up the correlation between the rock mass classification and the earth resistivity have been carried out to design tunnel support type based on the interpreted electrical resistivity acquired by surface electrical survey. But it is hard to find reports on the comparison of the real rock support type determined during the excavation with the electrical resistivity by the inversion of the survey data acquired before the tunneling. In this study, the rock mass classification based on the face mapping data and the resistivity inversion data are investigated to see if it is possible to design reliably the rock support type based on the surface electrical survey. To get the quantitative correlation, rock engineering indices such as RCR(rock condition rating), N(Rock mass number), Q-system and RMR(rock mass rating) are calculated. Since resistivity data has low resolution, Kriging method as a post processing technique which minimizes the estimated variance is used to improve resolution. The result of correlation analysis shows that the 2D electrical resistivity survey is appropriate to see the general trend of the geology in the sense of rock type, though there might be some local area where these two factors do not coincide. But the correlation between the result of 3D survey and the rock mass classification turns out to be very high, and then 3D electrical resistivity survey can make it possible to set up more reliable rock support type.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.433-452
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• 2018

The shield tunneling method can minimize surface settlements by preventing the deformation of tunnel face and tunnel intrados due to tunnel excavation. For this purpose, it is very important to control the operating conditions of shield TBM. The face pressure and backfill pressure for tail void grouting should be the most important and immediate measure not only to restrain surface settlement, but also to influence the effective stress and pore water pressure around the circumstance of tunnel during excavation. The reaction of the ground to the application of face pressure and backfill pressure relies on the stiffness and permeability of ground. Especially, the reaction of saturated clayey ground formations, which shows the time-dependent deformation, is different from the permeable ground. Hence, in this paper it was investigated how the TBM operating conditions, ground stiffness, and permeability impact on the surface settlement of saturated clayey ground. For this purpose, a series of parametric studies were carried out by means of the stress-pore water pressure coupled FE analysis. The results show that the settlement of soft clayey ground is divided into the immediate settlement and consolidation settlement. Especially, the consolidation settlement depends on the ground stiffness and permeability. In addition, the existence of critical face pressure and backfill pressure was identified. The face pressure and backfill pressure above the critical value may cause an unexpected increase in the ground settlement.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.53-62
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• 2013

A 5-20 cm thick shocrete has been routinely constructed for NATM tunneling method to stabilize and confine the excavated rock of tunnel construction site. A $40kg/m^3$ of steel fibers are usually mixed into such shotcrete but these steel fibers may not be evenly distributed depending on shotcrete machines, mixing ratios and excavated rock conditions. In this study, square column shotcrete-mimicked concrete specimens of $15cm{\times}15cm{\times}55cm$ were prepared with 5 equal layers and 5 or 20% cement ratio. The specimens were prepared with different reinforced-patterns: non-reinforced, middle layer-reinforced, 1, 3, and 5 layers-reinforced, or all layers reinforced. The specimens were air-cured for 7 days and tested for flexural strength. The influence of steel-fiber distribution on flexural strength and toughness of shotcrete-mimicked concrete specimens was investigated. In the case of a specimen with cement ratio of 20%, a flexural strength increased as a number of fiber-reinforced layer increased. The flexural strength of one-layer reinforced specimen showed 20% less than that of evenly fiber-distributed specimen. On the other hand, a specimen with cement ratio of 5% decreased as the number of fiber-reinforced layers increased. A toughness index increased as the number of fiber-reinforced layers increased, regardless of cement ratios. The toughness index of evenly fiber-distributed specimen showed 2-3 times as large as that of one-layer reinforced specimen.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.1 s.79
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• pp.70-78
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• 2004

Although set accelerating agents are used generally in New Austrian Tunneling Method, the standards for test methods and quality of set accelerating agents are not prescribed domestically. In this study, the proprieties of the various standards and the characteristics of set accelerating agents for shotcrete were evaluated. The alkali contents of set accelerating agents based on silicate, aluminate and cement were higher than those of alkali-free ones. From the result, it is thought that the quality control of aggregate should be enhanced and that the number of test cycle of alkali-aggregate reaction should be increased. The setting times of cement paste with set accelerating agents based on silicate and alkali-free ones were different largely with mixing methods. Compressive strength of mortar with set accelerating agents based on silicate, aluminate and cement at one day satisfied the specifications of Korea Concrete Institute. However, the strength ratio compared to control mix at 28 days showed as $50{\~}65\%$ except for the alkali-free set accelerating agents. As a results of setting time and strength test, the establishment of domestic standards that can reflect the characteristics of materials and construction methods of tunnels and that can increase quality of set accelerating agents is required immediately.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.39-47
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• 2003

Rockbursts are mainly caused by a sudden release or the stored strain energy in the rock mass. They have been the major hazard in deep hard rock mines but rarely occur in tunnels. Due to the short history and limited information on rockbursts, the topic has rarely been studied in Korea. Some cases of rockbursts, however, have been reported during construction of a mountain tunnel for waterway. This study focuses on analyzing data on rockbursts obtained from a TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) tunnel and suggests methods for a comprehensive understanding on rockbursts. From the analysis of the field data of rockbursts, it was found that most rockbursts mainly occurred at the section between the tunnel face and the TBM operating room, and the rock bursting phenomena lasted up to 20 days after excavation in certain areas. The data also show that the bursting spots are located all around the tunnel surface including the face, the wall, and the roof, The maximum size of bursting spots is usually less than 100cm. This study also suggests new scale systems of brittleness and uniaxial compressive strength to evaluate the possible tendency for a rockburst. These systems are scaled based on the scale system of strain energy density. In addition, with these scale systems, this research shows that there are potentially higher tendencies for rockbursts in this specific tunnel. Moreover this research suggests that properties of rock and rock mass, RMR (Rock Mass Rating) value, tunneling method, excavating speed, and depth of tunnel have a strong correlation with rockbursts.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.38-44
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• 2008

Recently, planning road construction in South Korea is focused on upgrading of the existing road by rerouting or restructuring. For this, roads under current construction in Korea go for more straight in its alignments and routing. Straight routing makes it all the more required to construct many mountain tunnels and bridges in Korea where mountains are so widely spread. Some portal of mountain tunnel is not rarely planed at high steep slope of mountain valley where it is not easy to secure working space for tunnel excavation. Reverse excavation is an alternative measure for excavation of tunnel portal at high steep slope. Construction in reverse excavation method has three important points requiring careful consideration: 1)planning of pilot tunnel in proper width, height, and length etc., 2)measure against the effect of one-side earth pressure to the direction of tunnel portal, 3)securing tunnel safety against shallow ground condition at portal zone. This paper intends to suggest applicable range of pilot tunnel for reverse excavation at the portal zone located at high steep slope, and shows result of study on the appropriateness of a reverse excavation by means of 3D numerical analysis. Result of 3D numerical analysis for reverse excavation at high steep slope shows that pilot tunneling will be applicable to start from the point $20{\sim}25m$ before the portal from inside the tunnel.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

When utilizing a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for tunnelling work, unexpected ground conditions can be encountered that are not predicted in the design stage. These include fractured zones or mixed ground conditions that are likely to reduce the stability of TBM excavation, and result in considerable economic losses such as construction delays or increases in costs. Minimizing these potential risks during tunnel construction is therefore a crucial issue in any mechanized tunneling project. This paper proposed the potential risk events that may occur due to risky ground conditions. A resistivity survey is utilized to predict the risky ground conditions ahead of the tunnel face during construction. The potential risk events are then evaluated based on their occurrence probability and impact. A TBM risk management system that can suggest proper solution methods (measures) for potential risk events is also developed. Multi-Criterion Decision Making (MCDM) is utilized to determine the optimal solution method (optimal measure) to handle risk events. Lastly, an actual construction site, at which there was a risk event during Earth Pressure-Balance (EPB) Shield TBM construction, is analyzed to verify the efficacy of the proposed system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.490.2-490.2
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• 2014

Since the general solar cells accept sun light at the front side, excluding the electrode area, electrons move from the emitter to the front electrode and start to collect at the grid edge. Thus the edge of gridline can be important for electrical properties of screen-printed silicon solar cells. In this study, the improvement of electrical properties in screen-printed crystalline silicon solar cells by contact treatment of grid edge was investigated. The samples with $60{\Omega}/{\square}$ and $70{\Omega}/{\square}$ emitter were prepared. After front side of samples was deposited by SiNx commercial Ag paste and Al paste were printed at front side and rear side respectively. Each sample was co-fired between $670^{\circ}C$ and $780^{\circ}C$ in the rapid thermal processing (RTP). After the firing process, the cells were dipped in 2.5% hydrofluoric acid (HF) at room temperature for various times under 60 seconds and then rinsed in deionized water. (This is called "contact treatment") After dipping in HF for a certain period, the samples from each firing condition were compared by measurement. Cell performances were measured by Suns-Voc, solar simulator, the transfer length method and a field emission scanning electron microscope. According to HF treatment, once the thin glass layer at the grid edge was etched, the current transport was changed from tunneling via Ag colloids in the glass layer to direct transport via Ag colloids between the Ag bulk and the emitter. Thus, the transfer length as well as the specific contact resistance decreased. For more details a model of the current path was proposed to explain the effect of HF treatment at the edge of the Ag grid. It is expected that HF treatment may help to improve the contact of high sheet-resistance emitter as well as the contact of a high specific contact resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.387-393
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• 2008

Using a first-principles total-energy method, we investigate structural and energy changes on Ag/Si(111)$\sqrt{3}{\times}\sqrt{3}$($\sqrt{3}-Ag$ hereafter) as the number of the additional Ag adatoms increases. The Ag coverage varies from 0.02 to 0.14 ML. Most Ag adatoms occupy the ST site, which is the center of small triangles of the substrate Ag layer that is composed of small and large triangles. One of the interesting adsorption features is that the adatoms immerse below the substrate layer. The total energy calculations show that the clusters become the most stable when the number of Ag atoms is three. This three-Ag cluster becomes the building block of the $\sqrt{21}{\times}\sqrt{21}$ phase that shows a large surface conductivity. The simulated STM images show that the adatoms look dark in filled-state images while bright in empty-state images. This suggests that the adatoms donate their charge to the substrate. The simulated STM images agree well with the experimental images.