• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

The unconfined compression strength (UCS) of soils is commonly used either before or during the construction of geo-structures. In the pre-design stage, UCS as a mechanical property is obtained through a laboratory test that requires cumbersome procedures and high costs from in-situ sampling and sample preparation. As an alternative way, the empirical model established from limited testing cases is used to economically estimate the UCS. However, many parameters affecting the 1D soil compression response hinder employing the traditional statistical analysis. In this study, gene expression programming (GEP) is adopted to develop a prediction model of UCS with common affecting soil properties. A total of 79 undisturbed soil samples are collected, of which 54 samples are utilized for the generation of a predictive model and 25 samples are used to validate the proposed model. Experimental studies are conducted to measure the unconfined compression strength and basic soil index properties. A performance assessment of the prediction model is carried out using statistical checks including the correlation coefficient (R), the root mean square error (RMSE), the mean absolute error (MAE), the relatively squared error (RSE), and external criteria checks. The prediction model has achieved excellent accuracy with values of R, RMSE, MAE, and RSE of 0.98, 10.01, 7.94, and 0.03, respectively for the training data and 0.92, 19.82, 14.56, and 0.15, respectively for the testing data. From the sensitivity analysis and parametric study, the liquid limit and fine content are found to be the most sensitive parameters whereas the sand content is the least critical parameter.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2013

With the increase in the application of CLSM using coal ash, we performed a basic research on CLSM material, laying focus on the correlation between compressive strength and unit weight of lightweight foamed CLSM. The unconfined compression strength is a criterion for the judgment of the possibility of re-excavation and an important factor determining the economy, efficiency, and excavation character. However, to know the quantitative compression strength value takes a certain amount of time, because the applicability of unconfined compression strength of CLSM is judged by the standard of 28days. Therefore, in this study the relation between compressive strength and unit weight (foam slurry unit weight, apparent unit weight) is analyzed focusing on lightweight foamed CLSM. We also suggested a formula which can easily predict the 28-day compressive strength only using unit weight value without the need to cure the slurry for 28 days.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.23-29
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• 2013

The mechanical behavior of frozen soils is different from that of unfrozen soils due to the phase change between water and ice. The strength characteristics of frozen soils are governed by the intrinsic material properties such as grain size, ice and water content, air bubbles, and by externally imposed testing conditions such as temperature, freezing time, and strain rate. Especially, the strength of the frozen soils is generally higher than that of unfrozen soils due to ice binding capacity with soil particles, and is strongly affected by a highly complex interaction between the solid soil skeleton and the pore matrix, composed of ice and unfrozen water. In this study, the direct shear test and unconfined compression test are carried out inside of a large-scaled freezing chamber, and the relationships between cohesion and unconfined compression strength under various freezing temperature conditions are discussed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.361-375
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• 2015

Constructions over soft and loose soils are one of the most frequent problems in many parts of the world. Cement and cement-lime mixture have been widely used for decades to improve the strength of these soils with the deep soil mixing method. In this study, to investigate the freeze-thaw effect of sand improved by polymers (i.e., styrene-acrylic-copolymer-SACP, polyvinyl acetate-PVAc and xanthan gum) and fly ash, unconfined compression tests were performed on specimens which were exposed to freeze-thaw cycles and on specimens which were not exposed to freeze-thaw cycles. The laboratory test results concluded that the unconfined compressive strength increased with the increase of polymer ratio and curing time, whereas, the changes on unconfined compressive strength with increase of freeze-thaw cycles were insignificant. The overall evaluation of results has revealed that polymers containing fly ash is a good promise and potential as a candidate for deep soil mixing application.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.35-43
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• 2011

This study aimed to investigate the engineering characteristics of PVA fiber-cement-soil mixture used to prevent or reduce brittle failure of cement-soil mixtures due to the tensile strength increase from the addition of a synthetic fiber. The engineering characteristics of PVA fiber-cement-soil mixtures composed of PVA fiber, soil, and a small amount of cement was analysed on the basis of the compaction test, the unconfined compression test, the tensile strength test, the freezing and thawing test, and the wetting and drying test. The specimens were manufactured with soil, cement and PVA fiber. The cement contents was 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%, and the fiber contents was 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0% by the weight of total dry soil. To investigate the strength characteristics depending on age, each specimen was manufactured after curing at constant temperature and humidity room for 3, 7 and 28 days, after which the engineering characteristics of PVA fiber-cement-soil mixtures were investigated using the unconfined compression test, the tensile strength test, the freezing and thawing test, and the wetting and drying test. The basic data were presented for the application of PVA fiber-cement-soil mixtures as construction materials.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.31-37
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• 2011

In order to evaluate the effect of matric suction on the strength and deformation characteristics, the unsaturated unconfined compression test is performed for the statical1y compacted silty sand. Specimens used were made under conditions with various initial degrees of saturation. The initial matric suction, matric suction at the peak shear strength and the volumetric deformation during the shear process were measured. From these results, it was found that the initial degree of saturation exerts the influence on the behaviors of suction, peak shear strength and the volumetric deformation. Furthermore, the suction stress($P_s$) which means the apparent cohesion due to matric suction in the unsaturated shear strength could be derived.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 2003

Unconfined compression test (UC) has been widely used to determine the undrained shear strength ($c_u$) of clay, because it is convenient and economical. However, UC can not represent the behaviour of in-situ stress condition and the strength obtained by the test is generally underestimated compared to that of triaxial compression, due to no confining pressure. Therefore, a simple and practical method to correct the ($c_u$) for sample disturbance and to be used in geotechnical practice is needed. This study is aimed at proposing the method to estimate in-situ undrained shear strength from UC with suction measurement. The proposed method is based on theoretical shear strength equation of perfect sample (Noorany & Seed, 1965), and effective overburden stress and analysis results ($A_f,\phi'$) of effective stress behaviour by UC are needed for the equation. The shear resistance angle ($\phi'$) can be simply estimated through the result that $K_f$-line slope of the UC is 1.6 times higher than that of triaxial compression test. The result of this study shows that the measured strength by this method is very similar to that of the undrained shear strength by triaxial compression test (CK$_0$UC).

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.37-44
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• 2006

This paper investigates strength characteristics and stress-strain behaviors of geogrid mixing reinforced lightweight soil. The lightweight soil was reinforced with geogrid in order to increase its compressive strength. Test specimens were fabricated by various mixing conditions including cement content, initial water content, air content and geogrid layer and then unconfined compression tests were carried out. From the experimental results, it was found that unconfined compressive strength as well as stress-strain behavior of lightweight soil was strongly influenced by mixing conditions. The more cement content that is added to the mixture, the greater its unconfined compressive strength. However, the more initial water content or the more air foam content, the less its unconfined compressive strength. It was observed that the compressive strength of reinforced lightweight soil increased reinforcing effect by the geogrid for most cases. Stress-strain relation of geogrid mixing reinforced lightweight soil showed a ductile behavior rather than a brittle behavior. In reinforced lightweight soil, secant modulus ($E_{50}$) also increased as its compressive strength increased due to the inclusion of geogrid.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.60-74
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• 1980

Soil-cement mixtures involve problems in it's durability in grain size distribution and mineral composition of the used soils as well as in cement content, compaction energy, molding water content, and curing. As an attempt to solve the problems associated with durability of weathered granite soil with cement treated was investigated by conducting tests such as unconfined compression test, it's moisture, immers, wet-dry and freeze-thaw curing, mesurement of loss of weight with wet-dry and freeze-thaw by KS F criteria and CBR test with moisture curing on the five soil samples different in weathering and mineral composition. The experimental results are summarized as follows; The unconfined compressive strength was higher in moisture curing rather than in the immers and wet-dry, while it was lowest in freeze-thaw. Decreasing ratio of unconfined compressive strength in soil-cement mixtures were lowest in optimum moisture content or in the dry side rather than optimum moisture content with freeze-thaw. The highly significant ceofficient was obtained between the cement content and loss of weight with freeze-thaw and wet-dry. It was possible to obtain the durability of soil-cement mixtures, as the materials of base for roads, containing above 4 % of cement content, above 3Okg/cm$_2$ of unconfined compressive trength with seven days moisture curing or 12 cycle of freeze-thaw after it, above 100% of relative unconfined compressive strength, 80% of index of resistance, below 14% of loss of weight with 12 cycle of wet-dry and above 1. 80g/cm$_2$ of dry density.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4C
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• pp.247-253
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• 2008

This paper investigates the mechanical characteristics of waste tire powder-added lightweight soil in which dredged soils, waste tire powder and bottom ash were reused. In this study, 5 groups of soil samples were prepared with varing contents of waste tire powder ranged from 0% to 100% at 25% intervals by the dredged soil weight. The mixed soil samples were subjected to unconfined compression and elastic wave tests to investigate their unconfined compressive strengths and dynamic properties. Test results showed that the unconfined compressive strength and unit weight decreased as the waste tire powder contents increased, but axial strain at failure increased. Also stress-strain relationship of waste tire powder-added lightweight soil showed a ductile behavior rather than a brittle behavior. The result of elastic wave tests indicated that the higher waste tire powder content, the lower elastic wave velocity and the lower shear modulus (G).