• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.387-399
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• 2018

Mine reclamation project is closely related to human's past mining activities and the current human's living environment. It is a reason for the national management. In order to efficiently carry out mine reclamation projects, a precise investigation and analysis of the underground space of the abandoned mine is required. Korea MINE RECLAMATION Corp. is developing a practical technology that is effective in investigating and actually measuring underground cavities. MIRECO EYE system is an exploration equipment for 3D digitization and figuration of underground cavities. As combining a laser, sonar and image acquisition technology, it enables access to information about inaccessible underground cavities and effective management of subsidence risk of mined area. and currently it is also utilized for various purposes in related areas such as investigating urban sinkholes. This article is precise numerical and geometric information analysis obtained through MIRECO EYE system.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.10 no.3 s.32
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• pp.41-47
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• 2006

When an underground pipeline runs parallel with DC electric railways, it suffers from electrolytic corrosion caused by the stray current leaked from the railway negative returns, i.e., the rails. Perforation due to the electrolytic corrosion may bring about large-scale accidents even under cathodically protected condition. Traditionally, drainage bonding methods have been widely used as a mitigation method for stray current interference. In particular, the increased adoption of forced drainage method to gas pipelines makes the interference much more sophisticated. In this paper, we analyze the electric interference between pipelines and railways from the results of field investigation carried out in Seoul and Busan.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.225-236
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• 2014

Shear wave velocity was used to estimate the geotechnical characteristics (void ratio and shear strength) of ground near an underground rainfall storage facility. An oedometer cell was utilized to measure the shear wave velocity and the displacement of specimens. Shear strengths were obtained by direct shear tests. The relationships along the shear wave velocity, void ratio, and shear strength were verified and used to infer the shear strength profile with the depth. In addition, changes in shear strength due to the construction of the underground rainfall storage system were estimated using the suggested method. The results show that the in-situ shear strength deduced from the shear wave velocity-void ratio-shear strength relationship is in good agreement with that obtained from an in-situ investigation (SPT).

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.367-378
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• 2019

As the development of IT technology, the way to manage the underground construction site in real time using wireless network communication is being considered. Underground space is limited area compared to the ground site due to the enclosed communication environment and spatial characteristics. BMN (Bluetooth Mesh Networking) technology is a recently introduced wireless communication technology that bluetooth device acts as a repeater to form a networking mesh and monitor individual devices. This article examines the areas to be considered for analyzing the applicability of BMN technology to underground spaces, and the cases studies of wireless communication monitoring systems currently being developed. And the BMN technology which is being developed for the underground application is also introduced.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.217-230
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• 2019

One of the most important design criteria in underground structure is to design lightweight protective layers to resist significant blast loads. Sandwich blast resistant panels are commonly used to protect underground structures. The front face of the sandwich panel is designed to resist the blast load and the core is designed to mitigate the blast energy from reaching the back panel. The design is to allow the sandwich panel to be repaired efficiently. Hence, the underground structure can be used under repeated blast loads. In this study, a novel sandwich panel, named RC panel - Helical springs- RC panel (RHR) sandwich panel, which consists of normal strength reinforced concrete (RC) panels at the front and the back and steel compression helical springs in the middle, is proposed. In this study, a detailed 3D nonlinear numerical analysis is proposed using the nonlinear finite element software, AUTODYN. The accuracy of the blast load and RHR Sandwich panel modelling are validated using available experimental results. The results show that the proposed finite element model can be used efficiently and effectively to simulate the nonlinear dynamic behaviour of the newly proposed RHR sandwich panels under different ranges of free air blast loads. Detailed parameter study is then conducted using the validated finite element model. The results show that the newly proposed RHR sandwich panel can be used as a reliable and effective lightweight protective layer for underground structures.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.453-464
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• 2008

This study is to examine a relation between coal mining subsidence occurrence at abandoned underground coal mines and underground goaf with respect to surface geology, subsurface structure, depth and thickness of coal beds and the distribution of drifts. A study is carried out at the site where susceptibility of coal mining subsidence was proven high in a previous study. In that previous study, the susceptibility of coal mining subsidence was spatially analyzed by GIS using digitized geological maps, investigation reports, digitized mining tunnel maps without consideration of subsurface structure and the multi-level arrangement of drifts. Here we analyze geological characteristics around the goaf and the distribution of coal seam based upon digitized geological maps and investigation reports on the study area. And digitized mining tunnel maps are also used to analyze the depth and multi-level arrangement of drifts. The results show that weakened surface rock strength, relatively shallow depth and large thickness of coal seam below the surface are closely related to the coal mining subsidence occurrence. Complicatedly inter-connected drifts, shallow depth of drifts and surface rock fractures are revealed as additional control factors affecting coal mining subsidence. These factors examined in this study as well as original factors should be taken into account for the quantitative estimation of coal mining subsidence occurrence at abandoned underground coal mine.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.421-433
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• 2003

Demand for limestone production from both the underground and opencast mines in Korea is gradually increasing. Increase in productivity with safe mining operations is the emphasis laid on the mining industry. KIGAM has undertaken a detailed investigation to apply RMR and Q classification system for the design of underground limestone mining operations. The field investigations were confined to the underground mines of Daesung Mining Development Co. Ltd. and Pyunghae Mines of Korean Airport Service. Modification to the standard RMR and Q for limestone mines in Korea along with the correlation between these two systems are discussed while attempts were also made to calculate the width of a safe unsupported span.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.376-383
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• 2005

In this study, we conducted geophysical investigations for the organization of integrated geophysical methods to detect underground cavities of ground subsidence area at the field test site, located at Yongweol-ri, Muan-gun. We examined the applicability of geophysical methods such as electrical resistivity, electromagnetic, and microgravity to cavity detection with the aid of borehole survey results. Underground cavities are widely present within the limestone bedrock overlain by the alluvial deposits in the area of the test site where the ground subsidences have occurred in the past. The limestone cavities are mostly filled with groundwater and clays in the test site. Thus, cavities have low electrical resistivity and density compared to the surrounding host bedrock. The results of the study have shown that the zones of low resistivity and density correspond to the zones of the cavities identified in the boreholes at the site, and that the geophysical methods used are very effective to detect underground cavities. Furthermore, we could map the distribution of cavities more precisely with the test results incorporated from the various geophysical methods. It is also important to notice that the microgravity method is a very promising tool since it has rarely used for the cavity detection in korea. Beyond the investigation of underground cavities, the geophysical methods are required to provide useful information for the reinforcement design for the ground subsidence areas. It is, therefore, necessary to develop integrated geophysical technique incorporating different geophysical methods to precisely map underground cavities and image the subsurface of the ground subsidence areas.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.285-293
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• 2018

In densely populated urban areas with a large amount of infrastructure, ground subsidence events can result in massive casualties and economic losses. In South Korea, the incidence of ground subsidence in urban areas has increased in recent years and the number of underground cavities suspected of causing such events has significantly increased. Therefore, it is essential to develop techniques to prevent the occurrence of underground and ground subsidence. In this study, a field test, laboratory test, and numerical analysis were conducted to determine the optimal compaction degree of the upper support layer of any underground cavity below the level of sewer pipes in order to prevent such cavities from collapsing and leading to ground subsidence accidents. During the field test, an underground cavity was simulated using ice, and the generation of the cavity was confirmed using ground penetrating radar. The ground investigation was performed using a cone penetration test, and the compaction of the ground where ground subsidence occurred was evaluated with a laboratory test. The behaviour of the ground under various conditions was predicted using a numerical analysis based on the data obtained from the field test and previous studies. Based on these results, the optimal compaction degree of the ground required to prevent the underground cavity from causing ground subsidence was predicted and presented.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.72-75
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• 2002

Objectives : To evaluate the health hazards in the underground storage facilities of ginger roots. Methods : The authors reviewed the emergency rescue records from the Seosan fire department over the period Jan 1, 1996 to Aug 31, 1999. The atmospheres in 3 different underground storage locations were analyzed for $O_2,\;CO_2,\;CO,\;H_2S\;and\;NH_4$. Results : From the emergency records, we were able to identify 20 individuals that had been exposed to occupational hazards in the underground storage facilities. Among these 20 cases, 13 were due to asphyxiation (resulting in f deaths) and 7 were due to falls. In the first atmospheric tests, peformed on Feb 25, 1998, the O2 level inside the underground storage facility, located about $5{\sim}6$ meters below the surface, was 20.6% and the $CO_2$ level was about 1,000 ppm. CO, $H_2S\;and\;NH_4$ were not detected. In the second tests on Jul 6, 1999, measurements of the $O_2$ level at 3 meters below the surface in two different storage locations were 15.3 and 15.1%. And the $O_2$ levels inside the storage facilities were 12.2 and 12.1%. The $CO_2$ level was above 5,000 ppm (beyond upper limits of measurement). CO, $H_2S\;and\;NH_4$ were not detected. Conclusions : We conclude that asphyxiation in the underground storage facilities for ginger roots was not due to the presence of toxic gases such as CO, $H_2S\;and\;NH_4$, but rather the exclusion of oxygen by carbon dioxide was responsible for causing casualties. For the development of a hazard free working environment, safety education as well as improvements in storage methods are needed.