• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.515-526
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• 2015

Predicting and measuring tunnel convergence is very crucial for estimating tunnel stability and economical construction of NATM tunnels. The method to estimate the tunnel convergence that occurs before and after construction is proposed based on literature reviews. The total displacement occurring related to tunnel construction is determined to be about 2.5 times that of measured displacements. The results of displacement measurements at two tunnels constructed with similar rock types are examined for the investigation of factors affecting the tunnel convergence. The average convergence of Gyungju A Tunnel is about 6.7 times bigger than that of Daejeon B Tunnel. The possible causes of the large convergence in Gyungju A Tunnel are suggested. In order to predict the convergence of tunnels, careful investigation of the geological structures in the ground surface and the influence of external conditions as well as careful face mapping of the tunnel face should be conducted.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

In these days, the development of optical fiber sensor technology is so remarkable that it can measure various physical and chemical quantities ranging from a few millimeters to over several kilometers. In addition, it is attempted to assess the structural integrity of the state of the advanced technologies and existing structures such as ships, aircrafts, and bridges. This paper introduced the case histories of the measuring technology of optical fiber applied on structures such as roads and tunnels. The case history using OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometery) was also introduced in this paper. Measurement of the pre-convergence of a tunnel is essential to assess the safety of a tunnel and understand the geological conditions ahead of an advancing tunnel. Therefore, the pre-convergence measuring technology using OTDR is expected to substitute conventional measuring techniques.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.13-20
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• 2023

Tunnelling through the geological anomalies has widely known to have many difficulties such as bottom heave, crack of lining, squeezing and so on. To stabilize the tunnel during the construction or after construction, various reinforcing methods have been introduced and applied such as micropiling at the bottom of tunnel to prevent the bottom heave. In this study, long-term behavior of tunnel in the presence of geological anomalies was predicted using numerical analyses. To this end, material properties for swelling rock model capable of representing the rock swelling behavior was obtained using matching process with measured data to validate the adopted model. After the model validation, simulations were performed to predict the long-term behavior of tunnel in the geological anomalies.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2024

Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) method is a tunnel excavation method that produces lower levels of noise and vibration during excavation compared to drilling and blasting methods, and it offers higher stability. It is increasingly being applied to tunnel projects worldwide. The disc cutter is an excavation tool mounted on the cutterhead of a TBM, which constantly interacts with the ground at the tunnel face, inevitably leading to wear. In this study quantitatively predicted disc cutter wear using geological conditions, TBM operational parameters, and machine learning algorithms. Among the input variables for predicting disc cutter wear, the Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) is considerably limited compared to machine and wear data, so the UCS estimation for the entire section was first conducted using TBM machine data, and then the prediction of the Coefficient of Wearing rate(CW) was performed with the completed data. Comparing the performance of CW prediction models, the XGBoost model showed the highest performance, and SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) analysis was conducted to interpret the complex prediction model.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.281-302
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• 2021

Railway projects have been consistently increasing in Korea. In relation to this trend, the mechanized tunneling using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is preferably applied for mining urban areas and passing under rivers. The TBM tunneling under difficult grounds like mixed faces with high water pressure could require ground improvements for stable TBM advance or safe cutter head intervention (CHI). In this study, pre-grouting works for CHI in Daegok-Sosa railway project are presented in terms of the grouting zone design, the executions and the results, the lessons learned from the experience. It should be mentioned that the grouting from inside TBM was carried out several times and turned out to be inefficient in the project. Therefore, grouting experiences from the surface are highlighted in this study. Jet grouting was implemented on CHI points on land, while permeation grouting off shore in the Han River, which mostly allow to access the cutter head of TBM in free air with stable faces. The results of CHI works have been analyzed and the lesson learned are suggested.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.25-36
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• 2000

The purpose of this research work is to propose an analytical method of tunnel design based on reasonable site data. Therefore the proposed design method consists of monitoring data and Modified In Situ Rock Model. Also the Rock Mass Rating for very poor quality rock is very difficult to estimate, the balances between the ratings may no longer gives a reliable basis for the rock mass strength. But in reality Rock Mass Rating is only the property which can be obtained from face mapping records of the exposed tunnel face during construction stage. Evaluation of rock parameters for the actual design prior to tunnel construction should be corrected during tunnelling process in particularly complex ground conditions. This study intends to investigate application of in-situ rock model to soft rock tunnelling (weathered rock) by face mapping results and site measurement data that are obtained at the costraction site of Seoul Subway Tunnel. For the preparation of more reliable ground parameters, the Rock Mass Rating values for the weathered rocks were modified and readjusted in accordance with the measurement data. The modified input parameters obtained by the proposed method are used for the prediction of the tunnel behavior at subsequent construction stages. The results of this study revealed that more reasonable feed back tunnel analysis can be possible as suggested. Ample measurement data would be able to confirm the new proposed technique in this research work.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.135-144
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• 2020

Since the depth of tunneling with tunnel boring machine (TBM) becomes deeper and deeper, the expense for site investigation for coring and geophysical survey increases to obtain the sufficient accuracy. The tunnel ahead prediction methods have been introduced to overcome this limitation in the stage of site investigation. Probe drilling can obtain the core and borehole images from a borehole. However, the space in TBM for the probe drilling equipment is restricted and the core from probe drilling cannot reflect the whole tunnel face. Seismic methods such as tunnel seismic prediction (TSP) can forecast over 100 m ahead from the tunnel face though the signal is usually generated using the explosive which can affect the stability of segments and backfill grout. Electromagnetic methods such as tunnel electrical resistivity prospecting system (TEPS) offer the exact prediction for a conductive zone such as water-bearing zone. However, the number of electrodes installed for exploration is limited in small diameter TBM and finally the reduction of prediction ranges. In this study, the theoretical equations for the electrical resistivity survey whose electrodes are installed in the face and side of TBM to minimize the installed electrodes on face. The experimental tests were conducted to verify the derived equations.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.233-243
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• 2008

A tunnel behavior predicted in the investigation and design stage is often different from its actual behavior due to mainly the complexity of ground conditions. In a tunnel construction, therefore, it is necessary to ensure the stability of the tunnel by predicting the behaviors of the ground and the supports through observations and measurements, and modifying immediately excavation and reinforcing methods when necessary. To do so, it is important to be able to predict the final tunnel behavior based on the initial tunnel behavior as early as possible. In this study, the correlations were obtained between the initial and the final convergence by analyzing statistically the convergence measurement data, collected from two domestic road tunnels under construction using NATM. In order to estimate the unknown displacements, occurred during the period between the excavation and the first measurement, two methods were used - one is the method by means of regression analysis using a modified exponential function and the other the method by a simple linear regression analysis using the data measured within the distance from tunnel face equal to the tunnel diameter (D). Finally, the relationships were obtained between the initial and final convergence, including the non-measured displacements estimated from the two different methods, by performing linear regression analyses. The regression analysis results showed that there are clear linear relationships between the initial and final convegence and the difference between the two linear regression equations was not that large for when using the exponential function and the simple linear function to estimate the non-measured displacements.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 2007

Auxiliary support systems such as the reinforced protective umbrella method have been applied before tunnel excavation to increase ground stiffness and to prevent the large deformation. However, determination procedure of geotechnical parameters along the construction sequence contains various errors. This study suggests a method to characterize the time-dependent behavior of pre-reinforced zones around the tunnel using elastic waves. Experimental results show that shear strength as well as elastic wave velocities increase with the curing time. Shear strength and strength parameters can be uniquely correlated to elastic wave velocities. Obtained results from the laboratory tests are applied to numerical simulation of tunnel considering its construction sequences. Based on numerical analysis, initial installation part of pre-reinforcement and portal of tunnel are critical for tunnel stability. Result of the time-dependent condition is similar to the results of for $1{\sim}2$ days of the constant time conditions. Finally, suggested simple analysis method combining experimental and numerical procedure which considering time-dependent behavior of pre-reinforced zone on tunnel would provide reliable and reasonable design and analysis for tunnel.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1049-1060
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• 2018

Soil conditioning is one of the key factors for successfull tunnel excavations utilizing the earth pressure-balanced (EPB) shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) by increasing the tunnel face stability and extraction efficiency of excavated soils. In this study, conditioning agents are mixed with the weathered granite soils which are abundant in the Korean peninsula and the workability of the resulting mixture is evaluated through the slump tests to derive and propose the most suitable conditioning agent as well as the most appropriate agent mix ratios. However, since it is cumbersome to perform the slump tests all the time either in the laboratory or in-situ, a simpler test may be needed instead of the slump test; the fall cone test was proposed as a substitute. In this paper, the correlation between the slump value obtained from the slump test and the cone penetration depth obtained from the proposed fall cone test was obtained. Test results showed that a very good correlation between two was observed; it means that the simpler fall cone test can be used to assess the suitability of the conditioned soils instead of the more cumbersome slump test.