• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2023

In Korea, the rockfall prevention fence is designed with 50kJ of rockfall kinetic energy in order to prevent damages such as falling rocks and landslides. In the case of rockfall kinetic energy, it is highly dependent on the shape of the slope on which it occurs. As a previous study, a fence performance evaluation was conducted for 100kJ rockfall impact energy using ETAG 27. However, previous studies have focused on newly installed rockfall prevention fences. In this study, a reinforcing materials was installed on the existing rockfall prevention fence through numerical analysis, and the structural performance of the high-strength rockfall prevention fence capable of defending against 120kJ of rockfall kinetic energy was evaluated.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.15-26
• /
• 2010

This paper presents the results of a three-dimensional finite element analysis on a geosynthetic-reinforced bridge abutment. Examples on the use of mechanically stabilized earth bridge abutment in north America are first presented. A three-dimensional finite element analysis on a 4.8 m high, 14 m wide geosynthetic-reinforced bridge abutment was performed to investigate the 3D behavior of the geosynthetic-reinforced bridge abutment and the load carrying capacity of the bridge abutment in the three-dimensional space. The results are then presented in a way that the three-dimensional behavior of the abutment can be identified in terms of wall displacements and reinforcement forces. It is shown that the wall facing displacements as well as the reinforcement forces in the abutment are smaller than those computed based on a plane strain approximation.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.23-32
• /
• 2008

This paper presents the global stability of geosynthetic reinforced segmental retaining walls in tiered configuration. Four design cases of walls with different geometries and offset distances were analyzed based on the FHWA and NCMA design guidelines and the discrepancies between the different guidelines were identified. A series of global slope stability analyses were conducted using the limit-equilibrium analysis and the continuum mechanics based shear strength reduction method with the aim of identifying failure patterns and the associated factors of safety. The results indicated among other things that the FHWA design approach yields conservative results both in the external and internal stability calculations, i.e., lower factors of safety, than the NCMA design approach. It was also found that required reinforcement lengths are usually governed by the global slope stability requirement rather than the external stability calculations. Also shown is that the required reinforcement lengths for the upper tiers are much longer than those based on the current design guidelines.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.201-213
• /
• 2010

Recently, plans of tunnel and construction have increased. Unfortunately, the more we have tunnels, the more we have accidents in there. Because an accident or a fire in the tunnel is fatal to user safety, social concerns are focusing on the disaster prevention facilities. Cross passage tunnel is regarded as one of the useful disaster prevention facilities, which is increasing, while there were only few studies about the support system. This study tried to verify whether the support system is appropriate or not with empirical methods-theoretical methods and back analysis using measurement data. Additionally, we also looked into the range of reinforcement in accordance with strength/stress ratio of rock mass.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.15-19
• /
• 2024

This study aimed to develop high-efficiency grouting techniques under deep-depth conditions by experimentally verifying the applicability of various injection materials. Particle size analysis and injection model experiments were conducted with Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and Micro Cement (MC) to evaluate the injection performance of each material. Using Barton's Cubic Network theory, the rock fracture spacing was calculated for domestic deep-depth standards, specifically below 40 meters underground. The analysis of particle size passability under selected conditions showed that MC could pass through the rock fracture gaps, while OPC could not. According to the results of the injection model experiments using experimental devices and area calculation software, OPC failed in injection due to its larger particle size, whereas MC was capable of injection even under high-viscosity conditions. Based on these findings, the study quantitatively and visually derived the applicability of grouting materials under deep-depth conditions, and high-viscosity MC material is expected to be effective for waterproofing enhancement in deep-depth rock fracture surfaces.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.81-93
• /
• 2024

In Korea, numerous large-scale infrastructure construction projects and housing site developments are being undertaken. However, due to limited land availability, sourcing high-quality backfill materials that meet the standards for railroad and road embankment compaction and mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall construction poses significant challenges. Concurrently, there has been an increase in structural failures of many MSE retaining walls, attributed primarily to reduced bearing capacity and impaired drainage performance, resulting from inadequate backfill compaction. This study aimed to analyze the structural performance and safety of an MSE retaining wall using recycled soil as backfill. We conducted small-scale model tests utilizing 3D printing technology combined with two-dimensional numerical analysis. The study quantitatively evaluated the MSE retaining wall's performance concerning the recycled soil mixing ratio and reinforcement installation methods. Furthermore, the utility of 3D printing was confirmed through the production of an experimental wall designed to facilitate easy reinforcement attachment, mirroring the conditions of actual MSE retaining wall construction.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.604-609
• /
• 2016

This study evaluated the long-term performance of RSR (Reinforced Subgrade for Railways) technology which increases the railway line capacity without the need for additional land. Its characteristics include the use of a short reinforcement with rigid wall, which make it possible to apply it in confined spaces. The 7m high and 40m long testbed employed to evaluate the long-term performance was designed and constructed near Jupo station on the Chang-hang line. This line, located close to a local bus route, had collapsed at the subgrade following heavy rainfall. The performance of the new type of subgrade was verified with long term measurements over a 2 year period including the surface and ground settlement, horizontal displacement of the wall, tensile strain of the reinforcement, and settlement of the rail top on the side track. Based on the results of the measurements made until now, we concluded that it had sufficient safety and serviceability for use as a railway subgrade. It is expected that RSR technology could be frequently used at sites which lack the necessary construction materials for an embankment and are located close to functional railway lines and boundaries, in order to settle civil complaints.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.231-240
• /
• 2017

Recently, there have been frequent occurrences of ground sink in the urban area, which have resulted in human and material damage and are accompanied by economic losses. This is caused by artificial factors such as soil loss, poor compaction, horizontal excavation due to the breakage of the aged sewage pipe, and lack of water proof at vertical excavation. The ground sink can be prevented by preliminary restoration and reinforcement through exploration, but it can be considered that it is not suitable for urgent restoration by the existing method. In this study, a model experiment was carried out to simulate the in-ground cavities caused by groundwater flow for developing non-excavation urgent restoration in underground cavity and the range of the relaxation zone was estimated by detecting the around the cavity using a relaxation zone detector. In addition, disturbance region and relaxation region were separated by injecting gypsum into cavity formed in simulated ground. The shape of the underground cavity due to the groundwater flow was similar to that of the failure mode III formed in the dense relative density ground due to water pipe breakage in the previous study. It was confirmed that the relaxed region detected using the relaxation zone detector is formed in an arch shape in the cavity top. The length ratio of the relaxation region to the disturbance region in the upper part of the cavity center is 2: 1, and it can be distinguished by the difference in the decrease of the shear resistance against the external force. In other words, it was confirmed that the secondary damage should not occur in consideration of the expandability of the material used as the injecting material in the pre-repair and reinforcement, and various ground deformation states will be additionally performed through additional experiments.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.59-78
• /
• 2024

In tunnel construction, the stability is evaluated by the settlement of adjacent structures and ground, but the shear strain of the ground is the main factor that determines the failure mechanism of the ground due to the tunnel excavation and the change of the operating load, and can be used to review the stability of the tunnel excavation and to calculate the reinforcement area. In this study, a twin tunnel excavation was simulated on a soft ground in an urban area through a laboratory model test to analyze the behavior of the twin tunnel excavation on the adjacent pile grouped foundation and adjacent ground. Both the displacement and the shear strain of ground were obtained using a close-range photogrammetry during laboratory model test. In addition, two-dimensional finite element numerical analysis was performed based on the model test. The results of a back-analysis showed that the maximum shear strain rate tends to decrease as the horizontal distance between the pillars of the twin tunnel and the vertical distance between the toe of the pile group and the crown of the tunnel were decreased. The impact of the second tunnel on the first tunnel and pile group was decreased as the horizontal distance between the pillars of the twin tunnel was increased. In addition, the vertical distance between the toe of the pile group and the crown of the tunnel had a relatively greater impact on the shear strain results than the horizontal distance of the pillars between the twin tunnels. According to the results of the close-range photogrammetry and numerical analysis, the settlement of adjacent pile group and adjacent ground was measured within the design criteria, but the shear strain of the ground was judged to be outside the range of small strain in all cases and required reinforcement.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of soft ground improvement by dynamic replacement with utilizing crushed rock. In order to understand the ground improvement effect when applying dynamic replacement method with crushed rock, the laboratory test and field test were performed. The internal friction angle and apparent cohesion were derived through direct shear test. The dynamic replacement characteristics were identified by analyzing the weight, drop, and number of blows needed for dynamic replacement. Through the field plate bearing test and density test, the bearing capacity and settlement of the improved ground were measured, and the numerical analysis were conducted to analyze the behavior of the improved ground. In this study, it proposes modified soil experimental coefficient(C_DR) to 0.3~0.5 in the dynamic replacement method with crushed rock. Also when applying the dynamic replacement method using crushed rock, the particle size range is less than 100 mm, D₉₀ is less than 80 mm and D₁₅ is more than 30 mm.