• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.324-332
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• 2017

In this paper, a numerical analysis of one-dimensional viscous fluid flow in a rock joint using UDEC code is performed to evaluate the effect of design parameters on injection performance. We consider injection pressure, fluid compressibility, time dependence of yield strength and viscosity of injected grout fluid, and mechanical deformation of joint as the design parameters, and penetration length and flow rate of injection are investigated as the injection performance. Numerical estimations of penetration length and flow rate were compared to analytical solution and were well comparable with each other. We showed that cumulative injection volume can be over-estimated by 1.2 times than the case that the time-dependent viscosity evolution is not considered. We also carried out a coupled fluid flow and mechanical deformation analysis and demonstrated that injection-induced joint opening may result in the increment of cumulative volume by 4.4 times of that from the flow only analysis in which joint aperture is kept constant.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.127-142
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• 2024

The robustness of a numerical method means that its computational performance is maintained under various modeling conditions. New numerical methods or codes need to be assessed for robustness through benchmark testing. The TOUGH-FLAC modeling approach has been applied to various fields such as subsurface carbon dioxide storage, geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel, and geothermal development both domestically and internationally, and the modeling validity has been examined by comparing the results with experimental measurements and other numerical codes. In the present study, a benchmark test of the TOUGH-FLAC approach was performed based on a coupled thermal-hydro-mechanical behavior problem with an analytical solution. The analytical solution is related to the temperature, pore water pressure, and mechanical behavior of a fully saturated porous medium that is subjected to a point heat source. The robustness of the TOUGH-FLAC approach was evaluated by comparing the analytical solution with the results of numerical simulation. Additionally, the effects of thermal-hydro-mechanical coupling terms, fluid phase change, and timestep on the computation of coupled behavior were investigated.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.670-691
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• 2018

This study presents the research results of the BMT(Benchmark Model Test) simulations of the DECOVALEX-2019 project Task B. Task B named 'Fault slip modelling' is aiming at developing a numerical method to predict fault reactivation and the coupled hydro-mechanical behavior of fault. BMT scenario simulations of Task B were conducted to improve each numerical model of participating group by demonstrating the feasibility of reproducing the fault behavior induced by water injection. The BMT simulations consist of seven different conditions depending on injection pressure, fault properties and the hydro-mechanical coupling relations. TOUGH-FLAC simulator was used to reproduce the coupled hydro-mechanical process of fault slip. A coupling module to update the changes in hydrological properties and geometric features of the numerical mesh in the present study. We made modifications to the numerical model developed in Task B Step 1 to consider the changes in compressibility, Permeability and geometric features with hydraulic aperture of fault due to mechanical deformation. The effects of the storativity and transmissivity of the fault on the hydro-mechanical behavior such as the pressure distribution, injection rate, displacement and stress of the fault were examined, and the results of the previous step 1 simulation were updated using the modified numerical model. The simulation results indicate that the developed model can provide a reasonable prediction of the hydro-mechanical behavior related to fault reactivation. The numerical model will be enhanced by continuing interaction and collaboration with other research teams of DECOVALEX-2019 Task B and validated using the field experiment data in a further study.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.47-56
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• 2021

The cryosuction (negative pore pressure) in freezing soils causes groundwater migration from the frozen fringe to freezing front for ice lens formation. Frost heave and heaving pressure by ice lens cause damage to ground infrastructure. In order to prevent damage by the frost heave, various frost susceptibility criteria have been proposed. The SP (Segregation Potential) is the most widely used classification criterion for frost susceptibility in cold regions. The expansion of the ice lens by the migration of the groundwater is a key role in frost heave mechanism, and thus it is necessary to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity. In this paper, soil mixtures of coarse-fines (sand-silt) were prepared in various weight fractions and used for frost heave and column permeability test. For each case, the SP and the hydraulic conductivity were derived and correlations were analyzed. As a results, the transition threshold of the SP and the hydraulic conductivity were shown at 20% and 50% of the silt weight fraction, respectively. Although there are difference between these transition thresholds, these two coefficients show a specific correlation. In the future, additional study should be conducted for detailed analysis of the threshold transition values between SP and hydraulic conductivity.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.73-83
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• 2006

Seepage analysis through unsaturated zone based on the theory of unsaturated flow is commonly performed to evaluate dam safety. However, the concepts of unsaturated soil behavior have not been transferred into the hands of practicing geotechnical engineers since the problems involving unsaturated soils often have the appearances of being extremely complex. There is variability and uncertainty associated with the unsaturated hydraulic properties that in turn will lead to variability in predicting unsaturated soil behavior such as seepage rate and the pore water pressure distribution. In this paper, measurements of the soil-water characteristic curve and saturated hydraulic conductivity for the core material of dam were conducted. Then, finite element stochastic analysis was used to capture the effect of unsaturated hydraulic properties on the seepage behavior of dam. It is observed that the amount of seepage increases, as the values of unsaturated soil parameters a and n increase. The values of m and p showed opposite trend.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2008

It is interesting to note that distinct element method has been used extensively to model the response of micro and discontinuous behavior in geomechanics. Impressive advances related to response of distinct particles have been conducted and there were difficulties in considering fluid effect simultaneously. Current distinct element methods are progressively developed to solve particle-fluid coupling focused on fluid flow through soil, rock or porous medium. In this research, numerical simulations of fluid injection into particulate materials were conducted to observe cavity initiation and propagation using distinct element method. After generation of initial particles and wall elements, confining stress was applied by servo-control method. The fluid scheme solves the continuity and Navior-Stokes equations numerically, then derives pressure and velocity vectors for fixed grid by considering the existence of particles within the fluid cell. Fluid was injected as 7-step into the assembly in the x-direction from the inlet located at the center of the left boundary under confining stress condition, $0.1MP{\alpha}\;and\;0.5MP{\alpha}$, respectively. For each simulation, movement of particles, flow rate, fluid velocity, pressure history, wall stress including cavity initiation and propagation by interaction of flulid-paricles were analyzed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.61-68
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• 2006

Recently the large scale civil engineering projects are being implemented by reclaiming the sea or utilizing seashore and river embankment areas. The reclaimed land and utilized seashore are mostly soft ground that doesn't have sufficient bearing capacity. This soft ground consists of fine-grained soil such as clayey and silty soils or large void soil like peat or loose sand. It has high ground water table and it may cause the failure and crock of building foundation by uplift pressure and ground water leakage. In this study, the permittivity and the transmissivity were evaluated with the applied normal pressure in the laboratory. The laboratory model tests were conducted by utilizing geocomposite drainage system for draining the water out to release the uplift pressure. The soil used in the laboratory drainage test was dredged soil from the reclaimed land where uplift pressure problems can arise in soil condition. Geocomposite drainage system was installed at the bottom of apparatus and dredged soil was layered with compaction. Subsequently the water pressure was supplied from the top of specimen and the quantities of drainage and the pore water pressure were measured at each step water pressure. The results of laboratory measurements were compared with theoretical values. For the evaluation of propriety of laboratory drainage test, 2-D finite elements analysis that can analyze the distribution and the transferring of pore water pressure was conducted and compared with laboratory test results.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2001

To investigate the effects of hydromechanical and textural characteristics of sediment deposits on the cultivation of Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum surface and sub-surface core sediments were collected seasonally in Gomso tidal flat. Grain size distribution were analyzed to investigate the annual variation of sediment texture. In winter unimodal distribution of grain size with the peak at $5\phi$ is dominant However, during the summer sediment texture become a little bit coarser and grain size distribution shows the peaks at $4\~5 \phi$. Optimum sediment texture for the cultivation of manila clam, R. philippinarum was found to be sandy silt in which mean Brain size was between 4 and $5 \phi$ with the sand content less than $50\%$ and clay content of $5\~10\%$. Mechanical and hydrological characteristics of sediment deposits were also studied in the laboratory and the results were applied to the numerical simulation for the behavior of surface sediment subjected to the cyclic loading from sea-water level change. Results of numerical simulation illustrate that the permeability of sediment had to be maintained in the range of $10^{-11}\sim10^{-12}m^2$ to ensure the proper sedimentological environment for the cultivation of manila clam, R. philippinarum. The deposits of virtually impermeable mud layer, with the threshold thickness of 4 cm, would be very hazardous to clam habitat.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.408-417
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• 2007

Recently, an artificial beach has been constructed compensating for loss of the natural one caused by the development of coastal area, as well as serving as a location for recreational activities such as sea bathing. It is well known that some structure should be constructed to protect an artificial beach from the outflow due to wave action of the reclaimed sand. In general, dike is utilized as the structure to protect an artificial beach. And, one of the factors which may need to be taken into consideration for stability of dike on seabed foundation is the ground water behavior behind dike. However, the interrelated phenomena of nonlinear wave and ground water response have relatively little attention although these interactions are important for stability of structure and sand suction to the artificial beach. In this paper, the numerical wave tank was developed to clarify nonlinear wave, dike and ground water dynamic interaction, which can simulate the difference of ground water and mean water level. Using the developed numerical wave tank, the present study investigates how variation of ground water level influences hydrodynamic characteristics in seabed around dike and numerically simulates the wave fields, pore flow patterns, pore water pressures and vorticities according to variation of ground water level. Numerical results explain well how hydrodynamic characteristics in seabed around dike is affected by the variation of ground water level.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2004

Hydraulic conductivity along rock fracture is mainly dependent on fracture geometries such as orientation, aperture, roughness and connectivity. Therefore, it needs to consider fracture geometries sufficiently on a fracture model for a numerical analysis to calculate permeability coefficient in a fracture. This study performed new type of numerical analysis using a homogenization analysis method to calculate permeability coefficient accurately along single fractures with several fracture models that were considered fracture geometries as much as possible. First of all, fracture roughness and aperture variation due to normal stress applied on a fracture were directly measured under a confocal laser scaning microscope (CLSM). The acquired geometric data were used as input data to construct fracture models for the homogenization analysis (HA). Using the constructed fracture models, the homogenization analysis method can compute permeability coefficient with consideration of material properties both in microscale and in macroscale. The HA is a new type of perturbation theory developed to characterize the behavior of a micro inhomogeneous material with a periodic microstructure. It calculates micro scale permeability coefficient at homogeneous microscale, and then, computes a homogenized permeability coefficient (C-permeability coefficient) at macro scale. Therefore, it is possible to analyze accurate characteristics of permeability reflected with local effect of facture geometry. Several computations of the HA were conducted to prove validity of the HA results compared with the empirical equations of permeability in the previous studies using the constructed 2-D fracture models. The model can be classified into a parallel plate model that has fracture roughness and identical aperture along a fracture. According to the computation results, the conventional C-permeability coefficients have values in the range of the same order or difference of one order from the permeability coefficients calculated by an empirical equation. It means that the HA result is valid to calculate permeability coefficient along a fracture. However, it should be noted that C-permeability coefficient is more accurate result than the preexisting equations of permeability calculation, because the HA considers permeability characteristics of locally inhomogeneous fracture geometries and material properties both in microscale and macroscale.