• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 1995

Illite/smectite (I/S) in the Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin, Arctic Canada has been scrutinized on the basis of mineralogical analysis of 215 core and drill-cutting samples from 22 exploratory wells onshore and offshore. I/S in the Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin includes the following four types: random, a mixture of random and ordered, R1-ordered, and R>1-ordered I/S. A mixture of random and ordered I/S occurs in the transitional interval between random and R>1-ordered I/S, and may represent a metastable state in the ordering reaction. A widespread occurrence of the mixture in natural environments suggests that the ordering reaction may be a slow process that results in co-existence of reactants and products. K-saturation experiments show that layer charges of expandable layers in I/S are variable. High-charge expandable layers transform into illite-like layers upon simple K-saturation. K-saturation alters the composition and/or the degree of ordering in I/S, suggesting that illitization in nature can be transformational.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.226-233
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• 1998

Microcracks in rock materials, whether natural or induced, provide useful information on the engineering performance of in situ rockmasses. A population of preferentially oriented microcracks has observable effects on the physical properties of a rockmass, but their effects may not be evident if the rock material is highly anisotropic due to other causes. An experimental program was undertaken to investigate the effect of rock fabrics on the physical properties of rock materials. In this study, anisotropy in the circumferential wave velocity and the direction of induced fractures under axial point loading were measured. Rock specimens (NX-size) of the leucocractic Pocheon granite were cored from rock blocks, retaining the relative directions of each specimen. Another set of specimens was prepared from the rock cores of the same meterial, obtained in the field. The master orientation line (MOL) was set to be the representative direction of the microcracks in the specimen. Variation of the circumferential wave velocity of each specimen was then measured along the core, keeping the MOL as reference. The direction of the minimum wave velocity was nearly perpendicular to the direction of the MOL. Coring of smaller-sized (EX-size), concentric specimens from the NX specimens were then followed, and axial point loading was applied. The direction of induced fractures due to axial point loading was closely related to the MOL direction, confirming the prior test result.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2001

A method to determine elastic constants for transversely isotropic rock using a single uniaxial compression test was proposed by Kim(1995). However, some problems were found when this method was applied. We derived two different equations in determination of elastic constants using V$\sub$12/ and V$\sub$21/ and performed uniaxial compression tests for two specimens whose angles between transversely isotropic plane and horizontal plane are 30$^{\circ}C$ and 65$^{\circ}C$. The anisotropic elastic constants should be calculated with different equations depend on the angle. If the anisotropic angle is lower than 45$^{\circ}$, V$\sub$21/ may be used. However, if the anisotropic angle is higher than 45$^{\circ}$, V$\sub$12/ may be used.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.328-337
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• 2008

Quantifying the extent and characteristics of the excavation damage zone(EDZ) is important for the nuclear waste industry which relies on the sealing of underground openings to minimize the risk for radionuclide transport. At AECL's Underground Research Laboratory(URL) the Tunnel Sealing Experiment(TSX) was conducted and the tunnel geometry and orientation relative to the stress field had been selected to minimize the potential for the development of an EDZ. The extent and characteristics of the EDZ was measured using velocity profiling and permeability measurements in radial boreholes. The results from this EDZ characterization are used in this paper to evaluate a modeling fir estimating the extent of the EDZ. The methodology used a damage model formulated in the Universal Distinct Element Code and calibrated to laboratory properties. This model was then used to predict the extent of crack initiation and growth around the TSX tunnel and the results compared to the measured damage. The development of the damage zone in the numerical model was found to be in good agreement with the field measurements.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2008

The rock treatment methods for improving bearing capacity and reducing settlement of the underground roadway structure foundation on fractured rock was studied in this paper. Also, effective reinforcement scheme was evaluated by numerical analysis for the application to the practical construction. Various in-situ and laboratory tests were executed systematically at Yeongi-goon, Ohoongchungnam-do, Korea, for the purpose of defining the physical and mechanical properties of rock. Consequently the effective treatment methods insuring the bearing capacity of fractured rock were proposed. In addition, the adequate reinforcing depth of the comparatives measure, such as double rod, triple rod injection methods and micropile, were investigated from the case study. Finally, the most effective construction scheme with the consideration of safety and economical aspects were proposed by using numerical analysis(Plaxis ver. 8.2).

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.15-22
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• 2022

This study aims to observe the swelling representative rocks in Korea and to suggest improvements in the use of test methods and prior analysis in relation to the weathering of rocks. The swelling test and analysis were performed on the drilling cores obtained for the ground investigation at the domestic highway construction site. For the method of determining the absorption expansion index of rocks, the method proposed in "Standard Methods for Sample Collection and Specimen Preparation" of ISRM and Korean Rock Engineers Standard Rock Test Method was used. The specimen for the measurement of the expansion displacement was cylindrical with a height of 10 cm and a diameter of 5 cm. The existing swelling analysis method evaluates the sensitivity to weathering by using the maximum expansion displacement, but since the classification by bedrock grade is unclear, it is reasonable to use the rate of change of the expansion displacement according to the immersion time. It is necessary to conduct an experiment to distinguish between weathering and fault deterioration. In addition, long-term weathering prediction technology for each cancer type is needed through the expansion displacement analysis of the chemical weathering stage.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2006

Three differing sandstones, two synthetic and one field sample, have been tested ultrasonically under a range of confining pressures and pore pressures representative of in-situ reservoir pressures. These sandstones include: a synthetic sandstone with calcite intergranular cement produced using the CSIRO Calcite In-situ Precipitation Process (CIPS); a synthetic sandstone with silica intergranular cement; and a core sample from the Otway Basin Waarre Formation, Boggy Creek 1 well, from the target lithology for a trial $CO_2$ pilot project. Initial testing was carried on the cores at "room-dried" conditions, with confining pressures up to 65 MPa in steps of 5 MPa. All cores were then flooded with $CO_2$, initially in the gas phase at 6 MPa, $22^{\circ}C$, then with liquid-phase $CO_2$ at a temperature of $22^{\circ}C$ and pressures from 7 MPa to 17 MPa in steps of 5 MPa. Confining pressures varied from 10 MPa to 65 MPa. Ultrasonic waveforms for both P- and S-waves were recorded at each effective pressure increment. Velocity versus effective pressure responses were calculated from the experimental data for both P- and S-waves. Attenuations $(1/Q_p)$ were calculated from the waveform data using spectral ratio methods. Theoretical calculations of velocity as a function of effective pressure for each sandstone were made using the $CO_2$ pressure-density and $CO_2$ bulk modulus-pressure phase diagrams and Gassmann effective medium theory. Flooding the cores with gaseous phase $CO_2$ produced negligible change in velocity-effective stress relationships compared to the dry state (air saturated). Flooding with liquid-phase $CO_2$ at various pore pressures lowered velocities by approximately 8% on average compared to the air-saturated state. Attenuations increased with liquid-phase $CO_2$ flooding compared to the air-saturated case. Experimental data agreed with the Gassmann calculations at high effective pressures. The "critical" effective pressure, at which agreement with theory occurred, varied with sandstone type. Discrepancies are thought to be due to differing micro-crack populations in the microstructure of each sandstone type. The agreement with theory at high effective pressures is significant and gives some confidence in predicting seismic behaviour under field conditions when $CO_2$ is injected.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.315-327
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• 2019

Back analysis has been used to evaluate the factor of safety and circular failure plane at the landfill failure site. However, the estimated circular failure plane by back analysis is quite different from what is observed in the field. Thus, this study was conducted to estimate an actual shear failure plane inside the ground which gives a more accurate failure plane. Cone penetration test (CPT), boring test, soft X-ray image scan, density logging, and ultrasonic logging were conducted at the field and laboratory. The result of CPT showed significantly lower cone resistance, pore pressure, and undrained shear strength at a particular part. This part is a possible shear failure plane inside the ground. To validate, the soft X-ray scan images were analyzed and found the disturbed (inclined) bedding plane induced by shear activity at the estimated shear failure plane. Density and ultrasonic logging tests also found a similar result. Thus, the method in this study is possible to estimate the shear failure plane inside the ground.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.121-131
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• 2009

In recent years, microtremor array observations have been used for estimation of shear-wave velocity structures. One of the methods is the conventional spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) method, which requires simultaneous recording at least with three or four sensors. Modified SPAC methods such as 2sSPAC, and linear array methods, allow estimating shear-wave structures by using only two sensors, but suffer from instability of the spatial autocorrelation coefficient for frequency ranges higher than 1.0 Hz. Based on microtremor measurements from four different size triangular arrays and four same-size triangular and linear arrays, we have demonstrated the stability of SPAC coefficient for the frequency range from 2 to 4 or 5 Hz. The phase velocities, obtained by fitting the SPAC coefficients to the Bessel function, are also consistent up to the frequency 5 Hz. All data were processed by the SPAC method, with the exception of the spatial averaging for the linear array cases. The arrays were deployed sequentially at different times, near a site having existing Parallel Seismic (PS) borehole logging data. We also used the imaginary part of the SPAC coefficients as a data-quality indicator. Based on perturbations of the autocorrelation spectrum (and in some cases on visual examination of the record waveforms) we divided data into so-called 'reliable' and 'unreliable' categories. We then calculated the imaginary part of the SPAC spectrum for 'reliable', 'unreliable', and complete (i.e. 'reliable' and 'unreliable' datasets combined) datasets for each array, and compared the results. In the case of insufficient azimuthal distribution of the stations (the linear array) the imaginary curve shows some instability and can therefore be regarded as an indicator of insufficient spatial averaging. However, in the case of low coherency of the wavefield the imaginary curve does not show any significant instability.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.201-209
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• 2003

For the purpose of research study, a vertical shaft of 98m in length and 3.05m in diameter was constructed in the layer of conglomerate by using the Raise Boring Machine (RBM). In order to estimate the net penetration rate of the RBM, which can be used in the stage of design, the in-situ test results were analysed and correlated to data from the boring log in situ and laboratory testing. Its average net penetration rate is 2.233mm/rev while its average advance rate is 0.382m/hr, which is lower than that of TBM(Tunnel Boving Machine). It turns out that the net penetration rate increases with the increase of strength characteristics in rock mass (e.g., uniaxial compression strength, tensile strength, etc.). Similarly, the net penetration rate increases linearly with the hardness of rock mass. These results are contrary to the results of the previous construction sites where the TBM was generally used in the layer of hard rock. However, the trend obtained in this study is in accordance with the findings of Barton suggesting the relationship between Q$_TBM$ and penetration rate in the layer of soft rock. Thus, the trend is valid in soft and/or weathered rocks.