• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2C
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• pp.133-141
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• 2008

Theoretical analysis are developed to estimate the load transfer by soil arching in geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported(GRPS) embankment systems. According to the results of analyses, the efficiency of embankment pile systems increases when the geosynthetics are installed with piles. Especially the increment of efficiency is more remarkable in the low embankment height, where soil arching can not be fully developed. The factors affecting the load transfer in GRPS embankment systems are the pile spacing, the height and properties of embankments, and the strength of geosynthetics. The efficiency decreases with increasing the pile spacing, while it increases with the height and internal friction angle of embankment fills, and the strength of geosynthetics. These results of analyses show the proposed analysis method is resonable to estimate the soil arching in GRPS embankment systems.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.133-144
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• 2004

Pre-reinforcement ahead of a tunnel face using long steel or FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic) pipes in NATM(New Austrian Tunnelling Method), known as the RPUM(Reinforced Protective Umbrella Method) or UAM (Umbrella Arch Method), is the promising method to sustain the stability of a shallow tunnel face and reduce the ground settlements. In addition, horizontal reinforcing of the face is recently emphasized to improve the stability of the face. However, the characteristics on longitudinal arching around the face have not yet been established quantitatively with the RPUM (crown-reinforcing) and/or the face horizontal reinforcing. In this study, therefore, the behavior of cohesionless soil around the face reinforced by the reinforcing member representing the RPUM and horizontal reinforcing is investigated through two-dimensional laboratory model tests. A series of tests were carried out on various conditions by changing lengths and angles of the reinforcing members. Based on the vertical pressure around the face, the characteristics of longitudinal arching have been found for the case of the non-reinforced and the reinforced.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.53-66
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• 2007

A series of model tests were performed to investigate the soil arching effect in embankments supported by piles with geosynthetics. In the model tests, model piles with isolated cap were inserted through the holes in a steel plate, which could be operated up and down. Then geosynthetics was laid on the pile caps below sand fills. The settlement of soft ground was simulated by lowering the plate. As the plate was lowered, the soil arching was mobilized in the embankments. The deformation of both the sand fills and geosynthetics were captured by camera. Also the loads acting on pile cap and the tensile strain of geosynthetics were monitored by data logging system. Model tests showed that the embankment loads transferred on pile cap by soil arching Increased rapidly with settlement of the soft ground. In case of the absence of geosynthetics, the loads acting on pile caps dropped to residual value after peak value, whereas loads on pile caps gradually increased until constant value in case of geosynthetic-reinforced. This illustrated that reinforcing with the geosynthetics has a good effect to restrain the settlement of embankments. Also, the deformation shape of geosynthetics between pile caps was circular. The embankment loads transferred on pile caps can be estimated by considering both soil arching and tensile strain of geosynthetics in embankments supported by piles with geosynthetics.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.181-189
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• 2003

The active earth pressure against a rigid retaining wall has been generally calculated using either Rankine's or Coulomb's formulation. Both assume that the distribution of active earth pressure exerted against the wall is triangular. However, many experimental results show that the distribution of the active earth pressure on a rigid rough wall is nonlinear. These results do not agree with the assumption used in both Rankine's and Coulomb's theories. The nonlinearity of the active earth pressure distribution results from arching effects in the backfill. Several researchers have attempted to estimate the active earth pressure on a rigid retaining wall, considering arching effect in the backfill. Their equations, however, have some limitations. In this paper, a new formulation for calculating the active earth pressure on a rough rigid retaining wall undergoing horizontal translation is proposed. It takes into account the arching effects that occur in the backfill.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.23-31
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyze earth pressure acting on a circular shaft-tunnel considering arching effect by centrifuge modeling test on sands. The centrifuge testing method provides a way to model an in-situ stress state condition with a stress gradient within a laboratory specimen. A small-scale model of circular shaft-tunnel, which has a real diameter of 6.0 m and height of 15.0 m, was designed and tested twice under 75g-level. Additionally, an effect of excavation was presented by separating two segments of circular shaft wall to find behavioral properties and strength of earth pressure along with excavating ground. The test results were compared with those of the proposed earth pressure equation. The test results showed that earth pressure decreased by about 70% in comparison with existing two-dimensional earth pressure. This fact might be attributed to three-dimensional arching effects.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.181-191
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• 2004

For a rigid retaining wall with rough face, the magnitude and distribution of active earth pressure on the wall are affected by the shape of failure surface and arching effect developed in the backfill as well as internal friction angle of the backfill and wall friction angle. Therefore, the practical shape of failure surface and arching effect in the backfill must be considered to acquire accurate magnitude and non-linear distribution of active earth pressure acting on the rigid retaining wall. In this study, a new formulation for calculating the active earth pressure on a rough rigid retaining wall rotating about the top is proposed considering the practical shape of non-linear failure surface and arching effects. Accuracy of the proposed equation is checked through comparisons of calculations from the proposed equations with existing model test results. The comparisons show that the proposed equations produce satisfactory results.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2003

This study is focused on the finding out load transfer mechanism in the ground near the tunnel during tunnel excavation in the jointed sandy ground. Laboratory model tests were performed on various cases of the overburden heights above tunnel crown, location, and degree of discontinuity planes. For model tests, a movable plate was installed in the midst of the bottom of sandy ground. This plate, moving downwards, was intended to model the stress relaxation during tunnel excavation. The load transfer was measured at the fixed separated bottom plates adjacent to the movable plate. As the result, the loosening zone and the load-transfer form around the tunnelling site were affected by the overburden height and the characteristics of discontinuous planes. And large loosening zone was developed along the discontinuous planes which were close to the tunnel.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.143-155
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• 2007

The earth pressure acting on a circular shaft wall is smaller than that acting on the wall in plane strain condition due to the three dimensional axi-symmetric arching effect. Accurate estimation of the earth pressure is required for the design of the shaft wall. In this study, the stress model considering the decrease of earth pressure due to the horizontal and vertical arching effect and the influence of shape ratio (shaft height/radius) is proposed. In addition, model test on the sandy soil is conducted and a comparison is made between the stress model and the test results. The comparison shows that the proposed stress model is in agreement with test results; decrease of shape ratio (increase of radius) leads to stress state equal to the plane strain condition and approximate stress distribution is found between stress model and model test results.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.79-88
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• 2009

In this study, it was studied on arching characteristics of a grand section tunnel with pre-steel-rib nail reinforcement. In this study, we examine the adaptation of tunnel plan and the case which is based on the strengthening method for preexistence tunnel and other pre-steel-rib nail while the upper part of cover depth is low or soil condition is bad. When the pre-steel-rib nail as new technology and method reinforces the foundation placed of grand section tunnel, it is much better in strengthening effect, safety and effectiveness than the conventional one. After investigation about the plan pre-steel-rib nail method, construction case and calibration data, it was confirmed and examined about the upper part of tunnel for strengthening the pre-steel-rib nail thereby arching characteristics of grand section tunnel using MIDAS/GTS finite element program. Moreover we present the method that could upgrade the accurate installation interval and adaptation method for strengthening effect to adapt the pre-steel-rib nail method in a foundation placed over a tunnel.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.276-284
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• 2009

Recently pile-supported embankments have emerged as an optimum method when the rapid construction and strict deformation of structures are required on soft soils. Especially geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported (GRPS) embankments are used worldwide as they can provide economic and effective solutions. However the load transfer mechanism in GRPS embankments is very complex, and not yet fully understood. Particularly the purpose and effect of geosynthetic inclusion are ambiguous and considered as an auxiliary measure assisting the arching effect of piles. Numerical parametric study using 3D finite element method has been conducted to investigate the effect of geosynthetic reinforcement on the load transfer mechanism of GRPS embankments. Numerical results suggested that as more stiffer geosynthetic is included, arching effect decreases considerably and the load concentration to the piles mostly caused by tension effect of geosynthetic. This finding is contradictory to the common understanding that geosynthetic inclusion only enhance the efficiency of load transfer. Consequently the design parameters determined from the numerical analyses are compared with those of three existing design methods. The problems of the existing methods are discussed.