• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.59-71
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• 2018

Since the generalized Hoek-Brown (GHB) function predicts the strength of the jointed rock mass in a systematic manner by use of GSI index, it is widely used in rock engineering practices. In this study, a series of 2D elasto-plastic FE analysis, which adopts the GHB criterion as a yield function, was carried out to investigate the radial convergence characteristics of circular tunnel excavated in the GHB rock mass. The effect of the plastic potential function on the elasto-plastic displacement was also examined. In the analysis, the wide range of both the $K(={\sigma}_h/{\sigma}_v)$ and GSI values are considered. For each K value, the variation of the ratio of sidewall displacement to roof displacement was calculated with varying GSI values and the obtained displacement patterns were analysed. The calculation results show that the displacement ratio significantly depends not only on the K value but also on the range of GSI value. In particular, for lower range of GSI value, the displacement ratio pattern calculated in the elasto-plastic regime is opposite to that predicted by the elasticity theory. In addition, the variation of the radial displacement ratio with GSI value for different types of plastic potential function showed similar trend.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.139-153
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• 2003

Subsurface information is one of the most important factors in the archaeological excavation. To obtain the information on the underground, geophysical prospecting is becoming a popular method. This study is on the small rocky islands located 200m away from the shoreline of Gampo, Gyeongju city, Korea. According to the historical records and field surveys, it was revealed as the tomb of King Munmu of Shilla Dynasty. However, the questions and debates, such as whether it is really the tomb of King Moonmu or not, and whether it is a buried place or not, are still remains, in addition to the incompletion of precise surveying and scientific studies. The scope of this study contains the researches on the above problems and debates using the geophysical and geological methods and techniques. The rocky islands around the submerged Tomb of King Moonmu is composed of granite, and sag exists inside of the islands. Sea water enters through the east groove by wave and is drained to the west slot by hydraulic gradient, since west slot is 15cm lower than the east. Sag inside of the islands is believed to be extended and widened from pre-existed sinkage by applying tools like chisel in the joints and cracks. It is concluded that the submerged megalith inside of sag was from the rock block which was developed by joints. Geophysical surveys reveal that there is no artificial structure or stone/china/steel chest, under the m egalith and rocky island. Researches show that the tomb of King Moonmu was constructed in the small rocky island artificially. However, the evidences show that planners and constructors of the tomb made every possible effort to preserve the natural environment and condition. It is strongly believed that the megalith was sort of alter to sprinkle bone-ash rather than buried place.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.381-391
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• 2011

Weathering can reduce rock strength and eventually affect the structural stability of a rock mass, which is important in the field of engineering geology. Several methods have been developed to evaluate the degree of weathering, including the chemical weathering index. In this study, we analyzed the weathering degree and characteristics of microtextures and pores in crystalline rocks (gneiss and granites) based on petrographic observations, the chemical weathering index, mineralogy by XRD, microtextural analysis by SEM/EDS, measurements of pore size and surface area by the BET method, and microporosity by X-ray CT. The formation of secondary minerals and microtexture in gneiss and granitic rocks are assumed to be affected by complex processes such as dissolution, precipitation, and fracturing. Hence, it is clear that some chemical weathering indices that are based solely on whole-rock chemistry (e.g., CIA and CWI) are unable to provide reliable assessments of the degree of weathering. Great care is needed to evaluate the degree of chemical weathering, including an understanding of the mineralogy and microtexture of the rock mass, as well as the characteristics of micropores.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.85-97
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• 2019

It can be observed that steep slopes ($65^{\circ}$ to $80^{\circ}$) consist of rock masses were kept stable for a long time. In rock-mass slopes with similar ground condition, steeper slopes than 1 : 0.5 ($63^{\circ}$) may be applied if the discontinuities of rock-mass slope are distributed in a direction favorable to the stability of the slope. In making a decision the angle of the slope, if the preliminary rock mass conditions applicable to steep slope are quantitatively setup, they may be used as guidance in design practice. In this study, the above rock mass was defined as a good continuum rock mass and the quantitative setup criterion range was proposed using RMR, SMR and GSI classifications for the purpose of providing engineering standard for good continuum rock mass conditions. The methods of study are as follows. The stable slope at steep slopes ($65^{\circ}$ to $80^{\circ}$) for each rock type was selected as the study area, and RMR, SMR and GSI were classified to reflect the face mapping results. The results were reviewed by applying the calculated shear strength to the stable analysis of the current state of rock mass slope using the Hoek-Brown failure criterion. It is intended to verify the validity of the preliminary criterion as a rock mass condition that remains stable on a steep slope. Based on the analysis and review by the above research method, it was analyzed that a good continuum rock mass slope can be set to Basic RMR ${\geq}50$ (45 in sedimentary rock), GSI and SMR ${\geq}45$. The safety factor of the LEM is between Fs = 14.08 and 67.50 (average 32.9), and the displacement of the FEM is 0.13 to 0.64 mm (average 0.27 mm). This can be seen as a result of quantitative representation and verification of the stability of a good continuum rock mass slope that has been maintained stable for a long period of time with steep slopes ($65^{\circ}$ to $80^{\circ}$). The setup guideline for a good continuum rock mass slope will be able to establish a more detailed setup standard when the data are accumulated, and it is also a further study project. If stable even on steep slopes of 1 : 0.1 to 0.3, the upper limit of steep slopes is 1 : 0.3 with reference to the overseas design standards and report, thus giving the benefit of ensuring economic and eco-friendlyness. Also, the development of excavation technology and plantation technology and various eco-friendly slope design techniques will help overcome psychological anxiety and rapid weathering and relaxation due to steep slope construction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2018

The KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) is a research tunnel which is located in KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) site. At KURT, researches on engineering and natural barrier system, which are the most important components for geological disposal system for high level radioactive waste, have been conducted. In this study, we synthesized the site characteristics obtained by various types of site investigation to introduce the geological model for KURT site, and induced the 3-D hydrogeological model for KURT site from the geological model. From the geological investigation at the surface and boreholes, four geological elements such as subsurface weathered zone, upper fractured rock, lower fractured rock and fracture zones were determined for the geological model. In addition, the geometries of these geological elements were also analyzed for the geological model to be three-dimensional. The results from 3-D geological model were used to construct the hydro-geological model for KURT site, which is one of the input data for groundwater flow modeling and safety assessment.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2004

The effectiveness of UAM is generally accepted, but there has not been much rigorous study on UAM and its mechanical support mechanism is yet to be established. Also, most of UAM installations depend on empirical judgement rather than on engineering knowledge. In this study, an attempt to confirm the support effects and to understand the support mechanism of UAM has been made by analyzing the mechanical behavior of umbrella pipes installed in various ground conditions. The effects of overburden thickness, pipe size, overlap length and the placement of steel arch are studied using a three-dimensional finite element method. From the numerical parametric study, the support mechanism of UAM has been confirmed by analyzing the structural forces in the umbrella pipes due to the excavation.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2013

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology coupled with underground carbon dioxide sequestration is introduced. $CO_2$ can be injected into an oil reservoir in order to enhance oil production rate and $CO_2$ EOR can be turned into CCS in a long term sense. Coupling $CO_2$ EOR with CCS may secure a large scale and consistent $CO_2$ source for EOR, and the $CO_2$ EOR can bring an additional economic benefit for CCS, since the benefit from enhanced oil production by $CO_2$ EOR will compensate costs for CCS implementation. In this paper, we introduced the characteristics of $CO_2$ EOR technology and its market prospect, and reviewed the Weyburn $CO_2$ EOR project which is the first large-scale $CO_2$ EOR case utilizing an anthropogenic $CO_2$ source. We also introduced geotechnical elements for a successful and economical implementation of $CO_2$ EOR with CCS and they were a miscroseismic monitoring during and after injection of $CO_2$, and determination of minimum miscible pressure (MMP) and maximum injection pressure (MIP) of $CO_2$.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.227-242
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• 2012

Youngju multipurpose dam is planned to minimizing the damage by flood and obtaining the water for industrial use in Nakdong river region. Faults in rock mass have strong influences on the behaviors of dam structure. Thus, it is very important to analyse for the characteristics of fault rocks in dam design. However, due to the limitation of geotechnical investigation in design stages, engineers have to carry out the additional geological survey including directional boring to find the distribution of faults and the engineering properties of faults for stability of dam. Especially, the selection of location of dam and type of dam considering fault zone must be analyzed through various experimental and numerical analysis. In this study, various geological survey and field tests were carried out to analyse the characteristics of the large fault zone through the complex dam is designed in foundation region. Also, the distribution of structural geology, the shape of faults and the mechanical properties of fault rock were studied for the reasonable design of the location and type of dam for long-term stability of the complex dam.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2021

The buffer is a key component of an engineered barrier system that safeguards the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Buffers are located between disposal canisters and host rock, and they can restrain the release of radionuclides and protect canisters from the inflow of ground water. Since considerable heat is released from a disposal canister to the surrounding buffer, the thermal conductivity of the buffer is a very important parameter in the entire disposal safety. For this reason, a lot of research has been conducted on thermal conductivity prediction models that consider various factors. In this study, the thermal conductivity of a buffer is estimated using the machine learning methods of: linear regression, decision tree, support vector machine (SVM), ensemble, Gaussian process regression (GPR), neural network, deep belief network, and genetic programming. In the results, the machine learning methods such as ensemble, genetic programming, SVM with cubic parameter, and GPR showed better performance compared with the regression model, with the ensemble with XGBoost and Gaussian process regression models showing best performance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.101-113
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• 2022

This study is planned with the aim of developing a systematic construction process based on the scientific and engineering theory of the water-sealing grouting construction applied to the tunnel excavation process during the construction of the downtown underground traffic network, so that the construction quality of the relatively backward domestic tunnel water-sealing grouting construction is improved and continuously maintained no matter who constructs it. The main contents of the improved tunnel water-sealing grouting can be largely examined in the classification of tunnel water-sealing grouting application and the definition of grouting materials, the correlation analysis of groundwater pressure conditions with groundwater inflow, the study of the characteristic factors of bedrock, and the element technologies and injection management techniques required for grouting construction. Looking at the trends in global research, research in the field of theoretical-based science and engineering grouting is actively progressing in Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway, etc.), Japan, Germany, and the United States. Therefore, in this study, the algorithm is established through theoretical analysis of the elements of tunnel water-sealing grouting construction techniques to provide an integrated solution including a construction process that can effectively construct tunnel water-sealing grouting construction.