• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.460-470
• /
• 2011

Wave velocity was measured to define the weathering characteristics of rock and the strength evaluation of weathered rock on a target of the Aso gravestones with various sizes under the natural environment. As a result, the size correction method which was changed sample of the different size to one of the same size for evaluating wave velocity was proposed, and also suggested the NET (Normalized Elapsed Time) as a new weathering index of rock. In addition, the strength of the weathered rock was estimated from the weathering classification of rock using the NET. Wave velocity of welded tuff was high and didn't show velocity degradation, on the other hand, one of andesite was low and showed velocity degradation. The degree of weathering between rocks of the different size is considered to be comparable, applying the NET based on the on the $V_p/V_o$-NET curve. Furthermore, the classification of rock weathering stages using the NET based on the $S_c/S_o$-NET curve was available, and the estimation of strength for the weathered rock was also possible.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.215-225
• /
• 2008

In order to investigate the influence factors to compressive and tensile strength of basalt in Cheju Island, rock samples of Pyosenri basalt, trachy-basalt and scoria were taken from Seoguipo-Si Seongsan-Eup area, and a series of uniaxial compressive strength test and Brazilian test were carried out. Especially, these tests were performed in consideration of the loading speed, the moisture content in rock sample, and the anisotropy of rock strength. The uniaxial compressive strength was increased gradually as the loading speed rose. The increasing quantity of uniaxial compressive strength had a difference in each rock types. Also, the strength was decreased with increasing the moisture contents in rock sample by pore water. As the result of test considering the anisotropy of rock strength, the compressive strength in condition of failure occurred parallel to stratified layer is decreased about 12-26% more than that in condition of failure occurred inclined to stratified layer.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.145-150
• /
• 2011

Variations of physical properties such as weight loss rate, wave velocity and uniaxial compressive strength after performing freeze-thaw cyclic test were measured in order to define weathering characteristics of sandstone and andesite. Weight change in specimens of the two rocks decreased with increasing the repetition number of freeze-thaw cyclic test. In particular, weight loss of andesite specimens was very irregular. P-wave velocity of sandstone specimens decreased more than 5%. On the other hand, P-wave velocity of andesite specimens do not vary up to 500 cycles and decreased more than 5% after 1000 cycles. This implies that the sandstone are easily weakened and loosened by weathering processes, while the andesite are relatively strong. In addition, the wave velocity changes of the andesite specimens coincident with the weight change. Uniaxial compressive strengths of the sandstone specimens slightly decreased at the early stage of the freezing-thawing cyclic test, then tended to be irregular after 64 cycles. In conclusion, the rock specimens showed smaller weight loss, less had lower strength reduction rate.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.15 no.6 s.59
• /
• pp.411-424
• /
• 2005

Weathering is defined as a process by which surface rock, once formed in the deep ground, is broken down and altered to keep the equilibrium with the ambient environment. In this study granitic rock samples of different weathering grades were collected in the field and the microscopic observation, X-ray diffraction analysis, electron microscopic observation, chemical analysis, and rock property tests were carried out. Formation of secondary minerals, especially clay minerals, by weathering was identified and the mechanism for the change of engineering properties such as rock strength degradation was analyzed. Tunnel model test, Failure behaviour, Shallow tunnel, Unsupproted tunnel length.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.476-492
• /
• 2018

In this study, various laboratory experiments were conducted on tuff, basalt and diorite specimens, which were obtained in the southern part of Korean Peninsula. Experiments were performed under dry and water saturated conditions. Results showed that strength degradation and change of deformation characteristics were remarkable although the specimens had small porosity. Based on the results, regression models that are capable of predicting important mechanical rock properties, such as uniaxial compressive strength, Young's modulus, Brazilian tensile strength were proposed. P-wave velocity and Shore hardness were selected as independent variables and the results showed satisfactory prediction performance for the experimental data collected in this study.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.241-251
• /
• 2010

The polar region is in the limelight for an academic worth as well as plenty of natural resources. The study on the polar region was reviewed for better understanding of the polar region and its rock properties. The antarctica has a windy and dry climate along with the lowest temperature on the earth. The thermal distribution according to depth in the area was reported: The freezing-thawing process was repeated in shallow depth, and the temperature falls down below zero under the specific depth. There is a great temperature difference between the atmosphere and rock. A research reported for the degree of weathering of the antarctic slope by using Schmidt hammer and Taffoni test. The rock specimens weathered by repeated freezing-thawing process were tested of the shore hardness and uniaxial compressive strength: The rock strength gradually decreased as the freezing-thawing process was repeated. The comprehensive mechanical properties of the polar region rocks and the relationship between the laboratory weathering test result and the real rock property change in the site remain as future research topics.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.16 no.2 s.61
• /
• pp.109-134
• /
• 2006

Rocks undergo weathering processes influenced by changing in pressure-temperature condition, atmosphere, underground water, and rainfall. The weathering processes change physical and chemical characteristics of the rocks. Once the rocks are weathered, the characteristics of them are changed and, because of the changing, several disadvantages such as rock slope failures and underground water spouts are can occur. Before we cut a large rock slope, therefore, we must analyze current weathering conditions of rocks and predict weathering processes in the future. Through the results of such analyses, we can judge reinforcement works. In order to comply with such requests, chemical weathering sensitivity analysis which was analyzed from chemical weathering velocities and other characteristics of rocks has been applied in several prior construction works in Korea. But, It is defective to use directly in engineering fields because it was developed for soils(not rocks), it has too mny factors must be considered and the relationships between the factors are not clear, and it is hard to explain the weathering processes in engineering time range. Besides above, because it has been used for isotropic rocks, this method is hard to apply to anisotropic rocks such as sedimentary rocks. Acceding to studies from morphologists (e.g. Oguchi et al., 1994; Sunamura, 1996; Norwick and Dexter, 2002), time dependent strength reduction influenced by weathering shows a negative exponential function form. Appling this relation, one can synthesize the factors which influence the weathering processes to the strength reduction, and get meaningful estimates in engineering viewpoint. We suggest this weathering sensitivity characterization method as a technique that can explain time dependent weathering sensitivity characteristics through strength changes and can directly applied the rock slope design.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.444-454
• /
• 2003

Rock fragmentation technique by cutter penetration has widely been used in the mechanical tunnel excavation. Microcracks propagate and interact because of locally concentrated high stress induced by cutter penetration. which is caused by heterogeneity of rocks. In this study Weibull distribution function and degradation index are used to consider the strength heterogeneity of a rock and the degradation of rock properties after failure. Through the numerical analyses, it is shown that the lateral pressure has an important influence on the rock fragmentation. In the single cutter penetration, large chips are formed as lateral pressure increase. The cutter spacing is also an important factor that affects the rock fragmentation in the double cutter penetration. The fragmentation efficiency of the double cutter penetration is better when cutter spacing is 70 mm than 40 mm and 100 mm. From the results, it is expected that this study can be applied to a TBM tunnel design by understanding of chipping process and mechanism of rock due to cutter penetration.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.138-144
• /
• 2011

Mine closure does often accompany the flooding of mine galleries due to ceasing a pumping operation. When a mine gallery is flooded, rocks around the gallery are fully saturated and the gallery is subject to a water pressure. The uniaxial unconfined compressive strength of a rock depends on its water content and decreases as the water content increases. A water pressure may originate the crack growth of a rock or the discontinuity growth of rock mass. Although the water in a gallery will give some support pressure inside the gallery, the degradation of rock mass properties caused by a water pressure will reduce the stability of the gallery. In this study, 2-dimensional discontinuous and 3-dimensional continuous numerical analyses have been conducted to evaluate an effect that a reduction of rock mass properties around the gallery induced by a water pressure has on the stability of mine gallery. The numerical analyses show that a reduction of rock mass properties caused by a water pressure increases displacements of rock mass around mine gallery. 2-dimensional model is found to give larger values of displacement than 3-dimensional model.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.269-281
• /
• 1994

Microscopic study and X-ray diffraction analysis were carried out to find out rock type, tock forming minerals; and weathering characteristics of rocks at the constructing site of the churyong Tunnel, Kyongju-Gun, Kyongbuk. Seismic velocity and compressional strength were measured to evaluate mechanical properties of rock. The rock of the study area is Jurassic tuff consisting of clay minerals, crystals of quartz and feldspar, fragments of volcanic rocks and shale. Fresh tuff has compressional strength of about $443kg/\textrm{cm}^2$ and seismic velocity of about 3680m/sec in average. It is classified as soft rock. Rock fragment within tuff is andesite and it has compressional strength of about $2500kg/\textrm{cm}^2$ and seismic velocity of about 4340m/sec in average. It is classified as hard rock. A good linear relationship is found between compressional streangth and seismic velocity in both laboratory sample and in-situ rocks. Laboratory samples has seismic velocities faster about 1.5km/sec than those in-situ rocks. It is interpreted that joints, fractures, and water content in the in-situ rocks result in decreas of seismic velocity. As Tuff has more than 50% of clay minerals in matrix and shale fragments, it absorbs water easily in atmospheric condition. Therefore, though the rock in the study area is medium hard rock before weathering, it is weathered very easily in the case of exposure to natural environment, comparing with other rock.