• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.421-435
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• 2012

Rock excavation (removal) tests are performed with effective parameters using an abrasive waterjet. For verification of the field rock excavation capabilities, the removal performance and level of efficiency are analyzed for hard granite rock in terms of the water pressure, exposure time of the jet, and the standoff distance. In particular, experimental tests are performed with a long standoff distance required condition in the real excavation field. The rock removal performance level changes according to the rock properties. In this study, various rock specimens are used and P-wave velocities are measured in order to determine the correlation between the removal performance and the P-wave velocity. As a result of the experimental study, the effect of waterjet parameters on rock removal is analyzed.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.167-181
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• 2021

New type of rock excavation method using a waterjet system is being developed to secure economic feasibility and to reduce vibrations during excavation. In waterjet rock excavation, overlapping of cutting width is essential for high efficiency. In this study, cutting experiments for granite specimens were performed using abrasive waterjet system according to the overlapping ratio and standoff distance. Based on the experimental results, the granite cutting performance was analyzed according to the overlapping ratio. In addition, removal shapes of the cross-section were analyzed in terms of the cutting depth, width, and volume after waterjet cutting. When the overlapping ratio is less than 58%, rock specimens are partially removed due to the insufficient overlapping ratio. However, when the overlapping ratio exceeds 67%, overcutting phenomenon is observed. For the partial overlapping ratio (i.e., 25~75%), cutting efficiency is increased in the removal volume. This study is expected to be used as the important basic data for determining the optimum overlapping ratio when the waterjet system is applied for rock excavation.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2013

The conventional blasting method generates serious blasting vibration and underbreak/overbreak in spite of its high efficiency for rock excavation. To overcome these disadvantages, this paper introduces an alternative excavation method that combines the conventional blasting process with the free surface on the perimeter of the tunnel face using waterjet cutting technology. This proposed excavation method has advantages of (1) reducing vibration and noise level; (2) minimizing underbreak and overbreak; and (3) maximizing excavation efficiency. To verify the effects of the proposed excavation method, field tests were performed with a smooth blasting method at the same excavation conditions. Test results show that the vibration is reduced by up to 55% and little underbreak/overbreak is generated compared with the smooth blasting method. In addition, the excavation efficiency of the proposed method is greater than that of the smooth blasting method. The proposed blasting method with a free surface using waterjet cutting can be applied to urban excavation construction as well as to underground structure construction.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.417-430
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• 2014

A new rock excavation method using an abrasive waterjet system is under development for efficiently creating tunnels and underground spaces in urban areas. In addition, an appropriate abrasive flow rate and abrasive flow quality are important for the new rock excavation (cutting) method using an abrasive waterjet system. This study evaluated the factors influencing the abrasive flow rate and abrasive flow quality, specifically the abrasive pipe height, length, tortuosity and inner diameter, through experimental tests. Based on the experimental test results, this study suggested optimal conditions for the abrasive flow rate and abrasive flow quality. The experimental results can be effectively utilized as baseline data for rock excavation methods using an abrasive waterjet system in various construction locations such as tunnels near urban surroundings, utility tunnels, and shafts.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 2015

A new rock excavation method using an abrasive injection waterjet system has been developed to enhance the efficiency and reduce the vibration of tunnel excavation. The abrasive feed rate is an important factor for the cutting performance and the economical efficiency of waterjet-based excavation. In this study, various experiments were performed to explore the effects of major process parameters for both the abrasive feed rate and the suction pressure occurring inside the mixing chamber when the abrasives are inhaled. Experimental results reveal that the abrasive feed rate is affected by geometry parameters (abrasive pipe height, length, and tortuosity), abrasive parameters (abrasive particle size), and jet energy parameters (water pressure and water flow rate). In addition, the relation between the cutting performance and the abrasive feed rate was discussed on the basis of the results of an experimental study. The cutting performance can be maximized when the abrasive feed rate is controlled appropriately via careful management of major process parameters.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.589-604
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• 2021

Waterjets for rocks have various advantages of the non-contact and eco-friendly excavation using only water and abrasive. To overcome the problems (e.g., dust and noise occurrence) of the conventional drilling methods, waterjet excavation methods are broadly used. It is advantageous to operate a couple of nozzles in order to increase the waterjet excavation efficiency. When multiple nozzles are used, it is essential to analyze the excavation performance and shape according to the nozzle operation method. In this study, nozzle angle, horizontal distance between nozzles, and standoff distance were defined as nozzle operating parameters and the excavation performance and shape were analyzed. As a result of the experiment, when the nozzle angle and standoff distance are increased, the excavation depth is decreased and the effective depth tends to be increased. In addition, based on the experimental results, the excavation shape criteria required for nozzle insertion were proposed and optimal nozzle operating parameters were derived according to the criteria. This study result is expected to be used as useful basic research in the future development of multiple waterjet nozzles for rock drilling.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.357-371
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• 2023

In cable tunnel construction using TBM, the vertical shaft is an essential structure for entrance and exit of TBM equipment and power lines. Since a shaft penetrates the ground vertically, it often encounters rock mass. Blasting or rock splitting methods, which are mainly used to the rock excavation, cause public complaints due to the noise, vibration and road occupation. Therefore, mechanical excavation using vertical shaft excavation machine are considered as an alternative to the conventional methods. However, at the current level of technology, the vertical excavation machine has limitation in its performance when applied for high strength rock with a compressive strength of more than 120 MPa. In this study, the potential utilization of waterjet technology as an excavation assistance method was investigated to improve mechanical excavation performance in the hard rock formations. Rock cutting experiments were conducted to verify the cutting performance of the abrasive waterjet. Based on the experimental result, it was found that ensuring excavation performance with respect to changing in ground conditions can be achieved by adjusting waterjet parameters such as standoff distance, traverse speed and water pressure. In addition, based on the relationship between excavation performance, uniaxial compressive strength and RQD, it was suggested that excavation performance could be improved by artificially creating joints using the abrasive waterjet. It is expected that these research results can be utilized as fundamental data for the introduction of vertical shaft excavation machines in the future.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.395-409
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• 2022

To overcome the limitation of conventional rock excavation methods, the excavation with abrasive waterjet has been actively developed. The abrasive waterjet excavation method has the effect of reducing blasting vibration and enhancing the excavation efficiency by forming a continuous free surface on the rock. However, the waterjet cutting performance varies with rock fracturing characteristics. Thus, it is necessary to analyze the cutting performance for various rocks in order to effectively utilize the waterjet excavation. In this study, cutting experiments with the high pressure waterjet system were performed for basalt and granite specimens. Water pressure, standoff distance, and traverse speed were determined as effective parameters for the abrasive waterjet cutting. The cutting depth and width of basalt specimens were analyzed to compare with granite results. The averaged cutting depth of basalt was shown in 41% deeper than granite; in addition, the averaged cutting width of basalt was formed by 18.5% narrower than granite. The results of this study are expected to be useful basic data for applying rock excavation site with low strength and high porosity such as basalt.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.533-551
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• 2015

The rock fracturing during waterjet cutting is very complicated because rock is inhomogeneous and anisotropic, compared with artificial materials (e.g., metal or glass). Thus, it is very important to verify the effects of rock properties on waterjet rock cutting performance. Properties affecting the rock cutting efficiency have been variously described in the literature, depending on the experimental conditions (e.g., water pressure, abrasive feed rate, or standoff distance) and rock-types studied. In this study, a rock-property-related literature review was performed to determine the key properties important for waterjet rock cutting. Porosity, uniaxial compressive strength, and hardness of the rock were determined to be the key properties affecting waterjet rock cutting. The results of this analysis can provide the basic knowledge to determine the cutting efficiency of waterjet rock cutting technology for rock excavation-related construction.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.763-778
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• 2019

Abrasive waterjet cutting technology has been used for rock excavation of tunnels and underground structures due to various advantages. In order to cut rocks by using the abrasive waterjet system, abrasive is essential to enhance impact energies for fracturing the target rock. Since garnet abrasives are not produced in Korea, alternative abrasives, instead of garnets, are needed to achieve the economical waterjet cutting. This study is to analyze cutting performance for rocks with sandy particles as alternative abrasive. Cutting tests were carried out on granite specimens at the constant waterjet energy (e.g., water pressure or water flow rate). The five kinds of sands, sampled by construction fields and natural sites, were prepared to perform the experimental tests. When sea sand was used as an alternative abrasive, cutting performance was secured to be 60~70% compared to the commercial garnet abrasive. Thus, it is expected that sand abrasives can be applied on the waterjet cutting process for the economical excavation construction.