• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.405-413
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• 2012

This study demonstrates the consolidation effect of ethylsilicate consolidants considering material characteristics and weathering degree of Samneunggyeseongakyukjonbul(rock-carved Yukjonbul Buddha in Samneung Valley) in Namsan, Gyeongju. The buddha statue is composed of alkali feldspar granite and contains numerous sets of joint with exfoliation and granular disintegration, therefore the statue is necessary to be treated for surface strength. The laboratory and in-situ tests of consolidation effect showed more increase of ultrasonic velocity that KSE 300, a relatively highly concentrated consolidant, performed more increase of ultrasonic velocity and decrease of porosity than others after treatments in weathered granite. And the consolidated rock with OH 100 was more resistant to salt weathering. For the buddha statues, KSE 300 is more applicable to enhance surface strength because it showed higher consolidation effect for long term than OH 100 and the statues has not been weathered by salts.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.45-55
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• 2015

The stability of the adjcent structures or slopes under blasting is typically evaluated using an empirical vibration attenuation curve or dynamic numerical analysis. To perform a dynamic analysis, it is necessary to determine the blast load and the damping ratio of rock mass. Various empirical methods have been proposed for the blast load. However, a study on representative values of damping ratio of a rock mass has not yet been performed. Therefore, the damping ratio was either ignored or selected without a clear basis in performing a blast analysis. Selection of the dampring ratio for the rock mass is very difficult because the vibration propagation is influenced by the layout and properties of the rock joints. Besides, the vibration induced by blasting is propagated spherically, whereas plane waves are generated by an earthquake. Since the geometrical spreading causes additional attenuation, the damping ratio should be adjusted in the case of a 2D plane strain analysis. In this study, we proposed equivalent damping ratios for use in continuum 2D plane strain analyses. To this end, we performed 2D dynamic analyses for a wide range of rock stiffness and investigated the characteristics of blast vibration propagation. Based on numerical simulations, a correlation between the attenuation equation, shear wave velocity, and equivalent damping ratio of rock mass is presented. This novel approach is the first attempt to select the damping ratio from an attenuation relationship. The proposed chart is easy to be used and can be applied in practice.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.2 s.67
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• pp.128-138
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• 2007

At low in-situ stress, the continuity and distribution of natural fractures in rock mass predominantly control the failure processes. However at high in-situ stress, the failure process are affected and eventually dominated by stress-induced fractures preferentially growing parallel to the excavation boundary. This fracturing is often observed in brittle type of failure such as slabbing or spatting. Recent studies on the stress- or excavation-induced damage of rock revealed its importance especially in a highly stressed regime. In order to evaluate the brittle failure around a deep underground opening, physical model experiments were carried out. For the experiments a new tue triaxial testing system was made. According to visual observation and acoustic emission detection, brittle failure grades were classified under three categories. The test results indicate that where higher horizontal stress, acting perpendicular $(S_{H2})$ and parallel $(S_{H1})$ to the axis of the tunnel respectively, were applied, the failure grade at a constant vertical stress level (Sy) was lowered. The failure initiation stress was also increased with the increasing $S_{H1}\;and\;S_{H2}$. From the multi-variable regression on failure initiation stress and true triaxial stress conditions, $f(S_v,\;S_{H1},\;S_{H2})$ was proposed.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.25-32
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• 2018

This paper investigates the effect of rock discontinuities on a shear stress wave that is induced by earthquake or blasting and provides the result of numerical parametric studies. The numerical tests of different conditions of rock and discontinuity have been carried out after confirming that the numerical approach is valid throughout a verification analysis from which the test results were compared with a theoretical solution. In-situ stress condition was considered as a rock condition and internal friction angle and cohesive value, which are the shear strength parameters, were considered as discontinuities condition. The joint inclination angle was also taken into account as a parameter. With the various conditions of different parameters, the test results showed that a shear stress wave propagating through a mass is highly influenced by the shear strength of discontinuities and the condition of joint inclination angle as well as in-situ stress. The study results indicate that when earthquake or blasting-induced dynamic loading propagates through a jointed rock mass or a stratified soil ground the effect of in-situ stress and discontinuities including a stratum boundary should be taken into account when evaluating the dynamic effect on nearby facilities and structures.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.231-241
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• 2019

Kinematic analysis determines the stability of rock slope by analyzing the relationship between the slope face orientation and the discontinuity orientation. In this study, terrestrial LiDAR was used to obtain a large amount of discontinuity orientation data and then, the probabilistic characteristics of the orientation data obtained using terrestrial LiDAR were analyzed. Subsequently, the probabilistic kinematic analysis was carried out using the discontinuity orientations generated randomly from Fisher function in Monte Carlo simulation. In addition, the probabilistic kinematic analysis was also performed using the actual orientation data obtained from the terrestrial LiDAR to compare their results. Consequently, the results of both probabilistic analyses showed similar results. Therefore, if sufficient orientation data are provided by other means such as terrestrial LiDAR, the probabilistic analysis will show reasonable results using the actual field data without randomly generating orientation data. In addition, the deterministic kinematic analysis was also carried out using representative orientation of discontinuity sets. The analysis result of the probabilistic analysis showed similar results with the deterministic analysis because the dispersion of the discontinuity orientations in a joint set is not large.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2022

Whether Dokdo can sustain human habitation or economic life of their own plays an important role to the legal status of the island in the international maritime law. This study reports the hydrological survey results regarding the water resource of the island occurred at Moolgol in Seodo. The amount of underground discharge at Moolgol was estimated at least 1.1 m³/d, conforming the results of previous studies. Based on the oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios of water, the discharge appeared to originate from precipitation, and about 36% of the daily precipitation moves fast to the Moolgol through the joints developed in the volcanic bedrocks. Quality of the discharged water shows relatively higher concentrations in Cl and NO₃ to be used for drinking and domestic purposes, probably affected by the sea spray and waves from surrounding sea and the birds' excretion such as black-tailed gulls.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.315-336
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• 2009

We have studied the orientational characteristics of microcrack frequency, it's length and density in Tertiary crystalline tuff from the northeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin. 134 sets of microcracks on horizontal surfaces of 3 rock samples from Heunghae-eup were distinguished by enlarged photomicrographs of the thin sections. The variability in patterns among microcrack length-frequency histograms for three rock samples from different altitudes were derived. The pattern of histograms changes progressively from negative exponential form to log-normal form in proportion to altitude. The distribution pattern for rock sample no.1 from lower altitude shows the broad length distribution characterized by higher mean and median, and higher standard deviation. Meanwhile, this distribution pattern corresponds with characteristics of joint length distribution in sedimentary rocks of the lower part of the Gyeongsang Supergroup. The occurrence frequency of shorter microcracks increases toward both NW and NE directions from the $N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$, with the dominant direction of $N80{\sim}90^{\circ}W$ and $N80{\sim}90^{\circ}E$, respectively. This distribution pattern represents the relative differences in formation timing among microcrack sets and the result of the new initiation of shorter microcracks. Meanwhile, the longest microcracks within $N60{\sim}70^{\circ}W$($L_{max}$:1.18 mm) and $N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$($L_{max}$:0.80 mm) directions are seen, but this kind of microcracks are very limited in number. Whole domain of the directional angle($\theta$)-frequency(N), length(L) and density($\rho$) chart can be divided into five sections in terms of phases of the distribution of related curves. From the distribution chart, density curve shows five distinct peaks in the WNW-ESE($N70{\sim}80^{\circ}W$), NS~NNE-SSW($N0{\sim}10^{\circ}W$, $N10{\sim}20^{\circ}E$), ENE-WSW($N50{\sim}60^{\circ}E$), and nearly EW($N80{\sim}90^{\circ}E$) directions, respectively. Especially, main directions of faults correspond with the directional angle showing high density. Consequently, these distribution patterns of density curve reflect the representative maximum principal stress orientations suggested in previous studies.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.343-363
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• 2023

Sulawesi island, as a global producer of nickel resources, is leading the rapid growth of nickel industry of Indonesia. Nickel laterite deposits in Sulawesi was formed by lateritization of the world-scale East Sulawesi Ophiolite (ESO) under the active tectonic setting and tropical rainforest climate. In this paper, exploration cases for nickel laterite deposits in five regions of Sulawesi are reported. Regional characteristics on nickel laterite deposits in Sulawesi are understood based on various exploration activities such as outcrop, trench and pit survey, petrological observation, geochemical analysis, and interpretation of drilling data, etc.. In the northeastern part of 'Southeast-Arm', which is a strategic location for nickel industry of Indonesia, ESO is extensively exposed to the surface. In the Morombo and Morowali regions, typical high-grade saprolite-type orebodies with a thickness of 10 to 20 m occur. The cases showed that topographic relief tends to regulate Ni-grade distribution and orebody thickness, and that high grade intervals tend to occur in places where joints and garnierite veins are dense. In the Tinanggea and South Palangga regions in the southern part of the Southeast-Arm, overburden composed of Neogene to Quaternary deposits is a major factor affecting the preservation and profitability of nickel laterite deposits. Despite the overburden, high-grade saprolite-type orebodies composed of Ni-bearing serpentine with garnierite veins occur in a thickness of around 10 m to secure economic feasibility. In contrast, in the Ampana region in the northern part of 'East-Arm', low-grade nickel laterite deposits with immature laterite profile was identified, which is thought to be the result of active denudation due to tectonic uplift. Exploration cases in this paper will help to understand characteristics and controlling factors on nickel laterite deposits in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.374-392
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• 2024

In order to successfully select a site for deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, it is important to perform the stepwise approach along with the systematic selection and survey of evaluation parameters of geological environmental characteristics suitable for the domestic geological environment. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of hydraulic conductivity, which is considered the most important evaluation parameter in the field of hydrogeology, targeting a deep-depth rock aquifer where actual disposal facilities are expected to be located. In particular, for the first time in Korea, we obtained in-situ pressure-flow data by directly conducting hydraulic tests in boreholes at depths ranging from 500 m to 750 m in various rock types distributed in Korea (granite/volcanic rock/gneiss/mudstone). And we derived hydraulic conductivity values by rock types and depth using verified analytical methods. For this purpose, precision hydraulic testing equipment developed in-house through this study was used, and detailed investigation procedures based on standard test methods were applied to field tests. As a result of the analysis, the average hydraulic conductivity value was found to be in the range of 10^-9 m/s in all granite/volcanic rock/gneiss areas. In the mudstone area, an average hydraulic conductivity value of 10^-11 m/s was derived, which was about 100 times (2 orders of magnitude) lower than that of the fractured rock aquifers. Moreover, permeability tended to slightly decrease with depth in fractured rock aquifers (granite and volcanic rock areas) containing many rock fractures. The gneiss area tended to have large local differences in permeability according to the composition of the stratum and the development of fracture zones rather than depth. In mudstone areas with weak fracture development, there was no significant variation in rock permeability according to depth. The hydraulic conductivity results by various rock types and depth presented in this study are expected to be utilized in building a foundational database for the site selection, design, and construction of disposal facilities in Korea.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.52-63
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• 2003

Discontinuities such as faults, fractures and joints in rock mass play the dominant role in the mechanical and hydraulic properties of the rock mass. The key factors that influence on the flow of groundwater are hydraulic and geometric characteristics of discontinuities and their connectivity. In this study, a program that analyzes groundwater flow in the 3D discontinuity network was developed on the assumption that the discontinuity characteristics such as density, trace length, orientation and aperture have particular distribution functions. This program generates discontinuities in a three-dimensional space and analyzes their connectivity and groundwater flow. Due to the limited computing capacity In this study, REV was not exactly determined, but it was inferred to be greater than 25$\times$25$\times$25 ㎥. By calculating the extent of aperture that influences on the groundwater flow, it was found that the discontinuities with the aperture smaller than 30% of the mean aperture had little influence on the groundwater flow. In addition, there was little difference in the equivalent hydraulic conductivity for the the two cases when considering and not considering the boundary effect. It was because the groundwater flow was mostly influenced by the discontinuities with large aperture. Among the parameters considered in this study, the length, aperture, and orientation of discontinuities had the greatest influence on the equivalent hydraulic conductivity of rock mass in their order. In case of existence of a fault in rock mass, elements of the equivalent hydraulic conductivity tensor parallel to the fault fairly increased in their magnitude but those perpendicular to the fault were increased in a very small amount at the first stage and then converged.