• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.155-167
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• 2015

The thermal-hydrological-mechanical (T-H-M) behavior of rock mass surrounding a high-temperature cavern thermal energy storage (CTES) operated for a period of 30 years has been investigated by TOUGH2-FLAC3D simulator. As a fundamental study for the development of prediction and control technologies for the environmental change and rock mass behavior associated with CTES, the key concerns were focused on the hydrological-thermal multiphase flow and the consequential mechanical behavior of the surrounding rock mass, where the insulator performance was not taken into account. In the present study, we considered a large-scale cylindrical cavern at shallow depth storing thermal energy of $350^{\circ}C$. The numerical results showed that the dominant heat transfer mechanism was the conduction in rock mass, and the mechanical behavior of rock mass was influenced by thermal factor (heat) more than hydrological factor (pressure). The effective stress redistribution, displacement and surface uplift caused by heating of rock and boiling of ground-water were discussed, and the potential of shear failure was quantitatively examined. Thermal expansion of rock mass led to the ground-surface uplift on the order of a few centimeters and the development of tensile stress above the storage cavern, increasing the potential of shear failure.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

This study deals with the case that was the field application of the microseismic monitoring techniques for the stability monitoring in a domestic mine. The usefulness and limitations of the microseismic techniques were examined through analyzing the microseismic monitored data. The target limestone mine adopted a hybrid room-and-pillar mining method to improve the extraction ratio. The accelerometers were installed in each vertical pillar within the test bed which has the horizontal cross-section $50m{\times}50m$. The measured signals were divided into 4 types; blasting induced signal, drilling induced signal, damage induced signal, and electric noise. The stability analysis was performed based on the measured damage induced signals. After the blasting in the mining section close to the test bed, the damage of the pillar was increased and rockfall near the test bed could be estimated from monitored microseismic data. It was possible to assess the pillar stability from the changes of daily monitored data and the proposed safety criteria from the accumulated monitored data. However, there was a difficulty to determine the 3D microseismic source positions due to the 2D local sensor arrays. Also, it was needed to use real-time monitoring methods in domestic mines. By complementing the problems encountered in the mine application and comparing microseismic monitored data with mining operations, the microseismic monitoring technique can be used as a better safety method.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.284-292
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• 2015

The generalized Hoek-Brown failure criterion, the strength parameters of which are determined by using the GSI index, is an empirical nonlinear failure criterion of rock mass and has been widely employed in various rock engineering practices. Many rock engineering practitioners, however, are still familiar with the description of the strength of rock mass in terms of friction angle and cohesion. In addition, almost all rock mechanics softwares incorporate the simple linear Mohr-Coulomb function. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a tool to implement the Hoek-Brown function in the framework of the Mohr-Coulomb criterion. In this study, the use of upper-bound solution of limit analysis for bearing capacity of a strip footing resting on the ground surface is proposed for the estimation of the equivalent friction angle and cohesion of rock mass incorporating the generalized Hoek-Brown failure criterion. The upper-bound bearing capacity is expressed in terms of friction angle by use of the relationship between tangential friction angle and tangential cohesion implied in the generalized Hoek-Brown function. The friction angle minimizing the upper-bound bearing capacity is taken as the equivalent friction angle. Through the illustrative implementations of the proposed method, the influences of GSI, $m_i$ and D on the equivalent friction angle and cohesion are investigated.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.403-411
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• 2012

In recent, the using of the hydraulic filling method has increased on the underground reinforcement of the abandoned mine in Korea, however it is the lack of research on the efficient filling method. In this study, tank model tests and field tests were conducted for development of tip device for filling efficiency improvements on the hydraulic filling method. In tank model experiments, the filling efficiency was evaluated according to the form and angle of the nozzle on tip device in the same condition. Then tip device model designed by tank model tests was applied to the field experiment. As a result, the amount of filling of nozzle $90^{\circ}$ tube is increased by approximately 18% compared to the common vertical injection pipe. The angle of repose was $30.82^{\circ}$. Filling hole spacing in the field is usually designed from 5m up to 10m assumed to be $40^{\circ}$ of the angle of repose. According to the results of this study, it is possible that the filling hole spacing expands at least 10m up to 15m applied to be $30^{\circ}{\sim}35^{\circ}$ of the angle of repose. Therefore, it is expected to be economical and efficient mine filling.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.508-517
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• 2011

The linear cutting test is the most reliable and accurate approach to measuring cutting forces and cutting efficiency using full-size disc cutter in various rock types. The result of linear cutting tests can be used to obtain the key parameters of cutter-head design (i.e. optimum cutter spacing, cutter forces). In Korea, LCM (Linear Cutting Machine) tests have been performed for typical Korean rock types, but these studies focused on the isotropic rocktypes. For prediction of TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) performances in complex geological conditions including a bedded and schistose rockmass, it is important to consider the effects of anisotropy of rockmass on cutting performances and cutting efficiency. This study discusses a series of LCM tests that were performed for Asan Gneiss having two types of anisotropy angles to assess the effect of the anisotropy angle on rock-cutting performances of TBM. The result shows that the rock-cutting performances and optimum cutting conditions are affected by anisotropy angle and the effect of anisotropy on rock strength should be considered in a prediction of the cutting performances and efficiency of TBM.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.383-392
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• 2012

This study introduces $M_{(i,j,k)}BCP$ (Mining Business Continuity Planning) which is the smart management system of mine disasters to achieve the safe and eco-friendly mining. Where, 'i' is mine kinds, 'j' is mining processes, and 'k' is risks at process respectively. By specifically setting 'i=1=limestone mine', this study also suggests that $M_{(i,j,k)}BCP$ is the smart management system of limestone mine. Mining risks used in this study were obtained from professional survey and literature review. This study classified these risks by five different mining processes and reduced risk numbers approximately 60 to 26. And they were all allocated into $M_{(i,j,k)}BCP$ and assessed. To do assess risks, this study used four risk indexes which are probability, casualty, facility loss, and discontinuity respectively. By the results of the assessment of risks, results could be four specific groups based on their causes and impacts. In addition, one of the results showed that the most possible risks at limestone mine was the roof-fall and rock-fall in digging process. This result means that $M_{(1,2,1)}BCP$ should be established as a first priority at limestone mine.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.462-470
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• 2012

Implementing the generalized Hoek-Brown failure criterion in the framework of the Mohr-Coulomb criterion requires the calculation of the equivalent friction angle and cohesion. In the conventional method based on the Balmer (1952)'s theory, the tangential instantaneous friction angle and cohesion are expressed in terms of the minimum principal stress ${\sigma}_3$, which does not provide the information about the dependency of the equivalent parameters on the hydrostatic pressure and the stress path. In this study, this defect of the conventional method has been overcome by representing the equivalent parameters in terms of stress invariants. Through the example implementation of the new method, the influence of the magnitude of the hydrostatic pressure and the Lode angle on the tangential instantaneous friction angle and cohesion is investigated. It turns out that the tangential instantaneous friction angle is maximum when the stress condition is triaxial extension, while the tangential cohesion is maximum when the stress condition is triaxial compression. The dependency of the equivalent Mohr-Coulomb strength parameters on the hydrostatic pressure and the Lode angle tends to be more substantial for the favorable rockmass of larger GSI value.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.146-157
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• 2009

An experimental study of accelerated weathering on mudstone sample specimens from Haman, Gyeongnam was performed to investigate the variations of physico-mechanical properties of deteriorated rocks due to freeze-thaw weathering. Each complete cycle of freeze and thaw lasted 24 hours, comprising 2 hours of saturating in vacuum chamber, 8 hours of freezing at $-16{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and 14 hours of thawing at room temperature. Total of 55 cycles of freeze-thaw were completed with measuring the index properties as well as geometries of microfractures. The measured specific gravity and P-wave velocity found to decrease with increasing freeze-thaw cycles. On the other hand, absorption ratio and effective porosity were continuously increased with increasing freeze-thaw cycles. It was found that the index properties of deteriorated sample specimen depend on its initial properties and flaws in rock. The size and density of the traces of the microfracture on slab specimen exhibited abrupt changes after 30 cycles of freeze-thaw weathering. The results obtained in this study show that the box fractal dimension($D_B$) given in this paper has the strong capability of quantifying the size and density of the microfracture.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.432-439
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• 2009

For more reliable estimation of seismic source, attenuation properties and dynamic ground property, site amplification function should be considered. Among various estimation methods, this study used the Nakamura's method (1989) for estimating site amplification characteristics. This method was originally applied to the surface waves of background noise and therefore there are some limitations in applying to general wave energy. However, recently this method has been extended and applied to the S wave energy successfully. This study applied the method to S wave and Coda wave energy, which is equivalent to the backscattered S wave energy. We used more than 60 observed ground motions from 5 earthquakes which were occurred recently, with magnitude range from 3.6 to 5.1. Each station showed characteristic site amplification property in low-, high- and resonance frequencies. Some of the stations showed as high as 4 times of site amplification in the range of specific frequencies, which may imply abnormal small scale geologic strata below the station or development of various trapped modes in the basin structure. Moreover, removal of site amplification can give us more reliable seismic source and attenuation parameters, addition to the seismic hazard estimation.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.255-274
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• 2014

The target of this study is large scale rock slope collapsed by around 7 pm on August, 2012, which is located at ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ limestone quarries of Gangneung city, Gangwondo. The slope prior to the collapse is formed as the height of about 200 m and the average inclination of $45^{\circ}$. The estimated amount of the collapse is about $1,500,000m^3$ with respect to the slope after the collapse. Geotechnical and field investigations such as boring, geophysical prospecting, surface geological survey, geological lineaments, borehole imaging, metric 3D imaging, experimental and field test, mining work by year, and daily rainfall were performed to find the cause of rock slope failure. Various analyzes using slope mass rating, stereonet projection, limit equilibrium method, continuum and non-continuum model were conducted to check of the stability of the slope. It is expected that the cause of slope failure from the results of various analysis and survey is due to the combined factors such as topography, rainfall, rock type and quality, discontinuities, geo-structural characteristics as the limestone cavity and fault zones, but the failure of slope in case of the analysis without the limestone cavity is not occurred. Safe factor of 0.66 was obtained from continuum analysis of the slope considering the limestone cavity, so the ultimate causes of slope failure is considered to be due to the influence of limestone cavity developed along fault zone.