• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.175-188
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• 2016

The construction of a new cavern modifies the state of stresses and displacements in a zone around the existing cavern. For multiple caverns, the size of this influence zone depends on the ground type, the in situ stress, the cavern span and shape, the width of the pillar separating the caverns, and the excavation sequence. Performances of underground twin caverns can be unsatisfactory as a result of either instability (collapse) or excessive displacements. These two distinct failures should be prevented in design. This study simulated the ultimate and serviceability performances of underground twin rock caverns of various sizes and shapes. The global factor of safety is used as the criterion for determining the ultimate limit state and the calculated maximum displacement around the cavern opening is adopted as the serviceability limit state criterion. Based on the results of a series of numerical simulations, simple regression models were developed for estimating the global factor of safety and the maximum displacement, respectively. It was proposed that a proper pillar width can be determined based on the threshold influence factor value. In addition, design charts with regard to the selection of the pillar width for underground twin rock caverns under similar ground conditions were also developed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.399-413
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• 2018

This paper addresses the issue of field measurement of excavation damage zone (EDZ) and its numerical simulation method considering both excavation unloading and blasting load effects. Firstly, a 2000 m-deep rock cavern in China is focused. A detailed analysis is conducted on the field measurement data regarding the mechanical response of rock masses subjected to excavation and blasting operation. The extent of EDZ is revealed 3.6 m-4.0 m, accounting for 28.6% of the cavern span, so it is significantly larger than rock caverns at conventional overburden depth. The rock mass mechanical response subjected to excavation and blasting is time-independent. Afterwards, based on findings of the field measurement data, a numerical evaluation method for EDZ determination considering both excavation unloading and blasting load effects is presented. The basic idea and general procedures are illustrated. It features a calibration operation of damage constant, which is defined in an elasto-plastic damage constitutive model, and a regression process of blasting load using field blasting vibration monitoring data. The numerical simulation results are basically consistent with the field measurement results. Further, some issues regarding the blasting loads, applicability of proposed numerical method, and some other factors are discussed. In conclusion, the field measurement data collected from the 2000 m-deep rock cavern and the corresponding findings will broaden the understanding of tunnel behavior subjected to excavation and blasting at great depth. Meanwhile, the presented numerical simulation method for EDZ determination considering both excavation unloading and blasting load effects can be used to evaluate rock caverns with similar characteristics.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2011

We performed a numerical modeling study of thermodynamic and multiphase fluid flow processes associated with underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) in a lined rock cavern (LRC). We investigated air tightness performance by calculating air leakage rate of the underground storage cavern with concrete linings at a comparatively shallow depth of 100 m. Our air-mass balance analysis showed that the key parameter to assure the long-term air tightness of such a system was the permeability of both concrete linings and surrounding rock mass. It was noted that concrete linings with a permeability of less than $1.0{\times}10^{-18}\;m^2$ would result in an acceptable air leakage rate of less than 1% with the operational pressure range between 5 and 8 MPa. We also found that air leakage could be effectively prevented and the air tightness performance of underground lined rock cavern is enhanced if the concrete lining is kept at a higher moisture content.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.75-86
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• 2002

A TSP(Tunnel Seismic Prediction) survey which is modified VSP(Vertical Seismic Profiling) survey applied in tunnel was carried out at Pyongtaek and Incheon liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) storage cavern during excavation. The TSP survey in Pyongtaek LPG storage cavern which is located below Namyangho was performed to confirm the location and orientation of the fault detected at pre-investigation stage. The TSP survey was carried out in access tunnel, construction tunnel, and watercurtain tunnel to characterize 3 dimensional figure of the fault. The results of TSP survey are compared four in vestigation boreholes drilled in shelter of access tunnel. The fault was also detected by borehole survey and the location was coincided with the result of TSP survey. Depending on the result of TSP survey and core logging, the design such as cavern layout and length was changed. Another TSP survey was performed in Incheon LPG storage cavern which is located below sea. Because of poor geological information at pre-investigation stage and suffering from heavy leakage of groundwater, the TSP survey to detect fracture zone was carried out. The support and grouting design was reflected by the result of TSP survey.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.192-202
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• 2013

The domestic demand of natural gas has increased continuously due to the sudden rise of oil price and regulations on greenhouse gas to global warming. In order to improve the supply security of natural gas market in Korea, the agreement on supply of pipeline natural gas (PNG) in Russia was signed between Gazprom and Korea Gas Corporation in 2008. If the supply plan of Russian natural gas is realized, underground storage facilities would be required in order to balance supply and demand of natural gas because the gas demand is concentrated in the winter. This study investigated the safety of the storage facility in quantitative way considering several design parameters such as gas pressure, depth of the storage cavern, rock condition and in-situ horizontal stress ratio. Two dimensional stress analyses were conducted using axi- symmetry condition to examine the behavior of cavern depending upon suggested design parameters. Results showed that the factor of safety, defined as the ratio of 'shear strength'/'shear stress', was largely affected by the depth, rock class and gas pressure but was insensitive to the coefficient of lateral pressure(Ko).

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.189-198
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• 2009

Recently the concern about the construction of underground structures such as oil and food storage caverns is increasing in Korea and abroad. The stability of those underground caverns is greatly influenced by shape factor and the size of excavation area as well as the joint conditions. In this study, therefore, the effect of the shape factor of an underground cavern on its stability was analyzed in terms of safety factor. To this end, four different shape factors of a cavern excavated in good rock conditions were investigated and sensitivity analyses were performed based on overburden, lateral earth pressure coefficient, joint spacing, properties, and orientation. The stability of a cavern is evaluated in terms of safety factor estimated numerically based on the shear strength reduction technique. In future, this study is expected to be helpful in designing and evaluating the stability of caverns excavated in discontinuous rock masses.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.34-41
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• 2008

This paper concerns the development of a IT-based tunnel design system within the framework of artificial neural networks(ANNs). The system is aimed at expediting a routine cavern design works such as determination of support patterns and stability analysis of the selected support patterns. The detailed system development process and functions of sub modules are provided in this paper.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 1998

This study was performed to suggest to suggest suitable design conditions of water curtain system through analysis on pressure down in boreholes by hydraulic tests carried out I construction fields for underground oil storages. The influence by hydraulic conductivities of rock mass around boreholes on pressure down in boreholes was analysed. The relationship between array of boreholes and their pressure down was also analysed. Groundwater flow analysis on crude oil and LPG storages was carried out to evaluate results of field tests and to investigate distribution of hydraulic gradient in rock mass around cavern using finite difference method. As the results, hydraulic tests showed that pressure down in boreholes was inverse proportional to the hydraulic conductivity of surrounding rock mass. The rate of pressure down of boreholes was not influenced by water curtain system more than 20m over cavern and was proportional to installation interval of boreholes. The hydraulic gradient in rock mass around cavern was proportional to distance and interval of boreholes and its value was not satisfactory to oil tightness condition in case of no water curtain system.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 1996

A two dimensional analysis program for groundwater flow in fractured network was developed to analyze the influence of discontinuity characteristics on groundwater flow. This program involves the generation of discontinuities and also connectivity analysis. The discontinuities were generated by the probabilistic density function(P.D.F.) reflecting the characteristics of discontinuities. And the fracture network model was completed through the connectivity analysis. This program also involves the analysis of groundwater flow through the discontinuity network. The result of numerical experiment shows that the equivalent hydraulic conductivity increased and became closer to isotropic as the density and trace length increased. And hydraulic head decreased along the fracture zone because of much water-flow. The grouting increased the groundwater head around cavern. An analysis of groundwater flow through discontinuity network was performed around underground oil storage cavern which is now under construction. The probabilistic density functions(P.D.F) were obtained from the investigation of the discontinuity trace map. When the anisotropic hydraulic conductivity is used, the flow rate into the cavern was below the acceptable value to maintain the hydraulic containment. But when the isotropic hydraulic conductivity is used, the flow rate was above the acceptable value.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.599-608
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• 2009

This study was conducted to examine chemical characteristics and correlations among seepage water, subsurface waters and inland groundwater in and around a coastal underground LPG cavern using factor and cluster analyses. The study area is located in western coast of Incheon metropolitan city and is about 8 km off the coast. The LPG cavern storing propane and butane was built beneath artificially reclaimed island. Mean bathymetry is 8.5 m and maximum sea level change is 10 m. Water sampling was conducted in May and August, 2006 from 22 sampling points. Correlation analysis showed strong correlations among $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$ (r=0.83~0.99), and Na and Cl (r=0.70~0.97), which indicated reductive dissolution of iron and manganese bearing minerals and seawater ingression effect, respectively. According to factor analysis, Factors 1 (May) and I (August) showed high loadings for parameters representing seawater ingression into the cavern and effect of submarine groundwater discharge, respectively while Factors 2 and IV showed high loadings for those representing oxidation condition (DO and ORP). Factors 4 and II have large positive loadings for $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$. The increase of $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$ was related to decomposition of organic matter and subsequent their dissolution under reduced condition. Cluster analysis showed the resulting 6 groups for May and 5 groups for August, which mainly included groups of inland groundwater, cavern seepage water, sea water and subsurface water in the LPG storage cavern. Subsurface water (Group 2 and Group III) around the underground storage cavern showed high EC and major ions contents, which represents the seawater effect. Cavern seepage water (Group 5 and Group II) showed a reduced condition (low DO and negative ORP) and higher levels of $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$.