• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.421-435
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• 2022

The necessity of estimating the time and cost required for tunnel construction has led to extensive research in this regard. Since geological conditions are significant factors in terms of time and cost of road tunnels, considering these conditions is crucial. Uncertainties about the geological conditions of a tunnel alignment cause difficulties in planning ahead of the required construction time and costs. In this paper, the continuous-space, discrete-state Markov process has been used to predict geological conditions. The Monte-Carlo (MC) simulation (MCS) method is employed to estimate the construction time and costs of a road tunnel project using the input data obtained from six tunneling expert questionnaires. In the first case, the input data obtained from each expert are individually considered and in the second case, they are simultaneously considered. Finally, a comparison of these two modes based on the technique presented in this article suggests considering views of several experts simultaneously to reduce uncertainties and ensure the results obtained for geological conditions and the construction time and costs.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.295-303
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• 2002

The stability of rock slopes is closely related to the factors such as: type of rock, development of geological structures, weathering, characteristics of rock, and the shape of the geological features. When we design the rock slope, the slope stability is determined by the discontinuity causing the circular, plane or wedge failure. The failure happens when the slope is under the unstable geological condition. But in some cases, slope failure has occurred even though the slope is under stable geological conditions. In this respect, this paper presents the plane failure conditions for domestic rock slopes through research of sites where slope failure has occurred regardless of whether or not it satisfied the stable geological conditions.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2012

Geology, hydrogeology, and geochemistry are the main technical siting factors of a geological repository for spent nuclear fuels. This paper focused on how rock's different geological conditions, such as topography, soils, rock types, structural geology, and geological events, influence the functions of the geological repository. In the context, the site selection criteria of various countries were analyzed with respect to the geological conditions. Each country established the criteria based on its important geological backgrounds. For example, it was necessary for Sweden to take into account the effect of ice age on the land uplift and sea level change, whereas Japan defined seismic activity and volcanism as the main siting factors of the geological repository. Therefore, the results of the paper seems to be helpful in preparing the siting criteria of geological repository in Korea.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.46-55
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• 2016

This experimental study was aimed to estimate interfacial tension of brine-$CO_2$ by using a pendant bubble method and image analysis. Measurements were performed for wide ranges of temperatures, pressures, and salinities covering reservoir conditions in Pohang basin, a possible candidate for $CO_2$ storage operation in Korea. The profiles of $CO_2$ bubbles in brine obtained from image analysis with the densities of brine and $CO_2$ from previous studies were applied to Laplace-Young equation for calculating interfacial twnsion in brine-$CO_2$ system. The experimental results reveals that the interfacial tension is significantly affected by reservoir conditions such as pressure, temperature and water salinity. For conditions of constant temperature and water salinity, the interfacial tension decreases as pressure increases for low pressures (P < $P_c$), and approaches to a constant value for high pressures. For conditions of constant pressure and water salinity, the interfacial tension increases as temperature increases for T < $T_c$, with an asymptotic trend towards a constant value for high temperatures. For conditions of constant pressure and temperature, the interfacial tension increases with increasing water salinity. The trends in changes of interfacial tension can be explained by the effects of the reservoir conditions on the density difference of brine and $CO_2$, and the solubility of $CO_2$ in brine. The information on interfacial tensions obtained from this research can be applied in predicting the migration and distribution of injecting and residual fluids in brine-$CO_2$-rock systems in deep geological environments during geological $CO_2$ sequestrations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.03b
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• pp.117-124
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• 2000

This paper presents the construction planning and the detail design of a 16.2 km long railroad tunnel in a mountainous area. Major design conditions for railroad are the single track, loop-typed alinement, and a maximum grade of 24.5$\textperthousand$. A underground station(double track) with a length of 1.1km is located in the middle of the line for train cross-passing. Tunnel is excavated in highly complex geological conditions including faulted areas, abandoned mine works areas, and various rock types such as sandstone, shale, limestone, and coal seam partly. Drilling and blasting method was adopted because it is more flexible than TBM(Tunnel Boring Machine) as a result of risk assessment for geological conditions in this area. Two working adits were planned to adjust the construction schedule and can be used for ventilation and maintenance in operation phase. New material and concept were introduced to the tunnel drain design. They are expected to improve tunnel drain condition and capability. Rational tunnel support design was tried to consider the various tunnel size and purpose and to use the geological investigation results.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Recently, the development of underground space has been accelerated with rapid urbanization, and it is significantly important for safe construction to accurately understand the geological conditions of the section when excavating rocks. In this paper, a boring alignment tracking and geological exploration system have been developed to identify the geological conditions beyond the excavation face by utilizing a MSP method that bores a large empty hole to reduce blast-induced vibration. The major advantage of the proposed exploration system is that we can obtain the ground condition of 50 m ahead of the excavation face through exploration along blast cut-holes drilled for the NATM tunnel construction. In addition, we introduce several case histories regarding the assessment of the geological conditions beyond the tunnel face by monitoring the inside of large empty holes using the proposed hole exploration system.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2022

Complex geological conditions have a great influence on the mining of coalbed methane (CBM), which affects the extraction efficiency of CBM. This investigation analyzed the complicated geological conditions in the Liujia CBM block of Fuxin. A geological model of heterogeneities CBM reservoirs was established to study the influence of strike direction of igneous rocks and fault structures on horizontal well layout. Subsequently, the dual-porosity and dual-permeability mathematical model was established, which considers the dynamic changes of porosity and permeability caused by gas adsorption, desorption, pressure change. The results show that the production curve is in good agreement with the actual by considering gas seepage in matrix pores in the model. Complicated geological structures affect the pressure expansion of horizontal wells, especially, the closer to the fault structure, the more significant the effect, the slower the pressure drop, and the smaller the desorption area. When the wellbore extends to the fault, the pressure expansion is blocked by the fault and the productivity is reduced. In the study area, the optimal distance to the fault is 70 m. When the horizontal wellbore is perpendicular to the direction of coal seam igneous rock, the productivity is higher than that of parallel igneous rock, and the horizontal well bore should be perpendicular to the cleat direction. However, the well length is limited due to the dense distribution of igneous rocks in the Liujia CBM block. Therefore, the horizontal well pumping in the study area should be arranged along the direction of igneous rock and parallel plane cleats. It is found that the larger the area surrounded by igneous rock, the more favorable the productivity. In summary, the reasonable layout of horizontal wells should make full use of the advantages of igneous rock, faults and other complex geological conditions to achieve the goal of high and stable production.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-124
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• 2018

Under repeated loading, the residual stresses within the subgrade and subsoil can accelerate the deformation of the road structures. In this paper, a series of laboratory cyclic loading model tests and small-scale model tests were conducted to investigate the dynamic stress response within soils under different loading conditions. The experimental results showed that a dynamic stress accumulation effect occurred if the soil showed cumulative deformation: (1) the residual stress increased and accumulated with an increasing number of loading cycles, and (2) the residual stress was superimposed on the stress response of the subsequent loading cycles, inducing a greater peak stress response. There are two conditions that must be met for the dynamic stress accumulation effect to occur. A threshold state exists only if the external load exceeds the cyclic threshold stress. Then, the stress accumulation effect occurs. A higher loading frequency results in a higher rate of increase for the residual stress. In addition to the superposition of the increasing residual stress, soil densification might contribute to the increasing peak stress during cyclic loading. An increase in soil stiffness and a decrease in dissipative energy induce a greater stress transmission within the material.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.495-504
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• 2016

International standards recommend typical phases to be included within any national program for the development of a geological repository dedicated to disposal of the high level radioactive wastes generated in countries using nuclear power. However, these are not universally applicable and the content of each of these phases may need to be adapted for each national situation and regulatory and institutional framework. Several national geological repository programs have faced failures in schedules and have revised their programs to consider an adapted phased management approach. The authors have observed that in the case of those countries in the early phases of a geological repository program where boundary conditions have not been fully defined, international recommendations for handling delays/failures in the national program might not immediately help. This paper considers a case study of the influences of the national context risks on the current planning schedule of the Romanian national geological repository. It proposes an optimum solution for an integrated response to any significant adverse impact arising from these risks, enabling sustainable program planning.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.233-246
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• 2022

In this study, the city of Osijek is used as a case study area for low to medium seismicity regions with deep soil over deep geological deposits to determine horizontal PGA values. For this reason, we propose new regional attenuation equations for PGA that can simultaneously capture the effects of deep geology and local soil conditions. A micro-zoning map for the city of Osijek is constructed using the derived empirical scaling equations and compared to all prior seismic hazard estimates for the same area. The findings suggest that the deep soil atop deep geological sediments results in PGA values that are only 6 percent larger than those reported at rock soil sites atop geological rocks. Given the rarity of ground motion records for deep soils atop deep geological layers around the world, we believe this case study is a start toward defining more reliable PGA estimates for similar areas.