• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2017

Seismic analysis of local site conditions is fundamental for a reliable site seismic hazard assessment. It plays a major role in mitigation of seismic damage potential through the prediction of surface ground motion in terms of amplitude, frequency content and duration. Such analysis requires the determination of the transfer function, which is a simple tool for characterizing a soil profile by estimating its vibration frequencies and its amplification potential. In this study, numerical simulations are carried out and are then combined with a statistical study to allow the characterization of design sites classified by the Algerian Building Seismic Code (RPA99, ver 2003), by average transfer functions. The mean transfer functions are thereafter used to compute RPA99 average site factors. In this regard, coming up seismic fields are simulated based on Power Spectral Density Functions (PSDF) defined at the rock basement. Results are also used to compute average site factor where, actual and synthetic time histories are introduced. In absence of measurement data, it is found that the proposed approach can be used for a better soil characterization.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.173-186
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• 2023

In order to prevent environmental pollution, initiatives to increase the sustainability of resources are supported by society. However, the performance of recycled materials does not generally match that of natural materials. This study looks into the use of geogrid to improve various types of recycled aggregates. For this purpose, five different recycled aggregates were created by recycling wastes from the construction industry. Besides, direct shear tests (DS tests) were carried out on these recycled aggregates to determine their shear strengths. Following that, a triaxial geogrid was placed in the recycled aggregates to provide reinforcement, and the DS tests were conducted on the reinforced recycled aggregates. The results of the tests were also compared to those of tests performed on natural aggregates (NA). In conclusion, it was found that the recycled aggregates have lower shear strengths than the NA. Nonetheless, when reinforced with geogrid, the shear strength of the recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and construction and demolition wastes (CDW) exceeded that of the NA. Furthermore, the geogrid reinforcement increased the shear strength of the recycled crushed bricks (CB), though not to the level of the NA.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.285-294
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• 2007

Material properties of geomaterials are usually heterogeneous. And the limitted number of investigation for the subsurface material properties in terms of boreholes are not sufficient enough for identifying the heterogeneity. In most civil engineering work, pre-investigation results can be different from those by in-situ inspection during the construction work. With these points of view, a new analysis concept aiming to evaluate the uncertainty resulted from the heterogeneity of the geomaterial properties as well as to enhance a construction workability and design qualify by a prompt feedback of in-situ conditions was proposed. It was accomplished by linking the Element Free analysis and pre-developed stochastic methods represented by Karhunen-Loeve expansion. Simple ID problem was solved by the developed method, and its validity as well as the characteristic results by different stochastic methods were clarified.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.334-408
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• 2006

In Hong Kong, large-diameter (${\ge}600mm$) bored piles and large-section excavated rectangular barrettes are commonly used to support tall buildings to resist both vertical and horizontal loads. These piles and barrettes penetrate through and may found in saprolitic soils and decomposed rocks. Generally, the design of these large bored piles and barrettes involves considerable amount of uncertainty and design parameters must usually be verified by field tests. In this paper, over 50 full-scale load tests on large-diameter bored piles and over 15 large-section of rectangular barrettes in Hong Kong are reviewed and interpreted critically, in particular the degree of mobilisation of side shear resistance using a mobilization rating (MR) factor and a displacement index (DI) for floating bored piles and barrettes and rock-socketed piles, respectively. The author was heavily involved with many of these load tests. The diameter of the bored piles tested ranges from 0.6m to 1.8m and the depth varies from 12m to 75m. Sizes of barrettes critically reviewed include $2.2m{\times}0.6m,\;2.2m{\times}0.8m,\;2.8m{\times}0.8m\;and\;2.8m{\times}1.0m$ (on plan) and the depth varies from 36m and 63m. Based on these field tests, a new failure load criterion for large-diameter bored piles and barrettes is developed and proposed. The side shear resistance of the bored piles and barrettes is quantitatively analyzed with respect to local displacements, standard penetration tests, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) for rock sockets and using the effective stress principle. In addition, the effects of construction including post-grouting, construction time, side scraping and excavation tools on side shear resistance are investigated and reported.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2014

In the earth structures of railways, large coarse granular materials are widely used as fill materials. However, experimental studies that consider the dynamic properties of these coarse granular materials have rarely been carried out in Korea due to the lack of a large scale test apparatus in this country. In this study, large scale cyclic triaxial tests were carried out for materials such as reinforced roadbed (subballast, graded crushed stone), transition zone gravel, and the upper subgrade of a railway. These specimens were prepared according to certain conditions (dry unit weight, grain size distribution, and so on) specified in the Korea railroad design standard. Based on these large triaxial test results, normalized shear modulus and damping ratio curves according to small strain level are suggested. A model and coefficients for each material are also proposed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.1148-1155
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• 2010

To suggest a modified shallow foundation design method which can be considered the scale effect of foundation on IGM(intermediate geomaterial) soil layer, the weathered soil layer that is uniformly formed up to 8m(2B) with over 50 N-value is selected and 3 times field loading tests are performed on several sized square-shaped shallow foundations with 30, 75, 150, 240 and 400cm in width respectively. Because the soil modulus of elasticity(Es) calculated by soil investigation and 1st field test(PBT) results showed an underestimated tendency, a modified correlation is required for the reasonable estimation of Es on the weathered soil. Also, the N-value was increased with an increasing in depth. However, the N-values around the test foundations showed the different values even though the foundations on the same level because the test site was arranged by excavation. Therefore, the more detail soil investigations are required for the each test foundations respectively. Since Es based on elasticity theory is determined by the stress distribution shape of the foundation and elasticity modulus of the soil, the scale effect considered pressure-settlement curve can be clearly derived from the correlation on stress distribution shape and the variation of soil elasticity modulus with depth. Therefore, the modified correlation will be suggested to estimate a reasonable Es on the weathered soil, and the scale effect considered shallow foundation design method is also developed based on the elastic theory and field tests in this research.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.45-55
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• 2020

X-ray computed tomography (CT) is very useful for the quantitative evaluation of internal structures, particularly defects in rock samples, such as pores and fractures. In situ CT allows 3D imaging of a sample subjected to various external treatments such as loading and therefore enables observation of changes that occur during the loading process. We reviewed state-of-the-art of in situ CT applications for geomaterials. Two triaxial cells made using relatively low density but high strength materials were developed aimed at in situ CT scanning during hydro-mechanical laboratory testing of rocks. Preliminary results for in situ CT imaging of granite and sandstone samples with diameters ranging from 25 mm to 50 mm show a resolution range of 34~105 ㎛ per pixel pitch, indicating the feasibility of in situ CT observations for internal structural changes in rocks at the micrometer scale. Potassium iodide solution was found to improve the image contrast, and can be used as an injection fluid for hydro-mechanical testing combined with in situ CT scanning.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2019

We have isolated and identified 72 bacterial strains from four bentonite samples collected at the mining areas located in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea, and measured their hydrolytic enzyme (${\alpha}$-amylase, protease, and cellulase) activities to identify the isolates with industrial-use potential. Most of the isolates belonged to the Bacillaceae, with minor portions being from the Paenibacillaceae, Micrococcaceae, and Bacillales Family XII at the family level. Of the strains isolated, 33 had extracellular ${\alpha}$-amylase activity, 30 strains produced cellulase, and 35 strains produced protease. Strain MBLB1268, having the highest ${\alpha}$-amylase activity, was identified as Bacillus siamensis ($0.38{\pm}0.06U/ml$). Bacillus tequilensis MBLB1223, isolated from Byi33-b, showed the highest cellulase activity ($0.26{\pm} 0.04U/ml$), whereas Bacillus wiedmannii MBLB1197, isolated from Zdb130-b, exhibited the highest protease activity ($54.99{\pm}0.78U/ml$). These findings show that diverse bacteria of the Bacillaceae family adhere to and exist in bentonite and are potential sources of industrially useful hydrolytic enzymes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.161-180
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• 2023

In the previous research, the axial compressive capacity models for the glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP)-reinforced circular concrete compression elements restrained with GFRP helix were put forward based on small and noisy datasets by considering a limited number of parameters portraying less accuracy. Consequently, it is important to recommend an accurate model based on a refined and large testing dataset that considers various parameters of such components. The core objective and novelty of the current research is to suggest a deep learning model for the axial compressive capacity of GFRP-reinforced circular concrete columns restrained with a GFRP helix utilizing various parameters of a large experimental dataset to give the maximum precision of the estimates. To achieve this aim, a test dataset of 61 GFRP-reinforced circular concrete columns restrained with a GFRP helix has been created from prior studies. An assessment of 15 diverse theoretical models is carried out utilizing different statistical coefficients over the created dataset. A novel model utilizing the group method of data handling (GMDH) has been put forward. The recommended model depicted good effectiveness over the created dataset by assuming the axial involvement of GFRP main bars and the confining effectiveness of transverse GFRP helix and depicted the maximum precision with MAE = 195.67, RMSE = 255.41, and R2 = 0.94 as associated with the previously recommended equations. The GMDH model also depicted good effectiveness for the normal distribution of estimates with only a 2.5% discrepancy from unity. The recommended model can accurately calculate the axial compressive capacity of FRP-reinforced concrete compression elements that can be considered for further analysis and design of such components in the field of structural engineering.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.5-14
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• 2013

Coarse granular geomaterials containing large gravels are broadly used for construction of large geotechnical systems such as dams, levees, railways and backfills. It is necessary to evaluate deformation characteristics of these materials for dynamic analysis, e.g. seismic design. This study presents evaluation of dynamic deformation characteristics of coarse materials using large scale resonant column testing apparatus, which uses specimens with 200 mm in diameter and 400 mm in height, and the effects of gradation characteristics on maximum shear modulus, shear modulus reduction curve and damping characteristics were investigated. From experimental study using rock-fill materials for a dam, we could see that the largest or mean particle size affects the shape of shear modulus reduction curve. When the specimens are prepared under the same conditions for maximum particle size, the coefficient of uniformity affects the confining stress exponent of maximum shear modulus. It could be concluded that the maximum particle size is an factor which affects shear modulus reduction curve, and that the coefficient of uniformity is for small strain shear modulus, especially for the sensitivity to confining stress.