• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.195-205
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• 2021

Time effect on the deformation and strength characteristics of geogrid reinforced sand retaining wall has become an important issue in geotechnical and transportation engineering. Three physical model tests on geogrid reinforced sand retaining walls performed under various loading conditions were simulated to study their rate-dependent behaviors, using the presented nonlinear finite element method (FEM) analysis procedure. This FEM was based on the dynamic relaxation method and return mapping scheme, in which the combined effects of the rate-dependent behaviors of both the backfill soil and the geosynthetic reinforcement have been included. The rate-dependent behaviors of sands and geogrids should be attributed to the viscous property of materials, which can be described by the unified three-component elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model. By comparing the FEM simulations and the test results, it can be found that the present FEM was able to be successfully extended to the boundary value problems of geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining walls. The deformation and strength characteristics of the geogrid reinforced sand retaining walls can be well reproduced. Loading rate effect, the trends of jump in footing pressure upon the step-changes in the loading rate, occurred not only on sands and geogrids but also on geogrid reinforced sands retaining walls. The lateral earth pressure distributions against the back of retaining wall, the local tensile force in the geogrid arranged in the retaining wall and the local stresses beneath the footing under various loading conditions can also be predicted well in the FEM simulations.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.4C
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• pp.239-245
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• 2006

The steep slopes have been increased of new roads, industrial site development and large scale residential development. The preservation administration and steep slope construction are currently investigated by many researchers in Korea. However, concrete retaining wall or reinforced soil (i.e. Block or Pannel) are being applied for the steep slope, which results in the front face form of the structure being limited. This research investigates the method that can make up afforestation environment-friendly circumstances during the construction of steep slope structure. It is considered that steep slope reinforced structure would be possible based on the monitoring results about earth pressure, horizontal displacement and consolidation quality generated during the construction of whole constructing reinforced structure. Also, there no problems in grassy surface, drainage, and deformation in spite of rainy season after construction period and until now. So that the seeding soil layer surface reinforced soil method could be adopt for steep slope reinforced structure and others.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.750-757
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• 2018

The mechanically stabilized earth wall abutment is an earth structure using a mechanically stabilized earth wall and it uses in-extensional steel reinforcements having excellent friction performance. In order to analyze the pullout behavior of in-extensional steel reinforcements usually applied on the mechanically stabilized earth wall abutment, effects of stiffness and particle-size distributions of backfills and also horizontal spacings were considered in this study. As a result of parametric analyses, the highest pulling force acted on the uppermost reinforcement, and the stiffness and the particle-size distributions of the backfill significantly affected the pulling resistance of the reinforced soils. The internal friction angle of backfills should be at least 25 degrees, the coefficient uniformity factor should be at least 4, and the horizontal spacing of the uppermost steel reinforcement should be less than 25cm. Therefore, in order to secure the pullout resistance of the reinforced soil, it is necessary a properly spacing of reinforcement and more strict quality control for the backfill.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2008

This paper describes the results of model experiments in the laboratory, which were conducted to assess the behavior characteristics of geosynthetic reinforced soil walls according to different surcharge loads and reinforcement types. The model walls were built in the box having dimension, 100 cm tall, 140 cm long, and 100cm wide. Three types of geosynthetics, geonet, geogrid A and geogrid B, are used as the reinforcements. Decomposed granite soil (SM) was used as a backfill material. Seven model walls are constructed and tested. After the construction of the model wall, the LVDTs are installed to obtain the displacements of the wall face. As the results of the model tests, the maximum horizontal displacements of the model walls occurred due to uniform surcharge pressure were measured at the 0.7H from the bottom of the wall. The more the reinforcement strength increases, the more the wall displacements decrease, and also the reduction ratio of the wall displacement decrease with increasing the surcharge pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.35-42
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• 2013

Recently, construction of reinforced earth structure using geosynthetics has been increased because it has advantages such as construction efficient, cost effectiveness and appearance aspect against existing gravity or cantilever retaining wall. However due to the climate change in Korea excessive inflow of ground water and surface water from heavy rainfall could affect the stability of reinforced retaining wall seriously. So the discharge capacity of drains should be evaluated by using experimental method in the design of reinforced earth wall. In this study, instead of concrete block used in most of the retaining wall, eco-friendly porous soilbag was used. This paper describes the test method and result of the laboratory testing for determination of discharge capacity utilizing PBDs.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2008

In this study, the failure and deformation characteristics of steel fiber reinforced shotcrete (SFRS) which is a primary tunnel support was investigated to find out ground-support mutual behavior. To this end, a mock-up of a tunnel was made and experimented with the conditions of lateral earth pressure coefficient 0.5 and 1.0. During the tests, 11 hydraulic cylinders were used for loading. for better simulation of the lateral earth pressure effect, these cylinders were controlled separately by two groups; crown and side wall. Meanwhile, the deformation of shotcrete was measured by 11 LVDTs. Backfill material was also used fur better load transfer from hydraulic cylinders to shotcrete. For the validation of the mock-up test results, 3D numerical analysis is carried out. To do numerical analysis under the same condition as a mock-up test, the load history curve which was obtained during the test was tried to be simulated using an individual FISH routine in the numerical analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.105-115
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• 2016

This paper describes a restoration of retaining wall, which was collapsed by rainfall. The failure causes was analyzed by field case, and then the countermeasure was suggested. The failure causes confirmed that observance of design and construction criteria was insufficient. It also was the climate condition like a rainfall and inappropriate construction management. The stability analysis for retaining wall, soil improvement and reinforced earth wall was conducted to confirm validity of the countermeasure. The analysis results showed that the suggested construction method satisfied in required safety factors. Therefore, it should be secured the stability of the structure based on the application of appropriate design method and construction management, when structure was constructed.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.321-332
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• 2021

Though development of reinforced earth wall is on the rise recently, safety verification for various methods remains behind which has caused the problems including collapse after installation. This study aims to evaluate the field applicability of the shape of flexible strip reinforcement according to pullout resistance test and field damage test. The test specimens were 3 shape of reinforcement, the typical flexible band reinforcement, developed luged band reinforcement, and band type reinforcement made by cutting geogrid. It was found that reinforcement of type have strengths and weaknesses, respectively. The best type of flexible strip reinforcements can be selected, if the conditions are considered with the installation conditions of the reinforcing earth retaining wall and the particle size of the backfill materials.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.2C
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• pp.75-82
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• 2011

Recently, a new reinforced retaining wall with light steel support face has been developed. In this study, full size in-situ test is carried out to investigate the stability of the new reinforced retaining wall. The lateral displacement of wall, lateral earth pressure, and settlement of the reinforced retaining wall are measured in the full size test. And numerical analysis by 3-D finite element method is also carried out to compare the test results with those of the analysis. From the full size in-situ test, the maximum lateral displacement of wall is 46mm(0.009H) and the maximum settlement is 21.5mm. And comparing these values with those of numerical analysis, it is confirmed that the new reinforced retaining wall with light steel support face is stable and applicable.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.233-256
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• 2011

This paper investigates the applicability of newly developed Cu-Al-Mn shape memory alloy (SMA) bars to retrofitting of historical masonry constructions by performing quasi-static tests of half-scale brick walls subjected to cyclic out-of-plane flexure. Problems associated with conventional steel reinforcing bars lie in pinching, or degradation of stiffness and strength under cyclic loading, and in their inability to restrain residual deformations in structures during and after intense earthquakes. This paper attempts to resolve the problems by applying newly developed Cu-Al-Mn SMA bars, characterized by large recovery strain, low material cost, and high machinability, as partial replacements for steel bars. Three types of brick wall specimens, unreinforced, steel reinforced, and SMA reinforced specimens are prepared. The specimens are subjected to quasi-static cyclic loading up to rotation angle enough to cause yielding of reinforcing bars. Corresponding nonlinear finite element models are developed to simulate the experimental observations. It was found from the experimental and numerical results that both the steel reinforced and SMA reinforced specimens showed substantial increment in strength and ductility as compared to the unreinforced specimen. The steel reinforced specimen showed pinching and significant residual elongation in reinforcing bars while the SMA reinforced specimen did not. Both the experimental and numerical observations demonstrate the superiority of Cu-Al-Mn SMA bars to conventional steel reinforcing bars in retrofitting historical masonry constructions.