• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.95-104
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• 2013

Recently, application of CSG is increasing in various design construction projects. At the initial stage of cementation CSG materials show the same mechanical characteristics as soil, however, as the cementation process develops, CSG materials gradually reveal material characteristics of concrete. The hardened CSG manifests elastic behavior such as maximum strength at small strain range and rapid brittle failure. In this research, PVA fiber stiffeners were used in order to: (1) reduce such brittle behavioral characteristics; (2) improve the relatively weak tension performance of CSG materials. The binding strength between the bed materials and fiber prevents rapid brittle failure and increases tensional strength of fiber reinforced CSG materials.Test results show that fiber reinforcement alone could induce the stress-strain characteristics of CSG materials from brittle failure to ductile failure and also increase the residual strength.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2022

To investigate effects of cognitive function improvement whether against Taegeuk ginseng on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats. All experiments were conducted in three groups: the control group (CTR), the scopolamine 0.4mg/kg (SCP), and the scopolamine (SCP+T) treated with Taegeuk ginseng 100 mg/kg. Taegeuk ginseng 100 mg/kg daily was orally administered for one month and treated with scopolamine was only for 7 consecutive days on the Morris water maze task. 3 weeks after oral administration of Taegeuk ginseng, subjects were performed the Morris water maze test for 8 days and then the open-field exploration test which to assessed for cognitive function improvement. After behavioral testing, subjects were sacrificed and microdissected brains for neurochemical analysis. In the cognitive-behavioral test, long-term administration of Taegeuk ginseng improved spatial navigation learning task compared with the impeded by scopolamine treatment. In neurochemistry, the expression of the synaptic marker PSD95 (postsynaptic density protein 95) was increased in the hippocampus compared to the scopolamine group. Also, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression was significantly increased in the taegeuk ginseng administration group. These data suggested that long-term administration of taegeuk ginseng might improve cognitive-behavioral functions on hippocampal related spatial learning memory, and it was correlated with neurotropic and synaptic reinforcement. In conclusion, treatment with taegeuk ginseng may positive outcome on learning and memory deficit disorders.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.293-306
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• 2023

This study proposes and demonstrates a smart monitoring system that uses transmission lines embedded in a reinforced concrete structure to detect the presence of defects through changes in the electromagnetic waves generated and measured by a time-domain reflectometer. Laboratory experiments were first conducted to identify the presence of voids in steel-concrete composite columns. The results indicated that voids in the concrete caused a positive signal reflection, and the amplitude of this signal decreased as the water content of the soil in the void increased. Multiple voids resulted in a decrease in the amplitude of the signal reflected at each void, effectively identifying their presence despite amplitude reduction. Furthermore, the electromagnetic wave velocity increased when voids were present, decreased as the water content of the soil in the voids increased, and increased with the water-cement ratio and curing time. Field experiments were then conducted using bored piles with on-center (sound) and off-center (defective) steel-reinforcement cage alignments. The results indicated that the signal amplitude in the defective pile section, where the off-center cage was poorly covered with concrete, was greater than that in the pile sections where the cage was completely covered with concrete. The crosshole sonic logging results for the same defective bored pile failed to identify an off-center cage alignment defect. Therefore, this study demonstrates that electromagnetic waves can be a useful tool for monitoring the health and integrity of reinforced concrete structures.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2022

Currently, biofibers are used as a reinforcement in polymer composites for structural elements and construction materials instead of the synthetic fibers which cause environmental problems and are expensive. One of the chemicals with a pH close to neutral that can be potentially used as a modified fiber material is sodium chloride (NaCl). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the characteristics of a composite board made from NaCl-treated kenaf fiber. A completely randomized design method was used with consideration of two factors: the content of NaCl in the treatment solution (1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 5 wt%) and the duration of immersion of fibers in the solution (1 h, 2 h, and 3 h). The NaCl treatment was conducted by soaking the fibers in the solution for different durations. The fibers were then rinsed with water until the pH of the water reached 7 and subsequently dried inside an oven at 80℃ for 6 h. Kenaf fiber and epoxy were mixed manually with the total loading of 20 wt% based on the dry weight of the fiber. Physical and mechanical properties of the fibers were then evaluated based on JIS A 5908 particleboard standards. The results showed that increasing NaCl content in the fiber treatment solution can increase the physical and mechanical properties of the composite board. The properties of fibers treated with 5 wt% NaCl for 3 h were superior with a modulus of elasticity of 2.085 GPa, modulus of rupture of 19.77 MPa, internal bonding of 1.8 MPa, thickness swelling of 3%, and water absorption of 10.9%. The contact angle of untreated kenaf fibers was 104°, which increased to 80° and 73° on treatment with 1 wt% and 5 wt% NaCl for 3 h, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2013

This study aims at investigating the behavior of the ground water level when installing upward soil nails that drain water as well. To do this, a series of down-scaled model tests were conducted. A model slope with weathered soils was prepared and then an artificial rain was scattered on the slope. The relative densities of soil specimen were 60%, 75%, and 90%, and the rainfall intensities 50mm/hr, 75mm/hr, 100mm/hr, and 125mm/hr, respectively. The experimental parameters, such as the ground water level, ratio of soil runoff, and failure mode of the slope were measured and analyzed. As the results, It may be concluded that the ground water level in the slope supported by drainable upward soil nails increases very gradually while the unsupported soil changes dramatically. In addition, the ground water level becomes constant and no failure occurs as time goes by. In case of the relative density of 75%, the runoff ratio seemed to increase up to about 8~15% after reinforcement.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.64-72
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• 2023

Biopolymer is a versatile material used in food processing, medicine, construction, and soil reinforcement. 𝛽-glucan is one of the biopolymers that improves the soil water content and ion adsorption in a drought or toxic metal contaminated land for plant survival. We analyzed drought stress damage reduction in sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L. cv. Sodammi) by measuring the growth and major protein expression and activity under 𝛽-glucan soil amendment. The result showed that sweet potato leaf length and width were not affected by drought stress for 14 days, but sweet potatoes grown in 𝛽-glucan-amended soil showed an effect in preventing wilting caused by drought in phenotypic changes. Under drought stress, sweet potato leaves did not show any changes in electrolyte leakage, but the relative water content was higher in sweet potatoes grown in 𝛽-glucan-amended soil than in normal soil. 𝛽-glucan soil amendment increased the expression of plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase, but it decreased the aquaporin PIP2 (plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2) in sweet potatoes under drought stress. Moreover, water maintenance affected the PM H⁺-ATPase activity, which contributed to tolerance under drought stress. These results indicate that 𝛽-glucan soil amendment improves the soil water content during drought and affects the water supply in sweet potatoes. Consequently, 𝛽-glucan is a potential material for maintaining soil water contents, and analysis of the major PM proteins is one of the indicators for evaluating the biopolymer effect on plant survival under drought stress.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Construction of road closed to mountains is inevitable in Korea because the mountainous region in Korea is more than 70% in area. Recently, due to global warming, typhoons or heavy rainfalls frequently occur, and accordingly, mountain roads are seriously damaged by landslides, debris flows, and uplift pressure below pavement. in this study, damage on pavement by uplift pressure was investigated. Various influencing factors such as slope angle, reinforcement of slope surface, thickness of soil cover underlain by rock, and types of drainage system were considered to evaluate uplift pressure acting on the bottom of pavement. Raising of water table up to the surface of slope may depend on the duration and intensity of rainfall. It shows that the installation of subdrain can reduce the uplift water pressure. Therefore, It is concluded that the use of subdrain system is effective to decrease uplift pressure and cement treated base is more endurable than typical crushed-stone base.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.255-268
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• 2018

Subsea tunnel can be highly vulnerable to seawater intrusion due to unexpected high-water pressure during construction. An artificial ground freezing (AGF) will be a promising alternative to conventional reinforcement or water-tightening technology under high-water pressure conditions. In this study, the freezing energy and required time was calculated by the theoretical model of the heat flow to estimate the total amount of refrigerant required for the artificial ground freezing. A lab-scale freezing chamber was devised to investigate changes in the thermal and mechanical properties of sandy soil corresponding to the variation of the salinity and water pressure. The freezing time was measured with different conditions during the chamber freezing tests. Its validity was evaluated by comparing the results between the freezing chamber experiment and the numerical analysis. In particular, the freezing time showed no significant difference between the theoretical model and the numerical analysis. The amount of refrigerant for artificial ground freezing was estimated from the numerical analysis and the freezing efficiency obtained from the chamber test. In addition, the energy ratio for maintaining frozen status was calculated by the proposed formula. It is believed that the energy ratio for freezing will depend on the depth of rock cover in the subsea tunnels and the water temperature on the sea floor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 2012

Performance analyses of vertical breakwaters were conducted for fictitiously designed breakwaters for various water depths to analyze the influence of climate change on the structures. The performance-based design method considering sea level rise and wave height increase due to climate change was used for the performance analysis. One of the problems of the performance-based design method is the large calculation time of wave transformation. To overcome this problem, the SWAN model combined with artificial neural network was used. The significant wave height and principal wave direction at the breakwater site are quickly calculated by using a trained neural network with inputs of deepwater significant wave height and principal wave direction, and tidal level. In general, structural stability becomes low due to climate change impacts, but the trend of stability is different depending on water depth. Outside surf zone, the influence of wave height increase becomes more significant, while that of sea level rise becomes negligible, as water depth increases. Inside surf zone, the influence of both wave height increase and sea level rise diminishes as water depth decreases, but the influence of wave height increase is greater than that of sea level rise. Reinforcement and maintenance policies for vertical breakwaters should be established with consideration of these results.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2022

The corrosion of reinforcement is the main reason for the performance degradation of concrete structures. The pre-rusted parts of rebar in concrete structures are vulnerable to the corrosion, especially if the structure is exposed to wet or chlorinated environments. In this study, effects of different curing solution on corrosion behavior of the pre-rusted rebars in the cement composites were investigated. HCl(3%) and CaCl₂(10%) solution were utilized to accelerate the pre-rust of the rebar, and each pre-rust condition rebar including reference (RE) were placed in mortar cylinder. Three kinds of samples then were cured in CaCl₂ (3%) solution and tap water respectively for 120 days. Electrochemical polarization and half-cell potential measurement were used to monitor the influence of curing water on the corrosion behavior of pre-rusted steel bar in cement composite. The surface morphology and composition of corroded steel bar were analyzed by scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray diffraction. The results show that the corrosion rates of pre-rusted samples in both curing water are higher than that of non-pre-rusted samples. The corrosion rates of RE, CaCl₂ and HCl pre-rusted samples in salt water were 8.14, 4.48, 13.81 times higher than those in tap water respectively, on the 120th day.