• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2003

Previous analytical models for key blocks have been based on the assumption of infinite persistent discontinuities. In this paper, a key block analysis method considering the finite persistence of discontinuities is proposed as a stability evaluation method in tunnel constructions, and then applied to an actual example site. Three-dimensional rock block identification with consideration of the persistence of discontinuities is performed by using discontinuity disk model. The removability and stability analyses of rock blocks formed by the identification method are performed. The identification method can handle convex and concave shape blocks. In order to demonstrate the applicability of this developed numerical method to the stability evaluation in tunnel constructions, the analytical results are examined and compared one another.