• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.3 s.62
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• pp.251-258
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• 2006

In this paper, the applicability to the Korean rock condition of using the deformation moduli based on Rock Mass Rating (RMR) and Pressuremeter Test (PMT) is evaluated. The correlations among deformation moduli and various rock properties were also analyzed. It appears that the existing correlations using RMR overestimate the deformation moduli and wide variation was found between predicted moduli using these correlations and measured values. As for the correlations among the deformation moduli and various rock properties, Rock Quality Designation (RQD) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) were found to correlate to deformation moduli reasonably well, but joint spacing and joint conditions appear to correlate poorly to RQD and UCS. Additionally, groundwater can not be correlated with the modulus values. While the depth has very little contribution to deformation modulus, it should be factored in the simple regression analyses with various rock mass properties, especially with the correlations made with UCS, RQD etc. With the deficiencies of these correlations, more in depth analysis techniques such as multivariate correlations may be to reliably estimate deformation modulus of rock mass.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.323-335
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• 2021

This paper aims to estimate the range of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) formation caused by the tunnel boring machine (TBM) advancement through dynamic three-dimensional large deformation finite element analysis. Large deformation analysis based on Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) analysis is used to accurately simulate the behavior during TBM excavation. The analysis model is verified based on numerous test results reported in the literature. The range of the formed EDZ will be suggested as a boundary under various conditions - different tunnel diameter, tunnel depth, and rock type. Moreover, evaluation of the integrity of the tunnel structure during excavation has been carried out. Based on the numerical results, the apparent boundary of the EDZ is shown to within the range of 0.7D (D: tunnel diameter) around the excavation surface. Through series of numerical computation, it is clear that for the rock of with higher rock mass rating (RMR) grade (close to 1st grade), the EDZ around the tunnel tends to increase. The size of the EDZ is found to be direct proportional to the tunnel diameter, whereas the depth of the tunnel is inversely proportional to the magnitude of the EDZ. However, the relationship between the formation of the EDZ and the stability of the tunnel was not found to be consistent. In case where the TBM excavation is carried out in hard rock or rock under high confinement (excavation under greater depth), large range of the EDZ may be formed, but less strain occurs along the excavation surface during excavation and is found to be more stable.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.5-19
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• 2017

In this study, the effect of rock mass curtain grouting was investigated by analyzing the correlation between the parameters of the RMR & grout injection volume, Lugeon value & RQD, Lugeon value & cement injection volume. In order to investigate the effect of rock mass curtain grouting, we analyzed the grout injection volume of 315 curtain grouting holes at 9 tunnel face of NATM Subsea tunnels in gneiss area. The total grout injection volume in the Subsea tunnels study was slightly changed in some tunnels face but decreased with increasing the rating of parameters in spacing of discontinuity (R3, Js) and groundwater condition (R5). The geological anomalies of seismic survey (3D, TSP) and the inflow of probe hole were found to be more correlated of relative than the parameters of RMR. The unit injection volume was found to decrease with higher ratings in the parameters of the RMR except the weathering degree of the discontinuity (Jc, R4). The correlation between RQD and Lugeon values is not significant, but it can be confirmed that the Lugeon value tends to decrease as the RQD value increases.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.439-449
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• 2011

The characteristics of rock fractures for engineering rock classification are investigated by analyzing three dimensional point cloud generated from adjusted digital images of a tunnel face during construction and the tunnel is reinforced based on the supporting pattern suggested by the RMR and the Q system using parameters extracted from those images. As results, it is possible saving time required from face mapping to tunnel reinforcing work, enhancing safety during face mapping work in tunnels and reliability of both the mapping information and selecting supporting pattern by storing the files of digital images and related information which can be checked again, if necessary sometime in the future.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.545-553
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• 2008

Face mapping and displacement monitoring during tunnel construction are the most influential information for the stability assessment of ground and around structures. Especially, the result of face mapping and displacement analysis is essential to the excavation and support design in NATM which is based on the drilling and blasting. However, there have not been so many studies to put those useful information into practice for decision-making process during construction. The study reviewed the tunnel behaviour based on the RMR rating and displacement monitoring when the geological condition of rock mass varies inevitably. The study analysed the crown settlement using convergence equation in order to compensate the disparity induced by the location and time of measurement and found a distinct relation between the geological condition and the line of influence. As a result of analysing the various parameters related to the tunnel convergence according to the geological condition, the study suggested the basic knowledge about the relation between face mapping and displacement behaviour of tunnel.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.359-374
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• 2022

Geology conditions are crucial in decision-making during the planning and design phase of a tunnel project. Estimation of the geology conditions of road tunnels is subject to significant uncertainties. In this work, the effectiveness of a novel regression method in estimating geological or geotechnical parameters of road tunnel projects was explored. This method, called Gaussian process regression (GPR), formulates the learning of the regressor within a Bayesian framework. The GPR model was trained with data of old tunnel projects. To verify its feasibility, the GPR technique was applied to a road tunnel to predict the state of three geological/geomechanical parameters of Rock Mass Rating (RMR), Rock Structure Rating (RSR) and Q-value. Finally, in order to validate the GPR approach, the forecasted results were compared to the field-observed results. From this comparison, it was concluded that, the GPR is presented very good predictions. The R-squared values between the predicted results of the GPR vs. field-observed results for the RMR, RSR and Q-value were obtained equal to 0.8581, 0.8148 and 0.8788, respectively.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2004

The geostatistical approach was applied to integrate MT (Magneto-telluric) resistivity data and borehole information for the spatial RMR (Rock Mass Rating) evaluation. Generally, resistivity of the subsurface is believed to be positively related to the RMR, thus the resistivity and borehole RMR information was combined in a geostatistical approach. To relate the two different sets of data, we take the MT resistivity data as secondary information and estimate the RMR mean values at unsampled points by identification of the resistivity to the borehole data. Two types of approach are performed for the estimation of RMR mean values. Then the residuals of the RMR values around the borehole sites are geostatistically modeled to infer the spatial structure of difference between real RMR values and estimated mean values. Finally, this geostatistical estimation is added to the previous means. The result applied to a real situation shows prominent improvements to reflect the subsurface structure and spatial resolution of RMR information.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.247-260
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• 2014

Rock masses at the site for the $2^{nd}$ step construction of the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) are divided into six units to establish a rock mechanics model that is dependent on the geological characteristics and degree of joint development. The site primarily consists of three granitic units (G1, G2, and G3), two dykes (D1 and D3), and a fault zone of poor rock mass quality (F3). The F3 unit crosses the tunnel at the beginning of the site of $2^{nd}$ step construction. The rock masses of each unit are classified by RMR (Rock Mass Rating), Q-system, and RMi (Rock Mass Index), all based on borehole logging data. The deformation modulus, rock mass strength, cohesion, and friction angle for each unit are calculated using established empirical relationships. The representative rock mass classification and geotechnical parameters for the rock mass units are established, and a rock mechanics model for the site is proposed, which will be useful in the design and stability analysis of the $2^{nd}$ step construction of KURT.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.213-222
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• 2024

Determination of jointed rock mass properties plays a significant role in the design and construction of underground structures such as tunneling and mining. Rock mass classification systems such as Rock Mass Rating (RMR), Rock Mass Index (RMi), Rock Mass Quality (Q), and deformation modulus (Em) are determined from the jointed rock masses. However, parameters of jointed rock masses can be affected by the tunnel depth below the surface due to the effect of the in situ stresses. In addition, the geomechanical properties of rocks change due to the effect of metamorphism. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to apply correlation analysis to investigate the relationships between rock mass properties and some parameters related to the depth of the tunnel studied. For this purpose, the field work consisted of determining rock mass parameters in a tunnel alignment (~7.1 km) at varying depths from 21 m to 431 m below ground surface. At the same excavation depths, thirty-seven rock types were also sampled and tested in the laboratory. Correlations were made between vertical stress and depth, horizontal/vertical stress ratio (k) and depth, k and Em, k and RMi, k and point load index (PLI), k and Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), Em and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), UCS and PLI, UCS and BTS. Relationships were significant (significance level=0.000) at the confidence interval of 95% (r = 0.77-0.88) between the data pairs for the rocks taken from depths greater than 166 m where the ratio of horizontal to vertical stress is between 0.6 and 1.2. The in-situ stress parameters affected rock mass properties as well as metamorphism which affected the geomechanical properties of rock materials by affecting the behavior of minerals and textures within rocks. This study revealed that in-situ stress parameters and metamorphism should be reviewed when tunnel studies are carried out.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.08a
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• pp.156-175
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• 1999

Recently the application of geophysical well logging to geotechnical site investigation is increasing, because the merit that geophysical logs provide the high resolution and in-situ physical properties in volumes of rock surrounding the borehole. Geophysical well logs are used to identify lithologic boundaries and fracture, to determine the physical properties of rock(i.e., density, velocity etc.), and to detect permeable fracture zones that could be conduits for ground water movement through the rocks. The principle of heat-pulse meter, the calibration of gamma-gamma logging, and principles and data processing of full waveform sonic logging are briefly reviewed, and the case studies of geophysical logs are discussed. Correlation between velocity by sonic logging and rock mass classification such as RMR(Rock Mass Rating) value is considered.