• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.115-129
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• 2015

The cut-slope of a large-sectional tunnel portal is recognized as a potential area of weakness due to unstable stress distribution and possible permanent displacement. This paper presents a case study of a slope failure and remediation for a large-scale cut-slope at a tunnel portal. Extensive rock-slope brittle failure occurred along discontinuities in the rock mass after 46 mm of rainfall, which caused instability of the upper part of the cut-slope. Based on a geological survey and face mapping, the reason for failure is believed to be the presence of thin clay fill in discontinuities in the weathered rock mass and consequent saturationinduced joint weakening. The granite-gneiss rock mass has a high content of alkali-feldspar, indicating a vulnerability to weathering. Immediately before the slope failure, a sharp increase in displacement rate was indicated by settlement-time histories, and this observation can contribute to the safety management criteria for slope stability. In this case study, emergency remediation was performed to prevent further hazard and to facilitate reconstruction, and counterweight fill and concrete filling of voids were successfully applied. For ultimate remediation, the grid anchor-blocks were used for slope stabilization, and additional rock bolts and grouting were applied inside the tunnel. Limit-equilibrium slope stability analysis and analyses of strereographic projections confirmed the instability of the original slope and the effectiveness of reinforcing methods. After the application of reinforcing measures, instrumental monitoring indicated that the slope and the tunnel remained stable. This case study is expected to serve as a valuable reference for similar engineering cases of large-sectional slope stability.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.283-292
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• 2013

A calcareous rock slope failed during excavation of the slope for construction of a tunnel entrance. The slope is located at the construction site for widening highway in Yeongwol, Korea. Field surveys, laboratory tests, and numerical analyses were performed to determine the reason for the slope failure. The numerical analysis revealed that the safety factor of the slope before construction of the entrance was less than 1, and that this decreased after construction. After construction of the entrance, the sliding zone of the slope increased and slope stability decreased because the shear strain and plastic zone in the slope over the tunnel entrance showed an increase relative to the lower part of the slope. To enhance the stability of the slope for construction of the tunnel entrance, countermeasures such as rock bolts, rock anchors, and FRP (Fiber glass Reinforced Plastic) grouting were adopted in light of the field conditions. Serial field monitoring performed to confirm the reinforcing effects of the adopted countermeasures revealed a small amount of horizontal deformation of the slope soils, most of the elastic deformation that can regain its former value. In addition, the axial forces of the rock bolt and anchor were more strongly affected by slope excavation during construction of the tunnel entrance than by tunnel excavation or the rainy season, and the axial forces tended to converge after excavation of the tunnel. Therefore, we can confirm that the slope is currently safe.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2020

The excavation broken zones (EBZ) of gateways is a significant factor in determining the stability of man-made opening. The EBZ of 55 gateways with variety geological conditions were measured using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The results found that the greatly depth of EBZ, the smallest is 1.5 m and the deepest is 3.5 m. Experimental investigations were carried out in the laboratory and in the coal mine fields for applying the combined arch support theory to large EBZ. The studies found that resin bolts with high tensile strength and good bond force could provide high pretension force with bolt extensible anchorage method in the field. Furthermore, the recently invented torque amplifier could greatly improve the bolt pretension force in poor lithology. The FLAC3D numerical simulation found that the main diffusion sphere of pretension force was only in the free segment zone of the surrounding rock. Further analysis found that the initial load-bearing zone thickness of the combined arch structure in large EBZ could be expressed by the free segment length of bolt. The using of high mechanical property bolts and steel with high pretension force will clearly putting forward the bolt length selection rule based on the combined arch support theory.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.83-92
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate damage conditions of cut slope structures due to acid rock drainage (ARB) and to assess the acid production potential of various rocks. Acid rock drainage is produced by the oxidation of sulfide minerals contained in coal mine zone and mineralization belt of Pyeongan supergroup and Ogcheon group, pyrite-bearing andesite, and Tertiary acid sulfate soils in Korea. Most of cut slopes producing ARB have been treated with shotcrete to reduce ARD. According to the field observations, ARD had an adverse effect on slope structures. The corrosion of shotcrete, anchors and rock bolts and the bad germination and growth diseases of covering plants due to ARD were observed in the field. The concentration of heavy metals and pH of ARD from cut slope exceeded the environmental standard, indicating a high potential of environmental pollution of surrounding soil, surface water and ground water by the ARD. According to acid base accounting (ABA) of the studied samples, hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks, tuffs, coaly shales, tailings of metallic mine had a relatively high potential of acid production but gneiss and granite had no or less acid production potential. It is expected that the number of cut slopes will increase hereafter considering the present construction trend. In order to reduce the adverse effect of ARD in construction sites, we need to secure the data base for potential ARD producing area and to develop the ARD reduction technologies suitable.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.635-650
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• 2018

Many people have been recognized that the Korean Peninsula is no longer safe area from the earthquake by the recent earthquakes occurred in the country. The earthquakes that occurred at Pohang and Gyeongju appeared differently from them considered in the seismic design and researches on the seismic design method have been also conducted by many researchers. Studies on seismic loads are mainly focused on existing superstructures, and research involving them has been actively carried out in reality. However, paper regarding structural stability of reinforcement from seismic load such as soil-nails, rock-bolts, ground anchors which were constructed to ensure stability of serviced structure have been published rarely. In this study, ground anchor been effected by static load and seismic load which is settled in the weathered rock is analyzed. Results for static load are obtained from field test and seismic load is from numerical analysis. In this study, the behavioral characteristics of the ground anchor were analyzed by numerical analysis in case of seismic loading based on the result of the in-situ tensile test of the ground anchor settled weathered rock. As a result, settlement of concrete block due to application of tension force for ground anchor occurred as well as following loss of axial force for ground anchor. Also, as bond length and period of seismic load are longer, increasement of displacement is greater.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.130-143
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• 2012

Cablebolts used to be employed as auxiliary supports where long or high capacity bolts are needed, but become competitive by the improvements in supportability and easiness in handling. Based on the test results obtained from various researches, the performance of the cablebolts was analyzed numerically while varying lengths and fixing conditions. The supporting effecte is assessed by monitoring displacements and stress taken place in shotcrete. When cablebolts are grouted without being tensioned, supporting effect was not as good as that of rockbolts. But, their supportability was good enough to substitute rockbolts if tensioned properly. Post grouting right after tensioning of the cablebolts shows reduction in supportability, but long term stability could be achieved without losing supportability if grouted when the bolt is far enough from the face. Further study is necessary including laboratory and in-situ tests under various conditions to use cablebolts as main support in tunnels.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2004.03b
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• pp.946-951
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• 2004

ITIS is applied to the several tunnel construction sites in Korea. Tunnel construction properties which are acquired from these sites are transferred to information management server(SQL 2000 server)by client application program in real time. Access permission to DB server depends on the user's roles. Some functions which cannot be embodied in SQL Server are serviced through XML and GMS server is used for spatial data based on GIS part. This system is supposed to give engineers the advantages which are not only easy handling of the program and computerized documentation on every information during construction but also analyzing the acquired data in order to predict the structure of ground and rock mass to be excavated later and show the guideline of construction. Neung-Dong tunnel and Mu-Gua express way tunnel are now under construction and with this system they have 3D visualized map of the geology and tunnel geometry and accumulate database of construction information such as tunnel face mapping results, special notes and pictures of construction and 3D monitoring data, all matters on the stability of rock bolts and shotcrete, and so on. Ground settlement prediction program included in ITIS, based on the artificial neural network(ANN) and supported by GIS technology is applying to the subway tunnel. This prediction tool can make it possible to visualize the ground settlement according to the excavation procedures by contouring the calculated result on 3D GIS map and to assess the damage of buildings in the vicinity of construction site caused by ground settlement.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.310-320
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• 2012

This paper describes the design and construction of a 2-arch tunnel with varying section. This new design has advantages of 2-arch tunnels, which is rather expensive, but is still economically competitive compared to parallel tunnels. Economic analysis was also conducted. To secure the stability of the varying section tunnel, excavated part was reinforced by tie-bolts and RRS, and 2-arch part was supported by EPS blocks and concrete walls. Stability of the pillar was theoretically analyzed and also examined by numerical simulations for various widths. Displacement monitoring was conducted and results were compared with numerical results. Economic analysis showed reductions in construction cost and period by 11% and 10 months respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.171-186
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• 2010

It is generally known that the mechanism of behavior in the flexible earth retaining system is relatively more complicated than in the rigid earth retaining system. Moreover in the case of long span strut supporting system the analysis of strut axial force change becomes more difficult when the differences of ground condition and excavation work progress on both sides of excavation section are added. When deeper excavation than the specification or installation delay of supporting system or change of ground condition happen during construction process, lots of axial force can be induced in some struts, which threaten the safety of construction. This paper introduces two examples of long span deep excavation where struts and rock bolts were used as a supporting system with flexible wall structure. The characteristics of ground deformation and strut axial force change, which were measured in the sections of two examples that are 50 meters apart in one construction site and have almost similar design and construction conditions were analysed, the similarity and difference between measurement results of two examples were compared and investigated. This article aims to improve and develop the technique of design and construction in future projects having similar ground condition and supporting method.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.211-224
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• 2018

It is important to design tunnel support system considering the various loads acting on the tunnel because they have a direct impact on the stability of tunnels. In Korea, standardized support patterns are defined based on the rock mass classification system depending on the project, and it is stated that it should be modified appropriately considering the behavior of tunnel during construction. In this study, the tunnel support pattern optimization method is suggested based on the convergence-confinement method, earth pressure, axial force of rock bolt, and moment acting on the shotcrete. The length and spacing of the rock bolts and the thickness of the shotcrete were optimized by using the differential evolution algorithm (DEA) and the results were compared to the standard support pattern III for railway tunnel. Rock bolt length can be reduced and the installation interval can be widened for shallow tunnel. As the depth of tunnel increases, the thickness of shotcrete increases linearly. Therefore, the thickness of shotcrete should be thicker than the standard support pattern as the depth of tunnel increases to secure the stability of tunnel.