• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.189-207
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• 2023

In the present study, the thermoshearing experiment on a rough rock fracture were modeled using a three-dimensional grain-based distinct element model (GBDEM). The experiment was conducted by the Korea Institute of Construction Technology to investigate the progressive shear failure of fracture under the influence of thermal stress in a critical stress state. The numerical model employs an assembly of multiple polyhedral grains and their interfaces to represent the rock sample, and calculates the coupled thermo-mechanical behavior of the grains (blocks) and the interfaces (contacts) using 3DEC, a DEM code. The primary focus was on simulating the temperature evolution, generation of thermal stress, and shear and normal displacements of the fracture. Two fracture models, namely the mated fracture model and the unmated fracture model, were constructed based on the degree of surface matedness, and their respective behaviors were compared and analyzed. By leveraging the advantage of the DEM, the contact area between the fracture surfaces was continuously monitored during the simulation, enabling an examination of its influence on shear behavior. The numerical results demonstrated distinct differences depending on the degree of the surface matedness at the initial stage. In the mated fracture model, where the surfaces were in almost full contact, the characteristic stages of peak stress and residual stress commonly observed in shear behavior of natural rock joints were reasonably replicated, despite exhibiting discrepancies with the experimental results. The analysis of contact area variation over time confirmed that our numerical model effectively simulated the abrupt normal dilation and shear slip, stress softening phenomenon, and transition to the residual state that occur during the peak stress stage. The unmated fracture model, which closely resembled the experimental specimen, showed qualitative agreement with the experimental observations, including heat transfer characteristics, the progressive shear failure process induced by heating, and the increase in thermal stress. However, there were some mismatches between the numerical and experimental results regarding the onset of fracture slip and the magnitudes of fracture stress and displacement. This research was conducted as part of DECOVALEX-2023 Task G, and we expect the numerical model to be enhanced through continued collaboration with other research teams and validated in further studies.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.5073-5086
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• 2015

The rock fracture detection by image analysis is significant for fracture measurement and assessment engineering. The paper proposes a novel image segmentation algorithm for the centerline tracing of a rock fracture based on Hessian Matrix at Multi-scales and Steger algorithm. A traditional fracture detection method, which does edge detection first, then makes image binarization, and finally performs noise removal and fracture gap linking, is difficult for images of rough rock surfaces. To overcome the problem, the new algorithm extracts the centerlines directly from a gray level image. It includes three steps: (1) Hessian Matrix and Frangi filter are adopted to enhance the curvilinear structures, then after image binarization, the spurious-fractures and noise are removed by synthesizing the area, circularity and rectangularity; (2) On the binary image, Steger algorithm is used to detect fracture centerline points, then the centerline points or segments are linked according to the gap distance and the angle differences; and (3) Based on the above centerline detection roughly, the centerline points are searched in the original image in a local window along the direction perpendicular to the normal of the centerline, then these points are linked. A number of rock fracture images have been tested, and the testing results show that compared to other traditional algorithms, the proposed algorithm can extract rock fracture centerlines accurately.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.63-70
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• 2002

In tunnel construction, the information on the rock quality and the location of fault or fracture are crucial for economical design of support pattern and for safe construction of the tunnel. The grade of rock is commonly estimated through the observation with the naked eye of recovered cores in drilling or from physical parameters obtained by their laboratory test. Since drilling cost is quite expensive and terrains of planned sites for tunnel construction are rough in many cases, however, only limited information could be provided by core drilling Electrical resistivity and EM surveys may be a clue to get over this difficulty. Thus we have investigated electrical resistivity and EM field data providing regional Information of the rock Quality and delineating fault and fracture over a rough terrain. In this paper, we present some case histories using electrical resistivity and EM survey for the site investigation of tunnel construction. Through electrical resistivity and EM survey, the range and depth of coal seam was clearly estimated, cavities were detected in limestone area, and weak zones such as joint, fault and fracture have been delineated.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2019

Fluid flow through rock fractures has been quantified using equations such as Stokes equations, Reynolds equation (or local cubic law), cubic law, etc. derived from the Navier-Stokes equations under the assumption that linear flow prevails. Therefore, these simplified equations are limited to linear flow regime, and cause errors in nonlinear flow regime. In this study, causal mechanism of nonlinear flow and critical Reynolds number were presented by carrying out fluid flow modeling with both the Navier-Stokes equations and the Stokes equations for a three-dimensional rough-walled rock fracture. This study showed that flow regimes changed from linear to nonlinear at the Reynolds number greater than 10. This is because the inertial forces, proportional to the square of the fluid velocity, increased enough to overwhelm the viscous forces. This tendency was also shown for the unmated (slightly sheared) rock fracture. It was found that nonlinear flow was caused by the rapid increase in the inertial forces with increasing fluid velocity, not by the growing eddies that have been ascribed to nonlinear flow.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.312-320
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• 2002

It is well-known that when single rock fractures undergo shear displacement, they are influenced by the boundary conditions and fracture roughness. In this case, aperture geometry will change by means of dilation due to the shear displacement. As fractures become the flow paths, fluid flow through rock fractures is affected by the void geometry. In this study, therefore, the influence of roughness on shear behavior of fractures has been investigated, and the resulting hydraulic behavior has been analyzed. In order for this study, a statistical method has been used to generate rough fractures, and they have been adopted into new conceptual models fur fracture shearing and flow calculations. The main contributions of this study are as follows: firstly, fracture shear behavior becomes less brittle with decreasing fracture roughness and increasing normal stress. Then, the characteristics of aperture distribution becomes those of roughness of fractures indicating its hydraulic significance. Finally, it is observed that with decreasing fracture roughness the breakdown of channel flow occurs more slowly.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.237-244
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• 2002

Televiewer is a logging tool capable of scanning the borehole wall. The tool uses a rotating acoustic beam generator that acts as both a transmitter and receiver. The beams are sent toward the wall. The amplitude of a returning signal from the wall has nearly a linear relationship with the reflection coefficient R of the borehole wall, when the wall is smooth. As R depends only on rock impedance for fixed water impedance, the amplitude is directly associated with mass density and seismic velocity of rock. Meanwhile, the amplitude can be further reduced by wall roughness that may be caused by drilling procedures, differences in rock hardness, because the rough surface can easily scatter the acoustic energy and sometimes the hole becomes elongated in all directions according to the degree of weathering. In this sense, the amplitude is related to the hardness of rocks. For convenience of analysis, the measured amplitude image(2-D data(azimuth ${\times}$ depth)) is converted, with an appropriate algorithm, to the 1-D data(depth), where the amplitude image values along a predetermined fracture signature(sinusoid) are summed up and averaged. The resulting values are subsequently scaled simply by a scalar factor that is possibly consistent with a known strength. This scaled Televiewer reflectivity is named, as a matter of convenience,“Televiewer rock strength”. This paper shows, based on abundant representative case studies from about 8 years of Televiewer surveys, that Televiewer rock strength might be regarded, on a continuous basis with depth, as a quitely robust indicator of rock classification and in most cases as an approximate uniaxial strength that is comparable to the rebound value from Schmidt hammer test.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2003

In order to measure aperture variation dependent on normal stress and to characterize on relationship between aperture variation and hydraulic conductivity this study measured apertures of rock fractures under a high resolution confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) with application of five stages of uniaxial normal stresses. From this method the response of aperture can be continuously characterized on one specimen by different loads of normal stress. The results of measurements showed a rough geometry of fracture bearing non-uniform aperture. They also revealed different values of aperture variations according to the load stages on each position along a fracture due to the fracture roughness. Laboratory permeability tests were also conducted to evaluate the changes of permeability coefficients related to the aperture variations by different loads. The results of permeability tests revealed that the hydraulic conductivity was not reduced at a fixed rate with increase of normal load. Moreover, the rates of aperture variations did not match to those of hydraulic conductivity. The hydraulic conductivity calculated in this study did not follow the cubic law, representing that the parallel plate model is not suitable to express the fracture geometry corresponding to the results of aperture measurements under the CLSM.