• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.83-98
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• 2005

In this paper, a conceptual approach of the stress path method was newly proposed for a rational estimation of settlements of saturated clay deposits. In the proposed approach, settlement-related characteristic deformation behaviors of a specific clay deposit, which can cover all probable stress changes expected in the field, are experimentally evaluated in advance. Then settlements of various structures constructed on the deposit are easily estimated with only the characteristic deformation behaviors and without any additional experimental effort. In Part I of this paper, in order to provide practicality to the new conceptual approach, we developed a detailed procedure which is capable of evaluating characteristic deformation behaviors of a saturated clay deposit with only a limited number of tests and easily predicting deformations under a given stress change using the characteristic deformation behaviors. The applicability of the developed procedure was clearly shown by presenting an actual application example.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.99-114
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• 2005

In Part I of this paper, a conceptual approach of the stress path method was newly proposed for a rational estimation of settlements of saturated clay deposits. A detailed procedure for effective evaluation and use of settlement-related characteristic deformation behaviors was developed in order to provide practicality to the new approach. In this Part II, on the basis of the results of Part 1, the concept of the new approach was embodied in the form of a detailed settlement estimation procedure. The applicability and usefulness of the new procedure were strongly supported by various application examples. In addition, possible errors of other conventional settlement estimation methods were investigated by comparing with the new procedure. Because of its flexible applicability for wide range of field conditions, the new procedure will have great usefulness in the practical side. For example, a reasonable foundation design based on allowable settlement criteria can be easily performed and modification of design factors can be readily reflected even during the subsequent construction stage. Especially, the new procedure will be of great use for preliminary work in a large scale construction site where various structures are planned to be constructed on a nearly identical ground condition.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 1990

Finite element model capable of solving coupled deformation-fluid diffusion equations for the fully saturated porous medium was developed using Galerkin's residual method. This model was used to study the mechanical and hydraulic behaviors of unconsolidated sediment near South Harbor, Pusan. The vertical displacement of top surface clay sediment, when subjected to the external load, is significantly affected by the excessive pore pres- sure buildup and its decay due to the pore fluid diffusion. The sand deposit overlain by the much less permeable clay layer serves as a flow channel. Consequently, the fluid diffusion due to pore pressure difference is significantly facilitated, which also affects the diffusion-dependent sediment deformation.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.133-141
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• 2008

In this study, a new method for estimating the undrained shear strength $s_u$ of saturated clays using piezocone penetration test (CPTu) result is proposed. This is to develop more effective CPTu-based $s_u$ estimation method at lower cost with less uncertainty. For this purpose, a marine clay deposit is selected and tested through extensive experimental testing program including both in-situ and fundamental laboratory tests. The proposed method is based on a correlation between the undrained shear strength $s_u$ and the cone resistance $q_t$, without introduction of the total overburden stress into the $s_u-q_t$ correlation. As a result, no additional testing procedure for collecting undisturbed soils samples is required, which can reduce overall testing cost. To verify the proposed method, 4 test sites, which consist of a variety of soil conditions, are selected and used for comparison between measured and predicted undrained shear strength. From comparison, it is seen that predicted values of $s_u$ using the proposed method match well those from measured results.