• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.541-554
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• 2023

The utilization of underground spaces in relation to tunnels and energy/waste storage is on the rise. To ensure the stability of underground spaces, it is crucial to reinforce rock fractures and discontinuities. Discontinuities, such as joints, can weaken the strength of the rock and lead to groundwater inflow into underground spaces. In order to enhance the strength and stability of the area around these discontinuities, rock grouting techniques are employed. However, during rock grouting, it is impossible to visually confirm whether the grouting material is being smoothly injected as intended. Without proper injection, the expected increases in strength, durability, and degree of consolidation may not be achieved. Therefore, it is necessary to predict in advance whether the grouting material is being injected as designed. In this study, we aimed to assess the injection performance based on injection variables such as the water/cement mixture ratio, injection pressure, and injection flow using UDEC (Universal Distinct Element Code) numerical program. Additionally, numerical results were validated by the lab experiment. The results of this study are expected to help optimize variables such as injection material properties, injection time, and pump pressure in the grouting design in the field.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.421-430
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• 2008

In discontinuous rock masses, hydraulic-mechanical coupled analyses are required since groundwater flow in joints have a great influence on the stability of a subsea tunnel. In this study, a sensitivity analysis was performed based on coupled analysis to verify the routine which can estimate the safety factor of a tunnel in discontinuous rock mass. To this end, 324 cases of numerical calculations were performed with a commercial program, UDEC-2D. As a result, it was confirmed that the proposed routine for coupled analysis in discontinuous rock mass could give a reasonable result for the estimation of safety factor of a tunnel. Therefore, it is expected that the safety factor estimation method used in this study can be effectively applied for the stability estimation of a subsea tunnel in discontinuous rock masses.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.349-360
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• 2003

A practical modeling approach has been proposed in this study to better understand the behavior of penetration grouting which is normally applied to the jointed rock masses to increase the bearing capacity and to reduce the ground water flow into the tunnel. Based on Bingham model together with a steady-state flow of the grout, penetration model is simulated in the commercial package called UDEC and, injection pressure as well as joint thickness are found to be the main parameters to determine the range of grout spread. Another numerical model on fracturing grouting is also suggested and, in this case, the tensile strength as well as cohesion of the rock masses are proven to be the major factors to decide the fracturing mechanism of the rock masses. The reinforcement effect of the grout-reinforced rock masses is calculated from the suggested algorithm on orthotropic material model and it is found that the directional stiffness of reinforced rock masses is increased up to 3 to 4 times compared with original jointed rock masses. Future work will be concentrated on the water control around the tunnel by the grout injection and a model test will also be performed to verify the suggested methods developed in this study.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.171-191
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• 2003

The objective of this present study is to understand long term(500 years) thermohydromechanical interaction behavior on joints adjacent to a repository cavern, when high level radioactive wastes are disposed of within discontinuous granitic rock masses, and then, to contribute this understanding to the development of a disposal concept. The model includes a saturated discontinuous granitic rock mass, PWR spent nuclear fuels in a disposal canister surrounded with compacted bentonite inside a deposition hole, and mixed bentonite backfilled in the rest of the space within a repository cavern. It is assumed that two joint sets exist within a model. Joint set 1 includes joints of $56^{\circ}$ dip angle, spaced 20m apart, and joint set 2 is in the perpendicular direction to joint set 1 and includes joints of $34^{\circ}$ dip angle, spaced 20m apart. The two dimensional distinct element code, UDEC is used for the analysis. To understand the joint behavior adjacent to the repository cavern, Barton-Bandis joint model is used. Effect of the decay heat from PWR spent fuels on the repository model has been analyzed, and a steady state flow algorithm is used for the hydraulic analysis.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.659-665
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• 2016

The limit equilibrium method (LEM) is commonly used for slope design and stability analysis because it is easy to simulate slope and requires short calculating time. However, LEM cannot adequately simulate ploughing failure in a footwall slope with a joint set dipping parallel with slope, e.g. bedding joint set. This study performed parametric study to analyze the influence factors on ploughing failure using UDEC which is a commercial two-dimensional DEM (Distinct Element Method)-based numerical program. The influence of joint structure and properties on stability of a footwall slope against ploughing failure was investigated, and the factor of safety was estimated using the shear strength reduction method. It was found that the stability of footwall slope against ploughing failure strongly relies on dip angle of conjugate joint, and the critical bedding joint spacing and the critical length of slab triggering ploughing failure are also affected by dip angle of conjugate joint. The results obtained from this study can be used for effective slope design and construction including reinforcement.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.345-360
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• 2002

This study was for analysing the sedimentary rock slope stability and providing the reinforcement method that can heighten stability. The study area consists of Cretaceous basalt or basaltic tuff belonging to Hak-Bong Basalt Formation in Ha-Yang Group. Nature of geological structure confirmed in this area ars bedding, joint and fault. Majority of geological structure that affect most relationship rock slope stability is bedding. It is shown that dip direction is 120~160/15~25. In other structure, joint sets are shown that dip direction of set 1 is 310~330/65~85 and set 2 is 230~250/70~85. Joint set 3 shows above 85$^{\circ}$ high angle on NE trend although do not show clear. Stability analysis about rock slope used kinematic analysis, limit equilibrium method and FLAC by numerical analysis method. FLAC is continuum model that use Fintie Defferentce Method, but could use Interfaces Module and get discrete model's analysis effect such as UDEC.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.5-15
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• 2017

Three-hinge failure occurs in a jointed rock slope with a joint set parallel with slope and a conjugate joint set. Limit Equilibrium Method (LEM) and Finite Element Method (FEM) which are commonly used for slope design, are not suitable for evaluating stability against three-hinge failure, and this study performed parametric study to analyze the failure mechanism and to find influence factors causing three-hinge failure using UDEC which is a commercial two-dimensional DEM based numerical program. Numerical analyses were performed for various joint structural conditions and joint properties as well as ground water conditions. It was found that pore water pressure is the main factor triggering the three-hinge failure and the mode of failure depends on friction angle of basal joint and bedding joint set. The results obtained from this study can be used for adequate and economic footwall slope reinforcement design and construction.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.440-449
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• 2009

LCM test is one of the most powerful and reliable methods of experiment for the cutter head design and the performance prediction of TBM. In many cases, however, the predicted design model can be directly applied to the field design, because this test may have an uppermost limit in preparation and/or transportation of the large size rock samples and the test for the jointed rock mass is not easy. When the proper and reasonable numerical modeling is considered to overcome this limit, the most adequate cutter head design for TBM could be presented without any complicate preconsideration in the field. In this study, the crack propagation patterns dependent on the contact point of disc cutter and the angle of rock joint are analyzed for the rock specimen with a single joint using the UDEC. The authors could derive the appropriate contact points of disc cutters and their space with respect to the joint angle in rock mass thru the numerical analysis.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.10-16
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• 2016

Recently, transition from open pit to underground mining in limestone mines is an increasing trend in Korea due to environmental issues such as noise, dust and vibrations caused by crushers and equipment. The severe damages in the surrounding rock mass of underground opening caused by explosive blasting may lead to rock fall hazards or casualties. It is well known that variables which mainly affect blast-induced rock falls in underground mining are: blast vibration level, joint orientation and distribution and shape of the cross sections of underground structures. In this study, UDEC program, which is a DEM code, is used to simulate blast vibration-induced rock fall in underground openings. Variation of joint space, joint angle and joint normal stiffness was considered to investigate the effect of joint characteristics on the blast vibration-induced rock fall in underground opening. Finally, jointed rock mass models considering blast-induced damage zone were examined to simulate the critical blast vibration value which may cause rock falls in underground opening.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 1995

일반적으로 NATM공법에서 지보의 설계는 암반반응곡선의 개념을 통해 수행된다. 그러나 암반반응곡선은 암질이 좋고 과지압에 의한 문제가 심각하지 않은 지역에 적용되며, 따라서 주로 불연속면에 의해 암반의 거동이 영향을 받는 지역에서는 시공과정에 직접 적용하기가 힘들다. 본 연구에서는 암반 블록에 대한 블록반응곡선을 연구하여, 블록반응곡선상에서 지보를 설계하였다. 각각의 차분시각에서의 변위와 응력을 얻기위해서 개별요소 프로그램인 UDEC을 사용하였다. 블록은 Mohr-Coulomb 모델이며, 불연속면은 Barton-Bandis 모델이다. 블록과 불연속면의 물성은 실험실 실험을 통하여 구하였다. 블록반응곡선을 이용한 지보설계과정을 이해하기 위하여 간단한 모델분석을 실시하였다. 동일한 형상의 키블록이 공동의 천장, 측벽, 바닥에 존재할 경우, 각 블록의 안정성 판단 및 지보의 설계를 실시하였다. 또한 초기지압의 영향을 알아보기 위하여, 측압계수(K)를 달리하여 해석해보았다. 현재 건설중인 공동에 대한 안정성 판단 및 지보설계를 블록반응곡선을 이용하여 설계하였다.