• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.232-246
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• 2018

In this study, the relationship between in situ seismic wave velocities and RMR (rock mass rating) was investigated in a test bed for the examination of the basis of rock classification (RMR) based on seismic wave velocity. The seismic wave velocity showed a monotonous increase with depth. It was also found that there was no systematic correlation between the seismic wave velocity (Vp) and other parameters (RQD, joint spacing, UCS, rock core Vp, and RMR) collected at the same depth of the same borehole. However, correlative relation was observed among RMR, RQD, and joint spacing. On the other hand, when all the data in the borehole (three holes) are examined without considering the depth, Vp still shows no correlation with RMR parameters (e.g., correlative coefficient for uniaxial compressive strength and joint spacing are 0.039 and 0.091, respectively), but Vp shows weak correlative relation with RMR and RQD (correlative coefficient for RQD and RMR are 0.193 and 0.211, respectively). Thus, it is found that it is difficult to deduce physical properties of rock mass directly from seismic wave velocities, but the seismic wave velocity can be used as a tool to approximate rock mass properties because of weaker correlation between Vp and RMR with RQD. In addition, the velocity value of for soft and moderate rocks suggested by widely used construction standards is slower than that of the observed velocity, implying that the standards need to be examined and revised.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.354-364
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• 2012

In order to evaluate the physical properties of rock which might serve as a database for both mining and civil works, a lot of laboratory tests for Jecheon limestones were conducted to find unit weight, absorption ratio, porosity, elastic wave velocity, uniaxial compressive strength, Young's modulus, poisson's ratio, tensile strength, shore hardness, friction angle and cohesion. On investigation of the mechanical properties of both the gray limestone and the clayey limestone distributed in the studied region, the clayey limestone turned out to have more weak mechanical properties which might come from low unit weight, high absorption ratio and high porosity of rocks. The failure criteria of Jecheon limestones were discussed by means of both Mohr-Coulomb criterion and Hoek-Brown criterion. Regression analyses of the physical properties obtained from a lot of laboratory tests were also conducted by means of both linear and multiple regression analyses.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.325-333
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• 2014

Hydraulic fracturing is the key technology for production of shale gas, which is one of the major unconventional resources. Brittleness index is one of the most important mechanical properties which determine the efficiency of hydraulic fracturing. It was required that the production of shale gas increases with more brittle behavior. Confusingly, there are numerous definitions available for brittleness of rock. This paper summarizes various definitions of brittleness index, and presents correlation analysis of the brittleness indices by using the laboratory experimental results of 48 shale specimens in Korea. Generally, it shows a very weak positive correlation between the brittleness index ($B_1$) which is the ratio of uniaxial compressive strength to tensile strength and the brittleness index ($B_3$) which is calculated by using the Youngs modulus and Poisson's ratio. In addition, the role of Poissons ratio is not clear in defining brittleness indices. In conclusion, standardization of definition for brittleness index is required to apply it to hydraulic fracturing as a parameter for predicting the efficiency.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.3 s.68
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• pp.175-185
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• 2007

When filling material such as clay is included along the discontinuity, it may cause instability on a slope even if the direction of discontinuity works in a positive way. In the study area, slope sliding occurred at the boundary between a clay filling material and weathered soil because the physical properties differ across the boundary; and this is very similar to the situation where foliation in a rock works as a weak zone during a structural behavior, causing an inter-layer slip. In most analysis, if there exists a clay filling material, a single discontinuity is assumed to perform analysis. In those cases, the discontinuity is modeled as a slip surface within clay. Therefore, the characteristics of the boundary are not considered in the analysis, so that ultimately the physical property of clay usually prevails. The result of evaluating the slope stability affected by clay filling material shows the significant difference in the safety level due to the strength parameter depending on the failure type of the discontinuity by a filling material.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.207-218
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• 2022

In submerged floating tunnels (SFTs), a next-generation maritime transportation infrastructure, the tunnel module floats in water due to buoyancy. For the effective and economical use of SFTs, connection with the ground is inevitable, but the stability of the shore connection is weak due to stress concentration caused by the displacement difference between the subsea bored tunnel and the SFT. The use of an elastic joint has been proposed as a solution to solve the stability problem, but it changes the dynamic characteristics of the SFT, such as natural frequency and mode shape. In this study, the finite element method (FEM) was used to simulate the elastic joints in shore connections, assuming that the ground is a hard rock without displacement. In addition, a small-scale model test was performed for FEM model validation. A parametric study was conducted on the resonance behavior such as the natural frequency change and velocity, stress, and reaction force distribution change of the SFT system by varying the joint stiffness under loading conditions of various frequencies and directions. The results indicated that the natural frequency of the SFT system increased as the stiffness of the elastic joint increased, and the risk of resonance was the highest in the low-frequency environment. Moreover, stress concentration was observed in both the SFT and the shore connection when resonance occurred in the vertical mode. The results of this study are expected to be utilized in the process of quantitative research such as designing elastic joints to prevent resonance in the future.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.457-471
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• 2015

A domestic cutterhead with the diameter of 3.6 m was designed and manufactured in this study. Then, it was attached to an existing earth-pressure balanced shield TBM to excavate a cable tunnel with the length of 1,275 m. Especially, the procedures for TBM cutterhead design and its corresponding performance prediction were also summarized. From field data analyses of the refurbished shield TBM, its maximum advance rate was recorded as 14.4 m/day. Penetration depths of disc cutters were found to be approximately 4 mm/rev, which is equal to the maximum penetration depth designed for the strongest rock strength condition in the target tunnel. Every TBM operating thrust and cutter normal force during TBM driving was much smaller than their corresponding maximum capacities. When cutter acting forces recorded in the field were analyzed, their prediction errors by the CSM model were very high for weak rock conditions. In addition, rock strength showed very close relationships with cutter normal force and penetration depth.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.486-494
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• 2003

When the orientations of joints are measured on a rock exposure, there are frequent cases that are difficult to approach by the surveyor to the target joints or to set up scanlines on the slope. In this study, to complement such limit and weak points, a new algorithm was developed to interpret joint orientation from analyzing the images of rock slope. As a method of arranging the multiple images of a rock slope, the multistage convergent photographing system was introduced to overcome the limitation of photographing direction which existing method such as parallel stereophotogrammetric system has and to cover the range of image measurement, which is the overlapping area between the image pair, to a maximum extent. To determine camera parameters in the perspective projection equation that are the main elements of the analysis method, a new method was developed introducing three ground control points and single ground guide point. This method could be considered to be very simple compared with other existing methods using a number of ground control points and complicated analysis process. So the global coordinates of a specific point on a rock slope could be analyzed with this new method. The orientation of a joint could be calculated using the normal vector of the joint surface which can be derived from the global coordinates of several points on the joint surface analyzed from the images.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.150-168
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• 2023

The anisotropic behavior of rocks is primarily attributed to the directional arrangement of rock-forming minerals and the distribution characteristics of microcracks. Notably, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks often exhibit distinct transverse isotropy in terms of their strength and deformation characteristics. Consequently, it is crucial to gain accurate insights into the deformation and failure characteristics of transversely isotropic rocks during rock mechanics design processes. The deformation of such rocks is described by five independent elastic constants, which are determined through laboratory testing. In this study, the characteristics of the directional variation of apparent elastic constants in transversely isotropic rocks were investigated using experimental data reported in the literature. To achieve this, the constitutive equation proposed by Mehrabadi & Cowin was introduced to calculate the apparent elastic constants more efficiently and systematically in a rotated Cartesian coordinate system. Four transversely isotropic rock types from the literature were selected, and the influence of changes in the orientation of the weak plane on the variations of the apparent elastic modulus, apparent shear modulus, and apparent Poisson's ratio was analyzed. Based on the investigation, a new constraint on the elastic constants has been proposed. If the proposed constraint is satisfied, the directional variation of the apparent elastic constants in transversely isotropic rocks aligns with intuitive predictions of their tendencies.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.177-195
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• 2016

To secure the stability of geotechnical infrastructures and minimize failures during the construction process, a number of support systems have been introduced in the last several decades. In particular, stabilization methods using steel bars have been widely used in the field of geotechnical engineering. Rock bolt system is representative support system using steel bars. Pre-stressing has been applied to enhance reinforcement performance but can be released because of the failure of head or anchor sections. To overcome this deficiency, this paper proposes an innovative support system that can actively reinforce the weak ground along the whole structural element by introducing an active tension bolt containing a spring unit to the middle of the steel bar to increase its reinforcement capacity. In addition, the paper presents the support mechanism of the active tension bolt based on a theoretical study and employs an experimental study to validate the performance of the proposed active tension bolt based on a down-scaled model. To examine the feasibility of the active tension unit in a pillar, the paper considers a pullout test and a small-scale experimental model. The experimental results suggest the active tension bolt to be an effective support system for pillar reinforcement.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.447-456
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• 2008

Open-pit mine slope design must be carried out from the economical efficiency and stability point of view. The overall slope angle is the primary design variable because of limited support or reinforce options available. In this study, the slope angle and critical slope height of large coal mine located in Pasir, Kalimantan, Indonesia were determined from safety point of view. Failure time prediction based on the monitored displacement using inverse velocity was also conducted to make up fir the uncertainty of the slope design. From the study, critical slope height was calculated as $353{\sim}438m$ under safety factor guideline (SF>1.5) and $30^{\circ}$ overall slope angle but loom is recommended as a critical slope height considering the results of sensitivity analysis of strength parameters. The results of inverse velocity analysis also showed good agreement with field slope cases. Therefore, failure of unstable slope can be roughly detected before real slope failure.