• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.119-134
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• 1999

Joints developed around the Moryang fault were investigated by traverse and inventory methods in order to characterize their orientation, spacing and density. The results of the traverse method show that the orientation of the dominant joint sets of the study area is NNE and EW, and that joint spacing distribution is a negative exponential distribution to the center of the fault and a log-normal distribution to the margin of the fault. The results of the inventory method show that the orientation of the dominant joint sets on joint map is NW and NE, and that joint density tends to increase toward the center of the fault. Fractal dimension was determined by using Box-counting method and Cantor's dust method to quantify the distribution of joint network and to evaluate the dimension around the fault. The dimension determined by Box-counting method ranges from 1.31 to 1.70 and shows the tendency of increasing value toward the center of the fault. Comparing fractal dimension by Box-counting method with joint density, fractal dimension is directly proportional to joint density. Nevertheless, fractal dimension could be varied due to the different distribution patterns of the joints with same density. The dimensions determined by Cantor's dust method show different values with respect to the orientation of scan lines. This results form the anisotropy of joint distribution.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.542-557
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• 2019

The behavior of rock mass is influenced by its microscopic feature of internal structure generating from forming and metamorphic process. This study investigated a new methodology for characterization of rock based on the X-ray CT (computed tomography) images reflecting the spatial distribution characteristics of internal constituent materials. The X-ray image based analysis is capable of quantification of heterogeneity and anisotropy of rock fabric, size distribution and shape parameter analysis of rock mineral grains, fluid flow simulation based on pore geometry image and roughness evaluation of unexposed joint surface which are hardly acquired by conventional rock testing methods.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2017

The effects of joint density and size distribution on the hydrogeologic characteristics of jointed rock masses are addressed through numerical experiments based on the 2-D DFN (discrete fracture network) fluid flow analysis. Using two joint sets, a total of 51 2-D joint network system were generated with various joint density and size distribution. Twelve fluid flow directions were chosen every $30^{\circ}$ starting at $0^{\circ}$, and total of 612 $20m{\times}20m$ DFN blocks were prepared to calculate the directional block conductivity. Also, the theoretical block conductivity, principal conductivity tensor and average block conductivity for each generated joint network system were determined. The directional block conductivity and chance for the equivalent continuum behavior of the 2-D DFN system were found to increase with the increase of joint density or size distribution. However, the anisotropy of block hydraulic conductivity increases with the increase of density discrepancy between the joint sets, and the chance for the equivalent continuum behavior were found to decrease. The smaller the intersection angle of the two joint sets, the more the equivalent continuum behavior were affected by the change of joint density and size distribution. Even though the intersection angle is small enough that it is difficult to have equivalent continuum behavior, the chance for anisotropic equivalent continuum behavior increases as joint density or size distribution increases.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.516-523
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• 2016

Roughness of a joint surface is one of the most important parameters that affects the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of rock mass. Therefore, various studies on making constitutive model and/or roughness quantification have been conducted in experimental and empirical manners. Advances in recent 3D printing technology can be utilized to generate a joint surface with a specific roughness. In this study, a reliable technique to generate a rough joint surface was introduced and its quantitative assessment was made. Random midpoint displacement method was applied to generate a joint surface and the distribution of $Z_2$ was investigated to assess its roughness. As a result, a certain roughness can be embodied by controlling input parameters and furthermore it was able to generate a joint surface with specific roughness anisotropy.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.283-292
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• 2016

A computer program code was developed to estimate hydraulic behavior of the 2-D connected pipe network system, and implemented to evaluate the effect of joint aperture on hydraulic parameters of fractured rock masses through numerical experiments. A total of 216 stochastic 2-D DFN(discrete fracture network) blocks of $20m{\times}20m$ were prepared using two joint sets with fixed input parameters of joint orientation, frequency and size distribution. Two different cases of joint aperture variation are considered in this study. The hydraulic parameters were estimated for generated 2-D DFN blocks. The hydraulic anisotropy and the chance for equivalent continuum behavior of the DFN system were found to depend on the variability of joint aperture.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2001

RQD is used to evaluate the degree of fracture in the rock mass and is also used as input into rock mass classification scheme, such as RMR and Q-system. However there are some drawbacks of the RQD caused by anisotropy and calculation length. Thus it is important to understand the variation of RQD in 3-D space in order to evaluate the properties of rock mass. The main purpose of this study is to reveal the distribution of RQD in the equal-angle stereo net, to investigate the effects of scanline length and joint frequency and to inquire the effect on the selection of rock mass strength parameters in the numerical analysis. Analysis has been extended to field joint survey data using same method. The results can be applied to contribute for more accurate interpretation of the results of engineering geological survey for better design and construction work.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2008

In the case of a circular shaft, it is expected that asymmetric loads should apply on the surface rather than symmetric loads due to geographical factors and the non-homogeneity of the jointed rock masses. In this study, discontinuous numerical analysis was carried in order to analyze the characteristics of asymmetric load distribution on the wall of the circular shaft due to anisotropy caused by heterogeneity of rock masses affected by the discontinuities like as a Joint. And it was also analyzed that the effect of the mechanical properties varied with the rock mass rating and horizontal stress with depth had influence in the asymmetric load on the wall of the shaft. In the case of considering the effect of the joint as variable, asymmetric load ratio $(R_p)$, which was defined as the ratio of the load subtracted minimum from maximum to minimum, was below 25% in the hard rock. As regarding the variation of the rock mass rating with depth as variable, the value of $R_p$ was below than 25% in the hard rock, and the value between 30% and 40% in the soft rock. On the other hand, the $R_p$ of fractures rock was between $45{\sim}50%$ which value was much higher than that in better rock mass rating.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.425-438
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• 2019

A scaled model test was performed to evaluate the stability of subway twin tunnels excavated in the sedimentary rocks with subhorizontal bedding planes. The size of studied tunnel was 6.2 m×6.8 m and pillar width was 4 m. The anisotropic model test specimen was manufactured with the modeling materials suitable for in-situ rocks by way of dimensional analysis. Fracture and deformation behaviors of tunnels according to applied loads were investigated through the biaxial compression test. As the load was increased on the model specimen, the first crack occurred in the middle part of the pillar across twin tunnels and the gradual fractures progressed at crown and floor of twin tunnels. All the cracks in pillar were generated along the existing bedding planes so that they were found to be the main cause of the pillar failure. In addition, the test results were verified by numerical analysis on the experimental conditions using FLAC ubiquitous joint model. The distribution of plastic regions obtained from numerical analysis were in general agreement with test results, confirming the reliability of the scaled model test conducted in this study.