• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.605-618
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• 2001

For the mechanical stability assessment of a deep underground high-level waste repository. computer simulations using FLAC3D were carried out and important parameters including stress ratio, depth, tunnel size, joint spacing, and joint properties were chosen from sensitivity analysis. The main effect as well as the interaction effect between the important parameters could be investigated effectively using fractional factorial design . In order to analyze the stability of the disposal tunnel and deposition hole in a discontinuous rock mass, different modelings were performed under different conditions using 3DEC and the influence of joint distribution and properties, rock properties and stress ratio could be determined. From the three dimensional modelings, it was concluded that the conceptual repository design was mechanically stable even in a discontinuous rock mass.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.457-469
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• 2016

Steep rock slope with water-filled tension crack will happen to overturn around the toe of the slope under seismic loading. This failure type is completely different from the common toppling failure occurring in anti-dipping layered rock mass slopes with steeply dipping discontinuities. This paper presents an analytical approach to determine the seismic factor of safety against overturning for an intact rock mass slope with water-filled tension crack considering horizontal and vertical seismic coefficients. This solution is a generalized explicit expression and is derived using the moment equilibrium approach. A numerical program based on discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) is adopted to validate the analytical results. The parametric study is carried out to adequately investigate the effect of horizontal and vertical seismic coefficients on the overall stability against overturning for a saturated rock slope under two water pressure modes. The analytical results show that vertically upward seismic inertia force or/and second water pressure distribution mode will remarkably decrease the slope stability against overturning. Finally, several representative design charts of slopes also are presented for the practical application.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.1484-1489
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• 2005

An inhomogeneous and anisotropic rock has different properties at different location. Thus, this refers to any of the properties which we may be measuring. There are two concepts of rock mass, namely, CHILE(Continuous, Homogeneous, Isotropic, Linear Elastic) material and DIANE(Discontinuous, Inhomogeneous, Anisotropic, Non-linear Elastic) rock. The former is essentially the properties of intact rock, the latter is essentially the properties governed by the structure of rock. In geotechnical aspect, the most important parameter is strength of rock or rock mass. In particular, characteristics of strength of rock mass depend upon the orientation of discontinuities And this orientation of discontinuities has different properties at different direction of excavation. Therefore, it needs for characterization of different properties of discontinuity orientation against different direction of excavation.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.184-193
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• 1998

In order to dispose radioactive wastes safely, it is needed to understand the mechanical, thermal, fluid behavior of rockmass and physico-chemical interactions between rockmass and water. Also, the knowledge about mechanical and hydraulic properties of rocks is required to predict and to model many conditions of geological structure, underground in-situ stress, folding, hot water interaction, intrusion of magma, plate tectonics etc. This study is based on researches about rock mechanics issues associated with a waste disposal in deep rockmass. This paper includes the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of rocks in varying temperature conditions, thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling analysis in rock mass and deformation behavior of discontinuous rocks. The mechanical properties were measured with Interaken rock mechanics testing systems and hydraulic properties were measured with transient pulse permeability measuring systems. In all results, rock properties were sensitive to temperature variation.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.65-73
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• 2009

Large scale model tests and numerical analyses are performed to investigate the stress distribution of pillar due to surface loading nearby two-arch tunnel which is constructed in the regularly jointed rocks. It is observed that the influence of discontinuities on the stress distribution in the discontinuous rock mass and the underground stresses induced by surface loading are greater than those of linear elastic theory. Especially, lines of equal stresses are developed to the direction of inclination according to the inclined grade. In cases of discontinuities imbedded in parallel with or vertical to the ground, the pressure bulbs are formed symmetrically, however, the inclined ones result in stress distribution in parallel with and vertical to the planes of discontinuities. Results indicated that stress distribution is seriously affected by the angle of discontinuity. When stresses propagating to the pillar need to be estimated, relative location of surface loading, grade of discontinuous plane, and location of two-arch tunnel should be carefully considered.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.16 no.1 s.60
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• pp.1-10
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• 2006

Rock masses in nature include various rock discontinuities such as faults, joints, bedding planes, fractures, cracks, schistosities, and cleavages. The behavior of rock structures, therefore, is mainly controlled by various rock discontinuities. In many tunnels, enormous cost and time are consumed to cope with the failing or sliding of rock blocks, which cannot be predicted because of the complexity of rock discontinuities. It is difficult to estimate the properties of rock masses before the rock excavation. The observational design and construction method of tunnels in rock masses is becoming important recently. In this paper, a new observational design and construction method for rock block evaluation of tunnels in discontinuous rock masses is proposed, and then applied to the tunnel based on actual rock discontinuity information observed in the field. It is possible to detect key blocks all along the tunnel exactly by using the numerical analysis program developed far the new observational design and construction method. This computer simulation method with user-friendly interfaces can calculate not only the stability of rock blocks but also the design of supplementary supports. The effectiveness of the proposed observational design and construction method has been verified by the confirmation of key block during the enlargement excavation.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.318-331
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• 2019

A three-dimensional(3D) equivalent continuum modeling was performed to analyze hydraulic behavior of rock mass considering discontinuities by using DFN model and smeared fracture model. DFN model was generated by FLAC3D and smeared fracture model was applied by using FISH functions, which is built-in functions in FLAC3D, for equivalent continuum model of fractured rock mass. Comparative analysis with 3DEC, which is for discontinuum analysis, was conducted to verify reliability of equivalent continuum analysis by using FLAC3D. Similar results of hydraulic analysis under the same conditions could be achieved. Equivalent continuum analysis of fractured rock mass by using DFN model was implemented to compare with existing analytical methods for inflow into the tunnel.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.429-438
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• 2008

The objective of the present study is the depth and layout optimizations of a single layer, high level radioactive waste repository in a discontinuous rock mass with special joint set arrangements. A single layer repository model, considering variations in the repository depths, pitches, and tunnel spacings, is used to analyze the thermomechanical interaction behavior. It is assumed that the repository is constructed in saturated granite with joints; the PWR spent fuel in a disposal canister is installed in a deposition drift which is then sealed with compacted bentonite; and the backfill material is filled in the repository tunnel. The decay heat generated by the high level radioactive wastes governs the thermomechanical behavior of the near field rock mass of the repository. The temperature and displacement behavior of the repository is influenced more by the pitch variations than the tunnel spacing and repository depth. However, the stress behavior is influenced more by the repository depth variations than the pitch and tunnel spacing. For the final selection of the tunnel spacing, pitch, and repository depth, other aspects such as the nuclide migration through a groundwater flow path, construction costs, operation costs, and so on should be considered.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.113-131
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• 2022

A rockburst is a common disaster in deep-tunnel excavation engineering, especially for high-geostress areas. An anomalously low friction effect is one of the most important inducements of rockbursts. To elucidate the correlation between an anomalously low friction effect and a rockburst, we establish a two-dimensional prediction model that considers the discontinuous structure of a rock mass. The degree of freedom of the rotation angle is introduced, thus the motion equations of the blocks under the influence of a transient disturbing force are acquired according to the interactions of the blocks. Based on the two-dimensional discontinuous block model of deep rock mass, a rockburst prediction model is established, and the initiation process of ultra-low friction rockburst is analyzed. In addition, the intensity of a rockburst, including the location, depth, area, and velocity of ejection fragments, can be determined quantitatively using the proposed prediction model. Then, through a specific example, the effects of geomechanical parameters such as the different principal stress ratios, the material properties, a dip of principal stress on the occurrence form and range of rockburst are analyzed. The results indicate that under dynamic disturbance, stress variation on the structural surface in a deep rock mass may directly give rise to a rockburst. The formation of rockburst is characterized by three stages: the appearance of cracks that result from the tension or compression failure of the deformation block, the transformation of strain energy of rock blocks to kinetic energy, and the ejection of some of the free blocks from the surrounding rock mass. Finally, the two-dimensional rockburst prediction model is applied to the construction drainage tunnel project of Jinping II hydropower station. Through the comparison with the field measured rockburst data and UDEC simulation results, it shows that the model in this paper is in good agreement with the actual working conditions, which verifies the accuracy of the model in this paper.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.152-163
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• 1992

The study of rock mass behaviour through a numerical analysis is important for the design, construction and maintenance of large rock caverns. The objectives of the numerical analysis are to design reasonably and construct safely the underground structures, to maintain them soundly after construction and to extend them securely for a desired period of time. Methods of numerical analyses included in this case study are the finite element method, the boundary element method, and the distinct element method. The numerical models are purely elastic, elastoplastic, visco-elastic, visco-plastic, easto-visco-plastic and jointed-discontinuous materials. The results of this case study indicate that the rock mass behaviour could be predicted exactly through continuous comparisons of the numerical results with the in-situ measurements.