• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2017

To build tetrahedra mesh for FEM numerical analysis, Boundary Representation (B-Rep) model is required, which provides the efficient volume description of an object. In engineering, the parametric solid modeling method is used for building B-Rep model. However, a geological modeling generally adopts discrete modeling based on the triangulated surface, called a Sealed Geological Model, which defines geological domain by using geological interfaces such as horizons, faults, intrusives and modeling boundaries. Discrete B-Rep model is incompatible with mesh generation softwares in engineering because of discrepancies between discrete and parametric technique. In this research we have developed a converting program from Sealed Geological Model to Gmsh and COMSOL software. The developed program can convert complex geological model built by geomodeling software to user-friendly FEM software and it can be applied to geoscience simulation such as geothermal, mechanical rock simulation etc.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2018

The KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel) is a research tunnel which is located in KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) site. At KURT, researches on engineering and natural barrier system, which are the most important components for geological disposal system for high level radioactive waste, have been conducted. In this study, we synthesized the site characteristics obtained by various types of site investigation to introduce the geological model for KURT site, and induced the 3-D hydrogeological model for KURT site from the geological model. From the geological investigation at the surface and boreholes, four geological elements such as subsurface weathered zone, upper fractured rock, lower fractured rock and fracture zones were determined for the geological model. In addition, the geometries of these geological elements were also analyzed for the geological model to be three-dimensional. The results from 3-D geological model were used to construct the hydro-geological model for KURT site, which is one of the input data for groundwater flow modeling and safety assessment.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.113-124
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• 2018

Under repeated loading, the residual stresses within the subgrade and subsoil can accelerate the deformation of the road structures. In this paper, a series of laboratory cyclic loading model tests and small-scale model tests were conducted to investigate the dynamic stress response within soils under different loading conditions. The experimental results showed that a dynamic stress accumulation effect occurred if the soil showed cumulative deformation: (1) the residual stress increased and accumulated with an increasing number of loading cycles, and (2) the residual stress was superimposed on the stress response of the subsequent loading cycles, inducing a greater peak stress response. There are two conditions that must be met for the dynamic stress accumulation effect to occur. A threshold state exists only if the external load exceeds the cyclic threshold stress. Then, the stress accumulation effect occurs. A higher loading frequency results in a higher rate of increase for the residual stress. In addition to the superposition of the increasing residual stress, soil densification might contribute to the increasing peak stress during cyclic loading. An increase in soil stiffness and a decrease in dissipative energy induce a greater stress transmission within the material.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.775-781
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• 2018

Shake table tests were conducted on scaled tunnel model to investigate the mechanism and effect of seismic loadings on horseshoe scaled tunnel model in ground fissure site. Key technical details of the experimental test were set up, including similarity relations, boundary conditions, sensor layout, modelling methods were presented. Synthetic waves and El Centro waves were adopted as the input earthquake waves. Results measured from hanging wall and foot wall were compared and analyzed. It is found that the seismic loadings increased the subsidence of hanging wall and lead to the appearance and propagation of cracks. The values of acceleration, earth pressure and strain were greater in the hanging wall than those in the foot wall. The tunnel exhibited the greatest earth pressure on right and left arches, however, the earth pressure on the crown of arch is the second largest and the inverted arch has the least earth pressure in the same tunnel section. Therefore, the effect of the hanging wall on the seismic performance of metro tunnel in earth fissure ground should be considered in the seismic design.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.449-466
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• 2022

The establishment of a complete geological model that includes information about all the various components at a site (such as underground structures and the compositions of rock and soil underground space) is difficult, and geological modeling is a developing field. This study uses commercial software for the relatively easy composition of geological models. Our digital modeling process integrates a model of Jeju Island's 3D geological information, models of cave shapes, and information on the state of a road at the site's upper surface. Among the numerous natural caves that exist in Jeju Island, we studied the Jaeamcheon lava tube near Hallim town, and the selected site lies below a road. We developed a digital model by applying the principles of building information modeling (BIM) to the cave (CaveBIM). The digital model was compiled through gathering and integrating specific data: relevant processes include modeling the cave's shape using a laser scanner, 3D geological modeling using geological information and geophysical exploration data, and modeling the surrounding area using drones. This study developed a global-scale model of the Hallim region and a local-scale model of the Jaeamcheon cave. Cross-validation was performed when constructing the LSM, and the results were compared and analyzed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2022

Complex geological conditions have a great influence on the mining of coalbed methane (CBM), which affects the extraction efficiency of CBM. This investigation analyzed the complicated geological conditions in the Liujia CBM block of Fuxin. A geological model of heterogeneities CBM reservoirs was established to study the influence of strike direction of igneous rocks and fault structures on horizontal well layout. Subsequently, the dual-porosity and dual-permeability mathematical model was established, which considers the dynamic changes of porosity and permeability caused by gas adsorption, desorption, pressure change. The results show that the production curve is in good agreement with the actual by considering gas seepage in matrix pores in the model. Complicated geological structures affect the pressure expansion of horizontal wells, especially, the closer to the fault structure, the more significant the effect, the slower the pressure drop, and the smaller the desorption area. When the wellbore extends to the fault, the pressure expansion is blocked by the fault and the productivity is reduced. In the study area, the optimal distance to the fault is 70 m. When the horizontal wellbore is perpendicular to the direction of coal seam igneous rock, the productivity is higher than that of parallel igneous rock, and the horizontal well bore should be perpendicular to the cleat direction. However, the well length is limited due to the dense distribution of igneous rocks in the Liujia CBM block. Therefore, the horizontal well pumping in the study area should be arranged along the direction of igneous rock and parallel plane cleats. It is found that the larger the area surrounded by igneous rock, the more favorable the productivity. In summary, the reasonable layout of horizontal wells should make full use of the advantages of igneous rock, faults and other complex geological conditions to achieve the goal of high and stable production.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.2828-2839
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• 2022

This study developed a safety assessment tool for geological disposal systems called APro, a systemically integrated modeling system based on modularizing and coupling the processes which need to be considered in a geological disposal system. Thermal, hydraulic, chemical, canister failure, radionuclide release and transport processes were considered in the current version of APro. Each of the unit processes in APro consists of a single Default Module, and several Alternative Modules which can increase the flexibility of the model. As an initial stage of developing the modularization concept and modeling interface, the Default Modules of each unit process were described, with one Alternative Module of chemical process. The computation part of APro is mainly a MATLAB workspace controlling COMSOL and PHREEQC, which are coupled by an operator splitting scheme. The APro model domain is a stylized geological disposal system employing the Swedish disposal concept (KBS-3 type), but the repository layout can be freely adjusted. In order to show the applicability of APro to the total system performance assessment of geological disposal system, some sample simulations were conducted. From the results, it was confirmed that coupling of the thermal and hydraulic processes and coupling of the canister failure and the radionuclide release processes were well reflected in APro. In addition, the technical connectivity between COMSOL and PHREEQC was also confirmed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.263-274
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• 2009

The modified Cam clay (MCC) model is used to study the response of virgin compressed clay in undrained compression. The MCC deviatoric stress-strain relationship is obtained in closed form. Elastic and plastic deviatoric strains are taken into account in the analysis. For the determination of the elastic strain components, both a variable shear modulus and constant shear modulus are considered. Constitutive relationships are applied to the well-known London and Weald clays sheared in undrained compression.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.647-663
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• 2023

The investigation of the disc cutter wear prediction has an important guiding role in TBM equipment selection, project planning, and cost forecasting, especially when tunneling in a long-distance rock formations with high strength and high abrasivity. In this study, a comprehensive database of disc cutter wear data, geological properties, and tunneling parameters is obtained from a 1326 m excavated metro tunnel project in leptynite in Shenzhen, China. The failure forms and wear consumption of disc cutters on site are analyzed with emphasis. The results showed that 81% of disc cutters fail due to uniform wear, and other cutters are replaced owing to abnormal wear, especially flat wear of the cutter rings. In addition, it is found that there is a reasonable direct proportional relationship between the uniform wear rate (WR) and the installation radius (R), and the coefficient depends on geological characteristics and tunneling parameters. Thus, a preliminary prediction formula of the uniform wear rate, based on the installation radius of the cutterhead, was established. The correlation between some important geological properties (K_V and UCS) along with some tunneling parameters (F_n and p) and wear rate was discussed using regression analysis methods, and several prediction models for uniform wear rate were developed. Compared with a single variable, the multivariable model shows better prediction ability, and 89% of WR can be accurately estimated. The prediction model has reliability and provides a practical tool for wear prediction of disc cutter under similar hard rock projects with similar geological conditions.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.13-20
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• 2023

Tunnelling through the geological anomalies has widely known to have many difficulties such as bottom heave, crack of lining, squeezing and so on. To stabilize the tunnel during the construction or after construction, various reinforcing methods have been introduced and applied such as micropiling at the bottom of tunnel to prevent the bottom heave. In this study, long-term behavior of tunnel in the presence of geological anomalies was predicted using numerical analyses. To this end, material properties for swelling rock model capable of representing the rock swelling behavior was obtained using matching process with measured data to validate the adopted model. After the model validation, simulations were performed to predict the long-term behavior of tunnel in the geological anomalies.