• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2023

In this study, the impact of pile tip geometry, including shape, size, and angle, on the drivability and stress concentration during pile driving was investigated using 3D printing technology and finite element numerical analysis. A series of field loading tests were conducted on a test pile with various pile tip conditions, including width, angle, and shape. The changes in settlement were quantified as a ratio to the settlement of a conventional pile tip case and large deformation finite element analysis was used to investigate the maximum stress on a pile tip and the location of possible damage during pile driving. The results showed that by modifying the shape, size, and angle of the pile tip, the drivability of the pile could be improved and the maximum stress concentration around the pile tip could be significantly reduced, thereby ensuring the structural integrity of the pile during pile driving.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.27-39
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• 2023

To effectively manage flood risk, it is crucial to assess the stability of flood defense structures like levees under extreme flood conditions. This study focuses on the time-dependent probabilistic assessment of embankment slope stability when subjected to rapid water level drops. We integrate seepage analysis results from finite element analysis with slope stability analysis and employ Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the time-dependent behavior of the slope during rapid drawdown. The resulting probability of failure is used to develop fragility curves for the levee slope. Notably, the probability of slope failure remains low up to a specific water level, sharply increasing beyond that threshold. Furthermore, the fragility curves are strongly influenced by the rate of drawdown, which is determined through hydraulic analysis based on flood scenarios. Climate change has a significant impact on the stability of the water-side slope of the embankment due to water level fluctuations.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.19-31
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• 2024

In Korea, driven piles are generally penetrated up to weathered rock or harder strata. Friction piles have been used to some extent in the southwest coastal area with deep soils; however, friction piles are not extensively due to uncertainties about construction quality. The embedded pile construction method is primarily used due to noise and vibration complaints. However, in Southeast Asian countries (e.g., Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam), where soft sediments are deep, the driven pile method is commonly used due to its economic advantages. Construction companies are increasingly entering overseas construction markets, e.g., Southeast Asia; thus, it is necessary to understand the behavior of driven friction piles in the soil and improve on-site engineering management to gain market competitiveness in these countries. In this study, the bearing capacity of friction piles driven into clayey coastal soils in Vietnam with time-dependent characteristics was evaluated based on the dynamic and static pile load tests. Based on the results, a modified Danish formula is proposed for on-site quality management.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.41-53
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• 2024

Micropiles are small, cast-in-place piles with a diameter of 300 mm or less, primarily used to reinforce existing structures and support new constructions. As the application of these piles has expanded, extensive research has been conducted on their bearing characteristics, particularly in micropiled rafts. These studies have consistently demonstrated the positive impact of micropiles on foundation reinforcement. However, previous research often overlooked the potential variations in behavior between micropiled and conventional piled rafts based on different pile conditions. Furthermore, the influence of the cohesive characteristics of the soil layer beneath the foundation on the reinforcing effect of the micropiles has not been adequately addressed. This study, therefore, undertook 3D numerical analysis to assess the reinforcing effect of micropiles, considering both pile conditions and the cohesive characteristics of the soil layer beneath the foundation. The findings revealed that micropiles are significantly more effective in non-cohesive soil layers compared to cohesive ones, with the potential to increase the bearing capacity of the raft by up to 3.7 times.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2024

In this study, a thermomechanical numerical model was developed to evaluate the stability of energy slabs. First, a wall-type energy slab was installed in a residential underground parking lot, and thermal performance tests were conducted. Based on the tests, a numerical thermohydraulics model of the energy slab was developed to accurately simulate the thermal behavior in thermal performance tests. Finally, utilizing the temperature data acquired using the developed model, a thermomechanical numerical model of the energy slab was established. The thermomechanical model was then used to simulate the thermal stresses induced by operating the energy slab. The results demonstrated a maximum thermal stress of 5,300 kPa, which highlights the need to utilize cement mortar with sufficient tensile strength to realize stable operation of the energy slab.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.145-154
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• 2024

This study used the discrete element method (DEM) to model the driving process of open-ended piles and investigate the behavior of soil plug during pile penetration. The developed DEM model was verified by comparing model pile test results and numerical analysis, particularly using a contact model considering rolling resistance between soil particles. The study successfully simulated soil compression inside the pile by adjusting the relative density and penetration velocity, and it was confirmed that the soil plug tended to be more compressed as the initial penetration velocity decreased. Soil plug length measurements, plug length ratio, and incremental filling ratio were analyzed and validated against experimental results. The developed DEM model aims to reduce trial and error in further studies by detailing the modeling and verification process.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.157-170
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• 2024

In the present study, the acoustic emission characteristics of hard sedimentary sandstone with varying bedding dip angles were examined through uniaxial compression tests using a rock mechanics creep apparatus combined with an acoustic emission system. The deformation and failure behavior of the sandstone was analyzed by correlating acoustic emission parameters with stress over time. A damage constitutive model was developed, incorporating cumulative acoustic emission ringing counts as a key parameter, with time acting as the intermediary. The findings indicate that, despite the differences in bedding dip angles, the stress-strain curves of the samples follow a similar pattern throughout the loading process, passing through four distinct phases: compaction, elastic deformation, yielding, and post-peak failure. The fracture patterns of the sandstone are influenced by the dip angle of the bedding. Acoustic emission parameters, including the ringing count, cumulative ringing count, and energy, align with these four stages of the stress-strain curve. During the compaction and elastic deformation phases, acoustic emissions remain in a quite state, with only brief spikes at points of rapid stress change. In the unstable fracture stage, acoustic emissions become highly active, while they return to a quite state in the post-fracture stage. The RA value of the acoustic emission displays a banded pattern as time progresses, with areas of dense clustering. When the stress curve declines, RA values enter an active period, mainly associated with the generation of shear cracks. Conversely, during periods of smooth stress progression, RA values remain in a quiet state, primarily linked to the formation of tensile cracks. The time-based damage constitutive model for layered sandstone effectively captures the entire process of rock fracture development.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.97-106
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• 2020

Swelling properties and shear strength behavior of MgO-Sand mixtures with hydration procese of MgO are compared according to different MgO contents (W_MgO/W_Total=0, 30, 50, 70, 100%) in this study. The specimens are prepared by mixing with crushed MgO refractory bricks and silica sand. After hydration, the particle size and the specific gravity of MgO were decreases. Through microstructure observation and X-ray diffraction analysis, it is confirmed that MgO changes from the cubic structure of Periclase to the hexagonal cubic structure of Brucite after hydration. As the MgO content increases, both swelling rate and swelling pressure of the mixtures increase. W_MgO/W_Total=30% specimen shows relatively low swelling pressure and swelling rate because produced Mg(OH)₂ mainly fills the pores between sand particles. However, in the case of MgO more than 50%, swelling pressure and swelling rate increase significantly because Mg(OH)₂ fills the pores of sand particles at first and then either pushes out sand particles or Mg(OH)₂ particles after filling the pores. As a result of the direct shear test, before hydration, the mixtures show a dilative behavior on high MgO contents and a contractive behavior on low MgO contents. However, after hydration, the behavior of all mixtures changes to contractive behavior. The threshold fraction of fine (i.e., Mg(OH)₂) contents of the hydrated MgO-Sand mixtures reveals approximately 60% compared with normalized shear strength.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.25-46
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• 1998

This paper shows that there are the results of a series of model tests on the behavior of single pipe pile which is subjected to lateral load in, Nak-dong River sand. The purpose of the present paper is to estimate the effect of Non-homogeneity. constraint condition of pile head, lateral load velocity, relative density, and embedded length of pile on the behavior of single pile. These effects can be quantified only by the results of model tests. Also, these are compared with the results of the numerical methods (p-y method, modified Vlasov method; new ${\gamma}$ parameter, Characteristic Load Method'CLM). In this study, a new ${\gamma}$ parameter equation based on the Vlasov method was developed to calculate the modulus of subgrade reaction (E. : nhz.) proportional to the depth. The p-y method of analysis is characterized by nonlinear behavior. and is an effective method of designing deep foundations subjected to lateral loads. The new method, which is called the characteristic load method (CLM). is simpler than p-y analysis. but its results closely approximates p-y analysis results. The method uses dimensional analysis to characterize the nonlinear behavior of laterally loaded piles with respect to be relationships among dimensionless variables. The modulus of subgrade reaction used in p-y analysis and modified Vlasov method obtained from back analysis using direct shear test (DST) results. The coefficients obtained from DST and the modified ones used for the prediction of lateral behavior of ultimate soil reaction range from 0.014 to 0.05. and from 0.2 to 0.4 respectively. It is shown that the predicted numerical results by the new method (CLM), p-y analysis, and modified Vlasov method (new parameter) agree well with measured results as the relative density increases. Also, the characteristic load method established applicability on the Q-Mnu. relationship below y/D=0.2.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.249-263
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• 2017

The expansion behavior of inflatable steel pipe rockbolt shows geometric nonlinearity due to its ${\Omega}-shaped$ section. Previous studies on the anchoring behavior of inflatable steel pipe rockbolt were mainly performed using theoretical method. However, those studies oversimplified the actual behavior by assuming isotropic expansion of inflatable steel pipe rockbolt. In this study, the anchoring behavior of the inflatable steel pipe rockbolt were investigated by the numerical method considering the irregularity of pipe expansion and other influencing factors. The expansion of inflatable steel pipe rockbolt, the contact stress distribution and the change of the average contact stress and the contact area during installation were analyzed. The contact stresses were developed differently depending on the constitutive behavior of rocks. Small contact stresses occurred in steel pipes installed in elasto-plastic rock compared to steel pipes installed in elastic rock. Also, the anchoring behaviors of the inflatable steel pipe rockbolt were different according to the stiffness of the rock. The steel pipe was completely unfolded in the case of the stiffness smaller than 0.5 GPa, but it was not fully unfolded in the case of the stiffness larger than 0.5 GPa for the given analysis condition. When the steel pipe is completely unfolded, the contact stress increases as the rock stiffness increases. However, the contact stress decreases as the rock stiffness increases when the steel pipe is not fully expanded.