• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.139-150
• /
• 2007

As computer technology has been rapidly advanced, geographic information system (GIS) is recently used in many disciplines. In this study, for a model area in Seoul, seismic hazard potential relating to site effects, which are influenced by the subsurface geotechnical conditions, was estimated using the GIS tool. The distribution of pre-existing borehole drilling data in Seoul metropolitan area was examined for the regional estimation of site-specific seismic responses at the model area. Spatial geo-layers across the entire model area were predicted by constructing a GIS-based geotechnical information system (GTIS). A microzonation of site period $(T_G)$ for estimating site-specific seismic responses at the model area was performed within the GTIS. The spatial microzoning map of $T_G$ indicated seismic vulnerability of two- to four-storied buildings in the model area. Furthermore, a site classification map for determining the design ground motion was established based on the $T_G$ within the GTIS. This informed that most of location in the model area was categorized into current site classes C and D. This seismic microzonation framework for the model area could be applicable particularly in the entire Seoul metropolitan area based on the pre-existing borehole data.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.51-59
• /
• 2014

Shallow landslides and debris flows are a common form of soil slope instability in South Korea. These events may be generally initiated as a result of intense rainfall or lengthening rainfall duration because of the effects of climate change. This paper presents the evaluation of rainfall-induced natural soil slope stability and reinforced soil slope instability under vertical load (railway or highway load) throughout South Korea based on quantitative analysis obtained from 58 sites rainfall observatories for 38 years. The slope stability was performed for infinite and geogrid-reinforced soil slopes by taking an average of maximum rainfall every ten years from 1973 to 2010. Seepage analysis is carried out on unsaturated soil slope using the maximum rainfall at each site, and then the factor of safety was calculated by coupled analysis using saturated and unsaturated strength parameters. The contour map of South Korea shows four stages in 10-year-time for the degree of landslide hazard. The safety factor map based on long term observational data will help prevent rainfall-induced soil slope instability for appropriate design of geotechnical structures regarding disaster protection.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.29 no.8
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 2013

Coarse granular geomaterials containing large gravels are broadly used for construction of large geotechnical systems such as dams, levees, railways and backfills. It is necessary to evaluate deformation characteristics of these materials for dynamic analysis, e.g. seismic design. This study presents evaluation of dynamic deformation characteristics of coarse materials using large scale resonant column testing apparatus, which uses specimens with 200 mm in diameter and 400 mm in height, and the effects of gradation characteristics on maximum shear modulus, shear modulus reduction curve and damping characteristics were investigated. From experimental study using rock-fill materials for a dam, we could see that the largest or mean particle size affects the shape of shear modulus reduction curve. When the specimens are prepared under the same conditions for maximum particle size, the coefficient of uniformity affects the confining stress exponent of maximum shear modulus. It could be concluded that the maximum particle size is an factor which affects shear modulus reduction curve, and that the coefficient of uniformity is for small strain shear modulus, especially for the sensitivity to confining stress.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.37-47
• /
• 2017

The geotechnical characteristics of frozen ground is one of the key design issues for the construction of infrastructure in cold region. In this study, the dynamic properties (shear modulus and damping ratio) of frozen and unfrozen soils sampled from Terra Nova Bay located in eastern Antarctica, where Jang Bogo station was built, were investigated using Stokoe-type resonant column test (RC). In order to freeze the reconstituted soil specimen, the RC testing equipment was modified by adding a cooling system. A series of resonant column tests were performed in frozen and unfrozen soils with various soil densities and temperatures. The shear modulus (G) and damping ratio (D) of soil frozen at $-7^{\circ}C$ were compared with those of unfrozen soil. In addition, the effect of temperature rise on the maximum shear modulus ($G_{max}$) and damping ratio was experimentally investigated. This study has significance in that the difference of dynamic soil properties between frozen and unfrozen soils and the effect of temperature rise on frozen soil were identified.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.169-179
• /
• 2003

Undrained shear strength of clay deposit is one of the most important properties in the design of geotechnical structures. The use of piezocone test is rapidly growing due to its merit that can measure the in-situ undrained shear strength continuously with less error. The reliability of the shear strength from piezocone test depends upon the cone factor applied. Many researchers have suggested different ranges of values for the factors. This study performs to find out the validity of the suggested values in Korea and their charateristics related to the mechanical properties of clay. Piezocone tests were performed at the site of pilot project of ground improvement at Yangsan-Mulgeum Gyeongnam to investigate the charateristics of piezocone factors. The piezocone fators$(N_{kt}, N_{ke}, N_{\Delta u})$ based on the undrained shear strength from quick triaxial compression test are generally within the suggested range. And there appears considerable relations between undrained shear strength and $(N_{kt}, N_{ke}, N_{\Delta u})$ and between preconsolidation pressure and $(N_{kt}, N_{ke})$, while plasticity index, rigidity index and friction ratio do not show any relations with cone factors. The results also reveal that factor $(N_{\Delta u})$ shows higher reliability than factors $(N_{kt} and N_{ke})$, which show smaller standard deviation, breadth of change and scattering.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.499-511
• /
• 2015

A room-and-pillar underground structure is characterized by its grid-type array of galleries. As a result, its construction and economical efficiency can be governed by excavation sequence of galleries. Therefore, this study aims to study the optimum excavation scheme of a room-and-pillar underground structure by considering its various design factors such as ground conditions and excavation sequences. Drill-and-blast method is assumed as a excavation method for a room-and-pillar underground structure. In addition, two kinds of excavation patterns corresponding to a concurrent and a sequential excavation patterns are considered in this study. For the assumed conditions, the structural stability and the construction efficiency based on the number of faces and the travel distance of a jumbo drilling machine are analyzed for the two excavation patterns. Even though the two kinds of excavation patterns show almost the same structural stability as each other, the concurrent excavation pattern is relatively preferable to the sequential excavation pattern in terms of the number of faces in operation and travel distance of a drilling jumbo.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.20 no.7
• /
• pp.57-68
• /
• 2004

When an embankment is constructed on soft clay ground, the lateral displacement generally called as lateral flow is generated in the foundation ground. It strongly affects stabilities of structures, such as foundation piles and underground pipes, in and on the foundation ground. The lateral earth pressure induced by the lateral flow is influenced by the magnitude and construction speed of embankment, the geometric conditions and geotechnical characteristics of the embankment, and the foundation ground, and so on. Accurate methods for estimating the lateral earth pressure have not ever been established because the lateral flow of a foundation ground shows very complicated behavior, which is caused by the interaction of shear deformation and volumetric deformation. In this paper, a series of model tests were carried out in order to clarify effects of construction speed of an embankment on the lateral earth pressure in a foundation ground were design. It was found that the magnitude and the distribution of the lateral earth pressure and its change with time are dependent on the construction speed of the embankment. It was found that a mechanism for the lateral earth pressure was generated by excess pore water pressure due to negative dilatancy induced by shear deformation under the different conditions of construction speeds of embankments.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.28 no.8
• /
• pp.21-29
• /
• 2012

At-rest lateral stress coefficient that is used for the evaluation of geotechnical structures such as foundations and retaining walls plays a significant role in the analysis and design, as a state variable of in-situ stress condition. In the widely applied Jaky's Ko equation stress condition can be inferred from the internal friction angle obtainable from the laboratory experimentation whereas the eguation mares it challenging to evaluate the influences and criteria of particle characteristics which is essential for the application of friction angles in practices. Thus, this study experimentally explored the behaviors of Ko depending on the relative density, particle shape, and surface roughness effect during a range of loading stages. The Ko values of Jumumjin sand, glass beads, and etched glass beads were measured using a customized Ko device housing strain gauges during loading-unloading-reloading steps, and the effect of dominant factors on Ko is analyzed. Results show that the high Ko prevails for both round and angular specimens with low relative density and the surface roughness has a nominal effect. The angular particles exhibit low Ko for specimens with similar relative density. The characteristics of relevance between Ko and friction angles with varying relative density are also investigated based on the experimental results using empirical correlations and previously reported values.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.65-74
• /
• 2014

Borehole investigation which is mainly used to figure out geotechnical characterizations at construction work has the benefit that it provides a clear and convincing geotechnical information. But it has limitations to get the overall information of the construction site because it is performed at point location. In contrast, geophysical measurements like seismic survey has the advantage that the geological stratum information of a large area can be characterized in a continuous cross-section but the result from geophysics survey has wide range of values and is not suitable to determine the geotechnical design values directly. Therefore it is essential to combine borehole data and geophysics data complementally. Accordingly, in this study, a three-dimensional spatial interpolation of the cross-sectional distribution of seismic refraction was performed using digitizing and geostatistical method (krigring). In the process, digital map were used to increase the trustworthiness of method. Using this map, errors of ground height which are broken out in measurement from boring investigation and geophysical measurements can be revised. After that, average seismic velocity are derived by comparing borehole data with geophysical speed distribution data of each soil layer. During this process, outlier analysis is adapted. On the basis of the average seismic velocity, integrated analysis techniques to determine the three-dimensional geological stratum information is established. Finally, this analysis system is applied to dam construction field.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.79-90
• /
• 2013

Geophysical investigation in non-destructive testing is economically less expensive than boring testing and providing geotechnical information over wide-area. But, it provides only limited geotechnical information, which is hardly used to the design. Accordingly, we performed electrical resistivity experiments on large scale of soil model to analyze the correlation between electrical resistivity response and soil water contents. The soils used in the experiments were the Jumunjin standard sand and weathered granite soil. Each soil particle size distribution and coefficient of uniformity of experimental material obtained in the experiments were maintained in a state of the homogeneous. The specifications of the model used in this study is $160{\times}100{\times}50$(cm) of acrylic, and each soil was maintained at the height 30 cm. The water content were measured using the 5TE sensors (water contents sensors) which is installed 7 ~ 8 cm apart vertically by plugging to floor. The results of the resistivity behavior pattern for Jumunjin standard sand was found to be sensitive to the water content, while the weathered granite soil was showing lower resistivity over the time, and there was no significant change in behavior pattern observed. So, it results that the Jumunjin standard sand's particle current conduction was better than the weathered granite soil's particle through contact with the distilled water. This lab test was also compared with the result of a test bed site composed of similar weathered soil. It was confirmed that these experiments were underlying research of non-destructive investigation techniques to improve the accuracy to estimate the geotechnical parameter.