• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.295-304
• /
• 2011

The first step in improving our understanding of uncertainties suclt as rock mass strength parameters and deformation modulus in rock masses around high-level radioactive waste disposal repositories, for improved safety, is to study the process of crack development in intact rock. Therefore, in this study, the fracture process and crack development were examined in samples of KURT granite taken from the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT), based on acoustic emission (AE) and moment tensor analysis. The results show that crack initiation, coalescence, and unstable crack occurred at rock uniaxial compressive strengths of 0.45, 0.73, and 0.84, respectively. In addition, moment tensor analysis indicated that during the early stage of loading, tensile cracks were predominant. With increasing applied stress, the number of shear cracks gradually increased. When the applied stress exceeded the stress level required for crack damage, unstable shear cracks which directly result in failure of the rock were generated along the failure plane.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.227-236
• /
• 2003

The evaluation of the reliable strength and deformation characteristics of weathered granite masses is very important for the design of geotechnical structure under working stress conditions. Various types of laboratory test such as triaxial compression test can be performed to determine the strength parameters. However, it is very difficult to obtain the representative undisturbed samples on the site and also the rock specimen cannot represent rock mass including discontinuities, fracture zone, etc. This study aims to investigate the strength and deformation characteristics of granite masses corresponding to its weathering and develop a practical strength parameter evaluation method using the results of PMT. To predict weathering intensity and strength parameters of the weathered granite masess in the field, various laboratory tests and in-situ tests including field triaxial test and PMT are carried out. Based on the results of weathering index tests, the classification method is proposed to identify the weathering degree in three groups for the weathered granite masses. Using the analytical method based on the Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria and the cavity expansion theory, the strength parameters of rock masses were evaluated from the results of PMT. It shows that weathering intensity increases with decreasing the strength parameters exponentially. The strength parameters evaluated with the results of PM almost coincide with the results of field triaxial test.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.175-184
• /
• 1974

Weathering of granites has a great geochemical significance, because of their chemical stability near the earth surface which is more pronounced than in most other rocks. The author intended to observe the relative mobility of major elements in weathering process of the granite, distributed on outskirts of Iri city Jeolla-bugdo, Korea. He analysed fresh granites and weathered ones from the Baeg-Gu granite mass and obtained following conclusions in the triangle-diagrams and the oxidized variation diagrams of the samples. 1) The increasing phenomena of $H_2O$ was observed clearly in early and late stages of weathering process. 2) The early stage of weathering is commenced by physical weathering and followed by chemical weathering. 3) The ratio of $FeO/Fe_2O_3$, FeO/MgO, and $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ decreased uniformly from early to late stage of weathering processes. 4) It was proved that weathering potential of granite was larger than that of basaltic rock. 5) The order of mobility in major elements was Ca, Na and K

• Water for future
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.227-237
• /
• 1990

For a detailed understanding of groundwater flow in rock mass, the effect of major fractures, topography and coefficent of permeability has been evaluated. The numerical model of GFFP-WT was used for the purpose. The results indicate that in the granite porphyry layer with a small permeability, the direction of flow path changes due to convergence of equipotential lines, while the travel time changes due to the presence of fractured in rock masses.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2004.03b
• /
• pp.391-398
• /
• 2004

The propagation mechanism of a detonation pressure with fully coupled charge is clarified and the blasting pressure propagated in rock mass is derived from the application of shock wave theory. Probabilistic distribution is obtained by using explosion tests on emulsion and rock property tests on granite in Seoul and then the probabilistic distribution of the blasting pressure is derived from their properties. The probabilistic distributions of explosive properties and rock properties show a normal distribution so that the blasting pressure propagated in rock can be also regarded as a normal distribution. Parametric analysis was performed to pinpoint the most influential parameter that affects the blasting pressure and it was found that the detonation velocity is the most sensitive parameter. Moreover, uncertainty analysis was performed to figure out the effect of each parameter uncertainty on the uncertainty of blasting pressure. Its result showed that uncertainty of natural rock properties constitutes the main portion of blasting pressure uncertainty rather than that of explosive properties.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.19 no.2 s.48
• /
• pp.99-109
• /
• 2006

Igneous rocks occurring in the northwesern part of Keumsan area, Chungcheongnam-do were studied petrogeochemically. The geology of this area is composed mainly of the Precambrian biotite gneiss, age-unknown Ogchon supergroup, Jurassic biotite granite, and Cretaceous volcanic rocks, pink feldspar granite and quartz porphyry. The biotite granite is gradually changes to leucocratic nature by going from center to periphery of the rock mass. It shows variation, with distance from the center, in chemical components: $SiO_2,\;Na_2O\;and\;K_2O$ increase, whereas $Fe_2O_3,\;CaO,\;P_2O_5,\;MgO,\;and\;TiO_2$ decrease. Based on geochemical data, the biotite granite and quartz porphyry belong to subalkaline series and I-type. They show calc-alkaline differentiation trend. The biotite granite shows little negative Eu-anomaly pattern, whereas quartz porphyry show marked negative Eu-anomaly pattern, indicating that quartz porphyry was evolved further, when compared with biotite granite.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.93-105
• /
• 1985

Whether a skarn deposit in carbonate host occurs in contact with certain igneous mass or not has been a general criterion in identifying the igneous rock that genetically relates to the skarn deposit. It is well known, however, that there are many skarn deposits which are not close to any given igneous contact but are far away from the contact. In this paper the reason why such deposits can be formed at a distance from the contact as mentioned is expressed based on the concept that skarn deposits and related igneous rocks are genetically connected at depth where ore-forming fluids emanate from magma and are removed upwards; the movement of ore-forming fluids separated from magma at any depth may have a tendency to infiltrate upward in bulk rather than to diffuse laterally; the paths of magma and cogenetic ore-forming fluids may be identical at lower depths but the latter can be diverted from the former with upward movement so that the positions of the skarn deposits which resulted from the ore-forming fludis at upper levels can be distant from the igneous contacts on a given horizontal section. Statistics indicate that the majority of exoskarns are found at distances up to 800 meters or rarely up to 3,000 meters from igneous contacts and endoskarns up to 600 meters or more. Numerous case studies of skarn deposits in various parts of the world support the above reasoning indicating a general downward convergency of skarn orebodies and related igneous masses with depth. A typical example of this situation is well demonstrated at the Keumseong molybdenum deposit, which is apart from the Jecheon granite on the surface but gets closer to the granite body with depth and finally is intertongued with the granite apophyses in its root zone. Another case for skarn deposit not associated with igneous contact either laterally or vertically but with a deep-seated distal igneous mass is the Sangdong scheelite deposit; 700 meters below the scheelite orebody a blind pluton of muscovite granite, which intruded into the Precambrian crystalline schist, has been recently discovered by deep drilling.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.103-110
• /
• 2000

This paper deal with the stability evaluation and suggestion of progressive failure slope in biotite granite area of Andong. Based on geological site investigation and field test, stability analysis of slope was performed in conjunction with limit equilibrium methods and stereographic projection. Additionally, initial design and construction procedure was critically evaluated. Series of the slope stability analysis reveals the detection of local wedge and plane failure under the current slope condition. It is additionally appeared that a certain synthetic behavior of circle and plane failure exists on the right spot where the overall failure's going in progress. In order to construct more stable slope based on the suitability for the real state of the slope circumstances, this study issues a solution to eliminate the primary factors which cause the instability, by means of the grade of weathering and RMR classification of rock mass.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.19-40
• /
• 2014

Rock rebound values and chemical compositions of Gamak island at Sangha, Gochang, Jeollabuk do are analysed as a part of geomorphic survey of that area. Some corestones are formed by deep weathering found from the summit of rock mass of Gamak island, while the rocks a part of weathering front are exposed at the foot of the island. Rebound values of rock increase toward coastal plain, so summit would be weak in resistance to erosion. It can be assumed that chemical weathering is more active at the summit by the chemical index of alteration and changes in chemical composition ratio. However it should be mentioned that the samples are taken from the surface of the rock mass that more fresh part will be exposed when the weathered parts are removed. The chemical composition and CIA values of the polygonal cracks found from on the surface of weathering rind showed that this part has values between those of the summit and the footslope. The bottom of weathering rind with polygonal cracks has higher CIA value than those of the surface. Though it supports the result from the Bisul Mt., there also difference in the ratio of SiO2. It looks caused by the difference in weathering environment and chemical difference in parent rock. In summary Gamak island is the remnants of weathering front after removal of weathered material. The removal processes are more active at the footslope where the coastal processes are stronger than the summit.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.561-577
• /
• 2021

The compacted bentonite buffer in a geological repository for high-level radioactive waste disposal is saturated due to groundwater inflow. Saturation of the bentonite buffer results in bentonite swelling and bentonite penetration into the rock discontinuities present around the disposal hole. The penetrated bentonite is exposed to groundwater flow and can be eroded out of the repository, resulting in bentonite mass loss which can affect the physical integrity of the engineered barrier system. Hence, the evaluation of buffer-rock interactions and coupled behavior due to groundwater inflow and bentonite penetration is necessary to ensure long-term disposal safety. In this study, the effects of the bentonite penetration and swelling on the physical properties of jointed rock mass were evaluated using the quasi-static resonant column test. Jointed rock specimens with bentonite penetration were manufactured using Gyeongju bentonite and hollow cylindrical granite rock discs obtained from the KAERI underground research tunnel. The effects of vertical stress and saturation were assessed using the P-wave and S-wave velocities for intact rock, jointed rock and jointed rock with bentonite penetration specimens. The joint normal and joint shear stiffnesses of each joint condition were inferred from the wave velocity results assuming an equivalent continuum. The joint normal and joint shear stiffnesses obtained from this study can be used as input factors for future numerical analysis on the performance evaluation of geological waste disposal considering rock discontinuities.