• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.655-662
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• 2003

Slope stability is an important issue ill civil engineering works or in open pit mines where both economy and efficiency is required. These are the long-term stability problems which depend on the change of physical properties under a certain weather condition. These can also result in progress of weathering which can change mechanical or hydro-geological properties of rock mass considerably. In this study, weathering in nature was simulated by freeze-thaw test and Soxhlet test which represent mechanical and chemical weathering respectively. Measured were elastic wave velocities, absorption rate, volume change. Uniaxial compression strengths before and after the weathering tests were also measured. The change in weight and volume of the specimens were not clearly related to the weathering process, but P, S wave velocities were clearly decreased as weathering progresses. For some class of rocks, P-wave velocity was increased probably because of the saturation due to improved connectivity of the pre-existing pores. Based on the test results, stability of the slopes were analyzed using FLAC$\^$2D/. Due to the reduced strength parameters, the factors of safety were decreased for the selected sites.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.133-147
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• 2001

Recently developing method of age determination using stepwise dissolution technique to expand the applicability of absolute age determination significantly is evaluated whether it is applicable to the Korean samples. The materials selected for the study are uranium-bearing black slates from Changni Formation of Ogcheon metamorphic belt, tourmaline separated from Naedeongni granite of Yeongnam massif, garnet and ilmenite separated from ilmenite-bearing anorthositic rock of Yeongnam massif, scheelites from Ogbang mine, and magnetite separated from Gyemyeongsan Formation of Ogcheon metamorphic belt. For the stepwise dissolution, various acid steps with different normalities and different durations were applied to leach the samples. The leachate from each step was analyzed to determine the Pb isotopic composition and concentrations of Pb and U using thermal ionization mass spectrometer. The black slates from the Changni Formation and the tourmaline from the Naedeongni granite reveal significant variation of Pb isotopic composition, which reveals the potential of such stepwise dissolution technique as a dating method. The behaviors of uranium and lead during the each stage of step leaching are different, which seem to reflect the differences in positions within the crystal lattices depending upon mineral species.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.155-165
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• 1999

In completely weathered granite gneiss,8 of 40cm cast-in-situ concrete piles are constructed, and static pile load tests are executed on the piles to study the bearing behavior of rock-socketed piles. Subsurface explorations are carried out on the test site in three phases, in which 14 borehole investigations as well as the seismic investigation are performed. Rock socketd depths of the piles in the weathered rocks are varied as 3m, 6m and 9m to separate the shaft resistance from the end bearing resistance, and for a couple of piles, styrofoam of 10cm thickness is installed under the pile point to eliminate the effect of the end resistance. Strain gages are instrumented on re-bars to pick-up the transferred loads along the pile length. From the results of the pile load tests, the allowable shaft resistance and the allowable end bearing values of weathered rocks are proposed as $8.6t/m^2\;and\; 84t/m^2$, respectively. The empirical equation relating the elastic modulus of rock mass with the uniaxial compressive strength of the rock specimen is also proposed for the weathered rocks.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.515-526
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• 2015

Predicting and measuring tunnel convergence is very crucial for estimating tunnel stability and economical construction of NATM tunnels. The method to estimate the tunnel convergence that occurs before and after construction is proposed based on literature reviews. The total displacement occurring related to tunnel construction is determined to be about 2.5 times that of measured displacements. The results of displacement measurements at two tunnels constructed with similar rock types are examined for the investigation of factors affecting the tunnel convergence. The average convergence of Gyungju A Tunnel is about 6.7 times bigger than that of Daejeon B Tunnel. The possible causes of the large convergence in Gyungju A Tunnel are suggested. In order to predict the convergence of tunnels, careful investigation of the geological structures in the ground surface and the influence of external conditions as well as careful face mapping of the tunnel face should be conducted.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.243-269
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• 2021

Since the early 2010s, the social importance of research and practical projects targeting deep geological disposal of high-level nuclear waste, underground CO₂ storage and characterization of deep subsurface by borehole investigation has been increasing. In this regard, there is also a significant increase in the need for in situ test technology to obtain quantitative and reliable information on the hydraulic characteristics of deep rock mass. Through years of research and development, we have independently set up Deep borehole Hydraulic Test System (DHTS) based on the key apparatuses designed and made with our own technology. Using this system, high precision constant pressure injection tests were successfully completed at the two 1 km boreholes located in Mesozoic granite and sedimentary rock regions, Gyeongju. During the field tests, it was possible to measure very low flow rate below 0.01 l/min with micro flow rate injection/control module. In this paper, the major characteristics of DHTS are introduced and also some results obtained from the high precision field tests under the deep and low permeable rock mass environment are briefly discussed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.377-390
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• 2015

The governing equations of wave propagation in one dimension of elastic continuum materials are investigated by taking the influence of the initial stress into account. After a short review of the theory of elastic wave propagation in a rock mass with an initial stress, results indicate that the initial stress differentially influences P-wave and S-wave propagation. For example, when the initial stress is homogeneous, for the P-wave, the initial stress only affects the magnitude of the elastic coefficients, but for the S-wave, the initial stress not only influences the elastic coefficients but also changes the governing equation of wave propagation. In addition, the P-wave and S-wave velocities were measured for granite samples at a low initial stress state; the results indicate that the seismic velocities increase with the initial stress. The analysis of the previous data of seismic velocities and elastic coefficients in rocks under ultra-high hydrostatic initial stress are also investigated.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.1191-1198
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• 2023

Bentonite buffer material is a critical component in an engineered barrier system (EBS) for disposing high-level radioactive waste (HLW). The bentonite buffer material protects the disposal canister from groundwater penetration and releases decay heat to the surrounding rock mass; thus, it should possess high thermal conductivity, low hydraulic conductivity, and moderate swelling pressure to safely dispose the HLWs. Bentonite clay is a suitable buffer material because it satisfies the safety criteria. Several additives have been suggested as mixtures with bentonite to increase the thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical (THMC) properties of bentonite buffer materials. Therefore, this study investigated the geotechnical, mineralogical, and THMC properties of several candidate additives such as sand, graphite, granite, and SiC powders. Datasets obtained in this study can be used to select adequate additives to improve the THMC properties of the buffer material.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.319-332
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• 2002

This study is focused on the characterization of an effective hydraulic conductivity in each hydrogeologic unit assumed as an equivalent continuum medium in the granitic area. Four boreholes of 3" diameter were installed and a Multi-packer system was facilitated in the selected borehole. Various in-situ tests including the fracture logging, constant injection and fall-off tests, slug and pulse tests were carried out. A hydrogeologic unit was defined into the upper and lower zones based on the variation of fracture properties and hydraulic conductivities. The difference of the result obtained by the various hydraulic tests and the effective characterization techniques on rock mass permeability are also discussed. The effective hydraulic conductivity of the upper unit was measured by two times(5.27E-10 m/s~7.57E-10 m/s) that of the lower unit(2.45E-10 m/s~6.81E-10 m/s)through the constant injection and fall-off tests.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.257-269
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• 2001

Numerical simulation is performed to understand the structural behavior of an underground radwaste repository, assumed to be located at the depth of 500 m, in a granitic rock mats, in which a fault intersects the roof of the repository cavern. Two dimensional universal distinct element code, UDEC is used in the analysis. The numerical model includes a granitic rock mass, a canister with PWR spent fuels surrounded by the compacted bentonite inside the deposition hole, and the mixed bentonite backfilled in the rest of the space within the repository cavern. The structural behavior of three different cases, each case with a fault of an angle of $33^{\circ},\;45^{\circ},\;and\;58^{\circ}$ passing through the cavern roof-wall intersection, has been compared. And then fro the case with the $45^{\circ}$ fault, the hydro-mechanical, thermo-mechanical, and thermo-hydro-mechanical interaction behavior have been studied. The effect of the time-dependent decaying heat, from the radioactive materials in PWR spent fuels, on the repository and its surroundings has been studied. The groundwater table is assumed to be located 10m below the ground surface, and a steady state flow algorithm is used.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.23-32
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• 2015

This study examined blast testing measurement data which had been obtained from 97 field sites in Korea to investigate the comprehensive characteristics of rock blasting-induced vibration focusing on the effect of excavation types (tunnel, bench) and rock types. The measurement data was from the testing sites mostly in Kangwon province and Kyungsang province and rock types were granite, gneiss, limestone, sand stone, and shale in the order of number of data. The study indicated that the blasting-induced vibration velocity was affected by the excavation types (tunnel, bench) and bench blasting induced higher velocity than tunnel blasting. In addition, the vibration velocity was also highly affected by the rock types and therefore, it can be concluded that rock types should be considered in the future to estimate a blasting-induced vibration velocity. Furthermore, the pre-existing criteria was compared with the results of this study and the comparison indicated that there was a discernable difference except for tunnel blasting results based on the square root scaling and therefore, further studies and interests, which include the effects of rock strength, joint characteristics, geological formation, excavation type, power type, measurement equipment and method, might be necessarily in relation to the estimation of blasting-induced vibration velocity in rock mass.