• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.374-384
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• 2021

In this study, we propose a new approach for automatic fracture detection in CT scan images of rock specimens. This approach is built on top of two-stage object detection deep learning algorithm called Faster R-CNN with a major modification of using rotated bounding box. The use of rotated bounding box plays a key role in the future work to overcome several inherent difficulties of fracture segmentation relating to the heterogeneity of uninterested background (i.e., minerals) and the variation in size and shape of fracture. Comparing to the commonly used bounding box (i.e., axis-align bounding box), rotated bounding box shows a greater adaptability to fit with the elongated shape of fracture, such that minimizing the ratio of background within the bounding box. Besides, an additional benefit of rotated bounding box is that it can provide relative information on the orientation and length of fracture without the further segmentation and measurement step. To validate the applicability of the proposed approach, we train and test our approach with a number of CT image sets of fractured granite specimens with highly heterogeneous background and other rocks such as sandstone and shale. The result demonstrates that our approach can lead to the encouraging results on fracture detection with the mean average precision (mAP) up to 0.89 and also outperform the conventional approach in terms of background-to-object ratio within the bounding box.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.99-114
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• 2020

The characteristics of the Brazilian tensile strengths(σ_t) parallel to the rock cleavages in Jurassic granite from Geochang were analysed. The evaluation for the six directions of rock cleavages was performed using the parameter values on microcrack length and the above strength. The strength values of the five test specimens belonging to each direction were classified into five groups. The strength values of these five groups increase in order of group A < B < C < D < E. The close dependence between the above microcrack and strength was derived. The analysis results of this study are summarized as follows. First, the chart showing the variation and characteristics of strength among the three rock cleavages were made. In the above chart, the strength values of six directions belonging to each group were arranged in order of rift(R1 and R2), grain(G1 and G2) and hardway(H1 and H2). The strength distribution lines of the five groups concentrate in the direction of R1. And the widths among the above five lines indicating strength difference(Δσ_t) are the most narrowest in R1 direction. From the related chart, the variation characteristics among the two directions forming each rock cleavage were derived. G2(2)-test specimen shows higher value and lower value of the difference in strength compared to the case of G1(1)-test specimen. These kinds of phenomena are the same as the case between the test specimen H2(2) and H1(1). The strength characteristics of the above test specimens (2) suggest lower microcrack density value and higher degree of uniformity in the distribution of microcracks arrayed parallel to the loading direction compared to those of test specimens (1). The six strength values belonging to each group were arranged in increasing order in the above chart. The strength values of the test specimens belonging to both group D and E appear in order of R1 < R2 < G1 < H1 < G2 < H2. Therefore, the strength values of group D and E can be indicator values for evaluating the six directions of rock cleavages. Second, the correlation chart between slope angle(θ) and strength difference(Δσ_t) were made. The values of the above two parameters were obtained from the five strength distribution lines connecting between the two directions. From the chart related to rift plane(G1-H1, R'), grain plane(R1-H2, G') and hardway plane(R2-G2, H'), the slope values of linear functions increase in order of R'(0.391) < G'(0.470) < H'(0.485). Among three planes, the charts related to hardway plane show the highest distribution density among the five groups. From the related chart for rift(R1-R2, R), grain(G1-G2, G) and hardway(H1-H2, H), the slope values of linear functions increase in order of rift(0.407) < hardway(0.453) < grain(0.460). Among three rock cleavages, the charts related to rift show the highest frequency of groups belonging to the lower region. Taken together, the width of distribution of the slope angle among the three planes and three rock cleavages increase in order of H' < G < R' < R < G' < H. Third, the correlation analysis among the parameters related to microcrack length and the tensile strengths was performed. These parameters may include frequency(N), total length(Lt), mean length(Lm), median length(Lmed) and density(ρ). The correlation charts among individual parameters on the above microcrack(X) and corresponding five levels of tensile strengths for the five groups(Y) were made. From the five kinds of correlation charts, the values of correlation coefficients(R²) increase along with the five levels of strengths. The mean values of the five correlation coefficients from each chart increase in order of 0.22(N) < 0.34(Lt) < 0.38(ρ) < 0.57(Lmed) < 0.58(Lm). Fourth, the correlation chart among the corresponding maximum strength for group E(X) and the above five parameters(Y) were made. From the related chart, the values of correlation coefficient increase in order of 0.61(N) < 0.81(Lt) < 0.87(ρ) < 0.93(Lm) < 0.96(Lmed). The two parameters that have the highest correlations are median length with maximum strength. Through the above correlation analysis between microcrack and strength, the credibility for the results from this study can be enhanced.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.126-138
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• 2012

Ultrasonic method is widely used for the evaluation of weathering index and of degree of deterioration because it is easily applicable $in$ $situ$. The basic idea of the method is that the ultrasonic velocity decreases as a rock is being weathered. Thus, the difference of ultrasonic velocities between fresh rock and weathered rock indicates the degree of weathering. In this method, the ultrasonic velocity of fresh rock is assumed to be 5,000 m/s. However, this assumption can cause significant errors in estimating weathering index, especially in case that those rocks of the same type have a wide range of ultrasonic velocities such as in Korea. Therefore, we obtained twenty rock specimens and sixty core samples commonly used for stone cultural heritages in Korea, and measured ultrasonic velocities. From the results, we found that the ultrasonic velocities of the same rock type, granite samples range from 3,118 to 5,380 m/s, and that the estimated weathering index can be highly biased if we use the fixed value of 5,000 m/s. We created a database (DB) by combining the measurement data and reported it. We also measured ultrasonic velocities by direct and indirect methods to quantify the calibration coefficient for each sampling site. We found that the calibration coefficients vary widely from site to site (1.31-1.76). Other factors, such as operator bias and temperature did not show any significant effect on errors in ultrasonic velocity measurements. Lastly, we applied our ultrasonic velocity DB and calibration coefficients to a stone cultural heritage, Bonghwang-ri Buddha statue. Our estimation of the weathering index was 0.3, 0.1 smaller than that by conventional method. The degree of deterioration was also different, "moderately weathered", while conventional method gave "highly weathered". Since other independent studies reported that the degree of deterioration of the Buddha statue was "moderately weathered", our estimation seems to be more accurate. Thus our method can help accurately evaluate the weathering index and the conservation planning for a stone cultural heritage.