• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.519-528
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• 2023

In this paper, we present the results of an experimental study on the effect of polymer support fluid on shaft resistance of offshore bored piles. A series of pullout tests were performed on bored piles installed under various boundary conditions considering different types of grounds and support fluids, and a range of support fluid exposure times. Contrary to previous studies concerning onshore bored piles, a time dependent effect of polymer fluid on shaft resistance was observed in all ground types. The adverse effect of polymer support fluid on the shaft resistance, however, was considerably less than bentonite support fluid for a given exposure time. No significant reduction in shaft resistance was evident when limiting the exposure time of the polymer support fluid to the side wall of the borehole within 2-3 hours. The degree to which the polymer fluid affects shaft resistance seemed to vary with the ground type. A proper consideration should be given to the time dependent effect of polymer fluid on shaft resistance of bored piles installed in offshore construction environment to limit its adverse effect on the pile performance. The practical implications of the findings are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.19-30
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• 2010

Bentonite-based grout has been widely used to seal a borehole constructed for a closed-loop vertical ground heat exchanger in a geothermal heat pump system (GHP) because of its high swelling potential and low hydraulic conductivity. Three types of bentonites were compared one another in terms of viscosity and thermal conductivity in this paper. The viscosity and thermal conductivity of the grouts with bentonite contents of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% by weight were examined to take into account a variable water content of bentonite grout depending on field conditions. To evaluate the effect of salinity (i.e., concentration of NaCl : 0.1M, 0.25M, and 0.5M) on swelling potential of the bentonite-based grouts, a series of volume reduction tests were performed. In addition, if the viscosity of bentonite-water mixture is relatively low, particle segregation can occur. To examine the segregation phenomenon, the degree of segregation has been evaluated for the bentonite grouts especially in case of relatively low viscosity. From the experimental results, it is found that (1) the viscosity of the bentonite mixture increased with time and/or with increasing the mixing ratio. However, the thermal conductivity of the bentonite mixture did not increase with time but increased with increasing the mixing ratio; (2) If bentonite grout has a relatively high swelling index, the volume reduction ratio in the saline condition will be low; (3) The additive, such as a silica sand, can settle down on the bottom of the borehole if the bentonite has a very low viscosity. Consequently, the thermal conductivity of the upper portion of the ground heat exchanger will be much smaller than that of the lower portion.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.3 s.184
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• pp.295-306
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• 2007

In this study, we predicted areas vulnerable to ground subsidence near abandoned underground coal mine at Sam-cheok City in Korea using a probability (frequency ratio) model with Geographic Information System (GIS). To extract the factors related to ground subsidence, a spatial database was constructed from a topographical map, geo-logical map, mining tunnel map, land characteristic map, and borehole data on the study area including subsidence sites surveyed in 2000. Eight major factors were extracted from the spatial analysis and the probability analysis of the surveyed ground subsidence sites. We have calculated the decision coefficient ($R^2$) to find out the relationship between eight factors and the occurrence of ground subsidence. The frequency ratio model was applied to deter-mine each factor's relative rating, then the ratings were overlaid for ground subsidence hazard mapping. The ground subsidence hazard map was then verified and compared with the surveyed ground subsidence sites. The results of verification showed high accuracy of 96.05% between the predicted hazard map and the actual ground subsidence sites. Therefore, the quantitative analysis of ground subsidence near abandoned underground coal mine would be possible with a frequency ratio model and a GIS.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2007.09a
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• pp.266-292
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• 2007

Round Robin Test (RRT) on ground response analyses was conducted for three sites in Korea based on several site investigation data, which include borehole logs with the N values from standard penetration test (SPT) for all three sites and additionally cone tip resistance profiles for two sites. Three input earthquake motions together with the site investigation data were provided for the RRT. A total of 12 teams participating in this RRT presented the results of ground response analyses using equivalent-linear and/or nonlinear method. Each team determined input geotechnical properties by using empirical relationships and literatures based on own judgment, with the exception of the input motions. Herein, the characteristics of input motions were compared in terms of the frequency and period, and the selection of the depth to bedrock, on which the motions is impinged, was discussed considering geologic conditions in Korea. Furthermore, a variety of geotechnical properties such as shear wave velocity profiles and soil nonlinear curves were investigated with the input properties used in this RRT.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.475-484
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• 2020

The prediction of the ground conditions ahead of a tunnel face is very important, especially for tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunneling, because encountering unexpected anomalies during tunnel excavation can cause a considerable loss of time and money. Several prediction techniques, such as BEAM, TSP, and GPR, have been suggested. However, these methods have various shortcomings, such as low accuracy and low resolution. Most studies on electrical resistivity tomography surveys have been conducted using numerical simulation programs, but laboratory experiments were just a few. Furthermore, most studies of scaled model tests on electrical resistivity tomography were conducted only on the ground surface, which is a different environment as compared to that of mechanized tunneling. This study performed a laboratory experimental test to extend and verify a prediction method proposed by Lee et al., which used electrical resistivity tomography to predict the ground conditions ahead of a tunnel face in TBM tunneling environments. The results showed that the modified dipole-dipole array is better than the other arrays in terms of predicting the location and shape of the anomalies ahead of the tunnel face. Having longer upper and lower borehole lengths led to better accuracy of the survey. However, the number and length of boreholes should be properly controlled according to the field environments in practice. Finally, a modified and verified technique to predict the ground conditions ahead of a tunnel face during TBM tunneling is proposed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.6
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• pp.377-386
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• 2005

This study was carried out to analyse the landslide characteristics by ground investigation, borehole image processing system, field seismic test, laboratory test and ground stability analysis at the landsliding area occurred in Maeri, Sangdong-myeon, Gimhaesi, Gyeongsangnam-do. Region I needs to install data logger system to monitor a land displacement during the heavy rainfall events because the region can be liable to occur the land slide by land creeping. It is needed to restore rapidly, if the land displacement occurs in Region I. Region II needs to monitor and repair because of the possibility of slope failure by long-term soil loss. Region III needs constructions to remove ground runoff and ground water to be infiltrated from talus. Region IV where is a stable region, needs to be protected from land cutting or other man-made damage.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.1638-1646
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• 2008

This paper presents a series of numerical simulations on the thermal performance and sectional efficiency of a closed-loop vertical ground heat exchanger (U-loop) equipped in a geothermal heat pump system (GHP). A 2-D finite element analysis, ANSYS, was employed to evaluate the temperature distribution on the borehole cross section involving HDPE pipe/grout/soil formation to compare the sectional efficiency between the conventional U-loop and a new latticed HDPE pipe system which is equipped with a thermally insulating latice in order to reduce thermal interference between the inflow and outflow pipes. In addition, a 3-D finite volume analysis (Fluent) was used to simulate the operating process of the closed-loop vertical ground heat exchanger by considering the effect of grout's thermal properties, rate of circulation pump, distance between the inflow and outflow pipes, and the effectiveness of the latticed HDPE pipe system. It was observed that the thermal interference between the two strands of U-loop is of importance in determining the efficiency of the ground heat exchanger, and thus it is highly recommendable to modify the cross section configuration of the conventional U-loop system by including a thermally insulating latice between the two strands.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.39-46
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• 2019

The liquefaction is a phenomenon that the effective stress becomes zero due to the rapidly accumulated excess pore water pressure when a strong load acts on the ground for a short period of time, such as an earthquake or pile driving, resulting in the loss of the shear strength of the ground. Since the Geongju and Pohang earthquake, liquefaction brought increasing domestic attention. This liquefaction can be assessed mainly through the semi-empirical procedures proposed by Seed and Idriss (1982) and the liquefaction risk based on the penetration resistance obtained from borehole DB and SPT. However, the geotechnical information data obtained by the in-situ tests or boring information fundamentally have an issue of the representative of the target area. Therefore, this study sought to construct a ground information database by classifying and reviewing the ground information required for liquefaction assessment, and tried to solve the representative problem of the soil layer that is subject to liquefaction evaluation by performing spatial interpolation using GIS.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.19-31
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• 2013

To figure out the decay characteristics of naturally occurring radionuclides, eight sampled groundwaters from a monitoring borehole having high levels of uranium and radon concentrations in a two mica granitic area have analyzed by liquid scintillation counters (LSC) for over 1 year. In December 2011, three groundwater samples (DJ1, DJ2, DJ3) were obtained from each aquifer system located at -20 m, -40 m, -60 m of the monitoring borehole below the ground surface, respectively. Five samples (DJ4, DJ5, DJ6, DJ7, DJ8) were additionally gained from each aquifer positioned -20 m, -40 m, -60 m, -100 m, -105 m of the borehole in February 2012, respectively. Temporal variation characteristics of uranium and radon concentrations have showed over maximum 2.1 times and 1.4 times fluctuations of the values in the same sampling intervals over time, respectively. The intervals of -40 m and -105 m in the borehole have the highest values of uranium and radon concentrations, respectively. This may imply that the concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides such as uranium and radon in groundwater have been changed over time and indicate that the qualities of groundwaters from the aquifers developed at each interval in the borehole are different each other. This discrepancy, moreover, could be caused by behaviour differences between uranium which is in ionic status having a half life of 4.6 billion years and is transported along with the flowing groundwater, and radon which is in gaseous status having a 3.82 day's half life in the aquifer systems. Physicochemical characteristics of groundwaters from the aquifer systems could be identified by the results of the on-situ measuring items such as pH and Eh, and the major ionic contents. The CPM values of eight groundwater samples analysed by LSC over one year have shown not to follow the theoretical decay curve of the radon. The CPM values of the samples have ranged from 2 to 7.5 after it had passed two months when the theoretical CPM values of the radon started zero since the initial analysis. Alpha and beta particle spectrums have shown the peaks of radium-226, however they have not revealed any peaks of radon and it's daughter products such as polonium-218 and 214, bismuth-214 for the late stage of the analysis. This implies that the groundwater from the borehole may contain radium-226 having a half life of 1,600 years which decays continuously.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2007

In this study, the correlation of organic content with particle size and type of sediment was found out.Particle size, stratigraphic section and organic content of sediments sampled from Dalpo wetland was analyzed. Dalpo wetland consists of three wetlands, and the area of Dalpo wetland is about $31,295m^2$. The particle size analyses for sampled sediments of 7 points (3 points in wetland A, 3 points in wetland B and 1 point in wetland C) were tested. As results of the particle size analyses, the sediment particle size becomes larger as to the edge of the wetland. It is revealed in order of wetland A > wetland C > wetland B. Borehole surveys with horizontal distance in the major and minor axes of wetland A, the major and minor axes of wetland B and the major axis of wetland C were accomplished. Clayey peat deposit is distributed at 10~90 cm depth below ground surface in the major axis of wetland A. The clayey peat deposit was the most thick at the center of wetland A that horizontal distance is 100 m. As the depth below ground surface of clayey peat deposit is less than 27 cm in the wetland B, we can infer that the life for the wetland B is being finished. Sediment composition of wetland C is simple because wetland C is small scale, and clayey peat deposit is distributed at 10~34 cm depth below ground surface. Sediment sampled by borehole survey in the Dalpo wetland was cut at interval of 10 cm, then organic content was analyzed. Organic content of wetland A sediment showed more than 40% until 70 cm depth below ground surface, also sediment of wetland B is similar to wetland A until 10 cm depth below ground surface, but is showed within 20 % above 30 cm depth below ground surface. Organic content of wetland B is showed the lowest as organic content near the ground surface is about 40%. All of the three wetlands, organic content is showed higher at clayey peat deposit near to ground surface. This is caused by finer particles of the clayey peat deposit, also organic materials were supplied from dead vegetation. Organic content of the Dalpo wetland showed in order of wetland A > wetland C > wetland B. This result is caused by thickness of clayey peat deposit in sediment. Through this study, it was verified that organic content of the Dalpo wetland sediment was dominated by particle size of sediment and vegetation of the upper part.