• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.789-796
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• 2003

A reliability analysis is performed to investigate the influence of the uncertainty from the limited in-situ samples and the inherent heterogeneity of the ground on the probability of piping for the marine embankment near shore. The result are compared with those of the deterministic piping stability analysis performed using the fininte element flow analysis. The random variables used are hydraulic conductivity of the ground subsurface and embankment, and the water level of both internal and external side of the embankment. The probability of piping is most sensitive to the mean and standard deviation of internal water level of the embankment among the random variables included in the reliability analysis. It is found that the lower limits of internal water level which satisfies the allowable proability of piping failure for the embankment studied were E.L(-) 1.83m and E.L(-) 1.48m during and after the construction of the embankment, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.5-17
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• 2013

Slug tests can be adopted to estimate hydraulic conductivity of the slurry trench wall backfill for its abilities to reflect the in-situ performance of the construction. A comprehensive three-dimensional numerical model is developed to simulate the slug test in a slurry trench wall considering the presence of bentonite cake on the interface boundaries between the wall and the surrounding soil formation. Influential factors such as wall width (i.e., proximity of wall boundary), well deviation, vertical position of well intake section, compressibility of wall backfill, etc. are taken into account in the model. A series of simulation results are examined to evaluate the bentonite cake effect in analyzing practical slug test results in the slurry trench wall. The results show that the modified line-fitting method can be used without any correction factor for the slug test in the slurry trench wall with the presence of bentonite cake. A case study is reanalyzed with the assumption of existing bentonite cake. The results are compared with the previously reported results by the approaches assuming no bentonite cake (constant-head boundary) or upper-bound solution (no-flux boundary). The case study demonstrates the bentonite cake effect and the validity of the modified line-fitting method in the estimation of the hydraulic conductivity of the slurry wall backfill.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.207-216
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• 2003

To evaluate the smear zone caused by the drain installation, 10 piezometers were installed in the typical soft ground in the western coastal area of Korea. The dynamic pore water pressure developed during the drain installation was monitored using piezometers installed at a distance of 10cm, 20cm, 30cm, 40cm and 50cm from the location of the drain. The decay of pore pressure with time after pushing piezometers to depths of 5 meters and 7 meters during the drain installation was monitored to assess flow and consolidation characteristics of the soil after disturbance of the soil due to the drain installation. The drain installation results in shear strain and displacement of the soil and it decreases the permeability of the soil. Hence, the comparison between dissipation of the pore water pressure process in 10 pieszometers before as well as after installation of the drain indicated the diameter of disturbance zone and smear zone, which is related to the cross-sectional dimension of the mandrel. In addition, Cone-pressuremeter(CPM) tests were performed to obtain rigidity index of the soil for an interpretation of the dissipation processes. It has been evaluated by in-situ tests that the smear zone is from 3.0 to 3.6 times of the cross-sectional dimension of the mandrel. The hydraulic conductivity expressed in terms of the coefficient of consolidation after the drain installation was calculated from 3 to 8 times decrease evaluated by Teh & Houlsby equation and CPM test results.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.519-530
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• 2023

Moye's analytical solution was examined as a method for constant-head tests under steady-state conditions, and results were compared with transient-state analyses in in situ hydraulic tests. The sensitivity of hydraulic conductivities calculated using Moye's method increased with the length of the test section, which should be as large as possible under test conditions. Particularly in low-permeability media with less than 10^-8 m/sec of hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic conductivity is lower than that under transient-state conditions and can be recalculated by adjusting the boundary between radial and spherical flow assumed in Moye's equation. Constant-head tests performed in the research borehole at the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) indicated that transmissivities derived from the constant-head withdrawal test under transient-state conditions in low-permeability media were higher than those derived from steady-state tests, likely because the groundwater flow boundary was smaller than the "half of the test-section length"assumed by Moye's equation. When interpreting constant-head test results for crystalline rock, the hydrogeological properties of the medium may be better understood by considering assumed conditions accompanying analysis of the steady-state condition and comparing them with results for the transient-state analysis, rather than simply assuming properties based on steady-state analyses.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.381-393
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• 2021

Physical, mechanical, hydraulic, and geophysical tests were applied to validate methods of inspecting the effectiveness of grouting on an agricultural reservoir dam. Data obtained from series of in situ and laboratory tests considered four stages: before grouting; during grouting; immediately after grouting; and after aging the grouting for 28 days. The results of SPT and triaxial tests, including the unit weight, compressive strength, friction angle, cohesion, and N-value, indicated the extent of ground improvement with respect to grout injection. However, they sometimes contained errors caused by ground heterogeneity. Hydraulic conductivity obtained from in situ variable head permeability testing is most suitable for identifying the effectiveness of grouting because the impermeability of the ground increased immediately after grouting. Electric resistivity surveying is useful for finding a saturated zone and a seepage pathway, and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) is suitable for analyzing the effectiveness of grouting, as elastic velocity increases distinctly after grouting injection. MASW also allows calculation from the P- and S- wave velocities of dynamic properties (e.g., dynamic elastic modulus and dynamic Poisson's ratio), which can be used in the seismic design of dam structures.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 2013

Studies of the thermal properties of various rock types obtained from several locations in Korea have revealed significant differences in thermal conductivities in the thermal response test (TRT), which has been applied to the design of a ground-source heat pump system. In the present study, we aimed to compare the thermal conductivities of the samples with those obtained by TRT. The thermal conductivities of soil and rock samples were 1.32W/m-K and 2.88 W/m-K, respectively. In comparison, the measured TRT value for thermal conductivity was 3.13W/m-K, which is 10% higher than that of the rock samples. We consider that this difference may be due to groundwater flow because abundant groundwater is present in the study area and has a hydraulic conductivity of 0.01. It is natural to consider that the object of TRT is to calculate the original thermal conductivity of the ground, following the line source theory. Therefore, we conclude that the TRT applied to a domestic standing column type well is not suitable for a line source theory. To solve these problems, values of thermal conductivity measured directly from samples should be used in the design of ground-source heat pump systems.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.42-58
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• 2001

In order to protect the environment from waste disposal activities, the prediction of the flux and flow paths of the contaminants from underground facilities should be assessed as accurately as possible. Especially, the prediction of the pathways and travel times of the nuclides from high level radioactive wastes in a deep repository to biosphere is one of the primary tasks for assessing the ultimate safety and performance of the repository. Since the contaminants are mainly transported with groundwater along the discontinuities developed within rock mass, the characteristics of groundwater flow through discontinuities is important for the prediction of contaminant fates as well as safety assessment of a repository. In this study, the actual fracture network could be effectively generated based on in situ data by separating geometric parameter and hydraulic parameter. The calculated anisotropic hydraulic conductivity was applied to a 3D porous medium model to calculate the path flow and travel time of the large studied area with the consideration of the complex topology in the area. Using the model, the pathways and travel times for groundwater were analyzed. From this study, it was concluded that the suggested techniques and procedures for predicting the pathways and travel times of groundwater from underground facilities to biosphere is acceptable and those can be applied to the safety assessment of a repository for radioactive wastes.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.428-435
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• 2015

Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) were developed for each soil horizon to estimate hydraulic characteristics of mountainous forest soils in South Korea. Twenty one dominant soil series from 8 soil catenae such as granite-originated catena and volcanic ash-originated catena were selected for the study; gravel contents of selected soils were 10% or lower. Saturated conductivity (Ks) was measured for each horizon in situ. Particle size distribution and organic matter content of each horizon were also determined. Based on correlation analysis with total data set, sand separate showed positive relationship with Ks ($r=0.24^*$) while clay separate had negative relationship with Ks ($r=-0.29^{**}$). The correlation coefficients of sand, clay, and organic matter content with Ks increased to $0.41^{**}$, $-0.67^{***}$, and $0.58^{***}$, respectively, using data from granite- or gneiss-originated catena with exception of volcanic ash-originated catena and sedimentary rock-originated catena. Determination coefficients of PTFs were 0.31 for A horizon, 0.25 for B, and 0.35 for C with all data set while those were 0.74 for A, 0.48 for B, and 0.54 for C. Organic matter was a dominant factor affecting Ks in A horizon but clay content was selected as the only factor influencing Ks in C horizon. It implies that PTFs should be developed with understanding characteristics of parent materials and horizons. Developed PTFs for granite- or gneiss-originated catena were following: A horizon: Log ($K_s{\times}10^7$) = -0.031C + 0.398OM + 3.49 B horizon: Log ($K_s{\times}10^7$) = -0.028C + 0.141OM + 4.05 C horizon: Log ($K_s{\times}10^7$) = -0.072C + 4.66 where C is clay separate (%) and OM is organic matter content ($g\;kg^{-1}$). The unit of Ks is cm $sec^{-1}$.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.425-444
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• 2021

Investigating the physical and chemical properties of riverine wetlands is necessary to understand their distribution characteristics and depositional environment. This study investigated the physical (particle size, color, and type) and chemical properties (organic, inorganic, and moisture contents) of sediments in Samrak wetland, located in the Nakdong River estuary area in Busan, South Korea. The particle size analysis indicated that the hydraulic conductivity values for the coarse grain and the mixture of coarse and fine grains ranged from 2.03 to 3.49×10^-1 cm s^-1 and 7.18×10^-3 to 1.24×10^-7 cm s^-1, respectively. In-situ water quality and laboratory-based chemical analyses and radon-222 measurement were performed on groundwater and surface water in the wetland and water from the nearby Nakdong River. The physical and chemical properties of Samrak wetland was characterized by the sediments in the vertical and lateral direction. The concentrations of chemical components in the wetland groundwater were distinctly higher than those in the Nakdong River water though the wetland groundwater and Nakdong River water equally belonged to the Ca-HCO₃ type.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2012

This study was performed to produce basic data for silty reclaimed tidal lands and to develop techniques of environmentally-friendly utilization in agricultural system. We chose the two sites in Saemangeum reclaimed tidal lands, one (Site I) has been treated with cultivating green manure and conducting the desalinization process through submergence since April, 2007 and the other (Site II) has been under natural condition without artificial treatment. In situ and ex situ physic-chemical properties were determined and comparisons were made for soil profiles examined at these two sites in April 2009. Surface soil of Site I had lower EC and higher field saturated hydraulic conductivity than those of Site II, uncultivated land. Especially, exchangeable sodium content was lowest in Site I Ap1 layer than in other layers. This is probably due to flooding desalination and green manure cultivation. Besides, Ap1 and A2 layers of soil profile in Site I showed brighter soil color and more root observation than those of Site II. This is probably due to green manure cultivation. By the large, for high cash upland crops and intensive agricultural use of silty reclaimed tidal land, site-specific soil ripening such as flooding desalination and green manure cultivation could be useful.