• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2009

Recently, concrete track is replacing ballast track for efficient and economic maintenance of track. It considerably offer less maintenance, a longer service life and reduced life-cycle costs. With the aim of achieving high-quality track construction work, of developing tools for quality assurance in new construction and for later technical inspection of material condition, a quality strategy has to be developed. For these purpose, NDT which is using the seismic wave has carried out in situ studies in the test construction section. The used NDT are SASW test, impact echo test and continuous impact echo test. The test is performed 5,353 times on 49 pre-cast concrete track panels to verify the stiffness structure and grouting efficiency of the track structure. To conclude, because of the non-homogeneous characteristic of concrete material. it is restricted to apply the elastic wave test at some aspect. However it is possible to acquisite a sufficient reliability about structural stiffness and grouting efficiency of concrete track.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.308-319
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• 2005

Piezo-ceramics are special materials which transform energy between mechanical and electrical forms. Bender-elements are composite materials consisting of thin piezo-ceramics and elastic shims, and are widely used as actuators and transducers in the field of electronics, robotics, autos and mechatronics utilizing the effectiveness of energy transformation capability. In geotechnical engineering, commercial bender-elements are used in laboratory as source and receiver in the measurements of soil stiffness. The elements were built by using various metal shims sandwiched between piezo-ceramics and coating over the composite in the research. A pair of elements were buried in a concrete block and used as source and receiver to measure the stiffness of the concrete. The test results were verified by comparing with the resonant column testing results. In a preliminary stage of the development of an in-situ seismic testing equipment using bender-elements for soft clay materials, shear waves were generated and measured by burying the elements in the barrel of kaolinite and water mixture. The measured shear wave signals were so distinct for the first-arrival pick that applicability of the elements in the field measurements is very promising.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.03a
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• pp.182-187
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• 2010

In the various fields of Civil Engineering, shear modulus is very important input parameters to design many constructions and to analyze ground behaviors. In general, a shear wave velocity profile is decided by various experiments before constructing a structure and, analysis and design are carried out by using decided shear wave velocity profile of the site. However, if civil structures are started to construct, the shear wave velocity will be increased more than before constructions because of confining pressure increase by the load of structure. The evaluation of the change in shear wave velocity profile is used very importantly when maintaining, managing, reinforcing and regenerating existing structures. In this study, a non-destructively geotechnical investigation method by using the HWAW method is applied to an evaluation of change in properties of the site according to construction. Generally, the space for experiments is narrow when underground of existing or on-going structures is evaluate, so a prompt non-destructive experiment is required. This prompt non-destructive experiment would be performed by various in-situ seismic methods. However, most of in-situ seismic methods need more space for experiments, so it is difficult to be applied. The HWAW method using the Harmonic wavelet transforms, which is based on time-frequency analysis, determines shear wave velocity profile. It consists of a source as well as short receiver spacing that is 1~3m, and is able to determine a shear wave velocity profile from surface to deep depth by one test on a space. As the HWAW method uses only the signal portion of the maximum local signal/noise ratio to determine a profile, it provides reliability shear modulus profile such as under construction or noisy situation by minimizing effects of noise from diverse vibration on a construction site or urban area. To estimate the applicability of the proposed method, field tests were performed in the change of geotechnical properties according to constructing a minimized modeling bent. Through this study, the change of geotechnical properties of the site was effectively evaluated according to construction of a structure.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.29-44
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• 2020

The effectiveness and the sensitivity of a Wireless impedance/Admittance Monitoring System (WiAMS) for the prompt damage diagnosis of two single-storey single-span Reinforced Concrete (RC) frames under cyclic loading is experimentally investigated. The geometrical and the reinforcement characteristics of the RC structural members of the frames represent typical old RC frame structure without consideration of seismic design criteria. The columns of the frames are vulnerable to shear failure under lateral load due to their low height-to-depth ratio and insufficient transverse reinforcement. The proposed Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system comprises of specially manufactured autonomous portable devices that acquire the in-situ voltage frequency responses of a network of twenty piezoelectric transducers mounted to the RC frames. Measurements of external and internal small-sized piezoelectric patches are utilized for damage localization and assessment at various and increased damage levels as the magnitude of the imposed lateral cycle deformations increases. A bare RC frame and a strengthened one using a pair of steel crossed tension-ties (X-bracing) have been tested in order to check the sensitivity of the developed WiAMS in different structural conditions since crack propagation, damage locations and failure mode of the examined frames vary. Indeed, the imposed loading caused brittle shear failure to the column of the bare frame and the formation of plastic hinges at the beam ends of the X-braced frame. Test results highlighted the ability of the proposed SHM to identify incipient damages due to concrete cracking and steel yielding since promising early indication of the forthcoming critical failures before any visible sign has been obtained.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.66-75
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• 2006

As construction for road tunnel is increasing, various geotechnical conditions can be faced during the construction stage. Especially, if the tunnel is located in limestone area, many kinds of site investigations such as in-situ boring, electrical resistance survey, TSP(Tunnel Seismic Prediction) and etc., are conducted before and during the construction. By conducting these preliminary tests, location, size, and filling materials in limestone cavities can be approximately estimated. Once some cavities which can be harmful for tunnel safety are predicted, methods for ground reinforcement and tunnel excavation, corresponding those ground conditions, have to be established and verified by measurement data and numerical analysis. If necessary, invert lining should be also considered. In this paper, by studying some cases of tunnels constructed in limestone area, predicted problems during construction and rational countermeasures for those are presented.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-23
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• 2010

In current design practice, the shear wave velocity (Vs) of the core and rock-fill zone of a dam, one of the characteristics essential for seismic response design, is seldom determined by field tests. This is because the borehole seismic method is often restricted in application, due to stabilisation activities and concern for the security of the dam structure, and surface wave methods are limited by unfavourable in-situ site conditions. Consequently, seismic response design for a dam may be performed using Vs values that are assumed, or empirically determined. To estimate Vs for the core and rock-fill zone, and to find a reliable method for measuring Vs, seismic surface wave methods have been applied on the crest and sloping surface of the existing 'M' dam. Numerical analysis was also performed to verify the applicability of the surface wave method to a rock-fill dam. Through this numerical analysis and comparison with other test results, the applicability of the surface wave method to rock-fill dams was verified.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.1037-1047
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• 2013

A systematic laboratory compaction testing was performed with the laboratory seismic measurements of the compacted specimens sampled from various compaction fills and was supplemented with in-situ seismic testing to investigate the effects of compaction energy on the elastic wave velocities of the railway roadbed materials. The both variances of the compressive and shear wave velocities with moisture content curve ($V_p$-w and $V_s$-w curves) are similar to the general trend of the density-moisture content curve(${\gamma}_d$-w curve). At the wet side of optimal moisture content (OMC), either $V_p$ or $V_s$ does not significantly increase, which is well reflecting the no gaining in density with the increasing compaction energy exceeding modified-D compaction effort. $V_p$ increases linearly with ${\gamma}_d$ at the dry side of OMC, while it does exponentially at the wet side. The in-situ wave velocities were found to be influenced by the level of confinement and $V_s$ was more sensitive to compaction energy than $V_p$.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.71-83
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• 2007

Liquefaction resistance depends strongly upon the degree of saturation, which is expressed in terms of the pore pressure coefficient, B. The B-value has been widely used to quantify the state of saturation of laboratory samples. However, it is practically impossible to determine in situ state of saturation by using the B-value. So, P-wave velocity can be alternatively used as a convenient index for evaluating the in situ state of saturation. In this paper, the Stokoe type torsional shear (TS) testing system was modified to saturate the specimen, with which it is also possible to measure P ($V_p$), S-wave velocity ($V_s$) and the excess pore water pressure buildup In order to examine the effect of B-value for nearly saturated sands. A series of the tests were carried out at 3 relative densities (40%, 50% and 75%) and various B-values using Toyoura sand. Based on the test results, the variations of $V_p\;and\;V_s$ with B-value were analyzed and compared with a existing theoretically derived formula. The normalized pore water pressure, $du/{\sigma}{_0}'$ and cyclic threshold shear strain, ${\gamma}^c_{th}$ with B-value were also analyzed. Additionally the test results related to pore water pressure were analyzed by $V_p$ to apply to the field seismic analysis.

• 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.

• KCI Concrete Journal
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.10-18
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• 2001

The spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) method, which is an in-situ seismic technique, has mainly been developed and used for many years to determine the stiffness profile of layered media (such as asphalt concrete and layered soils) in an infinite half-space. This paper presents a modified experimental technique for nondestructive evaluation of in-place cement mortar compressive strength in single-layer concrete slabs of rather a finite thickness through a correlation to surface wave velocity. This correlation can be used in the quality control of early age cement mortar structures and in evaluating the integrity of structural members where the infinite half space condition is not met. In the proposed SASW field test, the surface of the structural members is subjected to an impact, using a 12 mm steel ball, to generate surface wave energy at various frequencies. Two accelerometer receivers detect the energy transmitted through the medium. By digitizing the analog receiver outputs, and recording the signals for spectral analysis, surface wave velocities can be identified. Modifications to the SASW method includes the reduction of boundary reflections as adopted on the surface waves before the point where the reflected compression waves reach the receivers. In this study, the correlation between the surface wave velocity and the compressive strength of cement mortar is developed using one 36"x36"x4"(91.44$\times$91.44$\times$91.44 cm) cement mortar slab of 2,000 psi (140 kgf/$\textrm{cm}^2$) and two 36"x36"x4"(91.44$\times$91.44$\times$91.44 cm) cement mortar slabs of 3,000 psi (210 kgf/$\textrm{cm}^2$).