• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.651-668
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• 2017

For initial stability of the tunnel, the primary support, Shotcrete and rockbolt shall be placed in the most appropriate time. This is because the role of such support plays a vital role in long-term and short-term tunnel stability. In this study, the rock bolt is an important supporting system that receives the external pressure generated by the stress relaxation during tunnel excavation as axial force and transmits it to the shotcrete on the tunnel excavation surface. Until now, most of the materials of rock bolts have been used in the field, but there have been many problems such as uncertain quality of Chinese materials entering the market, poor packing due to falling down of rock bolts when filled with mortar, and corrosion due to water. Therefore, in this study, we have developed a high strength steel pipe rock bolt using Autobeam material to solve and improve various problems of existing rock bolts. In order to evaluate the performance of the developed bolt, field tests were carried out and the existing mortar filler in order to improve the performance of the rock bolt, the design and construction criteria were studied and the results were included in this paper.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.325-337
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• 2021

On the road and rail tunnels, the evacuation pathway and facilities such as smoke-control and fire suppression system are essential in tunnel fire. In the long twin tunnels, the cross-connection tunnel is usually designed to evacuate from the tunnel where the fire broke out to the other tunnel. In twin shield tunnels, the segment lining has to be demolished to construct the cross-connection tunnel. Considering the modern shield TBM is mostly the closed chamber type, the exposure of underground soil induced by removal of steel segment lining is the most danger construction step in the shield tunnel construction. This case study introduces the excavation method using the thrust of large steel pipe and reviews the measured data after the construction. The large steel pipe thrust method for the cross-connection tunnel can stabilize the excavated face with the two mechanisms. Firstly, the soil in front of excavated face is cylindrically pre-supported by the large steel pipe. Secondly, the excavated face is supported by the plugging effect caused by the soil pressed into the steel pipe. It was reviewed that the large steel pipe thrust method in the cross-connection tunnel is enough to secure the construct ability and stability in soil from the measurement results about the deformation and stress of steel pipe.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2005

The Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute is currently planning the construction of an Underground Research Tunnel to carry out research and development related to the disposal of high-level wastes from nuclear reactors used to generate electrical power. This paper discusses the excavation methods used to construct the Canadian Underground Research Laboratory and their application in planning for the construction of a similar underground laboratory and eventually an underground repository for high-level wastes in Korea.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.531-552
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• 2016

The greenschist in the Jinping II Hydropower Station in southwest China exhibits continuous creep behaviour because of the geological conditions in the region. This phenomenon illustrates the time-dependent deformation and progressive damage that occurs after excavation. In this study, the responses of greenschist to stress over time were determined in a series of laboratory tests on samples collected from the access tunnel walls at the construction site. The results showed that the greenschist presented time-dependent behaviour under long-term loading. The samples generally experienced two stages: transient creep and steady creep, but no accelerating creep. The periods of transient creep and steady creep increased with increasing stress levels. The long-term strength of the greenschist was identified based on the variation of creep strain and creep rate. The ratio of long-term strength to conventional strength was around 80% and did not vary much with confining pressures. A quantitative method for predicting the failure period of greenschist, based on analysis of the stress-strain curve, is presented and implemented. At a confining pressure of 40 MPa, greenschist was predicted to fail in 5000 days under a stress of 290 MPa and to fail in 85 days under the stress of 320 MPa, indicating that the long-term strength identified by the creep rate and creep strain is a reliable estimate.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.105-118
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• 2008

Shotcrete is one of the main support materials in tunnelling. Its bonding state on excavated rock surfaces controls the safety of the tunnel: De-bonding of shotcrete from an excavated surface decreases the safety of the tunnel. Meanwhile, the bonding state of shotcrete is affected by blasting during excavation at tunnel face as well as bench cut. Generally, the bonding state of shotcrete can be classified as void, de-bonded, or fully bonded. In this study, the state of the back-surface of shotcrete is investigated using impact-echo (IE) techniques. Numerical simulation of IE technique is performed with ABAQUS. Signals obtained from the IE simulations were analyzed at time, frequency, and time-frequency domains, respectively. Using an integrated active signal processing technique coupled with a Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) analysis, the bonding state of the shotcrete can be evaluated accurately. As the bonding state worsens, the amplitude of the first peak past the maximum amplitude in the time domain waveform and the maximum energy of the autospectral density are increasing. The resonance frequency becomes detectable and calculable and the contour in time-frequency domain has a long tail parallel to the time axis. Signal characteristics with respect to ground condition were obtained in case of fully bonded condition. As the ground condition worsens, the length of a long tail parallel to the time axis is lengthened and the contour is located in low frequency range under 10 kHz.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.1 s.66
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• pp.32-42
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• 2007

Severe damage can occur around deposition holes due to complex interaction of thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) loading during the long term operation of high level radioactive waste repository. Many candidate sites for repository are located in crystalline rock mass, therefore mechanism of damage follows the form of brittle fracture and failure. This paper briefly introduces major outcomes from 15 years international collaborative project, DECOVALEX, and presents major study results for current ongoing benchmark test study from DECOVALEX-THMC, to evaluate the effect of THM loading to rock mass in excavation damaged zone (EDZ) near deposition holes. Through benchmark test model by simplifying THM loading to boundary loading obtained numerical results are compared, and discrete fracture interaction after up to 1 million years operation is discussed.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.519-539
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• 2020

We reviewed numerical approaches to assess a hydraulic properties of excavation-disturbed zone (EDZ)created in argillaceous sedimentary rocks. It has been reported that fractures in the sedimentary rocks containing expansive clays are gradually closing due to swelling and their permeabilities are evolving to the level of in-tact rock, which is known as a self-healing or self-sealing process. The numerical approaches introduced here are capable of simulating spatio-temporal variation of EDZ permeability during long-term operation of a repository by including the self-healing characteristics of fractures, which wa observed in laboratory as well as in-situ experiments, The applicability of the numerical approaches was verified from the comparison to in-situ measurements of EDZ permeability at underground research laboratories.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.17 no.2 s.67
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• pp.102-108
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• 2007

Generally, the method used most widely for rock mass classification is considering the rock strength and development of joint frequency. However, if rock bed has micro-crack and long joint, this method is not rational. Therefore, the difficulties of excavation in the rock bed with complicated geological condition are decided by combining joint frequency. indoor tests (uniaxiall compressive strength, point load test, indoor elastic wave velocity, etc.) and field seismic refraction survey, and the rock mass classification should be implemented by considering their interrelationship.

• Magazine of korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.32-44
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• 2001

Most of the major aspects of the high speed rail tunnels in Korea, including such items as the tunnel geometry, excavation methods, primary support, final lining, drainage and waterproofing, are similar to the practices followed in other countries. The tunnels in Korea provide the largest net internal area $(107\;m^2)$ as compared to the other counties addressed in this paper. The effective adaptation and modification of international practices and designs, combined with the integration of domestic practices, has resulted in the successful construction of these large tunnels. The experience gained from the completed work to date on the high speed line in Korea, combined with international technology input, will help to ensure future tunnels are constructed in an efficient manner with adequate design measures implemented for the long-term operational life of the tunnels. As has occurred in these other countries, further improvements and modifications to the Korea high-speed railway tunnels will occur as experience is gained and new technology develops.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.17-30
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• 2012

A new trenchless tunneling method using pressurizing support has been developed. As it overcomes shortcomings of conventional methods, it is applied to the field. The main concept of the new method is the pressurization system which, by means of pressurization bag between outer flange of steel ribs and excavated perimeter, applies the pressure corresponding to the magnitude of the relaxed earth pressure caused by excavation to the ground to prevent ground displacement. The stability of the support members and effect of displacement control of the new method were verified through several ways such as numerical tests and various model tests. The new method was applied to the construction of a 10.7 m wide, 7.9 m high and 85 m long road tunnel that passes under Yeongdong Expressway. By applying the new method, the tunnel construction was successfully completed in 13.5 months. It decreases the construction period to 35% compared to that of conventional methods, and ground displacement was almost negligible.