• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.471-479
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• 2023

In In-situ radioactivity measurement techniques, efficiency calibration models use predefined models to simulate a sample's geometry and radioactivity distribution. However, simplified efficiency calibration models lead to uncertainties in the efficiency curves, which in turn affect the radioactivity concentration results. This study aims to develop an efficiency calibration optimization methodology to improve the accuracy of in-situ gamma radiation measurements for byproducts from industrial facilities. To accomplish the objective, a drive mechanism for rotational measurement of an byproduct simulator and a sample was constructed. Using ISOCS, an efficiency calibration model of the designed object was generated. Then, the sensitivity analysis of the efficiency calibration model was performed, and the efficiency curve of the efficiency calibration model was optimized using the sensitivity analysis results. Finally, the radiation concentration of the simulated subject was estimated, compared, and evaluated with the designed certification value. For the sensitivity assessment of the influencing factors of the efficiency calibration model, the ISOCS Uncertainty Estimator was used for the horizontal and vertical size and density of the measured object. The standard deviation of the measurement efficiency as a function of the longitudinal size and density of the efficiency calibration model decreased with increasing energy region. When using the optimized efficiency calibration model, the measurement efficiency using IUE was improved compared to the measurement efficiency using ISOCS at the energy of ²²⁸Ac (911 keV) for the nuclide under analysis. Using the ISOCS efficiency calibration method, the difference between the measured radiation concentration and the design value for each simulated subject measurement direction was 4.1% (1% to 10%) on average. The difference between the estimated radioactivity concentration and the design value was 3.6% (1~8%) on average when using the ISOCS IUE efficiency calibration method, which was closer to the design value than the efficiency calibration method using ISOCS. In other words, the estimated radioactivity concentration using the optimized efficiency curve was similar to the designed radioactivity concentration. The results of this study can be utilized as the main basis for the development of regulatory technologies for the treatment and disposal of waste generated during the operation, maintenance, and facility replacement of domestic byproduct generation facilities.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2007

This study suggested a new method to stabilize molten salt wastes generated from the pyre-process for the spent fuel treatment. Using conventional sol-gel process, $SiO_2-Al_2O_3-P_2O_5$ (SAP) inorganic material that is reactive to metal chlorides were prepared. In this paper, the reactivity of SAP with the metal chlorides at $650{\sim}850$, the thermal stability of reaction products and their leach-resistance under the PCT-A test method were investigated. Alkali metal chlorides were converted into metal aluminosilicate($LixAlxSi1-_xO_{2-x}$) and metal phosphate($Li_3PO_4\;and\;Cs_2AlP_3O_{10}$) While alkali earth and rare earth chlorides were changed into only metal phosphates ($Sr_5(PO_4)_3Cl\;and\;CePO_4$). The conversion rate was about $96{\sim}99%$ at a salt waste/SAP weight ratio of 0.5 and a weight loss up to $1100^{\circ}C$ measured by thermogravimetric analysis were below 1wt%. The leach rates of Cs and Sr under the PCT-A test condition were about $10^{-2}g/m^2\;day\;and\;10^{-4}g/m^2\;day$. From these results, it could be concluded that SAP can be considered as an effective stabilizer for metal chlorides and the method using SAP will give a chance to reduce the volume of salt wasteform for the final disposal through further researches.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.4 s.179
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• pp.441-450
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• 2006

The on-land seismic survey in Korea was begun in mid-1960s. Kim et al.(1967) of Korea Geological Survey reported on the result of gravity and seismic reflection surveys conducted in the Pohang area for the period of 1963-64 to assess its possibility of oil entrapment. Hyun and Kim (1966) carried out a refraction survey on the tunnel wall. Since then, the KGS geophysicists had conducted seismic surveys on Kyungsang sedimentary basin as a main project for several years. In 1970s, on-land seismic surveys had been conducted for various purposes such as site investigation for the nuclear power plants and industrial complex, exploration for ground water, mineral resources and underground tunnel. The first reflection survey with CMP acquisition was attempted in 1978 by using a digital recording system. But most of on-land seismic surveys had employed the refraction method until 1980s. In 1990s, high resolution reflection and various borehole seismic surveys such as tomography, uphole, downhole, cross-hole methods have been attempted by universities and engineering companies. The applications of on-land seismic surveys have been enlarged for both academic and industrial purposes such as investigation of geologic structure of the fault and tidal flat area, construction of highway, railroad and dam, geothermal energy and mineral resource exploration, environmental assessment for waste disposal sites and archaeological investigations. In 2002, the first crustal seismic survey was carried out on the profile of 294km length across the whole peninsular. It is expected that the advanced technology and experience acquired through offshore seismic surveys, which have been conducted in continental shelf of Korea and foreign oil fields, will stimulate the more active on-land seismic explorations.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.243-269
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• 2021

Since the early 2010s, the social importance of research and practical projects targeting deep geological disposal of high-level nuclear waste, underground CO₂ storage and characterization of deep subsurface by borehole investigation has been increasing. In this regard, there is also a significant increase in the need for in situ test technology to obtain quantitative and reliable information on the hydraulic characteristics of deep rock mass. Through years of research and development, we have independently set up Deep borehole Hydraulic Test System (DHTS) based on the key apparatuses designed and made with our own technology. Using this system, high precision constant pressure injection tests were successfully completed at the two 1 km boreholes located in Mesozoic granite and sedimentary rock regions, Gyeongju. During the field tests, it was possible to measure very low flow rate below 0.01 l/min with micro flow rate injection/control module. In this paper, the major characteristics of DHTS are introduced and also some results obtained from the high precision field tests under the deep and low permeable rock mass environment are briefly discussed.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2021

It is important to evaluate the fracture network in a rock volume because fractures control the ground conditions and fluid flow characteristics. Therefore, various attempts have been made to quantify fracture networks to better understand ground and flow conditions. The use of fracture density alone (a quantitative parameter based on geometric analysis) does not fully explain the evolution of fracture networks, or quantify the spatial relationship (e.g. connectivity) of fractures in a rock mass. Therefore, the need for fracture network characterization based on topological analysis has recently emerged. In Korea however, the topological analysis of fracture networks within a rock mass has rarely been studied. As such, the definition of the topological analysis of fracture networks and the graph theory related to the topological analysis are briefly summarized in this study. We also introduce an application method for these analyses to fracture characterization. If the topological method is used for the analysis of fracture networks, it can also be adopted to analyze fluid flow characteristics of groundwater, characterize petroleum reservoirs, and analyze the evolution of a fracture network. In addition, topological analysis can be useful for site selection of major facilities such as nuclear waste disposal sites because it can be used to evaluate the stability of the potential sites.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2023

A Study on the Introduction of Dose Constraints for Occupational Exposures: Focusing on Experts' Opinions by Field of Radiation Industry. The International Commission on Radiological Protection suggests Justification, Optimization, and Dose Limits as the three principles of radiological protection, among which, as a means of protection optimization, ICRP 103 recommends to set dose constraints. In this study, opinions are collected from experts in each category of radiation industries for stakeholder participation to qualify dose constraints. A guidance and questionnaire for analyzing the dose constraints have been developed for their collection, and opinions were collected from radiation protection experts in selected categories. 20 out of 22 experts, consisted with 91%, have assessed the dose constraints setting is necessary, and 2 experts, consisted with 9%, assessed it is unnecessary. The average of dose constraint presented by experts for RI production institutions is to be the highest level of 15.3 mSv, and light-water reactors (14.6 mSv), non-destructive inspection (14.4 mSv), heavy-water reactor and medical institutes (13.9mSv) is to be above the overall average dose constraint. In case of public institutions, the average dose constraint is to be 8.6mSv, and research institutions (8.8mSv), educational institutions (9.6 mSv), waste disposal sites (9.7 mSv), and general industries (10.6 mSv) are resulted to below the overall average dose constraint. As for the means of setting dose constraints, 8 experts out of 22 suggested setting dose constraints for each specific industry or task. And, 5 experts especially suggest setting dose constraints for the specific groups with relatively high exposure, such as workers with above the record levels. As a countermeasure for workers who exceed the dose constraints, 15 experts out of 22 expressed that the cause analyses for them and preparation for a plan of reducing them are necessary.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.09a
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• pp.54-69
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• 2000

There are groundwater trouble by high-salinity yield inducing sea-water intrusion in Cheju Island. It is used groundwater-GIS(Well-lnfo) in the maintenance and management of groundwater in Cheju Island to grasp groundwater trouble area and cause of high-salinity yield. For 16 wells certain to yield high-salinity, we logged specific electrical conductivity(EC) and tried to get hold of freshwater and saltwater relationship. As result of distribution of $Cl^-$ by depth, it is showed up groundwater trouble by high-salinity yield in the east coastal area and the partly north coastal area. The reason of high-salinity groundwater yield are low-groundwater level by the structure of geology and low-hydraulic gradient etc. There is necessity for management to development and use of groundwater in the high-salinity area, special management area.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.08a
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• pp.137-155
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• 1999

Recently, Televiewer(Borehole Acoustic Scanner(Televiewer)) has come to be widely used specially for the general engineering construction design. The Televiewer tool using a focussed acoustic beam is to detect the amplitude and traveltime of each reflected acoustic signal at the wall, resulting in the amplitude- and traveltime image respectively. Fractures can be well detected, because they easily scatter the acoustic energy due to the highly narrow beam. In addition, the drilling work will rough the borehole wall so that the acoustic energy can be scattered simply due to the roughness of the wall. Thus, the amplitude level can be directed associated with the elastic properties(impedance) and the hardness of the rock as well. Meanwhile, the traveltime image provides an information about the borehole shape and can be converted to a high precision 3D caliper log(max. 288 arms). In this paper, based on the high resolution of Televiewer images, general evaluation methods are illustrated to derive very reliable rock parameters.