• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.159-169
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• 2008

In general, it is considered that a pillar between closely-spaced tunnel is sensitive for stress concentration. Stability of a pillar is key factor for excavation of closely-spaced tunnel. In this paper, the study is focused on tracing the behaviors, displacement and plotting damages around tunnels that is modelled with Particle Flow Code, $PFC^{2D}$. Parametric study was performed with changing distance between center of tunnels and coefficient of earth pressure(K). Scaled-model tests were also carried out to validate a numerical analysis model. It was found that $PFC^{2D}$ could show dynamic visualized result in quite good agreement with the experimental test.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Rock Mechanics Conference
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.73-82
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• 2009

In order to find that how differences of delay time accuracy of ms,ds detonator applied to tunnel contour influences overbreak in tunnel blasting, it was analyzed using common program(Itasca CG, 2004)which was developed by individual factor method called "Partical Flow Code 2D(PFC2D). In result, overbreak and damage of country rock were reduced when the delay was more accurate than the inaccurate.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.43-52
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• 2014

PURPOSES : To solve problems in current compaction control DCPT(Dynamic Cone Penetrometer Test), highly correlated with various testing methods, simple, and economic is being applied. However, it、s hard to utilize DCPT results due to the few numerical analyses for DCPT have been performed and the lack of data accumulation. Therefore, this study tried to verify the validation of numerical modeling for DCPT by comparing and analyzing the results of numerical analyses with field tests. METHODS: The ground elastic modulus and PR(Penetration Rate) value were estimated by using PFC(Particle Flow Code) 3D program based on the discrete element method. Those values were compared and analyzed with the result of field tests. Also, back analysis was conducted to describe ground elastic modulus of field tests. RESULTS : Relative errors of PR value between the numerical analyses and field tests were calculated to be comparatively low. Also, the relationship between elastic modulus and PR value turned out to be similar. CONCLUSIONS : Numerical modeling of DCPT is considered to be suitable for describing field tests by carrying out numerical analysis using PFC 3D program.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.57-69
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• 2023

In this study, we simulated induced seismicity in the Groningen natural gas reservoir using 2D hydro-mechanical coupled discrete element modelling (DEM). The code used is PFC2D (Particle Flow Code 2D), a commercial software developed by Itasca, and in order to apply to this study we further developed 1)initialization of inhomogeneous reservoir pressure distribution, 2)a non-linear pressure-time history boundary condition, 3)local stress field monitoring logic. We generated a 2D reservoir model with a size of 40 × 50 km² and a complex fault system, and simulated years of pressure depletion with a time range between 1960 and 2020. We simulated fault system failure induced by pressure depletion and reproduced the spatiotemporal distribution of induced seismicity and assessed its failure mechanism. Also, we estimated the ground subsidence distribution and confirmed its similarity to the field measurements in the Groningen region. Through this study, we confirm the feasibility of the presented 2D hydro-mechanical coupled DEM in simulating the deformation of a complex fault system by hydro-mechanical coupled processes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2020

The damage or failure of coal rock is accompanied by energy accumulation, dissipation and release. It is crucial to study the energy evolution characteristics of coal rock for rock mechanics and mining engineering applications. In this paper, coal specimens sourced from the Xinhe mine located in the Jining mining area of China were initially subjected to uniaxial compression, and the micro-parameters of the two-dimensional particle flow code (PFC^2D) model were calibrated according to the experimental test results. Then, the PFC^2D model was used to subject the specimens to substantial uniaxial compression, and the energy evolution laws of coal specimens with various schemes were presented. Finally, the elastic energy storage ratio m was investigated for coal rock, which described the energy conversion in coal specimens with various arrangements of preformed holes. The arrangement of the preformed holes significantly influenced the characteristics of the crack initiation stress and energy in the prepeak stage, whereas the characteristics of the cumulative crack number, failure pattern and elastic strain energy during the loading process were similar. Additionally, the arrangement of the preformed holes altered the proportion of elastic strain energy U_e in the total energy in the prepeak stage, and the probability of rock bursts can be qualitatively predicted.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.433-446
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• 2020

In this paper the effect of confining pressure and tunnel depth on the ground vertical settlement has been investigated using particle flow code (PFC2D). For this perpuse firstly calibration of PFC2D was performed using both of tensile test and triaxial test. Then a model with dimention of 100 m × 100 m was built. A circular tunnel with diameter of 20 m was drillled in the middle of the model. Also, a rectangular tunnel with wide of 10 m and length of 20 m was drilled in the model. The center of tunnel was situated 15 m, 20 m, 25 m, 30 m, 35 m, 40 m, 45 m, 50 m, 55 m and 60 m below the ground surface. these models are under confining pressure of 0.001 GPa, 0.005 GPa, 0.01 GPa, 0.03 GPa, 0.05 GPa and 0.07 GPa. The results show that the volume of colapce zone is constant by increasing the distance between ground surface and tunnel position. Also, the volume of colapce zone was increased by decreasing of confining pressure. The maximum of settlement occurs at the top of the tunnel roof. The maximum of settlement occurs when center of tunnel was situated 15 m below the ground surface. The settlement decreases by increasing the distance between tunnel center line and measuring circles in the ground surface. The minimum of settlement occurs when center of circular tunnel was situated 60 m below the surface ground. Its to be note that the settlement increase by decreasing the confining pressure.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-68
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• 2004

In this study, scaled model tests were performed on blasting demolition of reinforced concrete structures and the experimental results were analyzed in comparison with the results of numerical analysis. The tests were designed to induce a progressive collapse, and physical properties of the scaled model were determined using scale factors obtained ken dimension analysis. The scaled model structure was made of a mixture of plaster, sand and water at the ratio determined to yield the best scaled-down strength. Lead wire was used as a substitute for reinforcing bars. The scaled length was at the ratio of 1/10. Selecting the material and scaled factors was aimed at obtaining appropriately scaled-down strength. PFC2D (Particle Flow Code 2-Dimension) employing DEM (Distinct Element Method) was used for the numerical analysis. Blasting demolition of scaled 3-D plain concrete laymen structure was filmed and compared to results of numerical simulation. Despite the limits of 2-D simulation the resulting demolition behaviors were similar to each other. Based on the above experimental results in combination with bending test results of RC beam, numerical analysis was carried out to determine the blasting sequence and delay times. Scaled model test of RC structure resulted in remarkably similar collapse with the numerical results up to 900㎳ (mili-second).

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

In order to analyze the influence of particle bonding and crushing on the characteristics of shear behavior, especially residual shear behavior of granular soil, ring shear test was simulated by using DEM(Discrete Element Method)-based software program PFC(Particle Flow Code). Total four models including two non-crushing models and two crushing models were created in this study by using clump or cluster model built in PFC. The applicability of Lobo-crushing model proposed by Lobo-Guerrero and Vallejo(2005) was investigated. In addition, the results of ring shear test were analyzed and compared with those of direct shear test. The results showed that the modelling of ring shear test should be conducted to investigate the residual shear behavior. The Lobo-crushing model cannot be applied to investigate the residual shear strength. Finally, it can be concluded that the numerical models excluding Lobo-crushing model suggested in this study can be used extensively for other studies concerning the residual shear behavior of granular soil including soil crushing.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.320-334
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• 2020

This study presents an application of hydro-mechanical coupled Particle Flow Code 3D (PFC3D) to simulation of fluid injection induced fault slip experiment conducted in Mont Terri Switzerland as a part of a task in an international research project DECOVALEX-2019. We also aimed as identifying the current limitations of the modelling method and issues for further development. A fluid flow algorithm was developed and implemented in a 3D pore-pipe network model in a 3D bonded particle assembly using PFC3D v5, and was applied to Mont Terri Step 2 minor fault activation experiment. The simulated results showed that the injected fluid migrates through the permeable fault zone and induces fault deformation, demonstrating a full hydro-mechanical coupled behavior. The simulated results were, however, partially matching with the field measurement. The simulated pressure build-up at the monitoring location showed linear and progressive increase, whereas the field measurement showed an abrupt increase associated with the fault slip We conclude that such difference between the modelling and the field test is due to the structure of the fault in the model which was represented as a combination of damage zone and core fractures. The modelled fault is likely larger in size than the real fault in Mont Terri site. Therefore, the modelled fault allows several path ways of fluid flow from the injection location to the pressure monitoring location, leading to smooth pressure build-up at the monitoring location while the injection pressure increases, and an early start of pressure decay even before the injection pressure reaches the maximum. We also conclude that the clay filling in the real fault could have acted as a fluid barrier which may have resulted in formation of fluid over-pressurization locally in the fault. Unlike the pressure result, the simulated fault deformations were matching with the field measurements. A better way of modelling a heterogeneous clay-filled fault structure with a narrow zone should be studied further to improve the applicability of the modelling method to fluid injection induced fault activation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.445-452
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• 2018

In this paper the effects of particle size and model scale of concrete have been investigated on point load index, tensile strength, and the failure processes using a PFC2D numerical modeling study. Circular and semi-circular specimens of concrete were numerically modeled using the same particle size, 0.27 mm, but with different model diameters of 75 mm, 54 mm, 25 mm, and 12.5 mm. In addition, circular and semi-circular models with the diameter of 27 mm and particle sizes of 0.27 mm, 0.47 mm, 0.67 mm, 0.87 mm, 1.07 mm, and 1.27 mm were simulated to determine whether they can match the experimental observations from point load and Brazilian tests. The numerical modeling results show that the failure patterns are influenced by the model scale and particle size, as expected. Both Is(50) and Brazilian tensile strength values increased as the model diameter and particle sizes increased. The ratio of Brazilian tensile strength to Is(50) showed a reduction as the particle size increased but did not change with the increase in the model scale.