• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.375-385
• /
• 2013

This study evaluates correlation between petrographic characteristics and weathering grade of low-graded metasedimentary rocks mainly consisting of phyllite. Weathering grade of rock material was determined based on the results of geological survey. The Schmidt hammer test was carried out to obtain estimates of strength of rock materials. Point counting and microscopic observation were also conducted to analyze mineral composition and to measure spacing of foliation for 9 rock specimens. As a result of microscopic analysis, as the weathering grade was lower, the quartz was found more in quantity, consequently making rock stronger against weathering process. On the other side, lower weathering grade of rock resulted in less content of mica which is weak against weathering process. In addition, the rock materials with closer foliation spacing are found to be weaker in strength and have higher weathering grade.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.511-525
• /
• 2024

Underground openings significantly affect the mechanical stability of underground spaces and create damaged zones. This study investigated the acoustic emission (AE) characteristics associated with the formation of damaged zones around circular openings. Uniaxial compression experiments were conducted on three types of rock specimens, namely, granite (GN-1 and GN-2), gabbro (GB), and slate (SL), containing a circular opening. AE and digital image correlation (DIC) techniques were used to monitor and evaluate the damaged zones near the circular openings. The AE characteristics were evaluated using AE parameters, including count, energy, amplitude, average frequency, and RA value. The DIC results revealed that the estimated diameters of the damaged zones of GN-1, GN-2, GB, and SL were 1.66D, 1.53D, 1.49D, and 1.9D, respectively. The average displacements at the surface of the damaged zones for these specimens were 0.814, 0.786, 0.661, and 0.673 mm, respectively, thus demonstrating a strong correlation with Young's modulus. The AE analysis with DIC revealed that tensile failure occurred in the direction parallel to the maximum compression axis as the load increased. Thus, this study provides fundamental data for a comprehensive analysis of damaged zones in underground openings and will facilitate the optimization of rock engineering projects and safety assessments thereof.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.574-593
• /
• 2023

In this study, the effectiveness and applicability of a newly designed Compact CNS shear box for conducting direct shear tests on jointed rock specimens were investigated. CNS joint shear tests were conducted on jointed rocks with Artificially generated roughness while varying the fracture surface roughness coefficient and initial normal stress conditions. In addition, displacement data were validated by Digital image correlation analysis, fracture patterns were observed, and comparative analysis was conducted with previously studied shear behavior prediction models. Furthermore, the accuracy of the displacement data was confirmed through DIC analysis, the fracture patterns were observed, and the shear properties obtained from the tests were compared with existing models that predict shear behavior. The findings exhibited a strong correlation with specific established empirical models for predicting shear behavior. Furthermore, the potential linkage between the characteristics of shear behavior and fracture patterns was deliberated. In conclusion, the CNS shear box was shown to be applicable and effective in providing data on the shear characteristics of the joint.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.657-673
• /
• 2019

A monitoring method based on acoustic emission (AE) sensor has been widely used to evaluate the damage of structures in underground rock. The acoustic emission signal generated from cracking in material is analyzed as various acoustic emission parameters in time and frequency domain. To investigate from initial crack generation to final failure of rock material, it is important to understand the characteristics of acoustic emission parameters according to the stress ratio and rock strength. In this study, uniaxial compression tests were performed using very strong and weak rock specimen in order to investigate the acoustic emission parameters when the failure of specimen occurred. In the results of experimental tests, the event, root-mean-square (RMS) voltage, amplitude, and absolute energy of very strong rock specimen were larger than those of the weak rock specimen with an increase of stress ratio. In addition, the acoustic emission parameters related in frequency were more affected by specification (e.g., operation and resonant frequency) of sensors than the stress ratio or rock strength. It is expected that this study may be meaningful for evaluating the damage of underground rock when the health monitoring based on the acoustic emission technique will be performed.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.303-314
• /
• 2009

Image analyses for sheared joint specimens are performed to study asperity degradation characteristics with respect to the roughness mobilization of rock joints. Four different types of joint specimens, which are made of high-strength gypsum materials, are prepared by replicating the three-dimensional roughness of rock joints. About twenty jointed rock shear tests are performed at various normal stress levels. The characteristic and scale of asperity degradation on the sheared joint specimens are analyzed using the digital image analysis technique. The results show that the asperity degradation characteristic mainly depends on the normal stress level and can be defined by asperity failure and wear. The asperity degradation develops significantly around the peak shear displacement and the average amount of degraded asperities remains constant with further displacement because of new degradation of small scale asperities. The shear strength results using high-strength gypsum materials can not fully represent physical properties of each mineral particles of asperities on the natural rock joint surface. However the results of this quantitative estimation for the relationship between the peak shear displacement and the asperity degradation suggest that the characterization of asperity degradation provides an important insight into mechanical characteristics and shear models of rock joints.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.180-189
• /
• 2013

Geophysical exploration is widely used to develop strategic mineral resources in the world because of its efficient method in detecting mineralized zones in the metallic ore deposit. It is important to understand the physical properties of the stratum so that geophysical data can be more accurately interpreted. This paper is to comprehend physical properties of the rock at the Gagok mine, a typical skarn deposit in Korea. Thus, laboratory tests were conducted on specimens of ore and host rocks which were collected from rock outcrops and drill cores at the Gagok mine. Using the measurement system of rock physical property, we investigated the density, magnetic susceptibility, resistivity, and spectral induced polarization. According to the results, all physical properties of specimens had wide differences depending on contents of ore minerals, which are formed by skarnization. Especially, using the chargeability and time constant from the calculated spectral induced polarization data by the Cole-Cole inversion, we could estimate the volume contents as well as the grain size of the sulfide minerals. Therefore, the spectral induced polarization technique may be considered a useful method when exploring metallic ore deposit with sulfide minerals.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.39 no.4 s.179
• /
• pp.451-471
• /
• 2006

Major projects and research topics in the field of rock mechanics are analyzed to obtain the following results: $\cdot$ Rock mechanics deals with the behavior of deformation, failure and displacement of the rock and rock mass on the basis of geological basics. Discontinuities in the rock mass are the most important parameters to control the behavior of rock mass around underground openings. $\cdot$ The objective of site investigation and testing is to determine the strength properties of the rock mass and the in situ stress regime. Specimens for laboratory and in situ tests are to be selected in order that the results of the tests give the representative properties oi the rock mass of the site in question. $\cdot$ The result of a numerical model would be better evaluated not quantitatively but qualitatively. The displacement behavior of the rock mass has to be monitored properly for the NATM (New Austrian Tunneling Method) principles. $\cdot$ The stability of rock slope is to be evaluated preferably by back analysis with strength parameters, such as cohesion and friction angle.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.771-784
• /
• 2007

This study shows the weathering characteristics of mica-schist affected by faulting and metamorphism through laboratory tests. Frozen-thaw test, which simulate the physical-chemical weathering processes in the laboratory, shows the important influence of foliation developed in mica-schist, resulting in $20{\sim}40%$ reduction of UCS according to weathering grade of rock. Slaking durability test was carried out for different weathering grade rock specimens and indicated that the specimens from fault area had a low durability index compared to other relatively fresh samples. XRD analysis allowed to estimate the dynamic evolution of mineral composition through wet-dry cycle in which the chlorite was the most important mineral leached out during slaking test. The creep test indicated that the main deformation produced along the foliation plane. The compacted clay minerals between discontinuity planes influence on the discontinuity shearing properties and result in a big difference between peak shear strength and residual strength. The results of laboratory tests on mica-schist show the possibility of a important deformation along the foliation plane or discontinuity.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.346-353
• /
• 2012

Multi-specimen uniaxial compression test has been carried out in order to find the method to determine the five independent elastic constants from a single standard specimen of a transversely isotropic rock. Total 35 specimens of 7 different angles from a large block of rhyolite presenting the flow structure obviously are used in tests. This second report is to focus on the statistical evaluation of measured strains and analyzed elastic constants. And the determination of their true or near-true values is discussed. As the result of RSD analysis, it turns out that the reliability of measured strains is sufficiently obtained and Saint-Venant approximation is well applicable except 15 degree angled specimen in tests. RSD is decreasing on the increase of the angle of anisotropy. This tendency may be caused not only by the decreasing of the deviation of measured strains, but also by the better applicability of Saint-Venant approximation on the increase of angle. It can be concluded that the analyzed values are considered the near-true ones of five independent constants on the high reliability. But the variation of the apparent Young's modulus expected by these values is not proved to match the measured tendency. It is inferred that the factor to decrease the apparent Young's modulus and/or to increase the shear strain, is present in the test or in the nature of the anisotropy in consideration of this inconsistency.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.559-572
• /
• 2020

This paper performs laboratory experiments for borehole stability considering temperature and true triaxial stress condition, and observes a thermo-mechanical behavior of the rock under stress and temperature conditions of deep underground. China yellow sandstone and Hwangdeung granite specimens were used to perform a true triaxial compression test. Mechanical tests were carried out under nine confining pressure conditions, and thermo-mechanical tests using granite samples were carried out under six confining pressure conditions at 60-100℃. In the mechanical tests, maximum principal stress at borehole breakout was proportional to intermediate principal stress. In the thermo-mechanical tests, it was confirmed that thermal stress is added to the stress field of the borehole with the increase in temperature, resulting in additional breakout progress. To analyze the results of the laboratory experiment, Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion was used. The results of traditional triaxial compression test on cylindrical specimens and borehole breakout under true triaxial compressions matched well with Mogi-Coulomb failure criterion.