• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.281-291
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• 2022

Complex rock masses include various joint planes, bedding planes and other weak structural planes. The existence of these structural planes affects the mechanical properties, deformation rules and failure modes of jointed rock masses. To study the influence of the parameters of a nonpersistent joint network on the mechanical properties and failure modes of jointed rock masses, synthetic rock mass (SRM) technology based on discrete elements is introduced. The results show that as the size of the joints in the rock mass increases, the compressive strength and the discreteness of the rock mass first increase and then decrease. Among them, the joints that are characterized by "small but many" joints and "large and clustered" joints have the most significant impact on the strength of the rock mass. With the increase in joint density in the rock mass, the compressive strength of rock mass decreases monotonically, but the rate of decrease gradually decreases. With the increase in the joint dip angle in rock mass, the strength of the rock mass first decreases and then increases, forming a U-shaped change rule. In the analysis of the failure mode and deformation of a jointed rock mass, the type of plastic zone formed after rock mass failure is closely related to the macroscopic displacement deformation of the rock mass and the parameters of the joints, which generally shows that the location and density of the joints greatly affect the failure mode and displacement degree of the jointed rock mass. The instability mechanism of jointed surrounding rock is revealed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2020

The traditional formulations for estimation of bearing capacity in rock mechanics assume a homogeneous and isotropic rock mass. However, it is common that the rock mass consists of different layers of different rock properties or of the same rock matrix with distinct geotechnical quality levels. The bearing capacity of a heterogeneous rock is estimated traditionally through the weighted average. In this paper, the solution of the weighted average is compared to the finite difference method applied to a bilayer rock mass. The influence of different parameters such as the thickness of the layers, the rock type, the uniaxial compressive strength and the overall geotechnical quality of the rock mass on the bearing capacity of a bilayer rock mass is analyzed. A parametric study by finite difference method is carried out to develop a bearing capacity factor in function of the layer thickness and the rock mass quality expressed in terms of the geological strength index, which is presented in a form of a chart. Therefore, this correlation factor allows estimating the bearing capacity of a rock mass that is formed by two layers with distinct GSI, depending on the bearing capacity of the rock mass formed only by the upper layer and considered by that way as homogenous and isotropic rock mass.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.375-385
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• 2023

There are many joint fissures distributed in the engineering rock mass. In the process of geological history, the underground rock mass undergoes strong geological processes, and undergoes complex geological processes such as fracture breeding, expansion, recementation, and re-expansion. In this paper, the damage-stick-slip process (DSSP), an analysis model used for rock mass failure slip, was established to examine the master control and time-dependent mechanical properties of the new and primary fractures of a multi-fractured rock mass under the action of stress loading. The experimental system for the recemented multi-fractured rock mass was developed to validate the above theory. First, a rock mass failure test was conducted. Then, the failure stress state was kept constant, and the fractured rock mass was grouted and cemented. A secondary loading was applied until the grouted mass reached the intended strength to investigate the bearing capacity of the recemented multi-fractured rock mass, and an acoustic emission (AE) system was used to monitor AE events and the update of damage energy. The results show that the initial fracture angle and direction had a significant effect on the re-failure process of the cement rock mass; Compared with the monitoring results of the acoustic emission (AE) measurements, the master control surface, key blocks and other control factors in the multi-fractured rock mass were obtained; The triangular shaped block in rock mass plays an important role in the stress and displacement change of multi-fracture rock mass and the long fissure and the fractures with close fracture tip are easier to activate, and the position where the longer fractures intersect with the smaller fractures is easier to generate new fractures. The results are of great significance to a multi-block structure, which affects the safety of underground coal mining.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1994.09a
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• pp.209-216
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• 1994

Rock mass classifications have played an indispensable role in underground construction for several decades. An important issue in rock mass classifications is the selection of the parameters of greatest significance. There appears to be no single parameter that can fully describe a jointed rock mass for underground construction design. In this paper. We find some problems shen applied rock mass classification for underground construction in domestic, analyze the most significant parameters and parameters correlation influencing the behavior of a rock mass, and suggest the Simplied Rock Mass Rating system based on RMR method for effective underground supports.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.197-208
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• 1996

Due to the constraints in pre site-investigation for tunnel, it is essential to redesign the support structures suitable for rock mass conditions such as rock strength, ground water and discontinuity conditions for safe tunnel construction. For the selection of optimum support, it is very important to carry out the rock mass classification and in-situ measurement in tunnelling. In this paper, in a mountain tunnel designed by NATM in hard rock, the selectable system for optimum support has been studied. The tunnel is situated at Chun-an in Kyungbu highspeed railway line with 2 lanes over a length of 4, 020 m and a diameter of 15 m. The tunnel was constructed by drill & blasting method and long bench cut method, designed five types of standard support patterns according to rock mass conditions. In this tunnel, face mapping based on image processing of tunnel face and rock mass classification by RMR carried out for the quantitative evaluation of the characteristics of rock mass and compared with rock mass classes in design. Also, in-situ measurement of convergence and crown settlement conducted about 30 m interval, assessed the stability of tunnel from the analysis of monitoring data. Through the results of rock mass classification and in-situ measurement in several sections, the design of supports were modified for the safe and economic tunnelling.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.553-565
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• 2023

As the structure of broken rock mass is complex, with obvious discontinuity and anisotropy, it is generally necessary to reinforce broken rock mass using grouting in underground construction. The purpose of this study is to experimentally investigate the mechanical properties of broken rock mass after grouting reinforcement with consideration of the characteristics of broken rock mass (i.e., degree of fragmentation and shape) and a range of reinforcement methods such as relative strength ratio between the broken rock mass and cement-based grout stone body (λ), and volumetric block proportion (VBP) representing the volumetric ratio of broken rock mass and the overall cement grout-broken rock mass mixture after the reinforcement. The experimental results show that the strength and deformation of the reinforced broken rock mass is largely determined by relative strength ratio (λ) and VBP. In addition, the enhancement in compressive strength by grouting is more obvious for broken rock mass with spherical shape under a relatively high strength ratio (e.g., λ=2.0), whereas the shape of rock mass has little influence when the strength ratio is low (e.g., λ=0.1). Importantly, the results indicate that columnar splitting failure and inclined shear failure are two typical failure modes of broken rock mass with grouting reinforcement.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.265-272
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• 2003

In this study, the rock mass classification results from the face mapping and the resistivity inversion data are compared and analyzed for the reliability investigation of the determination of the rock support type based on the surface electrical survey. To get the quantitative correlation, rock engineering indices such as RCR(rock condition rating), N(Rock mass number), Q-system based on RMR(rock mass rating) are calculated. Kriging method as a post processing technique for global optimization is used to improve its resolution. The result of correlation analysis shows that the geological condition estimated from 2D electrical resistivity survey is coincident globally with the trend of rock type except for a few local areas. The correlation between the results of 3D electrical resistivity survey and the rock mass classification turns out to be very high. It can be concluded that 3D electrical resistivity survey is powerful to set up the reliable rock support type.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.521-528
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• 2005

The evaluation process of rock mass properties intrinsically contains some uncertainty due to the inhomogeneity of rock mass and the measurement error. Although various empirical methods for the determination of rock mass properties were suggested, there is no way of integrating various information on rock mass properties except averaging. For these reasons, this research introduces evidence theory which can model epistemic uncertainty and yield reasonable rock mass properties through combining various information such as empirical equations, in-situ test results, and so on. Through the application of evidence theory to the real site investigation and in situ experiment results, an interval of deformation modulus, cohesion and friction angle of rock mass were obtained. The ratios between lower and upper bound of those properties ranges from 1.6 to 3.6. Numerical analyses of circular hole using the properties for TYPE-2 rock mass were carried out. The magnitude or size of plastic region and radial displacement in case of lower bound properties is about 4 times larger than that of upper bound properties.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.102-118
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• 1994

Thermomechanical analysis is conducted on the radioactive repository in deep rock mass considering the in-situ stress, excavation and thermal loading of a radioactive waste. Thermomechanical properties of a discontinuous rock mass are estimated by a theoretical method so called sequential analysis. Using the estimated properties as input for finite element analysis, the influence on temperature distribution and thermal stress is analyzed within the scope of 2-dimensional steady state and transient heat transfer and coupled thermal elastic plastic behaviour. Granitic rock mass is taken for this analysis. The analysis is done for two different rock mass conditions, i.e. continuous-homogeneous and highly jointed conditions, for the purpose of comparison. In the case of steady state, the extent of disturbed zone around the storage tunnel due to the heat production of the spent-fuel canister varies depending on the thermomechanical properties of the rock mass. In the case of transient analyses, the response of the jointed rock mass to the thermal loading after radioactive waste disposal varies significantly with time, resulting in dramatic changes in the both size and location of disturbed zone.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.1089-1094
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• 2004

Numerical methods to estimate behaviors of jointed rock mass can be roughly divided into two method : discontinuous model and continuum model. Generally, distinct element method (DEM) is applied in discontinuous model, and finite element method (FEM) or finite difference method (FDM) is utilized in continuum model. To predict a behavior of discontinuous model by DEM, it is essential to understand characteristics of joints developed in rock mass through field tests. However, results of field tests can not provide full information about rock mass because field tests is conducted in limited area. In this paper, discontinuous analysis by UDEC and continuous analysis by FLAC is utilized to estimate a behavior of a tunnel in jointed rock mass. For including discontinuous analysis in continuous analysis, joints in rock mass is considered by reducing rock mass properties obtained by RMR and decreasing shear strength of rock mass. By comparing and revising two analysis results, analysis results similar with practical behavior of a tunnel can be induced and appropriate support system is decided.