• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.35 no.12
• /
• pp.135-145
• /
• 2019

The slope collapse can be classified into internal and external factors. Internal factors are engineering factors inherent in the formation of slopes such as soil depth, slope angle, shear strength of soil, and external factors are external loading such as earthquakes. The external factor for earthquake can be expressed by various values such as peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), Arias coefficient (I), natural period (T_p), and spectral acceleration (S_aT=1.0). Specially, PGA is the most typical value that defines the magnitude of the ground motion of an earthquake. However, it is not enough to consider the displacement in the slope which depends on the duration of the earthquake even if the vibration has the same peak ground acceleration. In this study, numerical analysis of two-dimensional plane strain conditions was performed on engineered block, and slope responses due to seismic motion of scaling PGA to 0.2 g various event scenarios was analyzed. As a result, the response of slope is different depending on the presence or absence of sliding block; it is shown that slope response depend on the seismic wave triggering sliding block than the input motion factors.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.243-248
• /
• 2010

Two suspicious events, which were claimed as underground nuclear tests by North Korea, were detected in the northern Korean Peninsula on October 9, 2006 and May 25, 2009. The KIGAM and Korea-China Joint seismic stations are distributed uniformly along the boundaries between North Korea and adjacent countries. In this study, the data from broadband stations with the distance of 200 to 550 km from the test site are used to analyze and compare two nuclear tests of North Korea. By comparing the time differences of the Pn-wave arrival times of 1st and 2nd tests at multiple stations, the relative locations of two test sites could be calculated precisely. From the geometrical calculation with the velocity of Pn wave $V_{Pn}$ = 8 km/s, the 2nd test site is estimated to move in the WNW direction from 1st one with the distance of 2 km. Body wave magnitude, mb of the 2nd test, which was announced officially as the network average of 4.5, varies widely with the directional location of stations from 4.1 to 5.2. The magnitude obtained from Lg wave, $m_b$(Lg), shows less variation between 4.3 to 4.7 with the average of 4.6. The moving-window spectra of time traces of 1st and 2nd tests show very similar pattern with different scale level. In addition, the corner frequencies of P wave of 1st and 2nd tests at each station show no or negligible difference. This indicates the burial depths of two tests might be very similar. The relative yield amount of the 2nd test is estimated 8 times larger than that of the 1st from the weighted average of ground-velocity amplitude ratios.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.215-223
• /
• 2005

Piezo-ceramics are special materials which transform energy from mechanical to electrical forms and vice versa. Bender elements are composite materials consisting of thin piezo-ceramics and elastic shims, and are widely used as actuators and transducers in the field of electronics, robotics, autos and mechatronics utilizing the effectiveness of energy transformation capability. In geotechnical engineering, commercial bender elements are used in laboratory as source and receiver in the measurements of soil stiffness. The elements were built by using various metal shims sandwiched between piezo-ceramics and coating over the composite in the research. A pair of elements were buried in a concrete block and used as source and receiver to measure the stiffness of the concrete. The test results were verified by comparing with the resonant column testing results. In a preliminary stage of the development of an in-situ seismic testing equipment using bender elements for soft clay materials, shear waves were generated and measured by burying the elements in the barrel of kaolinite and water mixture. The measured shear wave signals were so distinct for the first-arrival pick that applicability of the elements in the field measurements could be very promising.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.349-356
• /
• 2015

Although geophysical methods are useful and generally provide valuable information about the subsurface, it is important to recognize their limitations. A common limitation is the lack of sufficient contrast in physical properties between different layers. Thus, multiple methods are commonly used to best constrain the physical properties of different layers and interpret each section individually. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and shallow seismic reflection (SSR) methods, used for shallow and very shallow subsurface imaging, respond to dielectric and velocity contrasts between layers, respectively. In this study, we merged GPR and SSR data from a test site within the Cheongui granitic mass, where the water table is ~3 m deep all year. We interpreted the data in combination with field observations and existing data from drill cores and well logs. GPR and SSR reflections from the tops of the sand layer, water table, and weathered and soft rocks are successfully mapped in a single section, and they correlate well with electrical resistivity data and SPS (suspension PS) well-logging profiles. In addition, subsurface interfaces in the integrated section correlate well with S-wave velocity structures from multi-channel analysis shear wave (MASW) data, a method that was recently developed to enhance lateral resolution on the basis of CMP (common midpoint) cross-correlation (CMPCC) analysis.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.180-191
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this research was to find an optimal quarrying for marble by analyzing the applicability and the work efficiency of a chain saw machine newly introduced in the underground Baekwoon mine. From the test results of the physical properties of Baekwoon marble, which affects the efficiency of rock cutting, it was found to have similar physical characteristics as the ones which are now being produced in the other areas in Korea. And especially it shows isotropic property, which can be thought to be advantageous as a dimensional stone. To check the long-term quality of the marble as a stone material, several tests such as corrosion resistance test and abrasion test were carried out. It was found to be vulnerable to acid rain with decrease of weight and seismic wave velocity after applying artificial rain at pH 5.6 for 50 times. The percentage of wear from abrasion test was 22.67%. The working time and cutting speed of the chain saw machine were recorded and analyzed during the test-run at the quarry. The overall work cycle was assorted into 9 unit operations and the operating time per each unit was drawn. The operating times for the two cutting patterns, which could be possibly applicable to the work site, were compared. The results indicated that the pattern B, that the cutting sequence was set to minimize the movement of the machine, showed 6% less working hours than the pattern A, which first cuts the outer boundary. With cutting pattern analysis, the ore body in the Baekwoon mine was 3 dimensionally modeled and a quarrying plan considering the existing conditions of the marble was suggested.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.381-393
• /
• 2021

Physical, mechanical, hydraulic, and geophysical tests were applied to validate methods of inspecting the effectiveness of grouting on an agricultural reservoir dam. Data obtained from series of in situ and laboratory tests considered four stages: before grouting; during grouting; immediately after grouting; and after aging the grouting for 28 days. The results of SPT and triaxial tests, including the unit weight, compressive strength, friction angle, cohesion, and N-value, indicated the extent of ground improvement with respect to grout injection. However, they sometimes contained errors caused by ground heterogeneity. Hydraulic conductivity obtained from in situ variable head permeability testing is most suitable for identifying the effectiveness of grouting because the impermeability of the ground increased immediately after grouting. Electric resistivity surveying is useful for finding a saturated zone and a seepage pathway, and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) is suitable for analyzing the effectiveness of grouting, as elastic velocity increases distinctly after grouting injection. MASW also allows calculation from the P- and S- wave velocities of dynamic properties (e.g., dynamic elastic modulus and dynamic Poisson's ratio), which can be used in the seismic design of dam structures.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.117-127
• /
• 2008

The volumetric pressure plate extractor (VPPE) was modified for the measurement of shear wave velocity ($V_s$) at various levels of matric suction as well as soil water characteristic curve (SWCC). A non-destructive technique with a pair of bender element (BE) was employed in order to measure the $V_s$ and the corresponding maximum shear modulus ($G_{max}$) of unsaturated soil specimens. Three types of soil were collected from different road construction sites in Korea. For all test soils, the variations in $G_{max}$ with the various levels of water content and matric suction were investigated using the developed apparatus. Compared with the preceding results from the suction-controlled torsional shear (TS) testing system and in-situ seismic tests, the feasibility fur evaluating modulus characteristics of unsaturated compacted soils with the developed VPPE-BE system was assessed. It was confirmed that the newly developed system would be potentially helpful in modeling seasonal variation of modulus.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.87-105
• /
• 2009

Nonlinear dynamic deformation characteristics, expressed in terms of normalized shear modulus reduction curve (G/$G_{max}-\log\gamma$, G/$G_{max}$ curve) and damping curve (D-$\log\gamma$), are important input parameters with shear wave velocity profile ($V_s$-profile) in the seismic analysis of (new or existing) fill dam. In this paper, the reasonable and economical methods to evaluate the nonlinear dynamic deformation characteristics for core zone and rockfill zone respectively are presented. For the core zone, 111 G/$G_{max}$ curves and 98 damping curves which meet the requirements of core material were compiled and representative curves and ranges were proposed for the three ranges of confining pressure (0~100 kPa, 100 kPa~200 kPa, more than 200 kPa). The reliability of the proposed curves for the core zone were verified by comparing with the resonant column test results of two kinds of core materials. For the rockfill zone, 135 G/$G_{max}$ curves and 65 damping curves were compiled from the test results of gravelly materials using large scale testing equipments. The representative curves and ranges for G/$G_{max}$ were proposed for the three ranges of confining pressure (0~50 kPa, 50 kPa~100 kPa, more than 100 kPa) and those for damping were proposed independently of confining pressure. The reliability of the proposed curves for the rockfill zone were verified by comparing with the large scale triaxial test results of rockfill materials in the B-dam which is being constructed.