• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.394-406
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• 2019

Difficult ground conditions (e.g., fault zone and mixed grounds) are highly probable to appear in subsea and urban tunnels because of the shallow working depth and alluvial characteristics. TBM usually experienced decrease of penetration rate and increase of downtime when it meets these difficult ground conditions. The problems are usually caused by the adverse geological conditions, and it is preferable to determine the optimal operational parameters of TBM based on the previous operational data obtained while excavating a preceding tunnel. This study carried out for efficient TBM excavation in fault zone and mixed grounds. TBM excavation data from the tunnel site in Singapore and the characteristics of the TBM excavation data was analyzed. The key operational parameters (i.e., thrust, torque, and RPM), penetration rate, and downtime were highly influenced by the presence of fault zones and mixed grounds, and the features was discussed. It is expected that the results and main discussions will be useful information for future tunneling projects in similar geological conditions.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.528-546
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• 2018

Cases of TBM tunnelling have been consistently increasing worldwide. In many recent subsea and urban tunnelling projects, TBM excavation has been preferably considered due to its advantages over drill and blast tunnelling. Difficult ground conditions are highly probable to appear in subsea and urban tunnels because of the shallow working depth and alluvial characteristics. Under the difficult ground conditions, ground reinforcement measures should be considered including grouting, while it is of great importance to select the optimal grout material and injection method to cope with the ground condition. The benefits from TBM excavation, such as fast excavation, increased safety, and reduced environmental impact, can be achieved by applying appropriate ground reinforcement with the minimum overrun of cost and time. In this report, various grouting methods were reviewed so that they can be applied in difficult ground conditions. In addition, domestic and international cases of successful ground reinforcement for difficult grounds were introduced for future reference.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.323-345
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• 2019

It is essential to predict ground conditions ahead of a tunnel face in order to successfully excavate tunnels using a shield TBM. This study proposes a forward prediction method for a mixed soil ground and/or a ground containing core stones by using electrical resistivity and induced polarization exploration. Soil conditioning in EPB shield TBM is dependent upon the composition of mixed soils; a special care need to be taken when excavating the core-stoned soil ground using TBM. The resistivity and chargeability are assumed to be measured with four electrodes at the tunnel face, whenever the excavation is stopped to assemble one ring of a segment lining. Firstly, the mixed ground consisting of weathered granite soil, sand, and clay was modeled in laboratory-scale experiments. Experimental results show that the measured electrical resistivity considerably coincides with the analytical solution. On the other hand, the induced polarization has either same or opposite trend with the measured resistivity depending on the mixed ground conditions. Based on these experimental results, a method to predict the mixed soil ground that can be used during TBM tunnel driving is suggested. Secondly, tunnel excavation from a homogeneous ground to a ground containing core stones was modeled in laboratory scale; the irregularity of the core stones contained in the soil layer was modeled through random number generation scheme. Experimental results show that as the TBM approaches the ground that contains core stones, the electrical resistivity increases and the induced polarization fluctuates.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.255-280
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• 2024

If there are concerns about the stability of segment lining due to section deficiency or large deformation in shield TBM tunnel, reinforcement can be done through ground grouting outside the tunnel or by using steel plate reinforcement, ring beam reinforcement, or inner double layer lining inside the tunnel. Traditional analyses of shield TBM tunnels have been conducted using a continuum method that does not consider the segmented nature of segment lining. This study investigates the reinforcement mechanism for double layer reinforced sections with internal steel linings. By improving the modeling of segment lining, this study applies Break-joint mode (BJM), which considers the segmented characteristics of segment lining, to analyze the deformation characteristics of double layer reinforced sections. The results indicate that the existing concrete segment lining functioned similarly to ground reinforcement around the tunnel, rather than distribution the load. In general, both the BJM model considering the segmentation of segment lining and the continuum rigid method were similar deformation shapes and stress distributions of the lining under load. However, in terms of deformation, when the load strength exceeded the threshold, the deformation patterns of the two models differed.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.305-313
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• 2020

The use of cable tunnels for electric power transmission as well as their construction in difficult conditions such as in subsea terrains and large overburden areas has increased. So, in order to efficiently operate the small diameter shield TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), the estimation of advance rate and development of a design model is necessary. However, due to limited scope of survey and face mapping, it is very difficult to match the rock mass characteristics and TBM operational data in order to achieve their mutual relationships and to develop an advance rate model. Also, the working mechanism of previously utilized linear cutting machine is slightly different than the real excavation mechanism owing to the penetration of a number of disc cutters taking place at the same time in the rock mass in conjunction with rotation of the cutterhead. So, in order to suggest the advance rate and machine design models for small diameter TBMs, an EPB (Earth Pressure Balance) shield TBM having 3.54 m diameter cutterhead was manufactured and 19 cases of full-scale tunneling tests were performed each in 87.5 ㎥ volume of artificial rock mass. The relationships between advance rate and machine data were effectively analyzed by performing the tests in homogeneous rock mass with 70 MPa uniaxial compressive strength according to the TBM operational parameters such as thrust force and RPM of cutterhead. The utilization of the recorded penetration depth and torque values in the development of models is more accurate and realistic since they were derived through real excavation mechanism. The relationships between normal force on single disc cutter and penetration depth as well as between normal force and rolling force were suggested in this study. The prediction of advance rate and design of TBM can be performed in rock mass having 70 MPa strength using these relationships. An effort was made to improve the application of the developed model by applying the FPI (Field Penetration Index) concept which can overcome the limitation of 100% RQD (Rock Quality Designation) in artificial rock mass.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.153-163
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• 2005

This paper presents two case studies for tunnelling in Bangkok: a subway tunnel site and a flood diversion tunnel site. The first case study is related to ground displacement response for dual tunnel Bangkok MRT subway. The MRT subway project of Bangkok city consists of dual tunnels about 20 km long with 18 subway stations. The tunnels are seated in the firm first stiff silty clay layer between 15-22 m in depth below ground surface. The behavior of ground deformation response based on instrumentation is presented. The back analysis based on plain strain FEM analysis is also presented and agrees with field performance. The shear strain of FEM analysis is in the range of 0.1-1% and in accordance with the results of self boring pressuremeter tests. Meanwhile, the second case study is related to the EPB tunnelling bored underneath through underground obstruction. The Premprachakorn flood diversion tunnel is the shortcut tunnel to divert the flood water in rainy season into the Choapraya river. The tunnel was bored by means of EPB shield tunnelling in very stiff silty clay layer at about 20-24 m in depth. During flood diversion tunnel bored underneath the existing Bangkok main water supply tunnel and pile foundation of the bridge, instrumentation was monitored and compared with predicted FEM analysis. The prevention risk potential by means of predicting damage assessment is also presented and discussed.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.469-483
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• 2018

Steel bars have been widely used as the primary reinforcement for Precast Segmental Concrete Lining for TBM Tunnels. Previously, studies have been carried out to gauge the potential for steel fiber reinforcement to replace the use of steel bar reinforcements in the segmental lining to reduce the amount of the steel bar reinforcement. Steel fiber reinforcements have been investigated and widely applied to SFRC TBM linings to improve the constructability of SFRC TBM linings worldwide. However, the steel fiber reinforcement often caused punctures to the water membranes inside tunnel lining and had long-term durability deterioration issues caused by steel corrosion, as well as cosmetic problems. Therefore, this paper sought to gauge the potential of synthetic fiber reinforcements, which have proven to be very attractive substitutes for steel fiber reinforcements. This study analyzed the performance of both steel and synthetic fiber reinforcements in segmental linings and evaluated the applicability of the fiber reinforcements to the TBM Precast Concrete Segmental Linings of TBM tunnels. As a conclusion, this study demonstrates that the potential use of steel and synthetic fibers in various combination, can substitute the rebar reinforcement in the concrete mix for segmental concrete linings.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.99-118
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• 2018

Recently, the limit state design method in the design of the structure is in global trend, but it is limited to a few structures in Korea. Since the introduction of the limit state design method has recently been attempted for tunnels, which are the main underground structures, it is surely necessary to understand the latest limit state design method. Therefore, based on the recently published AASHTO LRFD Road Tunnel Design and Construction Guide Specification (2017), structural load factors and load combinations were reviewed, and various factors which should be applied for the review of structures have been analyzed. In this study, utility tunnel section and subway tunnel sections used in Korea were analyzed by the limit state design method, and we have analyzed the direction of application of limit state design method through studying the tendency of member force by various influential factors such as ground conditions, load modifier and joint stiffness.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.655-665
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• 2018

Shield tunnels are widely used throughout the world. However, their seismic performance has not been well studied. This paper focuses on the seismic response of a large scale model tunnel in compacted sand. A 9.3 m long, 3.7 m wide and 2.5 m high rigid box was filled with sand so as to simulate the sandy soil surrounding the tunnel. The setup was excited on a large-scale shake table. The model tunnel used was a 1:8 scaled model with a cross-sectional diameter of 900 mm. The effective shock absorbing layer (SAL) on the seismic response of the model tunnel was also investigated. The thickness of the tunnel lining is 60 mm. The earthquake motion recorded from the Kobe earthquake waves was used. The ground motions were scaled to have the same peak accelerations. A total of three peak accelerations were considered (i.e., 0.1 g, 0.2 g and 0.4 g). During the tests, the strain, acceleration and soil pressure on the surface of the tunnel were measured. In order to investigate the effect of shock absorbing layer on the dynamic response of the sand- tunnel system, two tunnel models were set up, one with and one without the shock absorbing layer of foam board were used. The results shows the longitudinal direction acceleration of the model tunnel with a shock absorbing layer were lower than those of model tunnel without the shock absorbing layer, Which indicates that the shock absorbing layer has a beneficial effect on the acceleration reduction. In addition, the shock absorbing layer has influence on the hoop strain and earth pressure of the model tunnel, this the effect of shock absorbing layer to the model tunnel will be discussed in the paper.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.931-946
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• 2018

In line with the increased usability of utility pipe conduits in urban areas, construction and R&D activities of utility tunnel, incorporated with the shield TBM method, are actively under way. The utility tunnels are installed through underground excavation, and thus are relatively weak in terms of construction safety. However, hazards associated with the utility tunnel construction have not been properly identified, despite the introduction of a policy to the 'Design for Safety' for the purpose of reducing accident rates in the construction industry. Therefore, in this study, following the derivation of hazards associated with utility tunnel, these hazards were then used as the basis to uncover key safety hazards requiring extensive management in a field, which were then used to conduct a risk assessment having applied the matrix method so that the results can be utilized in risk assessment during the stages of utility tunnel planning, design, and construction, while also serving as a data reference.