• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.11b
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• pp.3-38
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• 2000

Slope draperies in soil and rock are a well known method to avoid rockfalls into the roads or onto housings. Common wire mesh or a combination of wire mesh and wire rope nets are pinned to the slope by the means of fully grouted nails or anchors. Most of these installations have not been designed to stabilize the slope, but simply avoid the rocks from bouncing. The combination of soil- or rocknailing with a designable flexible facing system offers the advantage of a longterm stabilization of slopes and can replace other standard methods for slope stabilization. The capability to transfer axial and shear loads from the flexible facing system to the anchor points is most decisive for the design of the stabilization system. But the transfer of forces by mesh as pure surface protection devices is limited on account of their tensile strength and above all also by the possible force transmission to the anchoring points. Strong wire rope nets increase the performance for slope stabilizations with greater distances between nails and anchors and are widely used in Europe. However, they are comparatively expensive in relation to the protected surface. Today, special processes enable the production of diagonally structured mesh from high-tensile steel wire. These mesh provide tensile strengths comparable to wire rope nets. The interaction of mesh and fastening to nail / anchor has been investigated in comprehensive laboratory tests. This also in an effort to find a suitable fastening plates which allows an optimal utilization of the strength of the mesh in tangential (slope-parallel) as well as in vertical direction (perpendicular to the slope). The trials also confirmed that these new mesh, in combination with suitable plates, enable substantial pretensioning of the system. Such pretensioning increases the efficiency of the protection system. This restricts deformations in the surface section of critical slopes which might otherwise cause slides and movements as a result of dilatation. Suitable dimensioning models permit to correctly dimension such systems. The new mesh with the adapted fastening elements have already been installed in first pilot projects in Switzerland and Germany and provide useful information on handling and effects.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2018

Post-construction subgrade settlement especially differential settlement, has become a key issue in construction and operation of non-ballasted track on high-speed railway soil subgrade, which may also affect the dynamic performance of passing trains. To estimate the effect of differential subgrade settlement on the mechanical behaviors of the vehicle-slab track system, a detailed model considering nonlinear subgrade support and initial track state due to track self-weight is developed. Accordingly, analysis aiming at a typical high-speed vehicle coupled with a deteriorated slab track owing to differential subgrade settlement is carried out, in terms of two aspects: (i) determination of an initial mapping relationship between subgrade settlement and track deflections as well as contact state between track and subgrade based on a semi-analytical method; (ii) simulation of dynamic performance of the coupled system by employing a time integration approach. The investigation indicates that subgrade settlement results in additional track irregularity, and locally, the contact between the concrete track and the soil subgrade is prone to failure. Moreover, wheel-rail interaction is significantly exacerbated by the track degradation and abnormal responses occur as a result of the unsupported areas. Distributions of interlaminar contact forces in track system vary dramatically due to the combined effect of track deterioration and dynamic load. These may not only intensify the dynamic responses of the coupled system, but also have impacts on the long-term behavior of the track components.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.233-245
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• 2009

Availability of pressuremeter test for evaluation of geotechnical properties of foundation soil into which guardrail post is to be installed is investigated in this study. First, an analysis method of the post based on the pressuremeter test is proposed that can obtain bending moment and load-deformation profiles of the post. Then static horizontal load test onto a small scale guardrail post is performed in order to get bearing capacity and load-deformation pattern of the model post. The obtained results are compared with the load-deformation curves and bearing capacity of the post obtained from the pressuremeter method. In addition horizontal impact test to the post is performed using a model bogie car in order to check failure pattern around the model foundation and to investigate dynamic bearing capacity due to deceleration and inertia force of the soil. It is verified that the pressuremeter test is so useful and reasonal technique to analyze road foundation-post interaction.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.83-95
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• 2017

This study examined the magnitude and distribution of earth pressure on the excavation wall in jointed rock mass by considering different groundwater conditions under various rock types, joint inclination angles, and earth pressure coefficients. Based on a physical model test (Son and Park, 2014), extended studies were conducted considering rock-structure interactions based on the discrete element method, which can consider the joints characteristics of rock mass. The results showed that the earth pressure was highly influenced by the groundwater condition as well as the rock type, joint inclination angle, and earth pressure coefficient. The results were also compared with Peck's earth pressure for soil ground, and clearly showed that the earth pressure in jointed rock mass can be greatly different from that in soil ground.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.715-742
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• 2017

Earth berms are often left in place to support retaining walls or piles in order to eliminate horizontal struts in excavations of soft soil areas. However, if the excavation depth is relatively large, an earth berm-supported retaining system may not be applicable and could be replaced by a multi-bench retaining system. However, studies on multi-bench retaining systems are limited. The goal of this investigation is to study the deformation characteristics, internal forces and interaction mechanisms of the retaining structures in a multi-bench retaining system and the failure modes of this retaining system. Therefore, a series of model tests of a two-bench retaining system was designed and conducted, and corresponding finite difference simulations were developed to back-analyze the model tests and for further analysis. The tests and numerical results show that the distance between the two rows of retaining piles (bench width) and their embedded lengths can significantly influence the relative movement between the piles; this relative movement determines the horizontal stress distribution in the soil between the two rows of piles (i.e., the bench zone) and thus determines the bending moments in the retaining piles. As the bench width increases, the deformations and bending moments in the retaining piles decrease, while the excavation stability increases. If the second retaining piles are longer than a certain length, they will experience a larger bending moment than the first retaining piles and become the primary retaining structure. In addition, for varying bench widths, the slip surface formation differs, and the failure modes of two-bench retained excavations can be divided into three types: integrated failure, interactive failure and disconnected failure.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2016

Visual MODFLOW was used for quantifying stream-aquifer interactions caused by seasonal groundwater pumping. A hypothetical conceptual model was assumed to represent a stream-aquifer system commonly found in Korea. The model considered a two-layered aquifer with the upper alluvium and the lower bedrock and a stream showing seasonal water level fluctuations. Our results show that seasonal variation of the stream depletion rate (SDR) as well as the groundwater depletion depends on the stream depletion factor (SDF), which is determined by aquifer parameters and the distance from the pumping well to the stream. For pumping wells with large SDF, groundwater was considerably depleted for a long time of years and the streamflow decreased throughout the whole year. The impacts of return flow were also examined by recalculating SDR with an assumed ratio of immediate irrigation return flow to the stream. Return flow over 50% of pumping rate could increase the streamflow during the period of seasonal pumping. The model also showed that SDR was affected by both the conductance between the aquifer and the stream bed and screen depths of the pumping well. Our results can be used for preliminary assessment of water budget analysis aimed to plan an integrated management of water resources in riparian areas threatened by heavy pumping.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2016

Fenton is the reaction using the OH· radicals generating by interaction between hydrogen peroxide and Fe²⁺ which can oxidize the contaminants. Fe²⁺ ions are oxidized to Fe³⁺ ions by reaction with H₂O₂ and formed OH· radicals. UV-Fenton process includes the additional reaction that generates the OH· radicals by photodegradation of H₂O₂. In methylorange (MO) decolourization experiment with UV-Fenton, optimal Fe²⁺: H₂O₂ ratio was obtained at 1 : 10. Based on the obtained condition (H₂O₂= 10mM, Fe²⁺ = 1 mM) with/without UV-fenton experiment was carried out. Removal efficiency and sludge production were measured at 30 min. The case of w/o UV irradiation and only H₂O₂ was hardly treated and only Fe²⁺ showed 65% removal owing to coagulation. When UV-Fenton process in optimal ratio (Fe²⁺: H₂O₂ = 1 : 10), UV irradiation showed better removal efficiency than of w/o UV irradiation. Also, MO decolourization was a function of the hydrogen peroxide concentration (x₁), Fe²⁺:H₂O₂ ratio (x₂), and numbers of UV lamp (x₃) from the application of the response surface methodology. Statistical results showed the order of significance of the independent variables to be hydrogen peroxide concentration > numbers of UV l amp > Fe²⁺: H₂O₂ ratio.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.65-76
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• 2013

The water-table fluctuation (WTF) method has been often used for estimating groundwater recharge by analysis of waterlevel measurements in observation wells. An important assumption inherent in the method is that the water level rise is solely caused by precipitation recharge. For the observation wells located near a stream, however, the water-level can be highly affected by the stream level fluctuations as well as precipitation recharge. Therefore, in applying the WTF method, there should be consideration regarding the effect of stream-aquifer interactions. Analysis of water-level hydrographs from the National Groundwater Monitoring Wells of Korea showed that they could be classified into three different types depending on their responses to either precipitation recharge or stream level fluctuations. A simple groundwater flow model was used to analyze the errors of the WTF method, which were associated with stream-aquifer interactions. Not surprisingly, the model showed that the WTF method could greatly overestimate recharge, when it was used for the observation wells of which the water-level was affected by streams. Therefore, in Korea, where most groundwater hydrographs are acquired from wells nearby a stream, more caution is demanded in applying the WTF method.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.25 no.2_spc
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• pp.28-54
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• 2020

Even though a systematic sampling approach is very crucial in both the general and detailed investigation phases to produce the best conceptual site model for contaminated sites, the concept is not yet established in South Korea. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the 'Strategic Sampling Approaches Technical guide' in 2018 to help environmental professionals choose which sampling approaches may be needed and most effective for given site conditions. The EPA guide broadly defines strategic sampling as the application of focused data collection across targeted areas of the conceptual site model (CSM) to provide the appropriate amount and type of information needed for decision-making. These strategic sampling approaches can prevent the essential data from missing, minimize the uncertainty of projects and secure the data which are necessary for the important site-decisions. Furthermore, these provide collaborative data sets through the life cycle phases of projects, which can generate more positive proofs on the site-decisions. The strategic sampling approaches can be divided by site conditions. This technical guide categorized it into eight conditions; High-resolution site characterization in unconsolidated environments, High-resolution site characterization in fractured sedimentary rock environments, Incremental sampling, Contaminant source definition, Passive groundwater sampling, Passive sampling for surface water and sediment, Groundwater to surface water interaction, and Vapor intrusion. This commentary paper introduces specific sampling methods based on site conditions when the strategic sampling approaches are applied.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.3808-3815
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• 2021

In this paper, the EPICS2017 photoatomic database was used to evaluate the photon mass attenuation coefficients and buildup factors of soils collected at different depths in the Philippine islands. The extraction and interpolation of the library was accomplished at the recommended linear-linear scales to obtain the incoherent and total cross section and mass attenuation coefficient. The buildup factors were evaluated using the G-P fitting method in ANSI/ANS-6.4.3. An agreement was achieved between XCOM, MCNP5, and EPICS2017 for the calculated mass attenuation coefficient values. The buildup factors were reported at several penetration depths within the standard energy grid. The highest values of both buildup factor classifications were found in the energy range between 100 and 400 keV where incoherent scattering interaction probabilities are predominant, and least at the region of predominant photoionization events. The buildup factors were examined as a function of different soil silica contents. The soil samples with larger silica concentrations were found to have higher buildup factor values and hence lower shielding characteristics, while conversely, those with the least silica contents have increased shielding characteristics brought by the increased proportions of the abundant heavier oxides.