• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.625-633
• /
• 2023

The volume changes associated with moisture or suction variation in expansive soils are of geotechnical and geoenvironmental design concern. These changes can impact the performance of infrastructure projects and lightweight structures. Assessment of unsaturated function for these materials leads to better interpretation and understanding, as well as providing accurate and economic design. In this study, expansive soils from different regions of Saudi Arabia were studied for their basic properties including gradation, plasticity and shrinkage, swelling, and consolidation characteristics. The unsaturated soil functions of saturated water content, air-entry values, and residual states were determined by conducting the tests for the entire soil water characteristic curves (SWCC) using different techniques. An attempt has been made to provide a prediction model for unsaturated properties based on the basic properties of these soils. Once the profile of SWCC has been predicted the time and cost for many tests can be saved. These predictions can be utilized in practice for the application of unsaturated soil mechanics on geotechnical and geoenvironmental projects.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2022.05a
• /
• pp.159-159
• /
• 2022

Soil represents a substantial component within the global carbon cycle and small changes in the SOC stock may result in large changes of atmospheric CO₂ particularly over tens to hundreds of years. In this study, we aim to (i) evaluate the SOC stock in the topsoil 0 - 15 cm from soil physical and chemical characteristics and (ii) find the correlation of SOC and soil organic matter (SOM) for national-scale in South Korea. First of all, based on the characteristics of the soil to calculate the soil hydraulic properties, SOC stock is the SOC mass per unit area for a given depth. It depends on bulk density (BD-g/cm³), SOC content (%), the depth of topsoil (cm), and gravel content (%). Due to insufficient data on BD observation, we establish a correlation between BD and SOC content, sand content, clay content parameter. Next, we present linear and non-linear regression models of BD and the interrelationship between SOC and SOM using a linear regression model and determine the conversion factor for them, comparing with Van Bemmelen 1890's factor value for the country scale. The results obtained, helps managers come up with suitable solutions to conserve land resources.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2006.05a
• /
• pp.2-11
• /
• 2006

In the processes of hydrological cycle, when precipitation reaches the ground surface, water may become surface runoff or infiltrate into soil and then possibly further percolate into groundwater aquifer. A part of the water is returned to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration. Soil moisture dynamics driven climate fluctuations plays a key role in the simulation of water transfer among ground surface, unsaturated zone and aquifer. In this study, a one-layer canopy and a four-layer soil representation is used for a coupled soil-vegetation modeling scheme. A non-zero hydraulic diffusivity between the deepest soil layer modeled and groundwater table is used to couple the numerical equations of soil moisture and groundwater dynamics. Simulation of runoff generation is based on the mechanism of both infiltration excess overland flow and saturation overland flow nested in a numerical model of soil moisture dynamics. Thus, a comprehensive hydrological model integrating canopy, soil zone and aquifer has been developed to evaluate water resources in the plain region of Huaihe River basin in East China and simulate water transfer among precipitation, surface water, soil moisture and groundwater. The newly developed model is capable of calculating hydrological components of surface runoff, evapotranpiration from soil and aquifer, and groundwater recharge from precipitation and discharge into rivers. Regional parameterization is made by using two approaches. One is to determine most parameters representing specific physical values on the basis of characterization of soil properties in unsaturated zone and aquifer, and vegetations. The other is to calibrate the remaining few parameters on the basis of comparison between measured and simulated streamflow and groundwater tables. The integrated modeling system was successfully used in the Linhuanji catchment of Huaihe plain region. Study results demonstrate that (1) on the average 14.2% of precipitation becomes surface runoff and baseflow during a ten-year period from 1986 to 1995 and this figure fluctuates between only 3.0% in drought years of 1986, 1988, 1993 and 1994 to 24.0% in wet year of 1991; (2) groundwater directly deriving from precipitation recharge is about 15.0% t of the precipitation amount, and (3) about half of the groundwater recharge flows into rivers and loses through evaporation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.267-272
• /
• 2008

Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy, particularly Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), has emerged as an important analytical tool in quantification as well as identification of multi-atomic inorganic ions such as nitrate. In the present study, the possibility of quantifying soil nitrate via diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) without change of a sample phase or with least treated samples was examined. Four types of soils were spectrally characterized in terms of unique bands of soil contents and interferences with nitrate bands in the range of $2000-1000cm^{-1}$. In order to reduce the effects of soil composition on calibration model for nitrate, spectra transformed to the 1st order derivatives were used in the partial least squared regression (PLSR) model and the classification procedure associated with input soil types was involved in calibration system. PLSR calibration models for each soil type provided better performance results ($R^2$>0.95, RPD>6.0) than the model considering just one type of soil as a standard.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.55-65
• /
• 1996

Soil quality of most of Soil Network area was estimated healthy by employing Soil Pollution Indices (Soil Pollution Score and Soil Pollution Class). However, 1.5∼3.7% of the total Soil Network area was determined Soil Pollution Class (SPC) 4 which may need cleanup process due to slight or heavy pollution with arsenics and heavy metals. Numbers of the SPC 4 sites were 9, 47, 19, 17, and 17 in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, and 1994, respectively During 1987 and 1994, all of SPC 4 sites were identified agricultural land except one in 1994. Soil Pollution Scores (SPSs) was determined high around smelters, metalliferous mines, and industrial sites among the 16 major soil pollution sources of the Soil Network. Also, most area of SPC 4 sites were densely populated in these area of the Soil Network. SPSs of Inchon and Taegu were high among the other major cities and provinces in Korea. Numbers of SPC 4 were high in the province of Kangwon, Kyongbuk, Kyongnam amongst. Cumulative numbers of SPC 4 multiplied by a weighting value 0.3 during 1987 and 1994 of the Soil Network were regressed to develop a model equation for prospecting the soil quality. The model equation was Y= 1.16+0.23x, where as Y is the number of Class 4 and x is the year. Resulting the area of SPC 4 were 4.8%, 6.0%, 6.6% of the Soil Network in the year of 2001, 2006, 2011, respectively Based on this results, the area of SPC 4 would increase 5, 7, and 10 times comparing the area polluted with heavy metals in 1987.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.991-997
• /
• 2011

Soil erosion and sediment has been known as one of pollutants causing water quality degradation in water bodies. With global warming issues worldwide, various soil erosion studies have been performed. Although on-site monitoring of sediment loss would be an ideal method to evaluate soil erosion condition, modeling approaches have been utilized to estimate soil erosion and to evaluate various best management practices on soil erosion reduction. Although the USLE has been used in soil erosion estimation for the last 40 years, the USLE model has limitations in estimating event-based soil erosion reflecting rainfall intensity and rainfall duration for long-term period. Thus, the calibrated model, capable of simulating soil erosion using hourly rainfall data, was utilized in this study to evaluate the effects of rainfall amount and rainfall intensity on soil erosion. It was found that USLE soil erosion value is $3.06ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, while soil erosion values from 2006~2010 were $2.469ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, $0.882ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, $1.489ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, $2.158ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, $1.602ton\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively. Especially, soil erosion from single storm event for 2008-2010 would be responsible for 30% or more of annual soil loss. As shown in this study, hourly soil erosion estimation system would provide more detailed output from the study area. In addition, the effects of rainfall intensity on soil erosion could be evaluated with this system.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.31 no.3B
• /
• pp.221-232
• /
• 2011

Applicability of three soil erosion models for burnt hillslopes was evaluated. The models were estimated with the data from plots established after tremendous wildfire occurred in the east coastal region. Soil erosion and surface runoff were simulated by the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) of application mode for disturbed forest areas and the Soil Erosion Model for Mountain Areas (SEMMA) developed for burnt hillslopes. Simulated sediment yield and surface runoff were compared with the measured those. In maximum value of sediment yield, three models was under-predicted and RUSLE and WEPP had difference of over two times. SEMMA showed the best model response coefficient, determination coefficient and the model efficiency. In application of models to the soil erosion according to the elapsed year after wildfire, all models were underestimated in initial stage disturbed by wildfire. Evaluation of models in this burnt hillslopes was shown the tends to under-predict soil erosion for larger measured values. Although a lot of sediment can be generated in small rainfall event as fine-grained soil of the high water repellency was exposed excessively right after wildfire, this under-prediction was shown that those models have a limit to estimate the weighted factors by wildfire.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2019

The accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) resulted in the deposition of large quantities of radionuclides over parts of eastern Japan. Radioactive contaminants have been observed over a large area including forests, cities, rivers and lakes. Due to the strong adsorption of radioactive cesium by soil particles, radioactive cesium migrates with the eroded soil, follows the surface flow paths, and is delivered downstream of population-rich regions and eventually to coastal areas. In this study, we developed a model to simulate the transport of contaminated sediment in a watershed hydrological system and this model was compared with observation data from eroded soil observation instruments located at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Two methods were applied to analyze the soil particle size distribution of the collected soil samples, including standardized sieve analysis and image analysis methods. Numerical models were developed to simulate the movement of soil along with actual rainfall considering initial saturation, rainfall infiltration, multilayer and rain splash. In the 2019 study, a numerical model will be used to add rainfall shield effect by trees, evaporation effect and shield effects of surface water. An eroded soil observation instrument has been installed near the Wolsong nuclear power plant since 2018 and observation data are being continuously collected. Based on these observations data, we will develop the numerical model to analyze long-term behavior of radionuclides on land as they move from land to rivers, lakes and coastal areas.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2000.04a
• /
• pp.357-366
• /
• 2000

Longitudinal dynamic behaviors of a bridge system under seismic excitations are examined with various magnitudes of peak ground accelerations. The stiffness degradation due to abutment-soil interaction is considered in the bridge model which may play the major role upon the global dynamic characteristics. The idealized mechanical model for the whole ridge system is proposed by adopting the multiple-degree-of-freedom system which can consider components such as pounding phenomena friction at the movable supports rotational and translational motions of foundations and the nonlinear pier motions. The abutment-soil interaction is simulated by utilizing the one degree-of-freedom system with nonlinear spring. The stiffness degradation of the abutment-soil system is found to increase the relative displacement under moderate seismic excitations.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.97-115
• /
• 2012

The energy-transmitting boundary, which is used in the well-known finite element method (FEM) program FLUSH, is quite efficient for the earthquake response analysis of buildings considering soil-structure interaction. However, it is applicable only in the frequency domain. The author proposed methods for transforming frequency dependent impedance into the time domain, and studied the time domain transform of the boundary. In this paper, first, the estimation methods for both the halfspace condition under the bottom of the soil model and the pseudo three-dimensional effect were studied with the time domain transmitting boundary. Next, response behavior when using the boundary was studied in detail using a practical soil and building model. The response accuracy was compared with those using viscous boundary, and the boundary that considers the excavation force. Through these studies, the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed time domain transmitting boundary were confirmed.