• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.465-477
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• 2022

The formation of biopolymer-soil matrices mainly depends on biopolymer type and concentration, soil type, pore fluid and phase transfer to influence its strengthening efficiency. In this study, the physical and mechanical properties of sodium alginate (SA) treated kaolinite are investigated through compaction test, thread rolling teat, fall cone test and unconfined compression test with considering biopolymer concentration, curing time, initial water content, mixing method. The results show that the liquid limit slightly decreases from 69.9% to 68.3% at 0.2% SA and then gradually increases to 98.3% at 5% SA. At hydrated condition, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of SA treated clay at 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3% concentrations is 2.57, 4.5, 7.1 and 5.48 times of untreated clay (15.7 kPa) at the same initial water content. In addition, the optimum biopolymer concentration, curing time, mixing method and initial water content can be regarded as 2%, 28 days, room temperature water-dry mixing (RD), 50%-55% to achieve the maximum unconfined compressive strength, which corresponds to the UCS increment of 593%, compared to the maximum UCS of untreated clay (780 kPa).

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2009

This study is designed to optimize the method of using SE-101 for strengthening the durability and the stabilization of moving historical site. The permeability and the shear strength of The epoxy SE-101 with low viscosity were measured on different particle sizes and moisture content of soil. Like it can be expected from the data of viscosity, as the soil particle size was increased, the permeability was also increased, while the shear strength was decreased. And especially, it is noted that the deviation of permeability can be more extreme according to the different hardening speed of macromolecule and mineral additives. As the rate of moisture content in soil sample is increased, the deviation between permeability and shear strength is also increased. Even though among the same soil sample, some parts of it can be weaker than others, which cause the breakages of epoxy products. Thus, it is necessary that the soil should be dried over 50% of permeation depth of SE-101 before use.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.501-511
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• 2023

The strengthening efficiency of biopolymer treated soil depends on biopolymer type, concentration ratio, soil type, initial water content, curing time and mixing method. In this study, the physical and mechanical properties of xanthan gum (XG) treated kaolinite were investigated through compaction test, Atterberg limit test, triaxial test and unconfined compression test. The results indicated that the optimum water content (OWC) increased from 30.3% of untreated clay to 33.5% of 5% XG treated clay, while the maximum dry density has a slight increase from 13.96 kg/m³ to 14 kg/m³ of 0.2% XG treated clay and decrease to 2.7 kg/m³ of 5% XG treated clay. Meanwhile, the plastic limit of XG treated clay increased with the increase of XG concentration, while 0.5% XG treated clay can be observed the maximum liquid limit with 79.5%. Moreover, there are the ideal water content about 1.3-1.5 times of the optimum water content achieving the maximum dry density and curing time to obtain the maximum compressive strength for different XG contents, which the UCS is 1.52 and 2.07 times of the maximum UCS of untreated soil for 0.5% and 1% XG treated clay, respectively. In addition, hot-dry mixing can achieve highest UCS than other mixing methods (e.g., dry mixing, wet mixing and hot-wet mixing).

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.785-801
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• 2017

Biopolymer treatment of geomaterials to develop sustainable geotechnical systems is an important step towards the reduction of global warming. The cutting edge technology of biopolymer treatment is not only environment friendly but also has widespread application. This paper presents the strength and slake durability characteristics of biopolymer-treated sand sampled from Al-Sharqia Desert in Oman. The specimens were prepared by mixing sand at various proportions by weight of xanthan gum biopolymer. To make a comparison with conventional methods of ground improvement, cement treated sand specimens were also prepared. To demonstrate the effects of wetting and drying, standard slake durability tests were also conducted on the specimens. According to the results of strength tests, xanthan gum treatment increased the unconfined strength of sand, similar to the strengthening effect of mixing cement in sand. The slake durability test results indicated that the resistance of biopolymer-treated sand to disintegration upon interaction with water is stronger than that of cement treated sand. The percentage of xanthan gum to treat sand is proposed as 2-3% for optimal performance in terms of strength and durability. SEM analysis of biopolymer-treated sand specimens also confirms that the sand particles are linked through the biopolymer, which has increased shear resistance and durability. Results of this study imply xanthan gum biopolymer treatment as an eco-friendly technique to improve the mechanical properties of desert sand. However, the strengthening effect due to the biopolymer treatment of sand can be weakened upon interaction with water.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.1673-1677
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• 2008

A method of construction with a basis treatment that uses a latticed bamboo mat puts bamboo's peculiarity and bamboo mat's bending substance to use, and a latticed bamboo mat equally distributes to embankment loading in a basis ground. Therefore it prevents ground destruction by an ill-balanced load and an irregular ground subsidence, and it makes safety system. This investigation make progress a soil box model by a dredged reclamation ground of west and south sea at domestic area, and make a comparative study and analyze the strengthening effect based on a grid size of a bamboo-mat and ground failure that it will use in the field.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.95-112
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• 1998

Water quality in the public water course has been polluted more seriously than ever before due to the increase of the number and aremount of pollution sources such as domestic and industrial wastewater. For water quality conservation, the Korean government has been trying to construct sewage treatment facilities continually, of which treatment capacity reached to 11,452,400m$^{3}$/day in 1996. Night soil treatment facilites of m nationwide have the treatment capacity of 24,038m$^{3}$/day. But water quality has not been improved because the sewer systems were insufficient and the treatment efficiencies of sewage were not high, enough. For renovation of water quality, miscellaneous domestic wastewater must be treated because 27g BOD/day out of total 40g BOD/person-day come from miscellaneous wastewater, comparing to 13g BOD/day from night soil. However, sole treatment purifier treat only night soil from the flushing toilet. Therefore, it may be desirable to treat the miscellaneous domestic wastewater and the night soil from flushing toilet together by joint treatment purifier system as on-site domestic wastewater treatment technology. In Korea, the joint treatment purifier system, introduced in 1997, have the benefit as follows; i) good water poiluion control effect, ii ) good effect on river water flow, iii) water pollution control with sewage treatment facility, and iv) rapid pollution control effect, etc. In order to achieve a good effect as stated before, i ) strengthening effluent guideline including BOD, nitrogen and phosphorus, ii ) specializing operation to maintain high performance, and iii) supporting its construction and maintenance costs by the governmental level may be necessary: In addition, automation system of joint treatment purifier, technology for its package and compactness, and a new bio-media bio-filter with higher capacity should be further developed in agreement with a more stringent effluent guideline.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.239-253
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• 1992

The masonry walls, having the characters of cheap construction materials and relatively easy construction, have been widely used in supporting slopes. However, the necessity of reinforcing methods to improve the stability of masonry walls has been continuously required due to the collapses taken place quite often. In the present study, a new method to improve the stability of masonry walls was developed based on the soil nailing system proven effective in strengthening the surrounding soils. The developed method could be used in reinforcing the old masonry walls structually unsafe as well as in constructing new masonry walls. The effects of pore water pressures due to heavy rainfalls were included in the developed method and also the chart practically applicable to design was presented, together with a design example.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.645-667
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• 2016

The 750 m long "De Bosset" bridge in the Cephalonia Island of Western Greece, being the area with the highest seismicity in Europe, was constructed in 1830 by successive stone arches and stiff block-type piers. The bridge suffered extensive damages during past earthquakes, such as the strong M7.2 earthquake of 1953, followed by poorly-designed reconstruction schemes with reinforced concrete. In 2005, a multidisciplinary project for the seismic assessment and restoration of the "De Bosset" bridge was undertaken under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture. The proposed retrofitting scheme combining soil improvement, structural strengthening and reconstruction of the deteriorated masonry sections was recently applied on site. Design of the rehabilitation measures and assessment of the pre- and post-interventions seismic response of the bridge were based on detailed in-situ and laboratory tests, providing foundation soil and structural material properties. In-situ inspection of the rehabilitated bridge following the strong M6.1 and M6.0 Cephalonia earthquakes of January 26th and February 3rd 2014, respectively, revealed no damages or visible defects. The efficiency of the bridge retrofitting is also proved by a preliminary performance analysis of the bridge under the recorded ground motion induced by the above earthquakes.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.83-96
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• 2011

Currently, the commonly used tunneling method in Korea is NATM (New Austrian Tunneling Method). This method uses the rock bolt, shotcrete, and supporting system to maintain the strength of original soil and ensures the stability of tunnel by stabilizing the soil using the original strength of the soil in maximum after the excavation. In past years, wire-mesh reinforced shotcrete was common ones but currently steel-fiber reinforced shotcrete is being widely used for the tunnel construction site in Korea to save construction time with the advanced construction technology. The results further indicate that needs for the establishment of not only the specifications for shotcrete but the strengthening methods for the under reinforced shotcrete sections. Therefore, this study deals with the development of a new steel-fiber to ensure the stability of tunnels that are under reinforced with steel-fibers and to overcome the shortcomings of conventional method.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.442-452
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• 2007

Korean trains pass many mountain areas, so the volume of structures like bridge and tunnel has large part of railway lines. Train speed-up naturally needs a straight line in railway, then structures are increasing, and this influences passenger's comfort and the safety of operation, and it needs more track maintenance. The stiffness of bridge and tunnel is higher than the soil in the roadbed in spite of dynamic difference in vibration and displacement. Differences in stiffness have more dynamic effects and increase the deformation and destruction in the track and roadbed. This study will measure periodically to structure's approaches which have very fast track irregularity and analyze dynamic differences and track irregularity near structure's approaches, so realize the cause of track irregularity of structure's approaches and use basic data for reasonably strengthening method of structure's approaches.