• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.507-534
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• 2015

The present work investigates the behavior of the embankment models resting on soft soil reinforced with ordinary and stone columns encased with geogrid. Model tests were performed with different spacing distances between stone columns and two lengths to diameter ratios (L/d) of the stone columns, in addition to different embankment heights. A total number of 42 model tests were carried out on a soil with undrianed shear strength $${\sim_\sim}10kPa$$. The models consist of stone columns embankment at s/d equal to 2.5, 3 and 4 with L/d ratio equal 5 and 8. Three embankment heights; 200 mm, 250 mm and 300 mm were tested for both tests of ordinary (OSC) and geogrid encased stone columns (ESC). Three earth pressure cells were used to measure directly the vertical effective stress on column at the top of the middle stone column under the center line of embankment and on the edge stone column for all models while the third cell was placed at the base of embankment between two columns to measure the vertical effective stress in soft soil directly. The performance of stone columns embankments relies upon the ability of the granular embankment material to arch over the 'gaps' between the stone columns spacing. The results showed that the ratio of the embankment height to the clear spacing between columns (h/s-d) is a key parameter. It is found that (h/s-d)<1.2 and 1.4 for OSC and ESC, respectively; (h is the embankment height, s is the spacing between columns and d is the diameter of stone columns), no effect of arching is pronounced, the settlement at the surface of the embankment is very large, and the stress acting on the subsoil is virtually unmodified from the nominal overburden stress. When $(h/s-d){\geq}2.2$ for OSC and ESC respectively, full arching will occur and minimum stress on subsoil between stone columns will act, so the range of critical embankment height will be 1.2 (h/sd) to 2.2 (h/s-d) for both OSC and ESC models.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.129-144
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• 2010

The earth pressure acting on the vertical shaft is less than that acting on the retaining wall due to three dimensional arching effect. Thus, it might be essential to estimate the earth pressure actually acting on the shaft when designing the vertical shaft. In this paper, large-sized model tests were conducted as Part II of companion papers to verify the newly suggested earth pressure equation proposed by Kim et al. (2009: Part I of companion papers) that can be used when designing the vertical shaft in cohesionless soils as well as in c-$\phi$ soils and multi-layered soils. The newly developed model test apparatus was designed to be able to simulate staged shaft excavation. Model tests were performed by varying the radius of vertical shaft in dry soil. Moreover, tests on c-$\phi$ soils and on multi-layered soils were also performed; in order to induce apparent cohesion to the cohesionless soil, we add some water to the dry soil to make the soil partially-saturated before depositing by raining method. Experimental results showed a load transfer from excavated ground to non-excavated zone below dredging level due to arching effect when simulating staged excavation. It was also found that measured earth pressure was far smaller than estimated if excavation is done at once; the final earth pressure measured after performing staged excavation was larger and matched with that estimated from the newly proposed equation. Measured results in c-$\phi$ soils and in multi-layered soils showed reduction in earth pressures due to apparent cohesion effect and showed good matches with analytical results.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.571-581
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• 2024

Concrete linings in tunnels constructed by drilling and blasting such as NATM serve as a secondary support structure. However, these linings can face unexpected earth pressures if the primary support deteriorates or if ground conditions become unfavorable. It is crucial to determine the loosening earth pressure that allows the lining to maintain its structural integrity and prevent damage caused by this pressure. This study proposes a numerical model for simulating the trapdoor test and developing a method for calculating the loosening earth pressure. The discrete element method (DEM) was employed to describe the soil characteristics around the tunnel. Using this numerical model, a sequence of experimental trapdoor steps was simulated, and the loosening earth pressure was analyzed. Contact parameters were calibrated based on an analysis of a triaxial compression test. The reliability of the developed model was confirmed through a comparison between simulation results and laboratory test findings. The model was used to calculate the contact force applied to the trapdoor plate and to assess the settlement of soil particles. Furthermore, the model accounted for the soil-arching effect, which effectively redistributes the load to the surrounding areas. The proposed model can be applied to analyze the tunnel's cross-sectional dimensions and design stability under various ground conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.131-143
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• 2000

Several theoretical analyses are performed to predict the vertical load on embankment piles with cap beams. The piles are installed in a row in soft ground below the embankment and the cap beams are placed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the embankment. Two failure mechanisms such as the soil arching failure and the punching shear failure are investigated according to the failure pattern in embankment on soft ground supported by piles with cap beams. The soil arching can be developed when the space between cap beams is narrow and/or the embankment is high enough. In the investigation of the soil arching failure, the stability in the crown of the arch is compared with that above the cap beams. The factors affecting the load transfer in the embankment fill by soil arching are the space between cap beams, the width of cap beams and the soil parameters of the embankment fill. The portion of the embankment load carried by cap beams decreases with increment of the space between cap beams, while it increases with the embankment height, the width of cap beams, the internal friction angle and cohesion of the embankment fill. Thus, the factors affecting load transfer in embankment should be appropriately decided in order to maximize the effect of embankment load transfer by piles.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.302-309
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• 2017

The influence of the pile diameter, center to center pile spacing, internal friction angle of embankment soil, and height of embankment on the arching efficacy of the embankment pile was investigated. The arching efficacy, which was derived by the arch model developed in the embankment soil was calculated using two methods, one that considers crown failure of the arch and the other that considers load on the pile cap and critical relative spacing ratio for which the arching efficacy calculated by the two methods are the same. According to the computed results in this study, the arching efficacy calculated from a consideration of the load on pile cap governs when the relative spacing ratio becomes smaller and that calculated from the theory of crown failure governs when the relative spacing ratio becomes larger. The critical relative spacing ratio below which the arching efficacy calculated from a consideration of the load on pile cap governs the design decreases with increasing value, which is defined by the ratio of the pile diameter to the pile center to center spacing. Critical relative spacing ratios, which correspond to the values of 0.5 and 0.2 were 0.35 and 0.85, respectively. Considering the computed results, the critical relative spacing ratio decreases with increasing Rankine passive earth pressure coefficient and critical relative spacing ratios, which correspond to values of 5 and 2, were 0.23 and 0.85, respectively. The arching efficacy, which corresponds to the area ratio of 9%, was 54% and the one that corresponds to the value of 3 was 61%; the critical relative spacing ratios, which correspond to those arching efficacies, were greater than 0.5.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.5-16
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• 2005

Geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported embankments have been increasingly used and researched around the world. The inclusion of one or multiple geosynthetic reinforcements over the pile is intended to enhance the efficiency of load transfer from soft ground to piles, to reduce total and differential settlement and increase global or local stability. In this paper, the reinforcement effectiveness and arching effect of the geogrid-reinforced and pile-supported embankments have been studied in terms of field model tests and numerical analysis with varying the space between piles and reinforcement. 2-dimensional numerical analysis has been conducted using the FLAC (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua) program. And load transfer mechanisms between soil-piles-geogrid were investigated. The mechanisms of load transfer can be considered as a combination of embankment soil arching, tension geogrid, and stress concentration due to the stiffness difference between pile and soft ground. Based on the field model test and numerical analysis results, it was found that the geosynthetic reinforcement slightly interferes with soil arching, and helps reduce differential settlement of the soft ground. Also. at the D/b=3 (D: spacing of pile cap, b: diameter of pile), the total settlement is reduced by about $40\%$ compared to that without reinforcement. For $D/b{\ge}6$, the effectiveness of geogrid reinforcement in reducing settlement is negligible.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.145-157
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• 2023

This paper aims at investigating the face stability of large-diameter underwater shield tunnels considering seepage in soft-hard uneven strata. Using the kinematic approach of limit upper-bound analysis, the analytical solution of limit supporting pressure on the tunnel face considering seepage was obtained based on a logarithmic spiral collapsed body in uneven strata. The stability analysis method of the excavation face with different soft- and hard-stratum ratios was explored and validated. Moreover, the effects of water level and burial depth on tunnel face stability were discussed. The results show the effect of seepage on the excavation face stability can be accounted as the seepage force on the excavation face and the seepage force of pore water in instability body. When the thickness ratio of hard soil layer within the excavation face exceeds 1/6D, the interface of the soft and hard soil layer can be placed at tunnel axis during stability analysis. The reliability of the analytical solution of the limit supporting pressure is validated by numerical method and literature methods. The increase of water level causes the instability of upper soft soil layer firstly due to the higher seepage force. With the rise of burial depth, the horizontal displacement of the upper soft soil decreases and the limit supporting pressure changes little because of soil arching effect.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2003

In the deign of cut and cover tunnel, the structural analysis such as rigid frame analysis has been used for its simplicity and convenience. The structural analysis, however, can not consider the geological and geotechnical factors such as soil arching effect. In this study, the dominant factors influencing the behavior of cut and cover tunnel such as interface element, slope of excavation plane, distance between slope and tunnel lining, and location of slope of covered soil, were investigated by the numerical analysis to develop the analysis technique and design technology. Based on the results, the variation of bending moment, shear stress, axial force and displacements were evaluated and analyzed for each factor.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.9-18
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• 2010

A series of model tests were performed to investigate the load transfer by soil arching in geosynthetic-reinforced and pile-supported(GRPS) embankment systems. In the model tests, model piles with isolated cap were inserted in the model container and geosynthetics was laid on the pile caps below sand fills. The settlement of soft ground was simulated by rubber form. The loads acting on pile caps and the tensile strain of geosynthetics were monitored by data logging system. At the given interval ratio of pile caps, the efficiency in GRPS embankment systems increased with increasing the height of embankment fills, then gradually converged at constant value. Also, at the given height of embankment fills, the efficiency decreased with increasing the pile spacing. The embankment loads transferred on pile cap by soil arching increased when the geosynthetics installed with piles. This illustrated that reinforcing with the geosynthetics have a good effect to restraint the movement of surrounding soft grounds. The load transfer in GRPS embankment systems was affected by the interval ratio, height of fills, properties of grounds and tensile stiffness and so on.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.79-88
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• 2009

In this study, it was studied on arching characteristics of a grand section tunnel with pre-steel-rib nail reinforcement. In this study, we examine the adaptation of tunnel plan and the case which is based on the strengthening method for preexistence tunnel and other pre-steel-rib nail while the upper part of cover depth is low or soil condition is bad. When the pre-steel-rib nail as new technology and method reinforces the foundation placed of grand section tunnel, it is much better in strengthening effect, safety and effectiveness than the conventional one. After investigation about the plan pre-steel-rib nail method, construction case and calibration data, it was confirmed and examined about the upper part of tunnel for strengthening the pre-steel-rib nail thereby arching characteristics of grand section tunnel using MIDAS/GTS finite element program. Moreover we present the method that could upgrade the accurate installation interval and adaptation method for strengthening effect to adapt the pre-steel-rib nail method in a foundation placed over a tunnel.