• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2010

The cemented sand and gravel (CSG) method is a construction technique that adds cement and water to rock-like materials, such as rivered gravel or excavation muck which that can be obtained easily at areas adjacent to dam sites. This study was performed to evaluate the unconfined compressive strength properties and freezing and thawing resistance of CSG materials with unit cement content. The three types of CSG-80, CSG-100 and CSG-120 with cement content were designed to evaluate the optimum water content, dry density, strength, stress-strain, micro structure and durability factor. As the results, the optimum water content ratio with cement content showed almost similar tendency, and the unconfined compressive strength and dry density increased as cement content increases. The strength ratio of 7 days for 28 days were in the range of 55~61 % and the strain ratio in stress-strain curve were in the range of 0.8~1.6 % nearby maximum strength in 28 days. It is expected that this study will contribute to increasing application of CSG method as well as to increasing the utilizing of CSG materials as a environmentally friendly CSG method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.167-194
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• 2004

In this paper axial loading tests on low strength concrete members, which were confined with various thickness of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite sheets are described. Totally 46 specimens with circular, square and rectangular cross-sections with unconfined concrete compressive strengths between 6 and 10 MPa were included in the test program. During the tests, a photogrammetrical deformation measurement technique was also used, as well as conventional measurement techniques. The contribution of external confinement with CFRP composite sheets to the compressive behavior of the specimens with low strength concrete is evaluated quantitatively, in terms of strength, longitudinal and lateral deformability and energy dissipation. The effects of width/depth ratios and the corner radius of the specimens with rectangular cross-section on the axial behavior were also examined. It was seen that the effectiveness of the external confinement with CFRP composite sheets is much more pronounced, when the unconfined concrete compressive strength is relatively lower. It was also found that the available analytical expressions proposed for normal or high strength concrete confined by CFRP sheets could not predict the strength and deformability of CFRP confined low strength concrete accurately. New expressions are proposed for the compressive strength and the ultimate axial strain of CFRP confined low strength concrete.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.559-567
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• 2018

Technological innovations in sustainable materials for soil improvement have attracted considerable interest due to energy crisis and environmental concerns in recent years. This study presents results of a comprehensive investigation on utilization of nanocarbons in reinforcement of a residual soil mixed with 0, 10 and 20% bentonite. Effects of adding proportionate quantities (0, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1 and 0.2%) of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers to soil samples of different plasticities were evaluated. The investigation revealed that the inclusion of nanocarbons into the soil samples significantly improved unconfined compressive strength, Young's modulus and indirect tensile strength. It was observed that carbon nanofibers showed better performance as compared to carbon nanotubes. The nanosized diameter and high aspect ratio of nanocarbons make it possible to distribute the reinforcing materials on a much smaller scale and bridge the inter-particles voids. As a result, a better 'soil-reinforcing material' interaction is achieved and desired properties of the soil are improved at nanolevel.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.627-634
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• 2018

Soil stabilization is an essential engineering process to enhance the geotechnical properties of soils that are not suitable for construction purposes. This study focuses on using coconut coir, a natural fibre to enhance the soil properties. Lime, an activator is added to the reinforced soil to augment its shear strength and durability. An experimental investigation was conducted to demonstrate the effect of coconut coir fibers and lime on the consistency limits, compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength, stress-strain behaviour, subgrade strength and durability of the treated soil. The results of the study illustrate that lime stabilization and coir reinforcement improves the unconfined compressive strength, post peak failure strength, controls crack propagation and boosts the tensile strength of the soil. Coir reinforcement provides addition contact surface, improving the soil-fibre interaction and increasing the interlocking between fibre and soil and thereby improve strength. Optimum performance of soil is observed at 1.25% coir fibre inclusion. Coir being a natural product is prone to degradation and to increase the durability of the coir reinforced soil, lime is used. Lime stabilization favourably amends the geotechnical properties of the coir fibre reinforced soil.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.505-518
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• 2021

The present paper has been carried out to understand the effects of impact loading on the rock tunnels, constructed in different region corresponding to varying unconfined compressive strength (UCS), through finite element method. The UCS of rockmass has substantial role in the stability of rock tunnels under impact loading condition due to falling rocks or other objects. In the present study, Dolomite, Shale, Sandstone, Granite, Basalt, and Quartzite rocks have been taken into consideration for understanding of the effect of UCS that vary from 2.85 MPa to 207.03 MPa. The Mohr-Coulomb constitutive model has been considered in the present study for the nonlinear elastoplastic analysis for all the rocks surrounding the tunnel opening. The geometry and boundary conditions of the model remains constant throughout the analysis and missile has 100 kg of weight. The general hard contact has been assigned to incorporate the interaction between different parts of the model. The present study focuses on studying the deformations in the rock tunnel caused by impacting load due to missile for tunnels having different concrete grade, and steel grade. The broader range of rock strength depicts the strong relationship between the UCS of rock and the extent of damage produced under different impact loading conditions. The energy released during an impact loading simulation shows the variation of safety and serviceability of the rock tunnel.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.101-111
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• 2022

It is widely known that axially loaded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) confined concrete presents significant and enhanced mechanical properties with reference to the unconfined concrete. Therefore, to predict the mechanical behavior of FRP-confined concrete two quantities-peak strength and ultimate strain are required. Despite the significant advances, the determination of the ultimate strain of FRP-confined concrete is one of the most challenging problems to be resolved. This is often attributed to our persistence in desiring the conventional methods as the sole technique to examine this phenomenon and the complex nature of the ultimate strain of FRP-confined concrete. To bridge the research gap, this study adopted two machine learning (ML) techniques-artificial neural network (ANN) and Gaussian process regression (GPR)-to analyze observations obtained from 627 datasets of FRP-confined concrete circular and non-circular sections under axial loading test. Besides, the techniques are also used to predict the ultimate strain of FRP-confined concrete. Seven parameters namely width/diameter of the specimens, corner radius ratio, the strength of concrete, FRP elastic modulus, FRP thickness, FRP tensile rupture strain, and the axial strain of unconfined concrete-are the input parameters used to predict the ultimate strain of FRP-confined concrete. The results of the current study highlight the merit of using AI techniques in structural engineering applications given their extraordinary ability to comprehend multidimensional phenomena of FRP-confined concrete structures with ease, low computational cost, and high performance over the existing empirical models.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2022

Peat soil has the characteristics of high moisture content, large void ratio and low shear strength. In this study, unconfined compressive strength and SEM tests are conducted to investigate the effects of ultrahigh moisture content, cement content, organic content and pH value on the strength of solidified peat. As an increase in the cement content and curing period, the failure mode of solidified peat soil changes from ductile failure to brittle failure. The influence of moisture content on the strength of solidified peat is greater than the cement content. As cement content increases from 10% to 30%, strength of solidified peat at a curing age of 28 days increases by 161%~485%. By increasing water content by 100%, decreases of solidified peat at a curing age of 28 days is 42%~79%. Compared with the strength of solidified peat with a pH value of 5.5, the strength of peat with a pH value of 3.5 reduces by 10% ~ 46%, while the strength of peat with a pH value of 7.0 increases by 8% ~ 38%. It is recommended to use filler materials for stabilizing peat soil with moisture content greater than 200%. Because of small size of clay particles, clay added in the cement solidified peat can improve much higher strength that that of sand.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.31-39
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• 2006

An experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the strength characteristics of low cement ratio soil stabilizer. The low cement ratio soil stabilizer has been developed by the replacement of certain part of cement with by-product pozzolanic materials such as blast furnace slag, fly ash, waste gypsum and by using activator. A series of unconfined compressive strength tests were performed to investigate and obtain high-strength composite soil stabilizer with large amounts of blast furnace slag and fly ash. Test results show that there were better properties when blast furnace slag, fly ash, waste gypsum, and activator were added in proper ratio. The replacement of certain part of cement with by-product pozzolanic materials improved the strength and pore structure properties.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.611-624
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• 2023

Soil properties make it attractive as a building material due to its mechanical strength, aesthetically appearance, plasticity, and low cost. However, it is frequently necessary to improve and stabilize the soil mechanical properties with binders. Soil-cement is applied for purposes ranging from housing to dams, roads and foundations. Unconfined compression strength (UCS) and split tensile strength (CD) are essential mechanical parameters for ascertaining the aptitude of soil-cement for a given application. However, quantifying these parameters requires specimen preparation, testing, and several weeks. Methodologies that allowed accurate estimation of mechanical parameters in shorter time would represent an important advance in order to ensure shorter deliverable timeline and reduce the amount of laboratory work. In this work, an extensive campaign of UCS and CD tests was carried out in a sandy soil from the Leiria region (Portugal). Then, using the machine learning tool Neural Pattern Recognition of the MATLAB software, a prediction of these two parameters based on six input parameters was made. The results, especially those obtained with resource to a Bayesian regularization-backpropagation algorithm, are frankly positive, with a forecast success percentage over 90% and very low root mean square error (RMSE).

• 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).