• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.152-157
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• 1999

Oil leaked from underwound storage tanks and leachate from sanitary landfills have been known as contaminant sources of the high-quality groundwater resources. The mobility of contaminants in the aquifer largely depends on the groundwater flow and the determination of associated hydraulic parameters is essential for a proper remediation of contaminated grnundwater. This study aimed at determining an optimum set of hydraulic parameters for an unconfined sandy aquifer of a laboratory scale through comparison of various methods. Results showed that the specific yield obtained from gravity drainage experiment was an average of 0.20 with minor variations in aquifer depths. and the permeabilities obtained from Dupuit approximation and slug test gave similar values of 5.33 cm/min and 5.85 cm/min but the constant head method gave 0.17 cm/min, which is much ion than the other methods. This experimental evidence reveals that the permeability of the unconfined sandy aquifer could be accurately determined by Dupuit assumption or slug tut rather than by constant head method conducted for a disturbed separate soil column.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2018

In this study, the EMI (electro-mechanical impedance) of a small piezoelectric sensor was applied for measuring a unit weight and cementation (strength) of sand. Three different sizes of uncemented Nakdong River sand were filled loosely or densely into a compaction mold. A piezoelectric sensor with 20 mm in diameter was installed within sand for impedance measurement. A small Nakdong River sand was mixed with cement ratios of 4, 8 12, 16% and then compacted into a specimen with 50 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height. The specimen consisted of 6 layers with a sensor at the third layer. The impedance signals for 3 days and unconfined compressive strength at the 3rd day were measured. As the unit weight of uncemented sand increased, the resonant frequency increased slightly from 102 to 105 kHz but a conductance at resonant frequency decreased. For cemented sands, as the curing time and cement ratio increased, the resonant frequency increased significantly from 129 to 266 kHz but the conductance at resonant frequency decreased. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of cemented sands was between 289 and 1,390 kPa for different cement ratios. The relationship of UCS and resonant frequency linearly increased but one with a conductance at resonant frequency was in inverse proportion.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.29-42
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• 2018

Shale and mudstone in Daegu-Gyungbuk area have low strength and resistance to weathering compared to other rocks. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate their strength depending on the degree of saturation and crack development. In this study, shales and mudstones were collected from several construction sites in Daegu-Gyungbuk area. Their basic material properties such as porosity, SEM, chemical component, and durability were tested. A porosity (absorptivity) of mudstone was 31% (25%), which was 6 (8) times higher than that of shale. Some mudstone was easily disintegrated with water and it consisted of highly-active clay mineral such as smectite type. These rocks were prepared by small cube specimens for unconfined compression test. An unconfined compressive strength of dry rock was compared with saturated one. Microwave oven was operated step by step to stimulate void water within a saturated rock, which resulted into high temperature and micro crack initiation within rocks. A strength of microwaved rocks was compared with operation time and crack initiation. As a result, the average unconfined compressive strength of dry and saturated shale was 62 and 33 MPa, respectively. The strength of mudstone for each condition was 11 and 4 MPa. When a rock became saturated, its strength decreased by 47% and 64% for shale and mudstone at average. In addition to saturation, a rock was in the microwave for 15 secs, its strength decreased into 49% for shale and 52% for mudstone. When a microwave oven operated up to 20 sec, a rock was crushed into several pieces and its temperature was approximately 200 degrees.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2019

High-level radioactive waste (HLW) such as spent fuel is inevitably produced when nuclear power plants are operated. A geological repository has been considered as one of the most adequate options for the disposal of HLW, and it will be constructed in host rock at a depth of 500~1,000 meters below ground level with the concept of an engineered barrier system (EBS) and a natural barrier system. The compacted bentonite buffer is one of the most important components of the EBS. As the compacted bentonite buffer is located between disposal canisters with spent fuel and the host rock, it can restrain the release of radionuclides and protect canisters from the inflow of groundwater. Because of inflow of groundwater into the compacted bentonite buffer, it is essential to investigate soil-water characteristic curves (SWCC) of the compacted bentonite buffer in order to evaluate the entire safety performance of the EBS. Therefore, this paper conducted laboratory experiments to analyze the SWCC for a Korean Ca-type compacted bentonite buffer considering dry density, confined or unconfined condition, and drying or wetting path. There was no significant difference of SWCC considering dry density under unconfined condition. Furthermore, it was found that there was higher water suction in unconfined condition that in confined condition, and higher water suction during drying path than during wetting path.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.73-82
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• 2011

Coal ash of industial by-products was not recycled about 30% in total emissions. Moreover, it caused environmental pollution as well as wasted unnecessary expenses and time. Currently, fly ash(FA) is recycled as construction material however ponded ash(PA) is mostly buried. Lightweight foamed Controlled Low-Strength Materials(CLSM) evaluated in this study reduces unit weight by mixing foam in the traditional Controlled Low-Strength Material and has lightweight and flowability to be available for backfill materials in construction. Flow test, unconfined compressive strength test, and foamed-slurry unit weight test were performed in this study and the applicability of lightweight foamed CLSM for construction materials was evaluated. The results indicate that the mixture ratio(PA:FA) ranging from 70:30 to 50:50, cement of 7%, foam of 2~3%, and water content of 26.5~29.5% were required to satisfy the following standards such as flow value(i.e., 20cm), unconfined compressive strength(i.e., 0.8~1.2MPa), and foamed-slurry unit weight(i.e., $12{\sim}15kN/m^3$).

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.83-92
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• 2021

In this study, effective porosity measurement, electron microscope (SEM) observation, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), slaking, swelling, and unconfined compression strength according to water immersion were analyzed to evaluate the properties of mudstone with high porosity in Pohang. As a result of the test for 16 square samples (5 cm), the effective porosity was 14.67% on average, higher than porosity of general mudstone, and electron microscope observation confirmed that the porosity was actually high. As a result of X-ray diffraction analysis, the swelling clay mineral content was 2.3~4.1%, which was lower than the results of previous studies in Pohang. The slake durability index was 37.73~87.73%, showing low to medium durability, which was lower than the results of previous studies. It was confirmed that the swelling property rapidly expanded to 1.79~1.82% of maximum swelling strain in the major axis direction for 30 minutes. As the properties of decreasing the unconfined compression strength according to water immersion, the samples rapidly weathered after 10 minutes of water immersion, and the strength decreased. It was confirmed that the results of previous studies related to mudstone in Pohang were different. This is judged to be due to the high porosity of mudstone in study.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.133-140
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• 2021

There are few attempts to estimate the strength and stiffness of controlled low strength material (CLSM) using existing field-testing methods. The objective of this study is to evaluate the resilient modulus of CLSM by using the Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) and investigate the relationships between the resilient modulus from LWD and the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and secant modulus of elasticity from unconfined compressive test. Five CLSMs with different mix designs are used to evaluate the flowability and the stiffening of the CLSM in the flow and Vicat needle tests, respectively. To evaluate the early strength and stiffness characteristics, unconfined compressive tests are performed using the CLSM specimens cured for 1 and 7 days. LWD tests are carried out to estimate the resilient modulus of the CLSM specimens. The experimental results show that for the curing time of 1 day, the UCS and secant modulus of elasticity generally increase with the fast setting mortar content (FC). The CLSM specimen with the highest FC shows the significant increase in the UCS and secant modulus of elasticity along the curing time. Overall, the resilient modulus for the curing time of 1 day increases with the FC, while that for the curing time of 7days decreases with an increase in the FC. From the results, the linear relationships between the resilient modulus and UCS and secant modulus of elasticity are established.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.159-169
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• 2007

The behavior of fiber-reinforced cemented sands (FRCS) was studied to improve a brittle failure mode observed in cemented sands. Nak-dong River sand was mixed with ordinary Portland cement and a Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber. A PVA fiber is widely used in concrete and cement reinforcement. It has a good adhesive property to cement and a specific gravity of 1.3. A PVA fiber has a diameter of 0.1 mm that is thicker than general PVA fiber for reinforced cement. Clean Nak-dong River sand, cement and fiber at optimum water content were compacted in 5 layers giving 55 blows per layer. They were cured for 7 days. Cemented sands with a cement/sand ratio of 4% were fiber-reinforced at different locations and tested for unconfined compression tests. The effect of fiber reinforcement form and distribution on strength was investigated. A specimen with evenly distributed fiber showed two times more strength than not-evenly reinforced specimen. The strength of fiber-reinforced cemented sands increases as fiber reinforcement ratio increases. A fully reinforced specimen was 1.5 times stronger than a specimen reinforced at only middle part. FRCS behavior was controlled not only by a dosage of fiber but also by fiber distribution methods or fiber types.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.6C
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• pp.303-311
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• 2009

In this study, weakly cemented sand was cured at air dry condition with different periods (3, 7, 14, 21, 28 days) and its unconfined compressive strength was evaluated. As a result, the strength of specimens with low cement ratios such as 4 and 8% increases until 7 days curing but, after 7 days, their strength continuously decreases. The strength of specimens with relatively high cement ratios such as 12 and 16% increases up to 7 days curing and then stays almost constant until 21 days. After 21 days curing, their strength suddenly dropped down, which is much lower than the strength of 3 days curing specimen. A cemented sand and gravel called CSG, which is highly permeable, could be exposed to repetitive drying and wetting conditions due to rainfall or groundwater table change during curing. In this study, the weakly cemented sand is exposed to repetitive drying and wetting and then its unconfined compressive strength was evaluated. As a result, the strength of a specimen with 27 days drying condition following 1 day wetting was at maximum 35% lower than the one cured under 28 days drying. The strength degradation due to wetting decreases as a cement ratio increases. However, the strength of a specimen with repetitive drying and wetting increases as the number of wetting increases until 3 cycles. After 3 cycles of drying and wetting, the rate of strength increase decreases due to an insufficient water for hydration or stays constant. If the sufficient water supply is provided to cemented sand during curing, the target or design strength increase can be achieved. Otherwise, the strength degradation due to wetting should be considered at the design stage.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.2C
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• pp.109-117
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• 2010

Gas hydrate dissociation can generate large amounts of gas and water in gas hydrate bearing sediments, which may eventually escape from a soil skeleton and form voids within the sediments. The loss of fine particles between coarse particles or collapse of cementation due to water flow during heavy or continuous rainfall may form large voids within soil structure. In this study, the effect of void formation resulting from gas hydrate dissociation or loss of some particles within soil structure on the strength of soil is examined. Glass beads with uniform gradation were used to simulate a gas hydrate bearing or washable soil structure. Glass beads were mixed with 2% cement ratio and 7% water content and then compacted into a cylindrical sample with five equal layers. Empty capsules for medicine are used to mimic large voids, which are bigger than soil particle, and embedded into the middle of five equal layers. The number, direction, and length of capsules embedded into each layer vary. After two days curing, a series of unconfined compression tests is performed on the capsule-embedded cemented glass beads. Unconfined compressive strength of cemented glass beads with capsules depends on the volume, direction and length of capsules. The volume and cross section formed by voids are most important factors in strength. An unconfined compressive strength of a specimen with large voids decreases up to 35% of a specimen without void. The results of this study can be used to predict the strength degradation of gas hydrate bearing sediments in the long term after dissociation and loss of fine particles within soil structure.