• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.595-609
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• 2017

Due to high in-situ stress and brittleness of rock mass, the surrounding rock masses of underground caverns are prone to appear splitting failure. In this paper, a kind of loading-unloading variable elastic modulus model has been initially proposed and developed based on energy dissipation principle, and the stress state of elements has been determined by a splitting failure criterion. Then the underground caverns of Dagangshan hydropower station is analyzed using the above model. For comparing with the monitoring results, the entire process of rock splitting failure has been achieved through monitoring the splitting failure on side walls of large-scale caverns in Dagangshan via borehole TV, micro-meter and deformation resistivity instrument. It shows that the maximum depth of splitting area in the downstream sidewall of the main power house is approximately 14 m, which is close to the numerical results, about 12.5 m based on the energy dissipation model. As monitoring result, the calculation indicates that the key point displacement of caverns decreases firstly with the distance from main powerhouse downstream side wall rising, and then increases, because this area gets close to the side wall of main transformer house and another smaller splitting zone formed here. Therefore it is concluded that the energy dissipation model can preferably present deformation and fracture zones in engineering, and be very useful for similar projects.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.319-325
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• 2013

The objective of this study is to assess risks which might occur in connection with the storage of the highly compressed air in underground opening. Risk factors were selected throughout literature survey and analysis for the characteristic of CAES. Large risk factors were categorized in three components; planning and design phase, construction phase, and operation & maintenance phases. Large category was composed of 8 medium risk groups and 24 sub-risks. AHP technique was applied in order to analyze the questionnaires answered by experts and high-risk factors were selected by evaluating the relative importance of risks. AHP analysis showed that the operation & maintenance phases are the highest risk group among three components of large category and the highest risk group of eight medium risk groups is risk associated with the quality and safety. Risk having the highest risk level in 24 sub-risks is evaluated to be a failure of tightness security of inner containment storing compressed air.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.15 no.6 s.59
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• pp.425-431
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• 2005

A series of geotechnical surveys and in-situ tests were carried out to evaluate the stability of underground mine cave in an abandoned coal mine. After the closure of the mine, the underground mine drifts have been utilized for a tourist route since 1999. The dimension of the main cave is 5m width, 3m height and 230m length. The surrounding rock mass of the cave is consist of black shale, coal and limestone. Also, the main cave is intersected by two fault zone. Detailed field investigations including Rock Mass Rating(RMR), Geological Strength Index(GSI) and Q classification were performed to evaluate the stability of the main cave and to examine the necessity of reinforcement. Based on the results of rock mass classification and numerical analysis, suitable support design was recommended for the main cave. RMR and Q values of the rock masses were classified in the range of fair to good. According to the support categories proposed by Grimstad & Barton(1993), these classes fall in the reinforcement category of the Type 3 to Type 1. A Type 3 reinforcement category signifies systematic bolting and no support is necessary for the Type 1 case. From the result of numerical analysis, it was inferred that additional support on the several unstable blocks is required to ensure stability of the cave.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.1 s.50
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• pp.65-73
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• 2007

Recently, large-scale underground cavern such as underground hydraulic-power plant tend to be constructed very largely, so long-length rock bolt are generally used to support the huge plastic zone. However, problems fur bend-ing shape of the long-length steel bar and the bonding effects of anchoring systems are caused during the construction of the long-length rock bolt. In this study, field pull-out test for long-length rock bolt are carried out to estimate the most efficient anchoring system among the saw-toothed shape, grooved shape and smoothed shape with each 6 shells for 5.0m, 7.5m, 10.0m, 15.0m length. The axial load and axial displacement are measured with each load stage and than test results are analyzed to evaluate the behavior characteristics for each anchoring systems of long-length rock bolt. Also, the improvements of anchoring systems are proposed and discussed in this paper.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.465-475
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• 2003

Groundwater inflow into the caverns constructed in fractured rock mass was simulated by numerical modeling, NAPSAC (DFN, discrete fracture network model) and NAMMU (CPM, continuous porous media model), a finite-element software package for groundwater flow in 3D fractured media developed by AEA Technology, UK. The input parameters for modeling were determined on surface fracture survey, core logging and single hole hydraulic test data. In order to predict the groundwater inflow more accurately, the anisotropic hydraulic conductivity was considered. The anisotropic hydraulic conductivities were calculated from the fracture network properties. With a minor adjustment during model calibration, the numerical modeling is able to reproduce reasonably groundwater inflows into cavern and the travel length and times to the ground surface along the flow paths in the normal, dry and rainy seasons.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.15 no.2 s.42
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• pp.213-227
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• 2005

This study aims to assess the problems with investigation method and to suggest the complementary solutions by comparing the predicted data from surface investigation with the outcome data from underground cavern. In the study area, one(NE-1) of 6 fracture zones predicted during the surface investigation was only confirmed in underground caverns. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the confidence level for prediction. In this study, the fracture classification criteria was quantitatively suggested on the basis of the BHTV images of NE-1 fracture zone. The major orientation of background fractures in rock mass was changed at the depth of the storage cavern, the length and intensity were decreased. These characteristics result in the deviation of predieted predicted fracture properties and generate the investigation bias depending on the bore hole directions and investigated scales. The evaluation of hydraulic connectivity in the surface investigation stage needs to be analyze by the groundwater pressures and hydrochemical properties from the monitoring bore hole(s) equipped with a double completion or multi-packer system during the test bore hole is pumping or injecting. The hydraulic conductivities in geometric mean measured in the underground caverns are 2-3 times lower than those from the surface and furthermore the horizontal hydraulic conductivity in geometric mean is six times lower than the vertical one. To improve confidence level of the hydraulic conductivity, the orientation of test hole should be considered during the analysis of the hydraulic conductivity and the methodology of hydro-testing and interpretation should be based on the characteristics of rock mass and investigation purposes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.173-194
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• 2017

Access shaft is of critical importance to the construction and operation of underground rock caverns. It usually has a relatively large cross-section and penetrates through fill materials, soil layers, and weathered rocks before reaching the caverns excavated in solid bedrock. In this paper, the design and construction of vertical shafts are reviewed in terms of diameter, depth, geological conditions, and support structure. Three shaft alternatives, namely alternative I: vertical shaft with spiral roads, alternative II: upper shaft with spiral roads & lower tunnels, alternative III: plain shaft, are proposed based on a simplified geological profile of the Jurong formation, Singapore. The advantages and limitations of the three types of shafts are discussed. The key issues relating to shaft design and construction, such as the shaft sinking, water control, support structure, are also discussed with a series of solutions provided, such as the sequential excavation, pre-grouting and diaphragm walls.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.224-236
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• 1992

It is very important to determine the thermo-mechanical characteristics of the rock mass surrounding the repository of radioctive waste and the LPG storage cavern. In this study, Hwasoon-Shist. Dado-Tuff adn Chunan-Tonalite were the selected rock types. Temperature dependence of the mechanical properteis such as uniaxial compressive strength, tensile strength, Young's modulus was investigated by measuring the behaviour of these properties due to the variation of temperature. Also, the characteristics of strength and deformation of these rocks were examined through high-temperature triaxial compression tests with varing temperatures and confining pressures. Important results obtained are as follows: In high temperature tests, the uniaxial compressive strength and Yong's modulus of Tonalite showed a sligth increase at a temperature up to 300$^{\circ}C$ and a sharp decrease beyond 300$^{\circ}C$, and the tensile strength showed a linear decrease with increasing heating-temperature. In high-temperature triaxial compression test, both the failure stress and Young's modulus of Tonalite increased with the increase of confining pressure at constant heating-temperature, and the failure stress decreased at 100$^{\circ}C$ but increased at 200$^{\circ}C$ under a constant confining pressure. In low temperature tests, the uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths and Young's modulus of these rocks increased as the cooling-temperature is reduced. Also, the uniaxial compressive and tensile strengths of wet rock specimens are less than those of dry rock specimens.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.33-43
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• 2016

In order to analyze ground relaxation and cavity formation mechanism due to deteriorated sewer pipe, field test was carried out and a numerical assessments were compared with the field test results. An artificial underground cavity was intended using the ice block overlaying the buried pipe and confirmed that the cavity and relaxation of the surrounding ground were gradually formed as the ice block starts to melt down. Such mechanism was highly suspected to be involved with soil particle interlocking as a soil compaction was a typical process for the buried pipes. In exploring such mechanism numerically, commercially available DEM (Discrete Element Method) code PFC2D was used and the interlocking induced cavern behaviors were successfully simulated and compared with field test results by utilizing the clump logic imbedded in PFC code.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.79-93
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• 2000

When caverns are excavated, it is very important to understand the distribution and charateristics of geological structures because the structures have an significant effect on grouting, rock reinforcement, and groundwater flow, etc. The main water bearing fractures have an orientation of N50~60W and these fractures are known as tension fractures. Their orientation coincides with a long elliptical axis ofpumping test, and they cross the tension fractures of N10~30E. They have typical fracture systems ofrhombic type in this area.