In-Mo Lee

Evaluation of Rock Bolt Integrity using Guided Ultrasonic Waves

Rock bolts play a crucial role in reinforcement support systems for tunnels and rock slopes. In this study documented herein, guided ultrasonic waves are used to evaluate the integrity of rock bolts. The dispersion characteristics of the guided waves are identified by numerical simulations. Experimental studies using the transmission of guided waves are carried out with different defect ratios for grouted nonembedded rock bolts, and for rock bolts embedded into a concrete block and rock mass. Analytical solutions are suggested to estimate the equivalent velocity for both the grouted and the embedment portions. Numerical simulations reveal that the optimal frequency range of guided waves is 20∼70 kHz in the first longitudinal mode. Field and laboratory experimental studies and associated analyses show the velocity of guided waves increases as the defect ratio increases. The velocity for the grouted portion in the nonembedded rock bolts is essentially constant. However, the velocity in the embedment portion decreases with increasing embedment length due to the increase in the size of the influence zone. Results suggest that the integrity of rock bolts can be easily evaluated by the transmission method using guided waves.

A study on correlation between electrical resistivity obtained from electrical resistivity logging and rock mass rating in-situ tunnelling site

Rock mass rating (RMR) is the key factor when designing the appropriate support pattern of tunnel projects. Borehole drilling is usually performed along the tunnel route in order to determine the rock mass rating to be used for tunnel design. The rock mass rating at the non-boring region between boreholes is usually assessed through geophysical surveys such as electrical prospecting, seismic prospecting, etc. Many studies were carried out to find out the correlation between electrical resistivity and rock mass rating. However, most researches were aimed at obtaining the relationship between the two parameters utilizing experimental results obtained from laboratory tests or electrical prospectings. In this paper, efforts were made to analyze and obtain relationships between the electrical resistivity obtained from in-situ electrical resistivity logging data and the rock mass rating. Correlation studies using field data showed that the electrical resistivity is highly correlated with the rock mass rating with the determination coefficient more than 90%. The correlation analysis was also carried out between RMR classification parameters and the electrical resistivity. It was shown that the correlation between the condition of discontinuities and the electrical resistivity was very high with the determination coefficient more than 80%; that between the groundwater condition and the electrical resistivity was very low with the determination coefficient less than 57%.

Utilization of induced polarization for predicting ground condition ahead of tunnel face in subsea tunnelling: laboratory test

In subsea tunnelling, prediction of the fractured zone (or water bearing zone) ahead of tunnel face saturated by seawater with high water pressure has been a key factor for safe construction. This study verified the feasibility of utilizing induced polarization (IP) survey at tunnel face for predicting the ground condition ahead of the subsea tunnel face. A pore model was proposed to compute chargeability in granular material, and the relationship correlating chargeability with the variables affecting the chargeability was derived from the model. Parametric study has been performed on the variables to figure out the most influential factors affecting the chargeability. The results of the parametric study show that the size of narrow pores (ue0f6 ue034 ) and the salinity of pore water are the most influential factors on chargeability. Laboratory tests were conducted on various types of ground condition by changing the salinity of pore water, the thickness of the fracture zone and the existence of gouge (weathered granite) within the joints of the fractured zone to figure out the effect of the ground characteristics on the IP phenomenon. Test results show that the chargeability of the fractured zone saturated by seawater increases if the joints in the fractured zone are filled with gouge since the infilled gouge will decrease the size of narrow pores (ue0f6 ue034 ).

Predicting ground condition ahead of tunnel face utilizing electrical resistivity applicable to shield TBM

When tunnelling with TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine), accessibility to tunnel face is very limited because tunnel face is mostly occupied by a bunch of machines. Existing techniques that can predict ground condition ahead of TBM tunnel are extremely limited. In this study, the TBM Resistivity Prediction (TRP) system has been developed for predicting anomalous zone ahead of tunnel face utilizing electrical resistivity. The applicability and prediction accuracy of the developed system has been verified by performing field tests at subway tunnel construction site in which an EPB (Earth Pressure Balanced) shield TBM was used for tunnelling work. The TRP system is able to predicts the location, thickness and electrical properties of anomalous zone by performing inverse analysis using measured resistivity of the ground. To make field tests possible, an apparatus was devised to attach electrode to tunnel face through the chamber. The electrode can be advanced from the chamber to the tunnel face to fully touch the ground in front of the tunnel face. In the 1st field test, none of the anomalous zone was predicted, because the rock around the tunnel face has the same resistivity and permittivity with the rock ahead of tunnel face. In the 2nd field test, 5 m thick anomalous zone was predicted with lower permittivity than that of the rock around the tunnel face. The test results match well with the ground condition predicted, respectively, from geophysical exploration, or directly obtained either from drilling boreholes or from daily observed muck condition.

Harmony search algorithm to predict anomalous zone ahead of tunnel face utilizing electrical resistivity survey

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study is the application of the harmony search (HS) algorithm and verification of the accuracy of inverse analysis to predict the location, thickness and electrical properties of anomalous zone ahead of tunnel face when utilizing the electrical resistivity survey using electrical resistivity of the ground. The relationship correlating the characteristic values of the anomalous zone with the electrical resistance values was derived using Gauss’ laws and Ohm’s laws. Inverse analysis program was developed to predict anomalous zone by using electrical resistivity based on HS algorithm. Electrical resistance measuring system is devised to obtain the electrical resistivity of the ground, and laboratory tests were performed on anomalies to verify the proposed HS algorithm. The test results show that the characteristics of the anomalies are predicted reasonably well resulting in less than 5% error when predicting the location and thickness of the anomaly. Keywords:

Crack Detection in Pillars Using Infrared Thermographic Imaging

In this paper, we describe a series of crack-detection tests on scale models of cavern supported by pillars performed in the laboratory to find out where and when crack initiation occurs. Crack initiation was detected by two different methods, thermographic camera imaging and strain–gauge measurements, and comparisons were drawn. For the crack-detection test, three physical models of pillars were made out of gypsum with different pillar widths (25u2009mm, 50u2009mm, and 100u2009mm). When cracks begin to develop in the pillar models, a thermographic camera can detect temperature changes around the cracks that are induced by friction at the contact areas. Whereas the strain–gauge measurement indicates only local strains, the thermographic imaging can cover overall strain variations. The authors did not correlate the increase in temperature variations with strain. With the 50-mm and 100-mm pillar widths in the laboratory test, the crack-induced failure naturally occurred in three steps: (1) first crack initiation, (2) crack propagation, and (3) failure. But for the 25-mm pillar width, the crack-induced failure occurred immediately after the first crack initiation; propagation was not observed.

A probabilistic assessment of ground condition prediction ahead of TBM tunnels combining each geophysical prediction method

It is usually not an easy task to counter-measure on time and appropriately when confronting with troubles in mechanized tunnelling job-sites because of the limitation of available spaces to perform those actions with the existence of disk cutter, cutter head, chamber and other various apparatus in Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). So, it is important to predict the ground condition ahead of a tunnel face during tunnel excavation. Efforts have been made to utilize geophysical methods such as elastic wave survey, electromagnetic wave survey, electrical resistivity survey, etc for predicting the ground condition ahead of the TBM tunnel face. Each prediction method among these geophysical methods has its own advantage and disadvantage. Therefore, it might be needed to apply several geophysical methods rather than just one to predict the ground condition ahead of the tunnel face in the complex and/or mixed grounds since those methods will compensate among others. The problem is that each prediction method will give us different answer on the predicted ground condition; how to combine different solutions into a most reasonable and representative predicted value might be important. Therefore, in this study, we proposed a methodology how to systematically combine each prediction method utilizing probabilistic analysis as well as analytic hierarchy process. The proposed methods is applied to a virtual job site to confirm the applicability of the model to predict the ground condition ahead of the tunnel face in the mechanized tunnelling.

TBM risk management system considering predicted ground condition ahead of tunnel face: Methodology development and application

ABSTRACT: When utilizing a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for tunnelling work, unexpected ground conditions can be encountered that are not predicted in the design stage. These include fractured zones or mixed ground conditions that are likely to reduce the stability of TBM excavation, and result in considerable economic losses such as construction delays or increases in costs. Minimizing these potential risks during tunnel construction is therefore a crucial issue in any mechanized tunneling project. This paper proposed the potential risk events that may occur due to risky ground cond itions. A resistivity survey is utilized to predict the risky ground conditions ahead of the tunnel face during construction. The potential risk even ts are then evaluated based on their occurrence probability and impact. A TBM risk management system that can suggest proper solution methods (measures) for potential risk events is also developed. Multi-Criterion Decision Making (MCDM) is utilized to determine the optimal solution method (optimal measure) to handle risk events. Lastly, an actual construction site, at which there was a risk event during Earth Pressure-Balance (EPB) Shield TBM construction, is analyzed to verify the efficacy of the proposed system.Keywords: TBM, Risk management, Ahead of tunnel face, Risky ground prediction, MCDM