This study is to deal with the cause analysis and improvement ideas for breakage to hydraulic pipes mounted on self-propelled howitzers. Hydraulic piping is one of the core components of a hydraulic system. This is because in the case of devices that use hydraulic pressure as a power source, hydraulic oil is supplied through hydraulic piping to operate. Compared to the main hydraulic assembly, its importance is low, so there are not many studies or failure analysis cases on it. However, contrary to this, cases of hydraulic pipe failure account for a significant proportion of the total number of failures, requiring in-depth technical review. In this study, we aim to analyze the causes of failures in hydraulic pipes of self-propelled guns operated by the military and propose improvement measures. It is expected that this study will aid as a reference for problem solving when similar failures occur in the future.

In order to prevent disconnection of the hydraulic pump EDV cable, this study judged the vibration generated by the pump as the greatest effect on disconnection, and confirmed the vibration effect. And it had a structure that was vulnerable to vibration because of the wire flow space inside the EDV cable connector. After applying the improved adapter, vibration analysis, excitation test, and bending strength test were performed to confirm the effectiveness of design change and improvement. As a result of vibration analysis, the amount of vibration was reduced by about 10 times compared to the existing product, and the strength increased by about 4 times in the bending strength test was confirmed to increase the effect of preventing disconnection due to vibration.

Alluvial beds are intimately associated with electrical properties related to soil types, including clay mineral content, porosity, and water content. The hydraulic property governs water movement and storage in alluvial beds. This study revealed electrical resistivity and hydraulic properties in space and time in relation to the hydrogeological data, groundwater pumping, and rainfall infiltration into the alluvial bed located in Daesan-myeon, Changwon City. An electrical resistivity survey with electrode spacings of 2 and 4m using a dipole-dipole array indicates that electrical resistivity changes in the alluvial bed depend on groundwater pumping and rainfall events. Additionally, rainfall infiltration varies with hydraulic conductivity in the shallow zone of the alluvial bed. The 2 m electrode spacing survey confirms that electrical resistivity values decrease at shallow depths, corresponding with rainfall and increased water content in the soil, indicating rainfall infiltration approximately 1-2 m below the land surface. The 4m electrode spacing survey reveals that hydraulic conductivity (K) values and electrical resistivity (ρ) values display an inverse relationship from the surface to the water table (approximately 9 m) and at deeper levels than the water table. Notably, ρ values are impacted by pumping around the depth of the water table at 9 m. This study suggests that time-lapsed electrical resistivity surveys in space and time could be effective tools for detecting the impact of rainfall and pumping, as well as hydraulic conductivity in shallow alluvial beds.

The main hydraulic pump is a device that generates the hydraulic pressure needed for the K2 tank. It is a pressure-compensated swash plate piston pump that generates the hydraulic power necessary to drive the hydraulic device. Hydraulic pump design changes were made due to frequent failures of the hydraulic pump. As a result of checking the operation records of the hydraulic pump, about 71% of the total engine operation time was in a stationary state where hydraulic pressure was not needed. This has the problem of constantly running when the engine is started, consuming unnecessary endurance time, and generating high noise. In this study, ISG(Idle Stop & Go) was applied to improve operation method. When applying ISG, the pressure can be reduced to about 85% or less in an environment where the operation of the main hydraulic pump is not necessary. So, the lifespan of the main hydraulic pump increases as a result of ISG application, thereby reducing the waste of national funds due to maintenance costs. Also, it is expected to contribute to improving combat power by reducing crew fatigue due to noise reduction.

Hydraulic turbines can convert tidal current energy into electric energy, and the addition of a deflector cover to the turbine can improve the efficiency of the turbine's energy harvesting. The angle of the inlet section and the angle of the outlet section of the deflector will further affect the final energy-acquisition efficiency.A threedimensional numerical model for turbine flow field analysis is established, and the RNG k-ε turbulence model is selected by CFD method, and the best angles of inlet section and outlet section are analysed by the method of sliding mesh to obtain the best angle of inlet section and outlet section separately, and then three groups of angles are selected near the best angle of inlet section and outlet section to make orthogonal comparisons. The energy acquisition efficiency of the turbine is calculated at different angles of the inlet and outlet sections of the deflector, and the turbine streamline distribution, velocity and pressure maps are analysed with and without the deflector.The study shows that the deflector can play the role of convergence of the downstream flow, which can improve the efficiency of the turbine energy acquisition, and the maximum energy acquisition efficiency is at the inlet angle of 29° and the outlet angle of 40 °, and the maximum energy acquisition efficiency can be improved by about 32 percent.

Hydraulic conductivity is a critical design parameter for buffers in high-level radioactive waste repositories. Most employed prediction models for hydraulic conductivity are limited to various types of bentonites, the main material of the buffer, and the associated temperature conditions. This study proposes the utilization of a novel integrated prediction model. The model is derived through theoretical and regression analyses and is applied to all types of compacted bentonites when the relationship between hydraulic conductivity and dry density for each compacted bentonite is known. The proposed model incorporates parameters such as permeability ratio, dynamic viscosity, and temperature coefficient to enable accurate prediction of hydraulic conductivity with temperature. Based on the results obtained, the values are in good agreement with the measured values for the selected bentonites, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed model. These results contribute to the analysis of the hydraulic behavior of the buffer with temperature during periods of high-level radioactive waste deposition.

The design of buried underground flexible pipes proposed in domestic standards does not properly reflect changes in ground characteristics. Overseas standards suggest that pipe deflection must be considered while designing them. Therefore, in this study, the structural behavior of underground polyvinyl chloride pipes was investigated through experiments and the finite element analysis. In addition, when the pipe deflection occurred at 3% and 5%, the hydraulic characteristics of the polyvinyl chloride pipe showed a slight difference compared to the round pipe.

To secure approval for a decommissioning plan in Korea, it is essential to evaluate contamination dispersion through groundwater during the decommissioning process. To achieve this, licensees must assess the groundwater characteristics of the facility’s site and subsequently develop a groundwater flow model. It is worth noting that Combustible Radioactive Waste Treatment Facility (CRWTF) is characterized by their simplicity and absence of liquid radioactive waste generation. Given these facility characteristics, the groundwater flow model for CRWTF utilizes data from neighboring facilities, with the feasibility of using reference data substantiated through comparative analysis involving groundwater characteristic testing and on-site modeling. To enable a comparison between the actual site’s groundwater characteristics and the referenced modeling, two types of hydraulic constant characterization tests were conducted. First, hydraulic conductivity was determined through long-term pumping and recovery tests. The ‘Theis’ and ‘Cooper-Jacob’ equations, along with the ‘Theis recovery’ equation, were applied to calculate hydraulic conductivity, and the final result adopted the average of the calculated values. Secondly, a groundwater flow test was conducted to confirm the alignment between the main flow direction of the referenced model and the groundwater flow in the CRWTF, utilizing the particle tracking technique. The evaluation of hydraulic conductivity from the hydraulic constant test revealed that the measured value at the actual site was approximately 1.84 times higher than the modeled value. This variance is considered valid, taking into consideration the modeling’s calibration range and the fact that measurements were taken during a period characterized by wet conditions. Furthermore, a close correspondence was observed between the groundwater flow direction in the reference model (ranging from 90° to 170°) and the facility’s actual flow direction (ranging from 78° to 95°). The results of reference data for the CRWTF, based on the nearby facility’s model, were validated through the hydraulic properties test. Consequently, the modeling data can be employed for the demolition plan of CRWTF. It is also anticipated that these comparative analysis methods will be instrumental in shaping the groundwater investigation plans for facilities with characteristics similar to CRWTF.

The WRK (Waste Repository Korea bentonite) compacted bentonite medium has been considered as the appropriate buffer material in the Korean SNF (Spent nuclear fuel) repository site. In this study, hydraulic properties of the WRK compacted bentonite core (4.5 cm in diameter and 1.0 cm in length) as the buffer material were investigated in laboratory experiments. The porosity and the entry pressure of the water saturated core at different confining pressure conditions were measured. The average velocity of water flow in the WRK compacted bentonite core was calculated from results of the breakthrough curves of the CsI aqueous solution and the hydraulic conductivity of the core was also calculated from the continuous flow core experiments. Because various gases could be generated by continuous SNF fission, container corrosion and biochemical reactions in the repository site, the gas migration property in the WRK compacted bentonite core was also investigated in experiments. The gas permeability and the average of gas (H2) in the core at different water saturation conditions were measured. Laboratory experiments with the WRK Compacted bentonite core were performed under conditions simulating the DGR environment (confining pressure: 1.5- 20.0 MPa, injection pressure: 1.0-5.0 MPa, water saturation: 0-100%). The WRK Compacted bentonite core was saturated at various confining pressure conditions and the porosity ranged from 27.5% to 43.75% (average: 36.75%). The calculated hydraulic conductivity (K) of the core using experimental results was 8.69×10-11 cm/s. The gas permeability of the core when the water saturation 0~58 % was ranged of 19.81~3.43×10-16 m2, representing that the gas migration in the buffer depends directly on the water saturation degree of the buffer medium. The average gas velocity in the core at 58% of water saturation was 9.8×10-6 m/s, suggesting that the gas could migrate fast through the buffer medium in the SNF repository site. Identification of the hydraulic property for the buffer medium, acquired through these experimental measurements is very rare and is considered to have high academic values. Experimental results from this study were used as input parameter values for the numerical modeling to simulate the long-term gas migration in the buffer zone and to evaluate the feasibility of the buffer material, controlling the radionuclide-gas migration in the SNF repository site.

In this study, the change in the mold opening stroke of important functional parts according to the 20, 50, 80, and 100% increase in the injection speed of a hydraulic 150 ton hydraulic injection molding machine was studied to verify the accuracy of the injection speed and mold opening stroke and the reproducibility of the standard deviation. The null and alternative hypotheses were confirmed by conducting hypothesis verification according to the experimental condition change using the experimental design method.

Hydraulic cylinders are hydraulic system parts widely used in various industries such as construction machinery, machine tools, robots, automobiles, and automation systems. The maximum capacity of vane pumps used in machine tools is 70bar, but the actual operating pressure is less than 50bar. The allowable pressure of a commercial hydraulic cylinder is 140 - 210 bar, so it is heavy and uneconomical because it uses thick and strong materials. In this paper, we intend to develop a small and lightweight hydraulic cylinder suitable for the allowable pressure of 50bar or less so that it can be used in the hydraulic system field. In order to develop a compact hydraulic cylinder, flow analysis, and structural analysis were conducted under piston forward and backward conditions. The analyzed flow rate value was calculated to be suitable for the operation of the hydraulic cylinder. As a result of comparing the stress calculated under the forward/backward condition of the piston with the yield stress of the material, the safety factor was calculated to be more than 2.5.

In the design of HLW repositories, it is important to confirm the performance and safety of buffer materials at high temperatures. Most existing models for predicting hydraulic conductivity of bentonite buffer materials have been derived using the results of tests conducted below 100°C. However, they cannot be applied to temperatures above 100°C. This study suggests a prediction model for the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite buffer materials, valid at temperatures between 100°C and 125°C, based on different test results and values reported in literature. Among several factors, dry density and temperature were the most relevant to hydraulic conductivity and were used as important independent variables for the prediction model. The effect of temperature, which positively correlates with hydraulic conductivity, was greater than that of dry density, which negatively correlates with hydraulic conductivity. Finally, to enhance the prediction accuracy, a new parameter reflecting the effect of dry density and temperature was proposed and included in the final prediction model. Compared to the existing model, the predicted result of the final suggested model was closer to the measured values.

The reliable information on the hydraulic characteristics of rock mass is one of the key site factors for design and construction of deep subsurface structures such as geological radioactive nuclear waste disposal repository, underground energy storage facility, underground research laboratory, etc. In order to avoid relying on foreign field test technology in future projects, we have independently designed and made integrated type main frame, 120 bar waterproof downhole sonde, and 1,200 m wireline cable winch through a series of R&D activities. They are core apparatuses of the Deep borehole Hydraulic Test System (DHTS). Integration of individual test equipment into a single main frame allows safe and efficient work in the harsh field condition. The DHTS was developed aiming primarily for constant pressure (head) injection test and pulse test in deep impermeable rock mass. The maximum testing depth of the DHTS is about 1,050 m from the surface. Using this system, it is possible to make precise stepwise control of downhole net injection pressure in less than 2.0 kgf/cm2 with dual hydraulic volume controller and also to inject and measure the very low flow rate below 0.01 l/min with micro flow rate injection/control module. Over the past two years, we have successfully completed more than 50 in situ hydraulic tests at 5 deep boreholes located in the Mesozoic granite and sedimentary rock regions in Korea. Among them, the deepest testing depth was more than 920 m. In this paper, the major characteristics of the DHTS are introduced and also some results obtained from the high precision field tests in the deep and low permeable rock mass environment are briefly discussed.

With the increase of temporarily-stored radioactive waste in Korea, the disposal of radioactive waste in a deep geological repository, which is located in crystalline rock at a depth of hundreds of meters below the ground level, has received great attention nowadays. To ensure the permanent isolation of radionuclides from the human and surrounding ecosystems, the safety assessment for the high-level radioactive waste disposal facilities is essential. For the reliable safety assessment of fractured rock, it is especially important to input proper hydraulic properties of fractures such as aperture and hydraulic conductivity, which can directly affect the fluid flow and radionuclide transport. Meanwhile, it has become important to consider sudden fault behavior caused by an earthquake with the recent occurrence of high-intensity earthquakes in the Korean Peninsula. The sudden fault behavior can induce the changes of the hydraulic properties of fractures. Since the changes of the hydraulic properties directly affects to the radionuclide transport in the fractured rock, it is important to estimate the effect of earthquake-induced stress change on hydraulic properties of fractures in the perspective of long-term safety assessment. In this study, the effect of an earthquake on the hydraulic properties of fractures was explored by a numerical approach. The static Coulomb stress change after the earthquake was calculated using software ‘Coulomb 3’ developed by United States Geological Survey (USGS) with the assumption for several mechanical properties such as Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio and effective coefficient of friction. The final stress after earthquake occurrence was calculated as the sum of the initial stress and the stress change. Thereafter, the normalized transmissivity of fracture after the earthquake was calculated using the final stress from the stress-transmissivity relationship. Using the methodology for calculating fracture transmissivity change induced by the earthquake developed in this study, the effect of several factors, such as the earthquake magnitude and the distance between fracture and epicenter, was additionally explored. The newly developed methodology will be applied to the processbased total system performance assessment framework (APro) being developed by KAERI, and this study is expected to be helpful for the safety assessment considering long-term evolution phenomena including earthquakes.

In order to analyze the pressure drop of the fluid passing through the hydraulic coupler, a flow model using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis technique was developed and the fluid flow rate and pressure distribution inside the coupler were analyzed. The analysis model was corrected by comparing the pressure drop measurement using a 6.35mm hydraulic coupler with the ISO reference value and the simulation prediction value. Using the calibrated model, the flow rate and pressure drop of 13 types of hydraulic couplers distributed on the market were analyzed, and their performance was determined by comparing them with ISO reference values. In the case of type A coupler, the pressure drop was generally higher than the ISO reference value, and in the case of type B coupler, the pressure drop was similar to or lower than the ISO reference value. It was confirmed that the complex flow analysis inside the hydraulic coupler could be easily performed through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, and based on this, problems could be identified and performance could be improved performance.