PURPOSES : In this study, a numerical analysis method and the shear strength model of unsaturated soil were applied to understand the governing factors that affect the development and progress of road subsidence at various water content levels. METHODS: Laboratory testing methods, the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC), relationship between internal friction and interparticle friction, and different numerical analysis methods used to characterize or simulate road subsidence processes were evaluated from the literature review. A contact model, and a range of interparticle static friction coefficients and cohesion energy densities to simulate the captivity initiation and progress in the discrete element method (DEM) were selected and suggested, respectively. By using the proposed contact model and values, a set of parametric studies were performed to clearly understand the progress of subsidence at various water content levels and the shear strength characteristics of soil. RESULTS : When the interparticle friction and cohesion energy density are very low, the ground particles flow like an inviscid fluid. The sequential expansion of the cavity is governed by the tangential strength of the soil around the cavity, especially when the interparticle friction and cohesion energy density are high enough. Furthermore, the difference between the quantum of flow at the outlet and the quantum of detaching particles around the cavity determines the progress and the size of the cavity. CONCLUSIONS : The parametric study using the discrete element method clearly showed the effect of the interparticle friction and cohesion energy density on the progress and subsidence of the cavity. The resizing of particles depending on the water content appears to be a reasonable consideration to create a more realistic simulation with the DEM.

PURPOSES : This study compares the results of field-monitored unsaturated hydraulic data to verify the wetting path estimation method using the drying path on roadside soil slope. METHODS: A method proposed by Fredlund was used to estimate the wetting curves of soil water characteristic curves. Wetting curves were estimated from the drying curve acquired mainly from laboratory testing, and the estimated wetting curve was applied to the infiltration analysis to verify the estimation method. The infiltration analysis results obtained from the drying, wetting, and estimated wetting curves were compared to the field-monitored data at the same location. RESULTS : The volumetric water contents measured at 40 cm were closest to analysis results obtained from the wetting curve, whereas the volumetric water content measured at 80 cm were closest to the analysis results obtained from the drying curve. The results of the estimated wetting curves were between the results of the drying and wetting curves. The measured suction results were within the drying and wetting curves, and the estimated wetting curves were within the drying and wetting curves. Additionally, the safety factor obtained from applying the drying curves was carefully calculated, and the factor of safety of the estimated wetting curves was close to the results of the wetting curves. CONCLUSIONS : Applying a drying curve to calculate the slope stability during the rainy season will cause an overestimation of the factor of safety at roadside soil slopes. However, if the proposed estimation method of the wetting curve can be applied to the numerical analysis, the stability of the road slope can be reasonably estimated.

일반적으로 도로의 하부인 노상층은 불포화토 상태로 존재하기 때문에 함수비의 변동을 예측하기 위해서는 불포화 함수특성곡선(soil-water characteristic curve)의 추정은 필수적이다. 따라서, 국내 대표적인 노상토인 다짐된 화강풍화계열 노상토를 대상으로 함수특성을 정량화하기 위하여 pressure plate 장치를 활용하여 건조 및 습윤 이력과정의 실험을 각각 수행한 후 이를 토대로 불포화토 함수특성에 대한 해석을 수행하였다. 실험결과, 화강 풍화 노상토의 함수비를 좌우하는 흡수력이 건조와 습윤 과정에 있어 서로 다른 수치를 나타내었고 흡수력에 따른 불포화 투수계수와 습윤용적 그리고 확산 등의 흐름특성을 통하여 이력(hysteresis)을 확인하였다. 이를 토대로 도로하부의 연중흡수력을 추정하였다.

강우로 인한 사면파괴는 전 세계적으로 공통적으로 발생하고 있는 문제이다. 이러한 강우 지반 침투로 인해 발생되는 침투 및 유출은 불포화 지반에서 사면파괴 혹은 침식을 유발시킨다. 본 연구에서는 1차원 모델을 이용하여 불포화 지반의 침투 및 유출량을 산정하여 사면의 안정성에 미치는 영향을 분석하였다. 강우로 인한 침투 및 유출을 실제와 유사하게 모의하기 위해 2011년에 사면파괴가 발생한 춘천지역의 불포화 특성(함수특성곡선, 불포화 투수곡선)을 반영하였고, 확률론적 강우량을 적용하였다. 다양한 조건의 강우강도, 초기 모관흡수력, 투수계수 및 함수특성곡선 영향인자를 반영하여 침투 및 유출량을 산정하였다. 그리고 제안된 모델식과 수치해석 결과와 비교분석을 수행하였다.