In several countries, the rising occurrence of sinkholes has led to severe social and economic damage. Based on the mechanism of sinkhole development, researchers have investigated the correlation between rainfall intensity and sinkholes caused by damaged sewer pipes. In this study, the effect of rainfall intensity on the formation of eroded zones, as well as the occurrence of sinkholes caused by soil erosion due to groundwater infiltration through pipe defects, has been analyzed through model tests. The ground materials in Seoul were represented by weathered granite soil, which is generally used for backfill sewer pipes, and groundwater levels corresponding to three different rainfall intensity conditions were considered. The ground level changes and ground displacements were measured continuously, and the particle image velocimetry (PIV) algorithm was applied to measure the displacement at each position of the model ground. The results indicate that impeding the excessive rise in groundwater levels by securing sufficient sewage treatment facilities can effectively prevent the development of sinkholes caused by pipe defects.

Identifying the spatial distribution of deformation and shear band characteristics is important for accurately modeling soil behavior and ensuring the safety of nearby geotechnical structures. However, most research on the shear behavior of soils has focused on granular soil and clay-rich rocks, with little focus on clayey soil, and the entire shearing process from the initial state to failure has not been observed. This study evaluated the spatial distribution and evolution of deformation in clayey soils from the initial state to the post-failure state and the shear band characteristics. Plane strain tests were performed on normally consolidated and over-consolidated clay specimens, and digital images were captured through a transparent side wall for particle image velocimetry (PIV) analysis. PIV was performed to evaluate the displacement and deformation of soil particles. The results show that the shear-strain behaviors of two clays during the shearing process could be divided into four stages: initial, peak, softening, and steady state. Shear bands were observed to form in the softening stage, and the shear band slopes were compared to values in the literature. These results can be used to characterize shear bands in clay as well as predict failure behavior and guide reinforcement at actual sites with soft ground.

Underground space is being utilized due to the saturation of surface ground. The box culvert, as a representative infrastructure that has moved underground, is installed to protect such fixtures as electricity and gas. Because buried box culverts are necessarily affected by soil, it is important to study the earth pressure according to soil type. Herein, the horizontal earth pressure of the buried box culvert was analyzed. Accordingly, a precisely simulated centrifuge model test was performed. Additionally, the coefficient of earth pressure was analyzed. The results had significant variability because, in the existing theory, the horizontal earth pressure acting on the side of the box culvert was only calculated using the coefficient of earth pressure and the friction angle of the soil. Therefore, a correction factor was deemed necessary for calculating the horizontal earth pressure acting on the side of the box culvert.

Due to the lack of surface space, most structures are heading underground. The box culvert is underground infrastructure and serves to protect the buried structure from the underground environments, but it has a different characteristic from other structures in that the inner space is empty. Therefore, in this study, the vertical earth pressure which is the most significant effective stress acting on a box culvert was measured by conducting a geotechnical centrifuge model test. A box culvert was installed following the embankment installation method, and the vertical earth pressure acting on it was measured considering the cover depth, gravitational acceleration, and loading and unloading conditions. The soil pressure measured was greater than the existing theoretical value under high cover depth and the unloading condition, which is considered as the variability of many soils or the residual stress acting under the loading condition. Finally, a goodness-of-fit test was conducted as a part of variability analysis. The measured earth pressure was found to be considerably larger than the existing theoretical value, and the variability was large as well. This means the existing theoretical equation is under-designed, which should be reflected in future designs.