• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.293-307
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• 2012

Shear wave velocity is commonly invoked in explaining geophysical phenomena and in solving geotechnical engineering problems. In particular, the importance of shear wave velocity in geotechnical earthquake engineering has been widely recognized for seismic design and seismic performance evaluation. In the present study, various insitu seismic tests were performed to evaluate geotechnical dynamic characteristics at 183 sites in Korea, and shear wave velocity profiles with depth were determined to be representative of the dynamic properties at the investigated sites. Subsurface soil and rock layers at the target sites were reclassified into five geotechnical layers: fill, alluvial soil, weathered soil, weathered rock, and bedrock, taking into account their general uses in geotechnical earthquake engineering practice. Average shear wave velocity profiles for the five geotechnical layers were obtained by synthesizing the shear wave velocity profiles from seismic tests in the field. Based on the profiles, a representative shear wave velocity value was determined for each layer, for use in engineering seismology and geotechnical earthquake engineering.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.1 s.53
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• pp.45-57
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• 2007

The mean shear wave velocity to the depth of 30 m (Vs30) derived from the western Vs is the current site classification criterion for determining the design seismic ground motion taking into account the site amplification potential. In order to evaluate the Vs30 at a site, a shear wave velocity (Vs) Profile extending to at least 30 m in depth must be acquired from in-situ seismic test. In many cases, however, the resultant depth of the Vs profile may not extend to 30 m, owing to the unfavorable field condition and the limitation of adopted testing techniques. In this study, the Vs30 and the mean shear wave velocity to a depth shallower, than 30 m (VsDs) were computed from the Vs profiles more than 30 m in depth obtained by performing various seismic tests at total 72 sites in Korea, and a correlation between Vs30 and VsDs was drawn based on the computed mean Vs data. In addition, a method for extrapolating the Vs profile from shallow depth to 30 m was developed by building a shape curve based on the average data of all Vs profiles. For evaluating the Vs30 from the shallow Vs profiles, both the methods using VsDs and shape curve result in less bias than the simplest method of extending the lowermost Vs equally to 30 m in depth, and are usefully applicable particularly in the cases of the Vs profiles extending to at least 10 m in depth.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.1C
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• pp.63-74
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• 2008

Site response analyses were performed based on equivalent linear technique using the local geologic and dynamic site characteristics, which include soil profiles, shear wave velocity profiles and depth to bedrock for 125 sites collected in Korean Peninsula. From the results of site response analyses, 2-parameters site classification system based on the combination of mean shear wave velocity of soil and depth to bedrock was newly recommended for regions of shallow bedrock depth in Korea. First, as the borders of bedrock depth (H) for site classification were determined as 10m and 20m, the soil sites were divided into 3 classes as $H_1$, $H_2$ and $H_3$ sites. And then, the 3 site classes were subdivided into 7 classes based on the mean shear wave velocity of soil ($V_{s,soil}$). The feasibility of new site classification system was verified and the representative site coefficients ($F_a$ and $F_v$) and design response spectrum were suggested by analyzing uniform trend and dispersion of site coefficients for each site class. The suggested site coefficients and the regression curves present the nonlinear characteristics of soils according to the change of rock outcrop acceleration with uniform trend effectively. From the comparison between the mean values of response spectrum which was acquired from the site response analysis and the suggested design response spectrum, there was a little difference in some of site classes and it was verified to adjust the integration interval to make it more suitable for the site condition in Korea.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.555-560
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• 2019

One-dimensional shear wave velocity structure of North Korea is constrained using short (2-sec) to long period (30-sec) Rayleigh waves generated from four seismic events in China. Rayleigh waves are well recorded at the five broadband seismic stations (BRD, SNU, CHNB, YKB, KSA) which are located near to the border between North and South Korea. Group velocities of fundamental-mode Rayleigh waves are estimated with the Multiple Filter Analysis and refined by using the Phase Matched Filter. Average group velocity dispersion curve ranging from 2.9 to 3.2 km/s, is inverted to constrain the shear wave velocity structures. Relatively low group velocity dispersion curves along the path between the events to BRD at period from 4 to 6 seconds may correspond to the sedimentary sequence of the West Korea Bay Basin (WKBB) in the Yellow Sea. The low velocity zone in deep layers (14-20 km) may be related to the deep sedimentary structure in Pyongnam basin. The fast shear wave velocity structure from the surface to the depth of 14 km is consistent with the existence of metamorphic rocks and igneous bodies in Nangrim massif and Pyongnam basin.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.43-54
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• 2006

The scope of this paper covers the applications of bender element tests in consolidation, tomography, and liquefaction. Loading and unloading time during consolidation are evaluated based on shear wave velocity. As S-wave velocity is dependent on effective stress, the loading step may be determined. However, cautions are required due to the different mechanism between the settlement and effective stress criteria. The stress history may be evaluated because the S-wave shows the cement controlled regime and stress controlled regimes. A fixed frame complemented with bender elements permits S-wave tomography The tomography system is tested at low confinement within a true triaxial cell. Results show that shear wave velocity tomography permits monitoring changes in the velocity field which is related to the average effective stress. To monitor the liquefaction phenomenon, S-wave trans-illumination is implemented with a high repetition rate to provide detailed information on the evolution of shear stiffness during liquefaction. The evolution of shear wave propagation velocity and attenuation parallel the time-history of excess pore pressure during liquefaction. Applications discussed in this paper show that bender elements can be a very effective tool for the detection of shear waves in the laboratory.

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.162-162
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• 2011

표면파 속도 측정은 근래 토목분야에서는 비파괴 지반조사기법으로 활용되고 있다. 최근에는 디지털 신호처리기술의 발달과 함께, 더욱 정확해진 자료분석 알고리즘을 통하여 표면파 탐사관련 기술이 향상되어 3차원의 공간연속적인 시험이 가능해졌다. 본 연구는 표면파의 분산 특성을 이용하여 콘크리트 구조물의 깊이별 강성평가를 하는 SASW(Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves)기법과 STFT(Short time Fourier Transform)과 HWT(Harmonic Wavelet Transform)를 이용한 주파수영역에서의 공진주파수를 통한 부재평가 기법인 IE(Impact Echo)기법을 이용하여 대상부재의 강도평가를 수행하기 위한 시제품 개발을 수행하였다. 시제품은 메인프레임과 2개의 센서로 이루어져 측정을 수행하며 측정장치와 DAQ장치 및 S/W로 구성되어 있다. 메인프레임의 진동특성영향을 제거하기 위하여 2개의 센서는 프레임과 띄움구조로 설계하였고 센싱하는 위치는 대상 재료의 밀착되어 계측할 수 있도록 설계하였다. 탄성파를 계측하여 대상 재료의 깊이별 측정된 표면파의 속도를 계측하며 개발된 시제품의 구조물별 적용성 평가를 위한 실험을 수행하였고 평균 표면파 속도를 통해 추정한 콘크리트 두께와 결함 및 강도 추정의 적용성을 평가하였다. 시제품을 이용해 시험콘크리트 표면파를 측정한 결과 SASW기법을 이용하여 깊이에 대한 위상속도 분포와 IE기법의 결과로 개발된 시제품의 합리적 적용성이 평가되었다. 그러나 재료의 강도추정에 있어서는 각각 알고리즘의 주파수분석 요소들에 의해 변동되는 경향을 보여 추후 많은 테스트를 통해 속도-강도 추정의 회귀곡선식을 S/W에 탑재시키고 다양한 방법으로 조합하는 알고리즘으로 신뢰성있는 강도추정을 위한 알고리즘을 개발하여야 한다.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.47-54
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• 2014

Although shear wave velocity ($V_s$) is an important design factor in seismic design, the measurement is not usually made in typical field investigation due to time and economic limitations. In the present study, an investigation was made to predict sand $V_s$ based on the standard penetration test (SPT) results by using artificial neural network (ANN) model. A total of 650 dataset composed of SPT-N value ($N_{60}$), water content, fine content, specific gravity for input data and $V_s$ for output data was used to build and train the ANN model. The sensitivity analysis was then performed for the trained ANN to examine the effect of the input variables on the $V_s$. Also, the ANN model was compared with seven existing empirical models on the performance. The sensitivity analysis results revealed that the effect of the SPT-N value on $V_s$ is significantly greater compared to other input variables. Also, when compared with the empirical models using Nash-Sutcliffe Model Efficiency Coefficient (NSE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), the ANN model was found to exhibit the highest prediction capability.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.11-20
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• 2004

This paper suggests the site-dependent ductility factor which is a key component of response modification factor(R). To compute the ductility factor, a group of 1,860 ground motions recorded from 47 earthquake was considered. Based on the local site conditions at the recording station, ground motions were classified into four groups according to average shear wave velocity. This site classification was consistent with site categories of the UBC(1997), NEHRP(1997) and IBC 2000(1997). Based on the results of regression analysis, a simplified equations were proposed to compute site-dependent ductility factors. The proposed equations were relatively simple and provide a good estimation of mean ductility factors. Based on the proposed equation, ductility factors considering the site conditions can be evaluated in accordance with the present building codes.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.3C
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• pp.157-170
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• 2006

Downhole method is considered as giving a little unreliable Vs profile when the signal to noise ratio(S/N) is low and the travel time information is erroneous although it is economical and ease of operation. Direct method has been applied for obtaining adequate result in this case. But it is difficult to determine optimum result by using direct method which is subjective and considering straight ray path. Therefore, in this paper, Mean Refracted Ray Path Method(MRM) was proposed, which is automated and considering refracted ray path. Artificial travel time data adding some travel time error was generated by forward modeling based on Snell's Law and travel time data was also obtained from numerical signal traces using FEM modelling. Using these travel time data, reliability of MRM was verified in the manner of comparing the results determined by MRM with the model. Finally, proposed method was applied to the real field data and it was considered as improved method for obtaining the optimum result in downhole seismic method.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.599-609
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• 2023

In the seismic retrofitting of harbor breakwaters in Korea, the recovery rate is often uncertain due to site conditions and site conditions, and problems continue to arise. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the recovery rate and compressive strength of the improved material through drilling survey by grouting confirmation method after applying low-fluidity mortar injection method, and furthermore, we checked the elastic modulus by downhole test and tomography to confirm the reinforcement effect of soft ground after ground improvement. The experimental results showed that the average shear wave velocity of the ground increased from 229 m/s to 288 m/s in BH-1 and BH-3 boreholes to a depth of 28.0 m, and the average shear wave velocity of the ground to a depth of 30.0 m tended to increase from 224 m/s to 282 m/s in the downhole test. This is believed to be a result of the increased stiffness of the ground after reinforcement. The results of the tomographic survey showed that the Vs of the soft ground of the sample at Site 1 increased from 113 m/s to 214 m/s, and the Vs of the sample at Site 2 increased from 120 m/s to 224 m/s. This shows that the stiffness of the ground after seismic reinforcement is reinforced with hard soil, as the Vs value satisfies 180 m/s to 360 m/s in the classification of rock quality according to shear wave velocity.