• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.37-49
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• 2018

Since the observation of ground motions in South Korea, liquefaction manifestation was the first to be observed in Pohang earthquake in 2017 with $M_L$ 5.4. Because liquefaction causes ground settlement and lateral spread damaging in-ground or super structures, various researchers have been analyzing the Pohang liquefaction case history to better understand and predict liquefaction consequence and to prevent future disasters. In prior research at the 2018 EESK conference, a map of Liquefaction Potential Index (LPI), indicating the severity of liquefaction, in Pohang was created and compared with damage observations. The LPI correlated well with the observations, but the severity categorized by LPI range was significantly higher than the actual observations in most regions. The prior LPI map was created evaluating ground motions using the simplified approach. In this research, we perform the effective site response analyses with porewater pressure generation model for the detailed evaluation of liquefaction on the liquefied sites in Pohang. We found that the simplified approach for LPI evaluation can overestimate the severity.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.6_4
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• pp.1531-1544
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• 2018

We detected the coseismic ionospheric disturbance generated by the earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 and greater in Korean Peninsula. We considered the seismic events such as Gyeongju earthquake in September 2016 with magnitude 5.8, the Pohang earthquake in November 2017 with magnitude 5.4, and the underground nuclear explosion from North Korea in September 2017 with magnitude 5.7. Although all GPS stations were not detected, the ionospheric disturbance induced by these earthquakes occurred approximately 10-30 minutes and 40-60 minutes after the events. We inferred that the time difference within each variation is due to the different focal depth and the geometry of epicenter, satellite, and GPS station. In the case of the Gyeongju earthquake, the earthquake had relatively deeper depth than the other earthquakes. However, the seismic magnitude was bigger and it occurred at nighttime when the ionospheric activity was stable. So we could observe such anomalous variations. It is considered that the ionospheric disturbance caused by the difference in velocity of the upward propagating waves generated by earthquake appears more than once. Our results indicate that the detection of ionospheric disturbances varies depending on the geometry of the GPS station, satellite, and epicenter or the detection method and that the apparent growth of amplitude in the time series varies depending on the focal depth or the site-satellite-epicenter geometry.

• Journal of the Geological Society of Korea
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.557-566
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• 2018

Pohang earthquake (Main shock magnitude = 5.4) occurred in Southeastern region of South Korea in November 15, 2017. Groundwater levels of 6 monitoring wells with 5 minutes interval measurements located in that region and stream water levels of 4 stations located along the Hyeongsan-gang stream are used for the analysis of earthquake induced effects. Four groundwater monitoring wells show a short-term decrease of groundwater level after a main shock and one well does an increase and the maximum change is about 42.0 cm. Especially, groundwater levels at two monitoring wells near the epicenter are consistently maintained after a decrease. There is little relationship between earthquake magnitude or a distance to epicenter and changing amount of groundwater level and it may be due to the inhomogeneity of geologic material and unconsolidated sediments distribution. The changes in permeability of fractured zone and groundwater levels occasionally cause changes in stream flow rate, and water level of the Hyeongsan-gang stream in the study area decreases just after the earthquake and increases again up to the normal level and next shows an more gentle decreasing slope. Total increasing flow rates at S1 (upstream site) and S4 (downstream site) stations are about $12,096m^3$ and $116,640m^3$, respectively, during the increasing period.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.21-33
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• 2020

Ground response analysis has been conducted for each borehole data in Pohang area, using 1D equivalent linear method program, to investigate the applicability of amplification factor to estimate peak ground acceleration. Earthquake motions for ground response analysis were prepared by matching response spectrums for return period of 500, 1000, and 2400 years suggested by seismic design code (MOIS, 2017). Ground survey data were acquired from Geotechnical Information DB System. It has been confirmed that response spectrum obtained from ground response analysis showed good agreement with those from seismic design code irrespective of ground classification. However, PGA (Peak Ground Accelerations) of ground response analysis did not coincide with PGA calculated using amplification factor suggested by seismic design code.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.211-222
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• 2021

The magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurred in 2017 near 7.5 km north of Buk-gu, Pohang. In order to find out the characteristics of microtremor in Buk-gu, Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, where earthquake damage occurred significantly, a total of 39 points were acquired to analyze the horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR). Microtremor vary from region to region, so the resonant frequency of the region is obtained by examining the microtremor. For Thickness analysis, we analyze the structure and properties of shear wave velocity (Vs) up to the underlying rock to compare resonance frequencies to match the horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) analysis technique against nearby boring data. Using F₀ = V_s/4H with a resonance frequency of alluvium is 1.3 ± 0.07 Hz and a resonance frequency of Yeonil group is 0.69 ± 0.22 Hz, the alluvium thickness was found to be 26~30 m and the Yeonil group thickness was 170~250 m.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.503-512
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• 2024

In the seismic design standard, input waves for different levels of seismic performance are proposed in the form of design response spectra. At the time of establishing these standards, measured records of significant earthquakes that occurred domestically, such as the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake and the 2017 Pohang earthquake, were not included. Additionally, for the ground response analysis, shear wave velocities representing ground amplification characteristics were derived from the results of standard penetration tests (N-values) and applied in empirical formulas. This approach may not adequately capture sufficient information about the characteristics of domestic ground properties. Therefore, in this study, seismic records from the Gyeongju and Pohang earthquakes were modified to adjust the bedrock standard design response spectra. Ground response analyses were conducted using shear wave velocity profiles obtained from borehole tests in the Sejong City area. The shape of the response spectrum and ground amplification coefficient obtained from the ground response analysis were then compared with those from existing studies and seismic design standard.

• Geosciences Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.871-880
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• 2018

During and shortly after the 2017 Pohang Earthquake ($M_w$ 5.4), sand blows were observed around the epicenter for the first time since the beginning of instrumental seismic recording in South Korea. We carried out field surveys plus satellite and drone imagery analyses, resulting in observation of approximately 600 sand blows on Quaternary sediment cover in this area. Most were observed within 3 km of the epicenter, with the farthest being 15 km away. In order to investigate the ground's susceptibility to liquefaction, we conducted a trench study of a 30 m-long sand blow in a rice field 1 km from the earthquake epicenter. The physical characteristics of the liquified sediments (grain size, impermeable barriers, saturation, and low overburden pressure) closely matched the optimum ground conditions for liquefaction. Additionally, we found a series of soft sediment deformation structures (SSDSs) within the trench walls, such as load structures and water-escaped structures. The latter were vertically connected to sand blows on the surface, reflecting seismogenic liquefaction involving subsurface deformation during sand blow formation. This genetic linkage suggests that SSDS research would be useful for identifying prehistoric damage-inducing earthquakes ($M_w$ > 5.0) in South Korea because SSDSs have a lower formation threshold and higher preservational potential than geomorphic markers formed by surface ruptures. Thus, future combined studies of Quaternary surface faults and SSDSs are required to provide reliable paleoseismological information in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.33-46
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• 2021

After the Gyeongju earthquake, which was the largest in the history of measuring instruments in Korea in 2016, and after the Pohang earthquake, where the pillars of pallet structures were destroyed in 2017, the seismic design standards for all domestic facilities have been revised and supplemented. In particular, during the investigation of the Pohang Earthquake damage cases, liquefaction damage that occurs mainly in countries with strong earthquakes such as the United States, Japan, and New Zealand was found, so studies are being conducted in depth to improve seismic design standards. In this study, the liquefaction potential assessment in the recently revised seismic design standard for port and harbor was reviewed, and an applicability review was conducted focusing on the newly cited liquefaction potential index (LPI). At this time, by varying the thickness and location of the sandy soil where liquefaction can occur, the LPIs for various cases were calculated and compared. Also, 22 LPI values in the practical port area were compared and reviewed along with performance of the liquefaction assessment based on the site response analysis using the boring-hole data of the actual 22 port sites.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.307-314
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• 2018

It became clear that Korean peninsula is not a safe region anymore from an earthquake disaster after Gyeongju and Pohang Earthquake in 2016-2017. Unfortunately, building industry in Korea has not been well prepared for an earthquake disaster and the following problems exist. First, the rate of buildings with proper seismic performance is relatively low. Second, the number of piloti buildings which are vulnerable to earthquake and fire disaster has increased recently. Third, the proportion of small-scale buildings excluded from the application of the building law for securing safety is too high. Fourth, widespread corruption and poor construction impede safety. Therefore, measures to prepare for earthquake disaster are as follows. First, methods of reinforcing building structures and reducing the seismic load acting on a building should be utilized in order to secure the insufficient seismic performance of buildings vulnerable to earthquakes. Second, whistleblowers should be encouraged and protected to prevent defective construction due to corruption. To this end, whistleblowers should be recognized as an effective means of protecting public interest not the traitor to the organization.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.165-175
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• 2022

Earthquakes have occurred owing to movements on a fault since several billion years ago. Research on the relationship between earthquakes and groundwater began in the 1960s in the United States, but related works, including hydrogeochemistry research, only began in the 2010s in South Korea. In this study, domestic studies on the relationship between earthquakes and groundwater until 2021 were collected from the Web of Science and characterized by subject area (groundwater level, hydrogeochemistry, combination of the two, and others). The results showed that the number of published articles per year was positively correlated with the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, 2016 Gyeongju earthquake, and 2017 Pohang earthquake, with the maximum numbers observed in 2011, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Most studies on the relationship between earthquakes and groundwater level addressed groundwater level fluctuations in the duration of the subject earthquake, with little consideration of the precursors. Groundwater level monitoring data, as well as hydrogeochemical information and microbial communities, may contribute to a more detailed understanding of groundwater flow and chemical reactions in bedrock caused by earthquakes. Therefore, the establishment of a national groundwater monitoring network for seismic monitoring and prediction is required.