• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2017

We performed seismic imaging based on relative S-wave travel times to examine S-wave velocity of upper mantle structure beneath East Asia. We used teleseismic events recorded at 129 broadband stations of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), and National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED). Relative travel time residuals were obtained by a multi-channel cross-correlation method designed to automatically determine accurate relative phase arrival times. The resulting images show high-velocity anomalies along plate boundaries around the Japanese islands region. These anomalies may indicate subducting Pacific and Philippine Sea plates. On the other hand, a low-velocity anomaly is revealed beneath east of the Korean peninsula down to around 300 km depth, which is thought to be related to the formation of the Ulleung basin and the Ulleung island. Low-velocity anomalies revealed beneath the Jeju island may imply that the formation and volcanism of the Jeju island have been caused by magmatic sources from the deep mantle.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.287-291
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• 2005

Two-dimensional velocity tomograms of P- and S-waves were obtained by inverting traveltimes of first arrivals. The two sections of shear-wave velocity show similar features as a whole, with smaller values on the section from surface wave dispersions. Difficulties in picking SH-wave phases due to noise and later arrivals than P waves and PS converted waves are experienced. In addition, a flat layer model based on the surface wave inversion prohibits applications of the method where sgear wave velocities vary strongly in the lateral direction.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.51-59
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• 2006

The surface wave data obtained in a tidal flat located in the sw coast of the Korean Peninsula were used to analyse the shear wave velocity structure of the area. First, the phase velocity dispersion curves were obtained by the tau-p stacking method and the group velocity dispersion curves by a wavelet transform method and the Multiple Filtering Technique by Dziewonski. The phase velocity dispersion curves exhibited bigger errors than the group velocity curves. The results showed that the wavelet transform method was more effective in separating the fundamental and the 1st higher mode group velocity curves than the Multiple Filtering Technique. Combined use of the fundamental and the 1st higher mode group velocity dispersion curves in the inversion for the shear wave velocity structure gave better spatial resolution compared when the fundamental mode group velocity was used alone. This study indicates that the group velocity dispersion curves can be used in the inversion of Rayleigh waves for the shear wave velocity structure, especially effectively with the higher mode group velocity curves together.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.229-238
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• 2011

S-wave, which provides lithology and pore fluid information, plays a key role in estimating gas-hydrate saturation. In general, P- and S-wave velocities increase in the presence of gas-hydrate and the P-wave velocity decreases in the presence of free gas under the gas-hydrate layer. Whereas there are very small changes, even slightly increases, in the S-wave velocity in the free gas layer because S-wave is not affected by the pore fluid when propagating in the free gas layer. To verify those velocity properties of the BSR (bottom-simulating reflector) depth in the gas-hydrate prospect area in the Ulleung Basin, P- and S-wave velocity profiles were derived from multi-component ocean-bottom seismic data which were acquired by Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) in May 2009. OBS (ocean-bottom seismometer) hydrophone component data were modeled and inverted first through the traveltime inversion method to derive P-wave velocity and depth model of survey area. 2-D multichannel stacked data were incorporated as an initial model. Two horizontal geophone component data, then, were polarization filtered and rotated to make radial component section. Traveltimes of main S-wave events were picked and used for forward modeling incorporating Poisson's ratio. This modeling provides S-wave profiles and Poisson's ratio profiles at every OBS site. The results shows that P-wave velocities in most OBS sites decrease beneath the BSR, whereas S-wave velocities slightly increase. Consequently, Poisson's ratio decreased strongly beneath the BSR indicating the presence of a free gas layer under the BSR.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.293-308
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• 2003

New results about the crustal structure down to a depth of 60 km beneath North Korea were obtained using the seismic tomography method. About 1013 P- and S-wave travel times from local earthquakes recorded by the Korean stations and the vicinity were used in the research. All earthquakes were relocated on the basis of an algorithm proposed in this study. Parameterization of the velocity structure is realized with a set of nodes distributed in the study volume according to the ray density. 120 nodes located at four depth levels were used to obtain the resulting P- and S-wave velocity structures. As a result, it is found that P- and S-wave velocity anomalies of the Rangnim Massif at depth of 8 km are high and low, respectively, whereas those of the Pyongnam Basin are low up to 24 km. It indicates that the Rangnim Massif contains Archean-early Lower Proterozoic Massif foldings with many faults and fractures which may be saturated with underground water and/or hot springs. On the other hand, the Pyongyang-Sariwon in the Pyongnam Basin is an intraplatform depression which was filled with sediments for the motion of the Upper Proterozoic, Silurian and Upper Paleozoic, and Lower Mesozoic origin. In particular, the high P- and S-wave velocity anomalies are observed at depth of 8, 16, and 24 km beneath Mt. Backdu, indicating that they may be the shallow conduits of the solidified magma bodies, while the low P-and S-wave velocity anomalies at depth of 38 km must be related with the magma chamber of low velocity bodies with partial melting. We also found the Moho discontinuities beneath the Origin Basin including Sari won to be about 55 km deep, whereas those of Mt. Backdu is found to be about 38 km. The high ratio of P-wave velocity/S-wave velocity at Moho suggests that there must be a partial melting body near the boundary of the crust and mantle. Consequently we may well consider Mt. Backdu as a dormant volcano which is holding the intermediate magma chamber near the Moho discontinuity. This study also brought interesting and important findings that there exist some materials with very high P- and S-wave velocity annomoalies at depth of about 40 km near Mt. Myohyang area at the edge of the Rangnim Massif shield.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.549-557
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• 2003

Surface wave exploration method has many advantages over other conventional exploration methods. Only limited accumulation of the study results has been made due to the recent development of the method. In this study the characteristics of the phase dispersion curves of four sites with different geo-technical properties have been identified. A generalized inversion method was used to obtain the shear wave velocity profiles of the study areas. The shear wave velocity profiles were compared with the columnar sections of the boreholes at the sites. This study shows that the rapid changes in the shear wave velocities are consistent with the changes in the sedimentary or lithologic faces found in the borehole measurements. This implicates that the surface wave exploration method could be used to identify changes in the physical properties of sediments or rocks.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.199-207
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• 2009

From 329 earthquake data in the Korean Peninsula, we separated the intrinsic and scattering quality factor ($Q_i^{-1}$ and $Q_s^{-1}$) using the Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis (MLTW) method. For the homogeneous velocity structure, $Q_i^{-1}$ reduces the amplitudes of both direct and coda waves; $Q_s^{-1}$ diminishes the direct wave amplitude but enlarges the coda wave amplitude. Based on this phenomenon, MLTW method analytically derives theoretical curves and obtains $Q_i^{-1}$ and $Q_s^{-1}$ by least square fit with observation curves. This study is the first approach for the seismic stable region by MLTW method, and show that $Q_i^{-1}$ and $Q_s^{-1}$ in the Korean Peninsula are very low at lower than frequencies of 5 Hz. This low value seems to be related to the inactive tectonism of the Korean Peninsula.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.507-522
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• 2021

Specific survey objectives often cannot be met using only one geophysical method, as each method's results are influenced by the specific physical properties of subsurface materials. In particular, areas susceptible to geological hazards require investigation using more than one method in order to reduce risks to life and property. Instead of analyzing the results from each method separately, this work develops a four-quadrant criterion for classifying areas of levees as safe or weak. The assessment is based on statistically determined thresholds of seismic velocity (P-wave velocity from seismic refraction and S-wave velocity from multichannel analysis of surface waves) and electrical resistivity. Thresholds are determined by subtracting the standard deviation from the mean during performance testing of this correlation technique applied to model data of four horizontal and inclined fracture zones. Compared with results from the crossplot of resistivity and P-wave velocity, crossplot analysis using resistivity and S-wave velocity data provides more reliable information on the soil type, ground stiffness, and lithological characteristics of the levee system. A loose and sandy zone (represented by low S-wave velocity and high resistivity) falling within the second quadrant is interpreted to be a weak zone. This interpretation is well supported by the N values from standard penetrating test for the central core.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.349-356
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• 2015

Although geophysical methods are useful and generally provide valuable information about the subsurface, it is important to recognize their limitations. A common limitation is the lack of sufficient contrast in physical properties between different layers. Thus, multiple methods are commonly used to best constrain the physical properties of different layers and interpret each section individually. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and shallow seismic reflection (SSR) methods, used for shallow and very shallow subsurface imaging, respond to dielectric and velocity contrasts between layers, respectively. In this study, we merged GPR and SSR data from a test site within the Cheongui granitic mass, where the water table is ~3 m deep all year. We interpreted the data in combination with field observations and existing data from drill cores and well logs. GPR and SSR reflections from the tops of the sand layer, water table, and weathered and soft rocks are successfully mapped in a single section, and they correlate well with electrical resistivity data and SPS (suspension PS) well-logging profiles. In addition, subsurface interfaces in the integrated section correlate well with S-wave velocity structures from multi-channel analysis shear wave (MASW) data, a method that was recently developed to enhance lateral resolution on the basis of CMP (common midpoint) cross-correlation (CMPCC) analysis.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.18-24
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• 2015

Non-destructive testing (NDT) methods are widely used in the construction industry to diagnose the defects/strength of the concrete structure. However, it has been reported that the results obtained from NDT are having low reliability. In order to resolve this issue, four kinds of NDT test (ultrasonic velocity measurements by P-wave and S-wave and the impact resonance methods by longitudinal vibration and deformation vibration) were carried out on 180 concrete cylinders made with two kinds of mix proportions. The reliability of the NDT results was analyzed and compared through the measurement of the actual compressive strength of the concrete cylinders. The statistical analysis of the results was revealed that the ultrasonic velocity method by S-wave is having lowest coefficient of variation and also most capable of stable observation. Analytical equations were established to estimate the compressive strength of the concrete from the obtained NDT results by relating the actual compressive strength. Moreover the equation established by the ultrasonic velocity method by S-wave had the highest coefficient of determination. Further studies on the stability of non-destructive testing depending on various mixing conditions will be necessary in the future.