• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-17
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• 2005

The determination of seismic velocities in refractors for near-surface seismic refraction investigations is an ill-posed problem. Small variations in the computed time parameters can result in quite large lateral variations in the derived velocities, which are often artefacts of the inversion algorithms. Such artefacts are usually not recognized or corrected with forward modelling. Therefore, if detailed refractor models are sought with model based inversion, then detailed starting models are required. The usual source of artefacts in seismic velocities is irregular refractors. Under most circumstances, the variable migration of the generalized reciprocal method (GRM) is able to accommodate irregular interfaces and generate detailed starting models of the refractor. However, where the very-near-surface environment of the Earth is also irregular, the efficacy of the GRM is reduced, and weathering corrections can be necessary. Standard methods for correcting for surface irregularities are usually not practical where the very-near-surface irregularities are of limited lateral extent. In such circumstances, the GRM smoothing statics method (SSM) is a simple and robust approach, which can facilitate more-accurate estimates of refractor velocities. The GRM SSM generates a smoothing 'statics' correction by subtracting an average of the time-depths computed with a range of XY values from the time-depths computed with a zero XY value (where the XY value is the separation between the receivers used to compute the time-depth). The time-depths to the deeper target refractors do not vary greatly with varying XY values, and therefore an average is much the same as the optimum value. However, the time-depths for the very-near-surface irregularities migrate laterally with increasing XY values and they are substantially reduced with the averaging process. As a result, the time-depth profile averaged over a range of XY values is effectively corrected for the near-surface irregularities. In addition, the time-depths computed with a Bero XY value are the sum of both the near-surface effects and the time-depths to the target refractor. Therefore, their subtraction generates an approximate 'statics' correction, which in turn, is subtracted from the traveltimes The GRM SSM is essentially a smoothing procedure, rather than a deterministic weathering correction approach, and it is most effective with near-surface irregularities of quite limited lateral extent. Model and case studies demonstrate that the GRM SSM substantially improves the reliability in determining detailed seismic velocities in irregular refractors.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.225-232
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• 2009

As part of seismic experiments investigating crustal velocity structures of the Korean peninsula, permanent (fixed) seismographs of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) network recorded seismic signals from four and eight large explosions in Korean Crustal Research Team (KCRT) profiles shot in 2004 and 2008, respectively. Among the seismograms recorded by 43 velocity sensors and 103 accelerometers at KMA stations distributed throughout the southern Korean Peninsula, 156 records with epicentral distances less than 120 km and high signal-to-noise ratios were analyzed to determine velocity anisotropy of the Pg phase. Relative elevation corrections of -101.6 to 105.3 ms were made using velocity information derived from the 2004 KCRT profile data and differences in elevation between the permanent KMA stations and the temporary stations in the KCRT profiles at the same source-receiver offsets. To remove site effects, receiver-station corrections of -89.6 to 192.2 ms were additionally made to the KMA station data by subtracting the average differences in traveltimes between KMA stations and portable stations at the same offsets for all available shots with different azimuths. With the exception of anomalously fast velocities along trends of the Chugaryeong fault zone and the Okchon fold belt and anomalously slow velocities in the regions of high terrestrial heat near Yeongduk and Ulsan, the analysis of crustal velocity anisotropy using the Pg phase indicates overall isotropy in the southern half of the Korean peninsula.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.1 no.3 s.3
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• pp.123-136
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• 2001

The purpose of application of moment tensor inversion method is to determine source parameters, such as, focal mechanism, seismic moment and source depth. This paper presents results of focal mechanism solutions of 14 recent events with magnitudes ranging from M3.3 to M4.8 by using moment tensor inversion method called TDMT_INV. The strike of faults is in the direction of NE-SW and NW-SE with the movement of strike-slip or strike-slip of minor reverse component. The compressional axis of the stress field is predominantly E-W or ENE-WSW except for some faults, which are distributed at Ryongnam Massif and Wonsan, they have a compressional axis of N-S or NNW-SSE.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.384-391
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• 2005

Three dimensional finite difference elastic wave model was developed to estimate the feasibility of surface wave applications in geotechnical problems. The wave motions calculated by the developed program in this study shows good agreement with well known analytic solutions. The surface wave motions calculated from layered dam type structure can be interpreted as a infinite layer structure using dispersion curve but it is need a special source of which high energy in frequency band lower than 10 Hz to get information of physical properties in few tens meter deep. The source which has high energy in the low frequency band, however, can give defect on dam and this will make some limitation in real field applications. The dispersion curves calculated from the surface wave motion of homogeneous and center core type dam models will give rise to fatal errors if the conventional infinite layer structure used in their interpretation because the surrounding materials and boundaries of dam make some distortion in dispersion curve of surface wave. So it is strongly recommended to use three dimensional inversion model for correct interpretation and estimation of physical properties of dam materials.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.215-223
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• 2005

Piezo-ceramics are special materials which transform energy from mechanical to electrical forms and vice versa. Bender elements are composite materials consisting of thin piezo-ceramics and elastic shims, and are widely used as actuators and transducers in the field of electronics, robotics, autos and mechatronics utilizing the effectiveness of energy transformation capability. In geotechnical engineering, commercial bender elements are used in laboratory as source and receiver in the measurements of soil stiffness. The elements were built by using various metal shims sandwiched between piezo-ceramics and coating over the composite in the research. A pair of elements were buried in a concrete block and used as source and receiver to measure the stiffness of the concrete. The test results were verified by comparing with the resonant column testing results. In a preliminary stage of the development of an in-situ seismic testing equipment using bender elements for soft clay materials, shear waves were generated and measured by burying the elements in the barrel of kaolinite and water mixture. The measured shear wave signals were so distinct for the first-arrival pick that applicability of the elements in the field measurements could be very promising.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.523-531
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• 2008

In hole type CPTu equipment which combines the concepts of inhole test method and piezocone test method was newly developed in order to evaluate the dynamic properties of marine soils. It is possible to perform inhole type CPTu without any additional source device because the source and receiver are contained inside the cone rod, which is different from the conventional seismic cone system. In this study, laboratory tests using kaolinite as soft soil and numerical simulations using finite element method were carried out to investigate the effects of several parameters including test methods and soil conditions on the test results from inhole type CPTu and to find out the optimum test method. It was found that it is necessary to maintain the length of swing arm as well as the distance between source and receiver consistently to obtain the rigorous test results. The laboratory test and numerical results also reveal that contrary to the input wave frequency, the water content of soil layer and the disturbance due to the installation of swing arm apparently affect the shear wave velocity.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.509-515
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• 2009

Three earthquakes with local magnitude ($M_L$) greater than 3.0 occurred on April 24, June 2 and September 12 in 1999 nearby the Gyeongju area. Redetermined epicenters were located within the radius of 1 km. We carried out waveform inversion analysis to estimate focal mechanism of June 2 event, and P and S wave polarity and their amplitude ratio analysis to estimate focal mechanisms of April 24 and September 12 events. June 2 and September 12 events had similar fault plane solutions each other. The fault plane solution of April 24 event included those of other 2 events, but its distribution range was relatively broad. Focal mechanisms of those events had a strike slip faulting with a small normal component. P-axes of those events were ENE-WSW which were similar to previous studies on the P-axis of the Korean Peninsula. Considering distances between epicenters, similarities of seismic waves and sameness of polarities of seismic data recorded at common seismic stations, these events might occurred at the same fault. The seismic moment of June 2 event was estimated to be $3.9\;{\times}\;10^{14}\;N{\cdot}m$ and this value corresponded to the moment magnitude ($M_W$) 3.7. The moment magnitude estimated by spectral analysis was 3.8, which was similar to that estimated by waveform inversion analysis. The average stress drop was estimated to be 7.5 MPa. Moment magnitudes of April 24 and September 12 events were estimated to be 3.2 and 3.4 by comparing the spectrum of those events recorded at common single seismic station.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.225-242
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• 2008

The site effect for 23 broadband seismic stations in the southern Korean Peninsula was estimated by using the spectral ratio of coda waves. In principle, the site effect means the pure amplification below the station excluding effects of seismic source and attenuation in the wave transmission. However, the site effect determined in this study is equivalent with the relative site amplification factor to the mean amplification for all stations. A total of 500 three-component seismograms from 35 earthquakes, of which magnitude ranged from 2.5 to 5.1 occurred from January, 2001 to January, 2007 was used to obtain the site amplification factor. The site amplification factors were estimated for the frequency bands centered at 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Hz. It was found that the factors for two horizontal components of transverse and radial records were concordant with each other in the all frequency bands. However, the factor for the vertical component was found to be systematically lower than those for two horizontal components. The factors obtained in the low frequency band below 2 Hz ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 in all seismic stations except for KMA and KIGAM stations in Bagryeongdo (BRD1 and BRD2) of which factor showed high value above 1.5. Some stations such as SEO, SNU, HKU, NPR, and GKPI showed high value above 1.5 in the high frequency band from 5 to 20 Hz. Especially, the factors of GKP1 station represented extremely high value ranging from 1.8 to 7.8. Also, the factors for stations of KWJ, SND, and ULJ showed low value below 0.5. The spatial distribution for the relative amplification factor represented a tendency of being approximately lower in north-eastern area than south-western area in the southern Korean Peninsula.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.126-133
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• 2003

High-resolution shallow marine seismic surveys have been carried out for the resources exploration, engineering applications and Quaternary mapping. To improve the resolution of subsurface structure image, multichannel digital technique has been applied. The quality of the image depends on the vertical and horizontal resolution and signal to noise (S/N) ratio which are associated with the data acquisition parameters such as sample interval, common midpoint (CMP) interval and CMP fold. To understand the effect of the acquisition parameters, a test survey was carried out off Yeosu and the acquired data were analyzed. A 30 $in^3$ small air gun was used as a seismic source and 8 channel streamer cable with a 5 m group interval was used as a receiver. The data were digitally recorded with a shot interval of 2 s and sample interval of 0.1 ms. The acquired data were resampled with various sample intervals, CMP intervals and CMP folds. The resampled data were processed, plotted as seismic sections and compared each other. The analysis results show that thin bed structure with ${\~}1m$ thickness and ${\~}6^{\circ}$ slope can be imaged with good resolution and continuity and low noise using the acquisition parameters with a sample interval shorter than 0.2 ms, CMP interval shorter than 2.5 m and CMP fold more than 4. Because seismic resolution is associated with the acquisition parameters, the quality of the subsurface structure can be imaged successfully using suitable and optimum acquisition parameters.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.142-152
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• 2008

SPT-Uphole method was introduced for the evaluation of near subsurface shear wave velocity (Vs) profile. In SPT-Uphole method, SPT (Standard Penetration Test) which is common in geotechnical site investigation was used as a source and several surface geophones in line were used as receivers. 1D shearwave velocity profile can be obtained in the manner of downhole method, Vs distribution map which is the triangular shape around the boring point can be developed by tomography inversion. To obtain the exact travel time information of shear wave component, a procedure using the magnitude summation of vertical and horizontal components was used based on the evaluation of particle motion at the surface. It was verified that proposed method could give reliable Vs distribution map through the numerical study using the FEM (Finite Element Method) model. Finally, SPT-Uphole method was performed and the feasibility of proposed method was verified in the field.