• KCI Concrete Journal
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.121-130
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• 2000

This study focused on evaluating the reliability of code formulas such as those of the current Korean Building Code(KBC 1988). UBC 1997, NBCC 1995. and BSLJ 1994 for estimating the fundamental period of RC apartment buildings with shear-wall dominant systems, representative of typical residential buildings in Korea. For this purpose, full-scale measurements were carried out on fifty RC apartment buildings, and these results were compared to those obtained by code formulas and also by dynamic analysis. Although these code formulas are based on the measured periods of buildings during various earthquakes and building period varies with the amplitude of structural deflection or strain level, ambient surveys should provide an effective tool for experimentally verifying the design period to the completed building. This comparison shows that comparatively large errors are likely to occure when the code formula of KBC 1988 is used, and all the other code formulas are not sufficient to estimate the fundamental period of apartment buildings with shear-wall dominant systems. An improved formula is proposed by regression analysis on the basis of the measured period data. The proposal is for the servicebility stress level, but it can also be applied for seismic code in the regions of low seismicity similar to Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.123-133
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• 2013

This paper presents experimental and numerical tests on a recently developed timber column concealed base joint. This joint was designed to replace the wood-wood connection found in the post-and-beam structure of Hanok, the traditional Korean timber house. The use of metallic connectors provides an increased ductility and energy dissipation for a better performance under reversed loading, especially seismic. In this study, we investigate the performance of the joint under pseudo-static reversed cyclic moment loading through the study of its ductility and energy dissipation. We first perform experimental tests. Results show that the failure occurs in the metallic connector itself because of stress concentrations, while no brittle fracture of wood occur. Subsequent numerical simulations using a refined finite element model confirm these conclusions. Then, using a practical modification of the joint configuration with limited visual impact, we improve the ductility and energy dissipation of the joint while retaining a same level of rotational strength as the originally designed configuration. We conclude that the joint has a satisfying behavior under reversed moment loading for use in earthquake resistant timber structure in low to moderate seismicity areas like Korea.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.353-360
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• 2019

The elastic modulus is an important parameter to characterize the property of rock. It is common knowledge that the strengths of rocks are significantly different under tension and compression. However, little attention has been paid to the bi-modularity of rock. To validate whether the rock elastic moduli in tension and compression are the same, Brazilian disc, direct tension and compression tests were conducted. A horizontal laser displacement meter and a pair of vertical and transverse strain gauges were applied. Four types of materials were tested, including three types of rock materials and one type of steel material. A comprehensive comparison of the elastic moduli based on different experimental results was presented, and a tension-compression anisotropy model was proposed to explain the experimental results. The results from this study indicate that the rock elastic modulus is different under tension and compression. The ratio of the rock elastic moduli under compression and tension ranges from 2 to 4. The rock tensile moduli from the strain data and displacement data are approximate. The elastic moduli from the Brazilian disc test are consistent with those from the uniaxial tension and compression tests. The Brazilian disc test is a convenient method for estimating the tensile and compressive moduli of rock materials.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.645-667
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• 2016

The 750 m long "De Bosset" bridge in the Cephalonia Island of Western Greece, being the area with the highest seismicity in Europe, was constructed in 1830 by successive stone arches and stiff block-type piers. The bridge suffered extensive damages during past earthquakes, such as the strong M7.2 earthquake of 1953, followed by poorly-designed reconstruction schemes with reinforced concrete. In 2005, a multidisciplinary project for the seismic assessment and restoration of the "De Bosset" bridge was undertaken under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture. The proposed retrofitting scheme combining soil improvement, structural strengthening and reconstruction of the deteriorated masonry sections was recently applied on site. Design of the rehabilitation measures and assessment of the pre- and post-interventions seismic response of the bridge were based on detailed in-situ and laboratory tests, providing foundation soil and structural material properties. In-situ inspection of the rehabilitated bridge following the strong M6.1 and M6.0 Cephalonia earthquakes of January 26th and February 3rd 2014, respectively, revealed no damages or visible defects. The efficiency of the bridge retrofitting is also proved by a preliminary performance analysis of the bridge under the recorded ground motion induced by the above earthquakes.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.97-104
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• 2018

A connected control method for the adjacent buildings has been studied to reduce dynamic responses. In these studies, seismic loads were generally used as an excitation. Recently, multi-hazards loads including earthquake and strong wind loads are employed to investigate control performance of various control systems. Accordingly, strong wind load as well as earthquake load was adopted to evaluate control performance of adaptive smart coupling control system against multi-hazard. To this end, an artificial seismic load in the region of strong seismicity and an artificial wind load in the region of strong winds were generated for control performance evaluation of the coupling control system. Artificial seismic and wind excitations were made by SIMQKE and Kaimal spectrum based on ASCE 7-10. As example buildings, two 20-story and 12-story adjacent buildings were used. An MR (magnetorheological) damper was used as an adaptive smart control device to connect adjacent two buildings. In oder to present nonlinear dynamic behavior of MR damper, Bouc-Wen model was employed in this study. After parametric studies on MR damper capacity, optimal command voltages for MR damper on each seismic and wind loads were investigated. Based on numerical analyses, it was shown that the adaptive smart coupling control system proposed in this study can provide very good control performance for Multi-hazards.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.89-103
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• 2018

This study presents results of analysis on fault-related landforms and the Quaternary fluvial landforms, which are important evidences for active faulting by identifying surface deformation, around the Ulsan Fault Zone. In addition, this study suggests lineament map and inferred active fault-line map based on analyzing linearity and continuity of these landforms and by compiling location information of existing active faults. We convince that quantitative tectonic-geomorphological analysis are an effective method for active faults tracking, in particular, considering the conditions of relatively low seismicity and surface ruptured-events in the Korean Peninsula compared to plate boundary active areas. However, research on active fault in South Korea is just an infant stage since the 1990s and requires accumulation of research achievements on development and application of various fault analysis techniques, analysing and standardizing linear structures.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.376-379
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• 2006

A numerous oil slicks of natural origin were revealed in the southwest (SW) part of Caspian Sea by the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images acquired by Envisat satellite in 2003-2004. On the basis of computer processing, visual analysis of SAR images and comparisons with bathymetry, geophysical and seismic data in geographic information system (GIS), a link between these slicks and unloading of liquid hydrocarbons in the SW Caspian is established. Oil slicks are basically concentrated above domes of local geological formations of the sedimentary cover. In total more than 90 seeps and mud volcanoes having a repeating regime and representing an active type were identified; they are distributed across the SW Azerbaijan and West Iranian sectors. Periodical occurrence of slicks can reflect alternation of mud volcanism pulses forced by intensive seismicity with the quiet periods. Seepage rate of oil in the SW part of the Caspian Sea according to SAR images is estimated to be up to 16,000 metric tons per year. The importance of unloading of oils on hydrochemistry and ecological conditions of the Caspian Sea is demonstrated. Conclusion is done that the Envisat SAR to be an excellent tool for studying oil seeps through observation oil slicks floating on the sea surface.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.297-304
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• 1986

Earthquake disaster is dependent upon both site intensity and strength of structures. The higher the strength, structures become more safe, which in turn increases the construction cost. Therefore, it is necessary to decide an optimum design intensity in which the safety is balanced with the cost. Such an optimum design intensity for major man-made structures in Korea is determined in the present study from a simulation model as follows. 1) Hypothetical earthquake time series are generated from the probability distribution to represent appropriately the seismicity of Korea. 2) The strength of structures constructed with a certain design intensity is assumed to exponentially decrease with the elapsed time. The construction cost is also expressed as a function of design intensity. 3) Comparing the seismic intensity generated from the earthquake time series with the strength of structures, the safety of structures is examined. Then the time until the structure is damaged by an earthquake is obtained within the designed life time. 4) The above simulation is iterated several hundred times and hence the mean life time of structures having a certain design intensity is obtained. 5) After all, the optimum design intensity to minimize the annual mean loss, the ratio of construction cost to mean life time, is estimated. The major conclusions obtained from the above simulation model are as follows. 1) Depending upon the designed life time ($T_p$), the optimum design intensities are appeared to be 0. 05-0. 10g for $T_p=50yr$ and 0. 08-0.13g for $T_p=100yr$. 2) According to the sensitivity analysis, the optimum design intensity increases with the rapid strength decrease of structure and decreases with the increase of initial construction cost.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.227-244
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• 2020

Earthen structures have an excellent bioclimatic performance, but they are vulnerable against earthquakes. In order to investigate the edification process and costs, a full-scale rammed soil house was constructed in 2004. In 2016-2019, it was studied its seismic damage, durability and degradation process. During 2004-2016, the house presented a relatively good seismic performance (M_w=5.6-6.4). The damaged cover contributed in the fast deterioration of walls. In 2018 it was observed a partial collapse of one wall due to recent seismicity (M_w=5.6-6.1). The 15-year-old samples presented a reduced compressive strength (0.040 MPa) and a minimum moisture (1.38%). It is estimated that the existing house has approximately a remaining 20% of compressive strength with a degradation of about 5.4% (0.0109 MPa) per year (considering a time frame of 15 years) if compared to the new soil samples (0.2028 MPa, 3.52% of moisture). This correlation between moisture and compressive strength degradation was compared with the study of new soil samples at the same construction site and compared against the extracted samples from the 15-year-old house. At 7-14-days, the specimens presented a similar compressive strength as the degraded ones, but different moisture. Conversely, the 60-days specimens shown almost five times more strength as the existing samples for a similar moisture. It was observed in new rammed soil that the lower the water content, the higher the compressive/shear strength.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.235-243
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• 2016

Korea is part of a region of low to moderate seismicity located inside the Eurasian plate with bedrock located at depths less than 30 m. However, the spectral acceleration obtained from site response analyses based on the geologic conditions of inland areas of the Korean peninsula are significantly different from the current Korean seismic code. Therefore, suitable site classification scheme and design response spectra based on local site conditions in the Korean peninsula are required to produce reliable estimates of earthquake ground motion. In this study, site-specific response analyses were performed at more than 300 sites with at least 100 sites at each site categories of $S_C$, $S_D$, and $S_E$ as defined in the current seismic code in Korea. The process of creating a huge database of input parameters - such as shear wave velocity profiles, normalized shear modulus reduction curves, damping curves, and input earthquake motions - for site response analyses were described. The response spectra and site coefficients obtained from site response analyses were compared with those proposed for the site categories in the current code. Problems with the current seismic design code were subsequently discussed, and the development and verifications of new site classification system and corresponding design response spectra are detailed in companion papers (II-development of new site categories and design response spectra and III-Verifications)