• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2009

The tau-p inversion algorithm is widely employed to generate starting models with most computer programs, which implement refraction tomography. This algorithm emphasises the vertical resolution of many layers, and as a result, it frequently fails to detect even large lateral variations in seismic velocities, such as the decreases which are indicative of shear zones. This study demonstrates the failure of the tau-p inversion algorithm to detect or define a major shear zone which is 50m or 10 stations wide. Furthermore, the majority of refraction tomography programs parameterise the seismic velocities within each layer with vertical velocity gradients. By contrast, the Generalized Reciprocal Method (GRM) inversion algorithms emphasise the lateral resolution of individual layers. This study demonstrates the successful detection and definition of the 50m wide shear zone with the GRM inversion algorithms. The existence of the shear zone is confirmed by a 2D analysis of the head wave amplitudes and by numerous closely spaced orthogonal seismic profiles carried out as part of a later 3D refraction investigation. Furthermore, an analysis of the shot record amplitudes indicates that a reversal in the seismic velocities, rather than vertical velocity gradients, occurs in the weathered layers. The major conclusion reached in this study is that while all seismic refraction operations should aim to provide as accurate depth estimates as is practical, those which emphasise the lateral resolution of individual layers generate more useful results for geotechnical and environmental applications. The advantages of the improved lateral resolution are obtained with 2D traverses in which the structural features can be recognised from the magnitudes of the variations in the seismic velocities. Furthermore, the spatial patterns obtained with 3D investigations facilitate the recognition of structural features such as faults which do not display any intrinsic variation or 'signature' in seismic velocities.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2014

To estimate the shear-velocity ($v_s$) structure beneath the WIZ station on White Island in New Zealand, we applied receiver function (RF) inversion and H-${\kappa}$ stacking methods to 362 teleseismic events (Mw > 5.5) recorded during April 20, 2007 to September 6, 2013. Using 71 RFs with errors less than 20% after 200 iterative computations, we determined that the depth to Moho of $v_s$ = 4.35 km/s is $24{\pm}1km$ within a 15 km radius of the station. In an 1-d $v_s$ model derived by RF inversions, a 4-km thick low-velocity layer (LVL) at depths of 18 ~ 22 km was identified in the lower crust. This LVL, which is 0.15 km/s slower than the rocks above and below it, may indicate the presence of a deep magma reservoir. The H-${\kappa}$ stacking method yielded an estimate of the depth to the Moho of 24.5 km, which agrees well with the depth determined by RF inversions. The low $v_p/v_s$ ratio of 1.64 may be due to the presence of gas-filled rock or hot crystallizing magma.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.41-48
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• 2022

The mass density of the medium (ρ) used to calculate the maximum shear modulus (G_max) of the saturated ground based on the shear wave velocity is unclear. Therefore, to determine the mass density, a verification formula and five scenarios were established. Laboratory tests were conducted, and the obtained results were compared. The mass density of the medium was assumed to be saturated (ρ_sat), wet (ρ_t), dry (ρ_dry), and submerged conditions (ρ_sub), and the V_s ratios of saturated to dry condition were obtained from each case. Assuming the saturated density (ρ_sat), the V_s ratio was consistent with the value from the resonant column test (RCT) results, and the value from the bender element test results was consistent with the wet density assumption (ρ_t). Considering the frequency range of earthquakes, it is concluded that applying the saturated density (ρ_sat) is reasonable as in the RCT results.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

In this paper, the reduction factors to calculate the site coefficients of an embedded foundation are estimated, considering the effect of a poor backfill for the seismic design of a building built on an embedded foundation. This is determined by utilizing in-house finite element software, P3DASS, which has the capability of horizontal pseudo 3D seismic analysis with nonlinear soil. The 30m thick soil on stiff rock was assumed to be homogeneous, elastic, viscous and isotropic, and equivalent circular rigid foundations with radii of 10-70m were assumed to be embedded 0, 10, 20, and 30 m in the soil. Seismic analyses were performed with 7 bedrock earthquake records de-convoluted from the outcrop records; the scaling of the peak ground accelerations were to 0.1 g. The study results show that the site coefficients of a poor-backfilled foundation are gradually reduced as the foundation embedment ratio increases, except in the case of a small foundation embedded deeply in the weak soft soil. In addition, it was found that the deviation of the site coefficients due to the foundation size was not significant. Therefore, the typical reduction factors of an embedded foundation with poor backfill are proposed in terms of the shear wave velocity and site class. This is in order to find the site coefficients of an embedded foundation by multiplying the reduction factor by a site coefficient of a surface foundation specified in the design code. They can then be interpolated to determine the intermediate shear wave velocity.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.5-11
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• 2020

Recently, due to the liquefaction caused by earthquakes in Pohang and surrounding areas, the importance of researches on the liquefaction assessment has increased. The possibility of liquefaction can be assessed using the geotechnical information. The cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) value used in the assessment of liquefaction can be determined by using the SPT-N values or shear wave velocity, V_s value. A study was conducted to compare the accuracy of the liquefaction assessment using these two types of geotechnical information, and concluded that the results using SPT-N values are more accurate than those using V_s values. The previous study speculated that the used V_s value was measured at a depth of 12 m uniformly without considering the critical depth of liquefaction. Therefore, 10 empirical equations that convert SPT-N values measured at critical depth of liquefaction into V_s values to confirm the validity of geotechnical information measured at 12 m points uniformly are used to assess the liquefaction possibility and the results were compared with the actual liquefaction results to confirm the accuracy. As a result, 7 out of 10 cases considering critical depth for liquefaction show higher accuracy than those not considered.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.101-115
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• 2005

For the site characterization at two inland areas, Gyeongju and Hongsung, which represent geomorphic and geologic characteristics of inland region in Korea, in-situ seismic tests containing borehole drilling investigations and resonant column tests were peformed and site-specific seismic response analyses were conducted using equivalent linear as well as nonlinear scheme. The soil deposits in Korea were shallower and stiffer than those in western US, from which the site coefficients and site classification system in Korea were derived. Most sites were categorized as site classes C and D based on the mean shear wave velocity $(V_s)$ of the upper 30 m $(V_s30)$, ranging between 250 and 650 m/s. According to the acceleration response spectra determined from the site response analyses, the site coefficients specified in the current Korean seismic design guide underestimate the ground motion in the short-period band and overestimate the ground motion in mid-period band. These differences can be explained by the differences in the bedrock depth and the soil stiffness profile between Korea and western US. The site coefficients, $F_a$ for short-period and $F_v$ for mid-period, were re-evaluated and the site classification system, in which sites C and D were subdivided according to $V_s20,\;V_s15,\;and\;V_s10$ together with the existing $V_s30$ was introduced accounting for the local geologic conditions at inland region of the Korean peninsula. The proposed site classification system in this paper is still rudimentary and requires modification.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.5-17
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• 2009

In HWAW method, experimental dispersion curve is obtained through time-frequency analysis, and inversion procedure is based on the forward modeling which considers full wavefield. Therefore, it enables us to use relatively short testing setup and has advantage for two dimensional subsurface imaging compared with another surface wave methods. Numerical study was performed to verify that the HWAW method can be applied to non-horizontally layerd soil structure. The experimental dispersion curves obtained from HWAW method agreed with the theoretical dispersion curves based on full wavefield. Experimental dispersion curves are mainly more affected by the region between two receivers than by the region from source to the first receiver. Fluctuation phenomena of dispersion curve can be reduced by adequate receiver spacing setup. From numerical study, it was thought that reliable Vs distribution map can be constructed by HWAW method and finally subsurface imaging was tried in the real field.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.45-51
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• 2003

Grouting materials in rock is grouted as vein type along the fault surface by the other way for soil and allow a change of characteristics in rock faults as a result of that. Therefore the deformation characteristics of rock faults after grouting differ as a direction and characteristic of grouted fault and stress condition of field rock. Thereby it must be analyzed the effect for deformation of rock according to characteristics of rock faults and characteristics of grouting materials to accurately evaluate the reinforced effect by grouting. But grouting method used in field until present depends on experience of workers, and inspection for those effects are evaluated by measurement of elastic wave velocity, permeability tests and etc. in field. In this study, it was investigated that the effects for shear characteristics of maximum shear strength, residual shear strength and etc. by comparison and analysis of test results which were worked by direct shear tests of rock faults with changing a type of grouting materials and the grouting depth(t) for average width(a) of fault surface roughness when OPC(Ordinary Portland Cement) and Micro cement was grouted in fault surface of field rock to evaluate characteristicsof the shear deformation for rock fault surface of dam by grouting.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 1995

When the crack in orthotropic material is propagating under dynamic model I load, influences of anisotropic property ratio $E_{L}$/ $E_{T}$ on stress and displacement around propagating crack tip are studied in this paper. When M<0.55 and .alpha.=90.deg.(.alpha.; the angle of fiber direction with crack propagating direction, M; crack propagation velocity/shear stress wave velocity), the influence of $E_{L}$/ $E_{T}$ on stress .sigma.$_{x}$, .sigma.$_{y}$, .tau.$_{xy}$ and .sigma.$_{\theta}$ is the greast on .sigma.$_{y}$. Except M<0.55 and .alpha.=90.deg., it is the greast on .sigma.$_{x}$ in any situation. Increasing $E_{L}$/ $E_{T}$, stress components are increased or decreased. When maximum stress is based, the stress .sigma.$_{x}$(.alpha.=90.deg.), .sigma.$_{y}$(.alpha.=0.deg.) and .tau.$_{xy}$ (.alpha.=90.deg.) are decreased with increment of $E_{L}$/ $E_{T}$ in M=0. any stresses except .sigma.$_{*}$x/(.alpha.=0.deg.) are decreased with increment of $E_{L}$/ $E_{T}$ in M=0.9. When .alpha.=90.deg., the influence of $E_{L}$/ $E_{T}$ on displacement U and V is V>U in any velocities of crack propagation, when .alpha.=0.deg., it is VU in M>0.75 and when $E_{L}$/ $E_{T}$ is increased, U and V are decreased in any conditions.sed in any conditions.tions.tions.tions.