• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.1 s.53
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• pp.59-65
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• 2007

Site classification of IBC and KBC is based on the ft-kips unit system and is not friendly for the linear interpolation of the site coefficients due to the implicit relationship between a site class and site coefficients, defining a site class by the range of the soil properties, not by a single soil property. Also, the site class definition of KBC has too wide range of soil properties for each soil class. making the structural engineers difficult to estimate the site coefficients for the diverse soil layers. In this study, a new site classification in SI unit system was proposed for the seismic design codes of KBC etc., and the comparison of the site coefficients of $F_{a}\;and\;F_{v}$ was also performed to investigate the possibility of the linear interpolation of the site coefficients with the proposed new site classification. According to the study results, it was more reasonable for the linear interpolation of the site coefficients to utilize the proposed new site classification considered the Sl unit system and the soil characteristics of the 30m soil layer beneath the shallow embedded foundation, and the linear interpolation of the acceleration coefficients for the design spectrum can be performed more reasonably defining the site coefficients for the representative shear wave velocities of each site class. With the study results, a new site classification, and the linear interpolation permitted acceleration coefficients fer the design spectrum were proposed for the modification of the seismic design regulations of KBC.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.111-115
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• 2009

In Korea, the probabilistically developed seismic hazard maps are used with deterministically derived seismic site coefficients in developing the design response spectrum of a specific site. Even though the seismic hazard maps and seismic site coefficients are incompatible, the current design code ignores such incompatibility. If the seismic hazard map and seismic coefficients are both developed in identical probabilistic framework, such problems can be solved. Unfortunately, the available method cannot be use to derive "true" probabilistic site coefficients. This study uses the ground motion time histories, which were developed as the result of a new probabilistic seismic hazard analysis in the companion paper, as input motions in performing one-dimensional equivalent linear site response analyses, from which the uniform hazard response spectra are generated. Another important characteristic of the hazard response spectra are that the uncertainties and randomness of the ground properties are accounted for. The uniform hazard spectra are then used to derive probabilistic site coefficients. Comparison of probabilistic and deterministically site coefficients demonstrate that there is a distinct discrepancy between two coefficients.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.245-256
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• 2016

In the companion paper (I - Database and Site Response Analyses), site-specific response analyses were performed at more than 300 domestic sites. In this study, a new site classification system and design response spectra are proposed using results of the site-specific response analyses. Depth to bedrock (H) and average shear wave velocity of soil above the bedrock ($V_{S,Soil}$) were adopted as parameters to classify the sites into sub-categories because these two factors mostly affect site amplification, especially for shallow bedrock region. The 20 m of depth to bedrock was selected as the initial parameter for site classification based on the trend of site coefficients obtained from the site-specific response analyses. The sites having less than 20 m of depth to bedrock (H1 sites) are sub-divided into two site classes using 260 m/s of $V_{S,Soil}$ while the sites having greater than 20 m of depth to bedrock (H2 sites) are sub-divided into two site classes at $V_{S,Soil}$ equal to 180 m/s. The integration interval of 0.4 ~ 1.5 sec period range was adopted to calculate the long-period site coefficients ($F_v$) for reflecting the amplification characteristics of Korean geological condition. In addition, the frequency distribution of depth to bedrock reported for Korean sites was also considered in calculating the site coefficients for H2 sites to incorporate sites having greater than 30 m of depth to bedrock. The relationships between the site coefficients and rock shaking intensity were proposed and then subsequently compared with the site coefficients of similar site classes suggested in other codes.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.87-97
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• 2009

The seismic site coefficients are often used with the seismic hazard maps to develop the design response spectrum at the surface. The site coefficients are most commonly developed deterministically, while the seismic hazarde maps are derived probabilistically. There is, hence, an inherent incompatibility between the two approaches. However, they are used together in the seismic design codes without a clear rational basis. To resolve the fundamental imcompatibility between the site coefficients and hazard maps, this study uses a novel probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) technique that simulates the results of a standard PSHA at a rock outcrop, but integrates the site response analysis function to capture the site amplification effects within the PSHA platform. Another important advantage of the method is its ability to model the uncertainty, variability, and randomness of the soil properties. The new PSHA was used to develop fully probabilistic site coefficients for site classes of the seismic design code and another sets of site classes proposed in Korea. Comparisons highlight the pronounced discrepancy between the site coefficients of the seismic design code and the proposed coefficients, while another set of site coefficients show differences only at selected site classes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.707-714
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• 2009

The design response spectrum generally used in Korea is decided by the site coefficients determined by deterministic methodology, while it is based on probabilistic seismic hazard analysis. The design response spectrum has to be made using probabilistic method which includes uncertainties of ground motions and ground properties for coincide with probabilistic methodology of seismic hazard analysis. In this study probabilistic site coefficients were developed, which were defined by the results of site response analysis using a set of ground motion that was compatible with present seismic hazard map. The design response spectrum defined by probabilistic seismic coefficients resulted in lower spectrum in long period area and larger spectrum in short period area. Also, the maximum spectral accelerations in site class D and site class E were lower than one in site class C while in the previous design response spectrum the maximum spectral acceleration increased from site class A to E.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.154-162
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• 2005

In this paper, site response analyses were performed based on equivalent linear technique using the shear wave velocity profiles of 162 sites collected around the Korean peninsula. The site characteristics, particularly the shear wave velocities and the depth to the bedrock, are compared to those in the western United States. The results show that the site-response coefficients based on the mean shear velocity of the top 30m ($V_{S30}$) suggested in the current code underestimates the motion in short-period ranges and overestimates the motion in mid-period ranges. Also the current Korean code based on UBC is required to be modified considering site characteristics in Korea for the reliable estimation of site amplification. From the results of numerical estimations, new regression curves were derived between site coefficients ($F_a$ and $F_v$) and the fundamental site periods, and site coefficients were grouped based on site periods in the regions of shallow bedrock. The standard deviations of the proposed method was reasonable compared to site classification based on $V_{S30}$. Finally, new site classification system is recommended based on site periods for regions of shallow bedrock depth in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.91-102
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• 2019

Decomposition models are essential in TMY development and solar energy system design. Up until recently, only a few decomposition model related researches are implemented in Korea due to lack of measured direct normal solar irradiance. In contrast, numerous researches have been conducted in various countries, and some quasi-universal composition models have been recommended by several papers. In this research, three decomposition models - Watanabe model, Reindl-2 model and Engerer1 model - are selected and their site-fitted coefficients are developed using measured direct normal solar irradiance in Seoul. R-squared, RMSE, MBE of the site-fitted models are compared with the case of original coefficients and then each other. The comparison result shows that the Reindl-2 model with site-fitted coefficients is best suitable for Seoul. Further researches will be conducted to find the best model using more various measured data of Korean cities and site-fitting methods.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.65-77
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• 2007

Site response analyses were performed based on equivalent linear technique using shear wave velocity profiles of 162 sites collected around the Korean peninsula. The site characteristics, particularly the shear wave velocities and the depth to the bedrock, are compared to those in the western United States. The results show that the site-response coefficients based on the mean shear velocity of the top 30m ($V_{S30}$) suggested in the current code underestimates the motion in short-period ranges and overestimates the motion in mid-period ranges. The current Korean code based on UBC is required to be modified considering site characteristics in Korea for the reliable estimation of site amplification. From the results of numerical estimations, new regression curves were derived between site coefficients ($F_{a}\;and\;F_{v}$) and the fundamental site periods, and site coefficients were grouped based on site periods with reasonable standard deviations compared to site classification based on $V_{S30}$. Finally, new site classification system and modification of design response spectra are recommended considering geotechnical characteristics in Korea.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.391-399
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• 2018

The site coefficients in the common requirements for seismic design codes, which were promulgated in 2017, were reevaluated and the standard design spectrum for soil sites were newly proposed in order to ensure the consistency of the standard design spectra for rock and soil sites specified in the common requirements. Using the 55 ground motions from domestic and overseas intraplate earthquakes, which were used to derive the standard design spectrum for rock sites, as rock outcropping motions, site response analyses of Korean soil were performed and its ground-motion-amplification was characterized. Then, the site coefficients for soil sites were reevaluated. Compared with the existing site coefficients, the newly proposed short-period site coefficient $F_a$ increased and the long-period site coefficient $F_v$ decreased overall. A new standard design spectrum for soil sites was proposed using the reevaluated site coefficients. When compared with the existing design spectrum, it could be seen that the proposed site coefficients and the standard design spectrum for soil sites were reasonably derived. They reflected the short-period characteristics of earthquake and soil in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.35-43
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• 2012

Following the companion paper (I. Comparisons with Well-known Seismic Code and Site Response Characteristics), several acceleration data recorded during recent earthquake events in Korea were analyzed to verify the suitability of the proposed two-parameters site classification system and the corresponding site coefficients. For all of rock-soil site pairs less than 30 km distant, response spectrums and corresponding site coefficients, $F_a$ and $F_v$, were determined. Unfortunately, some of data have an eccentric error, where the spectral acceleration of rock site is more amplified than that of soil site. The $F_a$ and $F_v$ for all of pairs except the pairs of error were compared with those in the current code and the proposed system. The $F_a$ and $F_v$ from the recorded motions show definitely different trend from that of the current code. In addition, the site coefficients from recorded motions at four 765 kV substation sites, which are several hundred meters distant, have a remarkably similar trend and absolute values to those in proposed two-parameters site classification system. Based on earthquake motions recorded in domestic areas including data from the four 765 kV substation sites, the two-parameters site classification and site coefficients are superior to the results obtained from the current Korean seismic code.