• 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.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2005

A seismic refraction study in estimation of depth to the bedrock demonstrates that 1) the average velocity in the medium is about 250 m/s in the surface layer (< 4 m), 2,500 m/s in the weathered formation, and greater than 3,000 m/s in the bedrock, 2) the depth to the deepest reflector assumed to be the bedrock is about 17 m; however, according to the cores collected in a borehole in study area, the bedrock (granite) occurred at depth 25 m, 3) according to the density and velocity logging, at depth 17 m, a measurable velocity and density increase are observed, and 4) the velocity of the weathered formation is relatively high and therefore, the acquisition offsets ($70{\sim}80m$) are turned out not to be long enough to record the refracted signal from the bedrock at depth 25 m as first arrivals.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.143-156
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• 2021

Rail transit lines usually pass through many complicated topographies in mountain areas. The influence of inclined bedrock on the train-induced soil vibration response was investigated. Model tests were conducted to comparatively analyze the vibration attenuation under inclined bedrock and horizontal bedrock conditions. A three-dimension numerical model was built to make parameter analysis. The results show that under the horizontal bedrock condition, the peak velocity in different directions was almost the same, while it obviously changed under the inclined bedrock condition. Further, the peak velocity under inclined bedrock condition had a larger value. The peak velocity first increased and then decreased with depth, and the trend of the curve of vibration attenuation with depth presented as a quadratic parabola. The terrain conditions had a significant influence on the vibration responses, and the inclined soil surface mainly affected the shallow soil. The influence of the dip angle of bedrock on the peak velocity and vibration attenuation was related to the directions of the ground surface. As the soil thickness increased, the peak velocity decreased, and as it reached 173% of the embedded pile length, the influence of the inclined bedrock could be neglected.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.188-198
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• 2022

Some deep faults do not reach the ground surface and are seldom recognized. Gokgang Fault area in the east of the Heunghae area of the Pohang basin has been selected to confirm the feasibility of the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) approach to identify blind faults. Densely spaced microtremor data have been acquired along two lines in the study area and processed to obtain resonance frequencies. An empirical relationship between the resonance frequency and the bedrock depth was proposed using borehole data available in the study area. Resonance frequencies along two lines were then converted to bedrock depths. The resulting depth profiles show significant lateral variations in the bedrock depth. As expected, considerable variation in the resonance frequency is observed near the Gokgang fault. The depth profiles also present additional significant variations in the resonance frequencies and the bedrock depths. The feature is presumably related to a blind fault that is previously unknown. Therefore, this case study confirms the feasibility of the HVSR technique to identify faults otherwise not recognized on the surface.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.114-122
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• 1995

The principle and applications of GPR(Ground Penetrating Radear) are familiar to engineering geologists and geophsicists as very attractive technique for continuous high resolution images of the subsurface. However, the main limitation of GPR is obviously related to presence of clayey or silty conductive soils, resulting in complete attenuation of radar signals. This difficulty gives hesitation for the exploration of the deeper targets for example detecting bedrock, particularly in Korean situation that most regions have conductive overburden. In order to prove usefulness of geological survey with GPR in that situation, the technique was tried to investigate depth of bedrock under thick conductive overburden and the other geolocgical informations for the constructionof foundation in the Dongbu apartment site, Kimhae. The reflection patterns on the processed GPR sections are well correlated with the geotechnical units-bedrock, alluvium, landfill unit and their internal layer-boundaries of boring data before GPR survey, except upper contact of bedrock. The isopach maps of the geotechnical units for the 3-D interpretations are made from GPR sections. The maps provided useful geological information that bedrock was distributed as plain and valley with 22~27m depth under alluvium unit (this depth is 5~8 m deeper than drill log) and sedimentary layers subsided and bended along growth fault with NNE strike/15$^{\circ}$SE dip in alluvium unit.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.1C
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• pp.63-74
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• 2008

Site response analyses were performed based on equivalent linear technique using the local geologic and dynamic site characteristics, which include soil profiles, shear wave velocity profiles and depth to bedrock for 125 sites collected in Korean Peninsula. From the results of site response analyses, 2-parameters site classification system based on the combination of mean shear wave velocity of soil and depth to bedrock was newly recommended for regions of shallow bedrock depth in Korea. First, as the borders of bedrock depth (H) for site classification were determined as 10m and 20m, the soil sites were divided into 3 classes as $H_1$, $H_2$ and $H_3$ sites. And then, the 3 site classes were subdivided into 7 classes based on the mean shear wave velocity of soil ($V_{s,soil}$). The feasibility of new site classification system was verified and the representative site coefficients ($F_a$ and $F_v$) and design response spectrum were suggested by analyzing uniform trend and dispersion of site coefficients for each site class. The suggested site coefficients and the regression curves present the nonlinear characteristics of soils according to the change of rock outcrop acceleration with uniform trend effectively. From the comparison between the mean values of response spectrum which was acquired from the site response analysis and the suggested design response spectrum, there was a little difference in some of site classes and it was verified to adjust the integration interval to make it more suitable for the site condition in Korea.

• 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.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

A new site classification system and site coefficients based on local site conditions in Korea were developed and implemented as a part of minimum design load requirements for general seismic design. The new site classification system adopted bedrock depth and average shear wave velocity of soil above the bedrock as parameters for site classification. These code provisions were passed through a public hearing process before it was enacted. The public hearing process recommended to modify the naming of site classes and adjust the amplification factors so that the level of short-period amplification is suitable for economical seismic design. In this paper, the new code provisions were assessed using dynamic centrifuge tests and by comparing the design response spectra (DRS) with records from 2016 Gyeongju earthquake, the largest earthquake in history of instrumental seismic observation in Korea. The dynamic centrifuge tests were performed to simulate the representative Korean site conditions, such as shallow depth to bedrock and short-period amplification characteristics, and the results corroborated with the new DRS. The Gyeongju earthquake records also showed good agreement with the DRS. In summary, the new code provisions are reliable for representing the site amplification characteristic of shallow bedrock condition in Korea.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.9 no.1 s.31
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• pp.39-46
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• 2007

Different backcalculation results for the same material properties are caused by different structural geometry. In this paper, based on real simulation results for typical pavement systems using 3-dimensional FE models, modified AREA graphs are proposed to graphically backcalculate modulus of elasticity of slab and subgrade based on center deflection and AREA. In modified graph for single infinity slab models, deflection and AREA are increased in deeper depth to bedrock. But, effects of depth to bedrock more than 4.0 meters on backcalculation results are negligible. And, center deflection and AREA generated from multifinite slab models are larger than those of single infinity slab models with same depth to bedrock.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.87-99
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• 1993

The computer program, MFPD, which is used to backcalculate the layer moduli of asphalt concrete pavement system is modified by contemplating the depth to virtual bedrock in this study. An algorithm to estimate the depth to virtual bedrock is developed through the analysis of FWD impulse load duration and the compression wave velocity of ground. For verification of the modified MFPD, FWD is fabricated and then FWD field tests and verification tests are carried out at the test sites. Plate loading tests and surface wave propagation tests are performed at FWD test sites. Laboratory tests (Marshall stability tests, unconfined compression tests) for sampled asphalt concrete specimens are also carried out. From comparison analysis, the validity and applicability of the modified MFPD are verified.