• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.201-213
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• 2015

Site effects resulting in the amplification of earthquake ground motion are strongly influenced not only by the subsurface soil conditions and structure, but also by the surface topography. Yet, over the last several decades, most studies of site-specific seismic responses in Korea have focused primarily on the seismic amplification associated with geologic and soil conditions. For example, the effects of local geology are now well established and have been incorporated into current Korean seismic design codes, whereas topographic effects have not been considered. To help address this shortcoming, two-dimensional (2D) seismic site response analyses, using finite element (FE) ground modeling with three different slope angles, were performed in order to assess the site effects of surface topography. We then compared our results, specifically peak ground acceleration (PGA) and acceleration response spectrum, to those of one-dimensional (1D) FE model analyses conducted alongside our study. Throughout much of the upper slope region, PGAs and spectral accelerations are larger in the 2D analyses than in the 1D analyses as a result of the topographic effect.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.273-281
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• 2014

In most current seismic design codes, design earthquake ground motions are defined by a reference spectrum, based on bedrock and site amplification factors that quantify the geotechnical dynamic conditions. Earthquake engineering bedrock is the fundamental geotechnical formation where the seismic waves are attenuated without amplification. To better define bedrock in an earthquake engineering context, shear wave velocity ($V_S$ ) data obtained from in-situ seismic tests were examined for several rock strata in Korea; these data were categorized by borehole drilling investigations. The $V_S$ values for most soft rock data in Korea are > 750 m/s, which is the threshold $V_S$ value for identifying engineering bedrock from a strong motion station. Conversely, VS values are < 750 m/s for 60% of $V_S$ data in weathered rock in Korea. Thus, the soft (or harder) rock strata below the weathered rock layer in Korea can be regarded as earthquake engineering bedrock.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.983-997
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• 2015

This research evaluates the soil conditions for seismic stations situated in Romania using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR). The strong ground motion database assembled for this study consists of 179 analogue and digital strong ground motion recordings from four intermediate-depth Vrancea seismic events with $M_w{\geq}6.0$. In the first step of the analysis, the influence of the earthquake magnitude and source-to-site distance on the H/V curves is evaluated. Significant influences from both the earthquake magnitude and hypocentral distance are found especially for soil class A sites. Next, a site classification method proposed in the literature is applied for each seismic station and the soil classes are compared with those obtained from borehole data and from the topographic slope method. In addition, the success and error rates of this method are computed and compared with other studies from the literature. A more in-depth analysis of the H/V results is performed using data from seismic stations in Bucharest and a comparison of the free-field and borehole H/V curves is done for three seismic stations. The results show large differences between the free-field and the borehole curves. As a conclusion, the results from this study represent an intermediary step in the evaluation of the soil conditions for seismic stations in Romania and the need to perform more detailed soil classification analysis is highly emphasized.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.161-171
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• 2017

Observed ground motions are composed of three factors such as, seismic source, attenuation, and site amplification effect. Among them, the site amplification characteristics should be considered significantly when estimating seismic source and attenuation characteristics with more confidence. The site effect is also necessary when estimating not only seismic hazard in seismic design engineering but also rock mechanical properties. This study uses the method of H/V spectral ratio of observed ground motion between target site and reference site called a reference site method. In addition to using the vertical Fourier spectrum of the reference site, we try out the horizontal Fourier spectrum as a new method in this study. We analyze H/V spectral ratio of six ground motions respectively, observed at four sites close to Yedang Reservoir. We then compare site amplification effects at each site using 3 kinds of seismic energies including S waves, Coda waves energy, and background noise. The results suggest that each site showed similar site amplification patterns in S waves and Coda waves energy. However, the site amplification of background noise shows much different characteristics from those of S waves and Coda wave energy, which suggests that the background noises at each site have their own developing mechanism. Each station shows its own characteristics of specific resonance frequency and site amplification properties in low, high and specific resonance frequency ranges. Comparison of the method used in this study to the others that used different methods can provide us with more information about the dynamic amplification of a site characteristics and site classification.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.130-140
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• 2000

The earthquake hazard has been evaluated for 10km by 10km area around Kyeongju which is located near Yangsan fault and has abundant historical earthquake records. The ground motion potentials were determined based on equivalent linear analysis by using the data obtained from in situ and laboratory tests and the El centro eartqhuake record scaled to CLE and OLE of the region. The in situ tests include 9 boring investigations 2 crosshole 7 downhole 13 SASW tests and in the laboratory X-ray diffraction analyses and resonant column tests were performed. The peak ground accelerations range between 0.140g and 0.286g on CLE and between 0.051g and 0.116g on OLE respectively showing the good potential of amplification in the deep alluvial layer which is common in Kyeongju area. the response spectrum based on the Korea design guide was sometimes underestimate the motion. particularly near the natural period of the site and the importance of site-specific analysis and need for the improved site categorization method were introduced.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.98-106
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• 2013

Seismic fragility curves for an offshore wind-turbine structure were obtained. The dynamic response of an offshore wind turbine was analyzed by considering the nonlinear behavior of layered soil and the added mass effect due to seawater. A pile-soil interaction effect was considered by using nonlinear p-y, t-z curves. In the analysis, the amplification effect of ground acceleration through layered soil was considered by applying ground motion to each of the soil layers. The vertical variation in ground motion was found by one-dimensional free-field analysis of ground soils. Fragility curves were determined by damage levels in terms of tower stress and nacelle displacements that were found from static pushover analysis of the wind-turbine structure.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.23-32
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• 2004

The local geologic and dynamic site characteristics, which include soil profiles, shear wave velocity profiles and depths to the bed rock were gathered from 148 sites all over the Korean peninsula and those values are compared to those in the western USA. Site response analyses were performed based on equivalent linear scheme using design rock-outcrop acceleration of 0.154g which corresponds to the collapse level of earthquake for seismic category I structure. The results show that the amplification factor based on Korean seismic design guideline underestimates the motion in short-period range and overestimates the motion in mid-period range. It is suggested that the existing Korean seismic guideline based on UBC is required to be modified considering dynamic site characteristics in Korea for the reliable estimation of site amplification.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.107-116
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• 2011

Rigid soil containers (or rigid boxes) are often used for 1g shaking table tests. The rigid boxes, however, do not accurately simulate the amplification of ground acceleration and phase difference of seismic motion in the model ground due to the confinement of shear deformation and the reflection of seismic wave at the box walls. Laminar soil containers (or laminar shear boxes) can simulate the free field motion at convincingly superior accuracy than the rigid ones. In this study, the soft ground is modeled for both types of boxes and is subjected to seismic loading using a 1g shaking table. The comparison of the results using the two types of soil containers illustrates that, in case of the rigid box, the ground acceleration shows non uniform distribution and the phase synchronization of input motion. Whereas, the dynamic behavior of the laminar shear box shows good agreement with the free field behaviors such as the amplification of ground acceleration and the occurrence of phase difference.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.181-190
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• 2022

In assessing the seismic safety of nuclear power plants, it is essential to analyze the structures using the observed ground motion. In particular, spatial variation in which the characteristics of the ground motion record differ may occur if the location is different within the site and even if the same earthquake is experienced. This study analyzed the spatial variation characteristics of the ground motion observed at the structure and site using the earthquake records measured at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant. Even if they were located on the same floor within the same unit, there was a difference in response depending on the location. In addition, amplification was observed in Unit 5 compared to other units, which was due to the rock layer having a slower shear wave velocity than the surrounding bedrock. Significant differences were also found in the records of the structure's foundation and the free-field surface. Based on these results, the necessity of considering spatial variation in the observed records was suggested.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.223-232
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• 2021

The spatial variation characteristics of seismic motions at the nuclear power plant's site and structures were analyzed using earthquake records obtained at the Fukushima nuclear power plant during the Great East Japan Earthquake. The ground responses amplified as they approached the soil surface from the lower rock surface, and the amplification occurred intensively at about 50 m near the ground. Due to the soil layer's nonlinear characteristics caused by the strong seismic motion, the ground's natural frequency derived from the response spectrum ratio appeared to be smaller than that calculated from the shear wave velocity profile. The spatial variation of the peak ground acceleration at the ground surface of the power plant site showed a significant difference of about 0.6 g at the maximum. As a result of comparing the response spectrums at the basement of the structure with the design response spectrum, there was a large variability by each power plant unit. The difference was more significant in the Fukushima Daiichi site record, which showed larger peak ground acceleration at the surface. The earthquake motions input to the basement of the structure amplified according to the structure's height. The natural frequency obtained from the recorded results was lower than that indicated in the previous research. Also, the floor response spectrum change according to the location at the same height was investigated. The vertical response on the foundation surface showed a significant difference in spectral acceleration depending on the location. The amplified response in the structure showed a different variability depending on the type of structure and the target frequency.