• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2019

In this paper, the P-wave multiple detection system for the fast and accurate earthquake early warning nearby the epicenter was developed. The developed systems were installed in five selected public buildings for the validation. During the monitoring, a magnitude 2.3 earthquake occurred in Pohang on 26 September 2019. P-wave initial detection algorithms were operated in three out of four systems installed in Pohang area and recorded as seismic events. At the nearest station, 5.5 km from the epicenter, P-wave signal was detected 1.2 seconds after the earthquake, and S-wave was reached 1.02 seconds after the P-wave reached, providing some alarm time. The maximum accelerations recorded in three different stations were 6.28 gal, 6.1 gal, and 5.3 gal, respectively. The alarm algorithm did not work, due to the high threshold of the maximum ground acceleration (25.1 gal) to operate it. If continuous monitoring and analysis are to be carried out in the future, the developed system could use a highly effective earthquake warning system suitable for the domestic situation.

• Geosciences Journal
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.871-880
• /
• 2018

During and shortly after the 2017 Pohang Earthquake ($M_w$ 5.4), sand blows were observed around the epicenter for the first time since the beginning of instrumental seismic recording in South Korea. We carried out field surveys plus satellite and drone imagery analyses, resulting in observation of approximately 600 sand blows on Quaternary sediment cover in this area. Most were observed within 3 km of the epicenter, with the farthest being 15 km away. In order to investigate the ground's susceptibility to liquefaction, we conducted a trench study of a 30 m-long sand blow in a rice field 1 km from the earthquake epicenter. The physical characteristics of the liquified sediments (grain size, impermeable barriers, saturation, and low overburden pressure) closely matched the optimum ground conditions for liquefaction. Additionally, we found a series of soft sediment deformation structures (SSDSs) within the trench walls, such as load structures and water-escaped structures. The latter were vertically connected to sand blows on the surface, reflecting seismogenic liquefaction involving subsurface deformation during sand blow formation. This genetic linkage suggests that SSDS research would be useful for identifying prehistoric damage-inducing earthquakes ($M_w$ > 5.0) in South Korea because SSDSs have a lower formation threshold and higher preservational potential than geomorphic markers formed by surface ruptures. Thus, future combined studies of Quaternary surface faults and SSDSs are required to provide reliable paleoseismological information in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.33-46
• /
• 2021

After the Gyeongju earthquake, which was the largest in the history of measuring instruments in Korea in 2016, and after the Pohang earthquake, where the pillars of pallet structures were destroyed in 2017, the seismic design standards for all domestic facilities have been revised and supplemented. In particular, during the investigation of the Pohang Earthquake damage cases, liquefaction damage that occurs mainly in countries with strong earthquakes such as the United States, Japan, and New Zealand was found, so studies are being conducted in depth to improve seismic design standards. In this study, the liquefaction potential assessment in the recently revised seismic design standard for port and harbor was reviewed, and an applicability review was conducted focusing on the newly cited liquefaction potential index (LPI). At this time, by varying the thickness and location of the sandy soil where liquefaction can occur, the LPIs for various cases were calculated and compared. Also, 22 LPI values in the practical port area were compared and reviewed along with performance of the liquefaction assessment based on the site response analysis using the boring-hole data of the actual 22 port sites.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 1997.04a
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 1997

Source parameters of the December 13, 1996 Yeongweol earthquake are estimated using the grid test technique. Thirty polarities of P waves recorded at KMA, KIGAM, KSRS and JAPAN stations are used for the event. The obtained fault plane solution shows predominantly strike-slip motion with small amount of thrust component. The orientation of the fault is 180$\pm$10$^{\circ}$in strike, 50$\pm$5$^{\circ}$in dip and 150$\pm$5$^{\circ}$in rake, or 292$\pm$3$^{\circ}$in strike, 65$\pm$5$^{\circ}$in dip and 30$\pm$10$^{\circ}$ in rake. These solutions are very similar to those of earthquakes occurred at Sagju, Pohang and offshore Gunsan. The compressional axis of stress field is trending from ENE to WSW, which is consistent with the previously defined typical regional tectonic stress orientation in and around Korean Peninsula.. From the result of this study and other source mechanisms around the Korean Peninsula, we are of opinion that tectonic stress around the Korean Peninsula may be more attributed to the collision of Indian plate with the Eurasian plate than subduction of Pacific and Philippine plates.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.293-303
• /
• 2021

Seismic fragility functions for unreinforced masonry buildings were derived based on the incremental dynamic analysis of eight representative inelastic numerical models for application to Korea's earthquake damage estimation system. The effects of panel zones formed between piers and spandrels around openings were taken into account explicitly or implicitly regarding stiffness and inelastic deformation capacity. The site response of ground motion records measured at the rock site was used as input ground motion. Limit states were proposed based on the fraction of structural components that do not meet the required performance from the nonlinear static analysis of each model. In addition to the randomness of ground motion considered in the incremental dynamic analysis explicitly, supplementary standard deviation due to uncertainty that was not reflected in the fragility assessment procedure was added. The proposed seismic fragility functions were verified by applying them to the damage estimation of masonry buildings located around the epicenter of the 2017 Pohang earthquake and comparing the result with actual damage statistics.

• Journal of the Regional Association of Architectural Institute of Korea
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.185-192
• /
• 2019

Recently, the frequency and magnitude of earthquakes are increasing worldwide. In Korea, the Gyeongju earthquake (2016) and the Pohang earthquake (2017) caused structural damage to many buildings. Since Korea's seismic design standards were revised to three or more stories in 2005, five-story buildings built before the revision are not designed to be earthquake-resistant. In this situation, if strong earthquake occurs in Korea, there will be great damage. To prevent this, seismic retrofit of buildings should be necessary. The seismic retrofit of classical method is mainly used to reduce the displacement generated in the structure by strengthening stiffness and strength. However, since this method increases the base shear force of the structure, it is difficult to apply it to buildings which have weak foundation. Therefore, in this study, we propose the damper system that reduces the response displacement of buildings and suppresses the increase of base shear force by using high damping rubber and steel. And the seismic performance of the damper system is verified through the experiment and the seismic analysis of the structure.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.33-42
• /
• 2021

The design response spectrum presented in the seismic design standard reflects the characteristics of the tectonic environment at a site. However, since the design response spectrum does not represent the ground motion with a specific earthquake magnitude or distance, input ground motions for response history analysis need to be selected reasonably. It is appropriate to use observed ground motions recorded in Korea for the seismic design. However, recently recorded ground motions in the Gyeongju (2016) or Pohang (2017) earthquakes are not compatible with the design response spectrum. Therefore, it is necessary to convert the recorded ground motion in Korea to a model similar to the design response spectrum. In this study, several approaches to adjust the spectral acceleration level at each period range were tested. These are the intrinsic and scattering attenuation considering the earthquake environment, magnitude, distance change by the green function method, and a rupture propagation direction's directivity effect. Using these variables, the amplification ratio for the representative natural period was regressed. Finally, the optimum condition compatible with the design response spectrum was suggested, and the validation was performed by converting the recorded ground motion.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.171-181
• /
• 2024

For low-rise piloti-type buildings that suffered significant damage in the Pohang earthquake, the seismic performance of those designed by codes issued before and after the earthquake has been recently revised. This study started with the expectation that many of the requirements presented in the current codes may be excessive, and among them, the spacing of column stirrup could be relaxed. In particular, the recently revised design code of concrete structures for buildings, KDS 41 20 00, suggests that the column stirrup spacing is 1/2 of the minimum cross-sectional size or 200 mm, which is strengthened compared to KBC 2016, but relaxed than the current KDS, 41 17 00, which is 1/4 of the minimum size or 150 mm. As a result of the study, it was found that the target performance level was sufficiently satisfied by following the current standards and that it could be satisfied even if the relaxed spacing was followed. Therefore, the strict column stirrup spacing of KDS 41 17 00 could be relaxed if a wall other than core walls is recommended in the current guideline for the structural design of piloti-type buildings.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.307-314
• /
• 2018

It became clear that Korean peninsula is not a safe region anymore from an earthquake disaster after Gyeongju and Pohang Earthquake in 2016-2017. Unfortunately, building industry in Korea has not been well prepared for an earthquake disaster and the following problems exist. First, the rate of buildings with proper seismic performance is relatively low. Second, the number of piloti buildings which are vulnerable to earthquake and fire disaster has increased recently. Third, the proportion of small-scale buildings excluded from the application of the building law for securing safety is too high. Fourth, widespread corruption and poor construction impede safety. Therefore, measures to prepare for earthquake disaster are as follows. First, methods of reinforcing building structures and reducing the seismic load acting on a building should be utilized in order to secure the insufficient seismic performance of buildings vulnerable to earthquakes. Second, whistleblowers should be encouraged and protected to prevent defective construction due to corruption. To this end, whistleblowers should be recognized as an effective means of protecting public interest not the traitor to the organization.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.497-510
• /
• 2022

Monthly monitoring, 3D scan survey, and electrical resistivity survey were conducted from January 2018 to August 2022 to identify the cause of rockfall occurring in Daljeon-ri Columnar Joint (Natural Monument No. 415), Pohang. A total of 3,231 rocks fell from the columnar joint over the past 5 years, and 1,521 (47%) of the falling rocks were below 20 cm in length, 978 (30.3%) of 20-30 cm, and 732 (22.7%) of rocks over 30 cm. While the number of rockfalls by year has decreased since 2018, the frequency of rockfalls bigger than 30 cm tends to increase. Large-scale rockfalls occurred mainly during the thawing season (March-April) and the rainy season (June-July), and the analysis of the relationship between cumulative rainfall and rockfall occurrence showed that cumulative rainfall for 3 to 4 days is also closely related to the occurrence of rockfall. Smectite and illite, which are expansible clay minerals, were observed in XRD analysis of the slope material (filling minerals) in the columnar joint, and the presence of a fault fracture zone was confirmed in the electrical resistivity survey. In addition, the confirmed fault fracture zone and the maximum erosion point analyzed through 3D precision measurement coincided with the main rockfall occurrence point observed by the BTC-6PXD camera. Therefore, the main cause of rockfall at Daljeon-ri columnar joint in Pohang is a combination of internal factors (development of fault fracture zones and joints, weathering of rocks, presence of expansive clay minerals) and external factors (precipitation, rapid thawing phenomenon), resulting in large-scale rockfall. Meanwhile, it was also confirmed that the Pohang-Gyeongju earthquake, which was continuously raised, was not the main cause.