• Geosciences Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.871-880
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• 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
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.159-169
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• 2007

The behavior of fiber-reinforced cemented sands (FRCS) was studied to improve a brittle failure mode observed in cemented sands. Nak-dong River sand was mixed with ordinary Portland cement and a Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber. A PVA fiber is widely used in concrete and cement reinforcement. It has a good adhesive property to cement and a specific gravity of 1.3. A PVA fiber has a diameter of 0.1 mm that is thicker than general PVA fiber for reinforced cement. Clean Nak-dong River sand, cement and fiber at optimum water content were compacted in 5 layers giving 55 blows per layer. They were cured for 7 days. Cemented sands with a cement/sand ratio of 4% were fiber-reinforced at different locations and tested for unconfined compression tests. The effect of fiber reinforcement form and distribution on strength was investigated. A specimen with evenly distributed fiber showed two times more strength than not-evenly reinforced specimen. The strength of fiber-reinforced cemented sands increases as fiber reinforcement ratio increases. A fully reinforced specimen was 1.5 times stronger than a specimen reinforced at only middle part. FRCS behavior was controlled not only by a dosage of fiber but also by fiber distribution methods or fiber types.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2011

Electrical resistivity is applied for understanding details about layers and obtaining basic properties of soils to various measurement devices. The objective of this study is development of TRP(Temperature-compensated Resistivity Probe), analysis about effects of temperature changes during cone penetration test, and observation of characteristics of cone penetration. In order to observation of temperature changes according to a diameter difference of resistivity cone probe, the cone which has wedge type cone tip is made to two types, 2mm and 5mm. Temperature sensor is attached at 15mm below from cone tip because of an electrical interference with elecrical resistance probe. Delectrical connector is used to prevent electric disturbance between motor type penetrating machine and electrical resistivity cone probe. Application tests are carried out in acrylic cell whose diameter is 30cm with uniform Jumunjin sand according to densification caused by blows. The test results indicate that the temperature is increased uniformly during penetration and a tendency, characteristics of cone penetration, is discovered during altering state of soils. This study suggests that the temperature effects and characteristics of penetration should be considered in penetrating tests in order to conduct an accurate ground investigation using TRP(Temperature-compensated Resistivity Probe).