• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.1C
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• pp.65-76
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• 2010

Recent earthquake events revealed that severe seismic damages were concentrated mostly at sites composed of soil sediments rather than firm rock. This indicates that the site effects inducing the amplification of earthquake ground motion are associated mainly with the spatial distribution and dynamic properties of the soils overlying bedrock. In this study, an integrated GIS-based information system for geotechnical data was constructed to establish a regional counterplan against ground motions at a representative metropolitan area, Seoul, in Korea. To implement the GIS-based geotechnical information system for the Seoul area, existing geotechnical investigation data were collected in and around the study area and additionally a walkover site survey was carried out to acquire surface geo-knowledge data. For practical application of the geotechnical information system used to estimate the site effects at the area of interest, seismic zoning maps of geotechnical earthquake engineering parameters, such as the depth to bedrock and the site period, were created and presented as regional synthetic strategy for earthquake-induced hazards prediction. In addition, seismic zonation of site classification was also performed to determine the site amplification coefficients for seismic design at any site and administrative sub-unit in the Seoul area. Based on the case study on seismic zonations for Seoul, it was verified that the GIS-based geotechnical information system was very useful for the regional prediction of seismic hazards and also the decision support for seismic hazard mitigation particularly at the metropolitan area.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.190-195
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• 2013

We estimated near-surface shear-wave velocity (${\nu}_s$) at the Hwacheon seismic station using a geologic log of a well, microtremors recorded during a period of 56 days, and records of three teleseismic events ($M_w{\geq}6.0$). The vs of the 10-m thick soil layer (${\nu}^s_s$= 296 m/s) was determined from horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios of microtremors recorded at the surface. The average ${\nu}_s$ ($\bar{\nu}_s$= 1,309 m/s) from the surface to the 96-m depth of a borehole sensor, was computed using spectral coherence analyses of data recorded by surface- and borehole-sensors for the three teleseismic events. Using these calculated values of ${\nu}^s_s$ and $\bar{\nu}_s$, the computed bedrock ${\nu}_s$ is 2,150 m/s and the time-averaged ${\nu}_s$ to a 30-m depth is 696 m/s. Accordingly the Hwacheon seismic station is regarded as a relatively good site. The deduced near-surface ${\nu}_s$ can be used for further quantitative evaluation of site amplification and earthquake hazard.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.31-34
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• 2015

A gravity meter has been used for exploring subsurface mineral resources and monitoring long-period events such as Earth tides. Recently, researchers found several other intriguing features that we could even detect large teleseismic earthquakes and monitor seismic ambient noise using gravimeters. The zero-length spring suspension technology gives the gPhone (Micro-g LaCoste) excellent low frequency sensitivity, which may have implications for investigating much longer-period natural events (e.g., Earth's hum, tsunami waves, etc.). In this study, we present preliminary results through temporary operation of the gPhone at Geumsan in South Korea for 9 months (Nov. 2008-Jul. 2009). The gPhone successfully recorded large teleseismic events and showed a clear seasonal variation of the Double frequency microseisms during its operation period.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.418-429
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• 2014

Induced seismicity related to four energy development technologies that involve fluid injection or withdrawal: geothermal energy, conventional oil and gas development including enhanced oil recovery (EOR), shale gas recovery, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) is reviewed by literature investigation. The largest induced seismic events reported in the technical literature are associated with projects that did not balance the large volume of fluids injected into, or extracted from the underground reservoir. A statistical observation shows that the net volume of fluid injected and/or extracted may serve as a proxy for changes in subsurface stress conditions and pore pressure, and other factors. Energy technology projects that are designed to maintain a balance between the amount of fluid being injected and the amount of fluid being withdrawn, such as geothermal and most oil and gas development, may produce fewer induced seismic events than technologies that do not maintain fluid balance, such as long-term wastewater disposal wells and CCS projects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2020

The objective of this paper is to suggest a new quantification method for multi-unit probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) that removes the overestimation error caused by the existing delete-term approximation (DTA) based quantification method. So far, for the actual plant PSA model quantification, a fault tree with negates have been solved by the DTA method. It is well known that the DTA method induces overestimated core damage frequency (CDF) of nuclear power plant (NPP). If a PSA fault tree has negates and non-rare events, the overestimation in CDF drastically increases. Since multi-unit seismic PSA model has plant level negates and many non-rare events in the fault tree, it should be very carefully quantified in order to avoid CDF overestimation. Multi-unit PSA fault tree has normal gates and negates that represent each NPP status. The NPP status means core damage or non-core damage state of individual NPPs. The non-core damage state of a NPP is modeled in the fault tree by using a negate (a NOT gate). Authors reviewed and compared (1) quantification methods that generate exact or approximate Boolean solutions from a fault tree, (2) DTA method generating approximate Boolean solution by solving negates in a fault tree, and (3) probability calculation methods from the Boolean solutions generated by exact quantification methods or DTA method. Based on the review and comparison, a new intersection removal by probability (IRBP) method is suggested in this study for the multi-unit PSA. If the IRBP method is adopted, multi-unit PSA fault tree can be quantified without the overestimation error that is caused by the direct application of DTA method. That is, the extremely overestimated CDF can be avoided and accurate CDF can be calculated by using the IRBP method. The accuracy of the IRBP method was validated by simple multi-unit PSA models. The necessity of the IRBP method was demonstrated by the actual plant multi-unit seismic PSA models.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.555-560
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• 2019

One-dimensional shear wave velocity structure of North Korea is constrained using short (2-sec) to long period (30-sec) Rayleigh waves generated from four seismic events in China. Rayleigh waves are well recorded at the five broadband seismic stations (BRD, SNU, CHNB, YKB, KSA) which are located near to the border between North and South Korea. Group velocities of fundamental-mode Rayleigh waves are estimated with the Multiple Filter Analysis and refined by using the Phase Matched Filter. Average group velocity dispersion curve ranging from 2.9 to 3.2 km/s, is inverted to constrain the shear wave velocity structures. Relatively low group velocity dispersion curves along the path between the events to BRD at period from 4 to 6 seconds may correspond to the sedimentary sequence of the West Korea Bay Basin (WKBB) in the Yellow Sea. The low velocity zone in deep layers (14-20 km) may be related to the deep sedimentary structure in Pyongnam basin. The fast shear wave velocity structure from the surface to the depth of 14 km is consistent with the existence of metamorphic rocks and igneous bodies in Nangrim massif and Pyongnam basin.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.392-399
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• 2005

Shear modulus (or rigidity) of dam material is an important parameter which can be directly associated with the deformation of dam. Seepage or leakage of water can cause the defects or cracks of dam body. The existence of cracks and rigidity of dam body are decisive information for the estimation of dam safety. Rigidity of material is mainly determined from S-wave velocity and the defects of dam body can be detected by seismic reflection survey. Therefore, seismic reflection survey will be a desirable method which can give a solution about dam safety problem. Among various physical properties of dam body, S-wave velocity is the most important information but it is not easy to get the information. In this study, diverse measuring techniques of S-wave reflection survey were attempted to get the information about S-wave velocity of dam body. Ultimately, S-wave velocity could be estimated by the analysis of SH reflection events which can be easily observed in shot gather data obtained from SH measuring technique. Meanwhile, P-wave reflection survey was also performed at the same profile. P-beam radiation technique which can reduce the surface waves and reinforce the P-wave reflection events was applied for giving a help to analyse P-wave velocity. In the end, P-and S-wave velocity, Vs/Vp, Poisson's ratio distribution of the vertical section under the profile could be acquired.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.345-367
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• 2015

Past earthquakes have signaled the increased collapse vulnerability of mainshock-damaged bridge piers and urgent need of repair interventions prior to subsequent cascading hazard events, such as aftershocks, triggered by the mainshock (MS). The overarching goal of this study is to quantify the collapse vulnerability of mainshock-damaged substandard RC bridge piers rehabilitated with different repair jackets (FRP, conventional thick steel and hybrid jacket) under aftershock (AS) attacks of various intensities. The efficacy of repair jackets on post-MS resilience of repaired bridges is quantified for a prototype two-span single-column bridge bent with lap-splice deficiency at column-footing interface. Extensive number of incremental dynamic time history analyses on numerical finite element bridge models with deteriorating properties under back-to-back MS-AS sequences were utilized to evaluate the efficacy of different repair jackets on the post-repair behavior of RC bridges subjected to AS attacks. Results indicate the dramatic impact of repair jacket application on post-MS resilience of damaged bridge piers-up to 45.5 % increase of structural collapse capacity-subjected to aftershocks of multiple intensities. Besides, the efficacy of repair jackets is found to be proportionate to the intensity of AS attacks. Moreover, the steel jacket exhibited to be the most vulnerable repair intervention compared to CFRP, irrespective of the seismic sequence (severe MS-severe or moderate AS) or earthquake type (near-fault or far-fault).

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.501-510
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• 2003

Several geophysical surveys(electrical resistivity, electromagnetic, seismic refraction, CPR) were conducted to primarily investigate the gallery and the geomembrane at an abandoned mine(Imcheon mine). The subsurface structure mapped from seismic refraction survey mainly consists of three velocity layers(>1000 m/s, 1000∼2000 m/s,＜2000 m/s). Top of the bedrock, whose velocities exceed 2000 m/s, appears to be at depth of 7.5∼10m. Higher resistivities (of ten thousands-hundred of thousands ohm-m) are interpreted to be associated with a open(cavities) gallery. The events at depth of approximately 0.5∼0.7m in GPR sections are probably caused by high-density-poly-ethylene geomembrane. Taking into consideration of the differences in the spatial resolution between georadar and electrical surveys, the events of geomembrane correspond to the top of the high resistivities at depth of about 2m. The segments, characterized with the higher conductivities in the electromagnetic data and the lower resistivities in the electrical resistivity data, are probably associated with surface water or tear zone of geomembrane.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 1985

Events detected by the KIER microearthquake network operated in the Southern Part of Korea for 265 days in 1982~1984 were reviewed, and some of them were identified to be a dynamite explosion from several construction sites. The purpose of the present work is to determine the crustal structure of the Southern Korea using the time-destance data obtained from such explosion seismic records. The time·distance data can be well explained by a crustal model composed of four horizontal layers of which thickness, p and s-wave velocity ($V_p$ and $V_s$) are characterized as follows. 1st layer (surface) ; 0~2km, $V_p=5.5km/sec$, $V_s=3.3km/sec$ 2nd layer (upper crust) ; 2~15km, $V_p=6.0km/sec$, $V_s=3.5km/sec$ 3rd layer (lower crust) ; 15~29km, $V_p=6.6km/sec$, $V_s=3.7km/sec$ 4th layer (upper mantle) ; 29km~ , $V_p=7.7km/sec$, $V_s=4.3km/sec$ The relatively shallow crust·mantle boundary and low $P_n$ velocity compared with the mean values for stable intraplate region are noteworthy. Supposedely, it is responsible for the high heat flow in the South-eastern Korea or an anomalous subterranean mantle. The mean $V_p/V_s$ ratio calculated from the relation between p-wave arrival and s-p arrival times appears to be 1.735 which is nearly equivalent to the elastic medium of ${\lambda}={\mu}$. However, the ratio tends to be slightly larger with the depth. The ratio is rather high compared with that of the adjacent Japanese Island, and the fact suggests that the underlying crust and upper mantle in this region are more ductile and hence the earthquake occurrences are apt to be interrupted. As an alternative curstal model, a seismic velocity structure in which velocities are successively increased with the depth is also proposed by the inversion of the time·distance data. With the velocity profile, it is possible to calculate a travel time table which is appropriate to determine the earthquake parameters for the local events.