• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.147-161
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• 2022

The Brace-Type Shear Fuse (BSF) device is a newly proposed steel damper with excellent cumulative ductility and stable energy dissipation. In consideration of the current situation where there are not many alternatives for transversal seismic devices used in long-span three-tower self-anchored bridges (TSSBs), this paper implements improved BSFs into the world's longest TSSB, named Jinan Fenghuang Yellow River Bridge. The new details of the BSF are developed for the TSSB, and the force-displacement hysteretic curves of the BSFs are obtained using finite element (FE) simulations. A three-dimensional refined finite element model for the research TSSB was established in SAP2000, and the effects of BSFs on dynamic characteristics and seismic response of the TSSB under different site conditions were investigated by the numerical simulation method. The results show that remarkable controlling effects of BSFs on seismic response of TSSBs under different site conditions were obtained. Compared with the case without BSFs, the TSSB installed with BSFs has mitigation ratios of the tower top displacement, lateral girder displacement, tower bending moment and tower shear force exceeding 95%, 78%, 330% and 346%, respectively. Meanwhile, BSFs have a sufficient restoring force mechanism with a minor post-earthquake residual displacement. The proposed BSFs exhibit good application prospects in long-span TSSBs.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.399-409
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• 2018

The dynamic response and seismic damage of single-layer reticulated shells in the near field of a rupturing fault can be different from those in the far field due to the different characteristics in the ground motions. To investigate the effect, the dynamic response and seismic damage of this spatial structures subjected to two different ground motions were numerically studied by nonlinear dynamic response analysis. Firstly, twelve seismic waves with an apparent velocity pulse, including horizontal and vertical seismic waves, were selected to represent the near-fault ground motion characteristics. In contrast, twelve seismic records recorded at the same site from other or same events where the epicenter was far away from the site were employed as the far-fault ground motions. Secondly, the parametric modeling process of Kiewitt single-layer reticulated domes using the finite-element package ANSYS was described carefully. Thirdly, a nonlinear time-history response analysis was carried out for typical domes subjected to different earthquakes, followed by analyzing the dynamic response and seismic damage of this spatial structures under two different ground motions based on the maximum nodal displacements and Park-Ang index as well as dissipated energy. The results showed that this spatial structures in the near field of a rupturing fault exhibit a larger dynamic response and seismic damage than those obtained from far-fault ground motions. In addition, the results also showed that the frequency overlap between structures and ground motions has a significant influence on the dynamic response of the single-layer reticulated shells, the duration of the ground motions has little effects.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.212-215
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• 2008

The GC-rich discriminator sequence between the -10 region and the transcription start site of the rnpB promoter is responsible for stringent control of M1 RNA synthesis. The rnpB promoter also contains a G nucleotide at the previously identified transcription start site. In this study, we examined by mutagenesis of G to A whether this +1G nucleotide is involved in the stringent response. We found that the change did not alter the stringent response. Since the +1 mutation might alter transcription initiation, we compared the transcription start sites of the wt and mutant promoters by primer extension analysis. Surprisingly, we found that wild type rnpB transcription starts at both the +1G position (70%) and the -1C position (30%), and that the +1A mutation led to transcription initiation exclusively at the -1C position. We also generated two transversion mutations at the -1 position, both of which led to transcription starting exclusively at that position. The -1G mutant promoter gave a stringent signal similar to the wild-type, whereas the -1A mutant generated a significantly less stringent signal. Base on these results, we propose that a short sequence, up to 7 bp downstream of the -10 region, is involved in the stringent response of the rnpB promoter.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.203-218
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• 2010

The site categorization and corresponding site amplification factors in the current Korean seismic design guideline are based on provisions for the western United States (US), although the site effects resulting in the amplification of earthquake ground motions are directly dependent on the regional and local site characteristic conditions. In these seismic codes, two amplification factors called site coefficients, $F_a$ and $F_v$, for the short-period band and midperiod band, respectively, are listed according to a criterion, mean shear wave velocity ($V_S$) to a depth of 30 m, into five classes composed of A to E. To suggest a site classification system reflecting Korean site conditions, in this study, systematic site characterization was carried out at four regional areas, Gyeongju, Hongsung, Haemi and Sacheon, to obtain the $V_S$ profiles from surface to bedrock in field and the non-linear soil properties in laboratory. The soil deposits in Korea, which were shallower and stiffer than those in the western US, were examined, and thus the site period in Korea was distributed in the low and narrow band comparing with those in western US. Based on the geotechnical characteristic properties obtained in the field and laboratory, various site-specific seismic response analyses were conducted for total 75 sites by adopting both equivalent-linear and non-linear methods. The analysis results showed that the site coefficients specified in the current Korean provision underestimate the ground motion in the short-period range and overestimate in the mid-period range. These differences can be explained by the differences in the local site characteristics including the depth to bedrock between Korea and western US. Based on the analysis results in this study and the prior research results for the Korean peninsula, new site classification system was developed by introducing the site period as representative criterion and the mean $V_S$ to a depth of shallower than 30 m as additional criterion, to reliably determine the ground motions and the corresponding design spectra taking into account the regional site characteristics in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.139-150
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• 2007

As computer technology has been rapidly advanced, geographic information system (GIS) is recently used in many disciplines. In this study, for a model area in Seoul, seismic hazard potential relating to site effects, which are influenced by the subsurface geotechnical conditions, was estimated using the GIS tool. The distribution of pre-existing borehole drilling data in Seoul metropolitan area was examined for the regional estimation of site-specific seismic responses at the model area. Spatial geo-layers across the entire model area were predicted by constructing a GIS-based geotechnical information system (GTIS). A microzonation of site period $(T_G)$ for estimating site-specific seismic responses at the model area was performed within the GTIS. The spatial microzoning map of $T_G$ indicated seismic vulnerability of two- to four-storied buildings in the model area. Furthermore, a site classification map for determining the design ground motion was established based on the $T_G$ within the GTIS. This informed that most of location in the model area was categorized into current site classes C and D. This seismic microzonation framework for the model area could be applicable particularly in the entire Seoul metropolitan area based on the pre-existing borehole data.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2007.09a
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• pp.266-292
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• 2007

Round Robin Test (RRT) on ground response analyses was conducted for three sites in Korea based on several site investigation data, which include borehole logs with the N values from standard penetration test (SPT) for all three sites and additionally cone tip resistance profiles for two sites. Three input earthquake motions together with the site investigation data were provided for the RRT. A total of 12 teams participating in this RRT presented the results of ground response analyses using equivalent-linear and/or nonlinear method. Each team determined input geotechnical properties by using empirical relationships and literatures based on own judgment, with the exception of the input motions. Herein, the characteristics of input motions were compared in terms of the frequency and period, and the selection of the depth to bedrock, on which the motions is impinged, was discussed considering geologic conditions in Korea. Furthermore, a variety of geotechnical properties such as shear wave velocity profiles and soil nonlinear curves were investigated with the input properties used in this RRT.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.23-30
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• 2003

The result of recent seismic hazard analysis indicates that the ground motion response spectra for Korean nuclear power plant site have relatively large frequency acceleration contents. In the ordinary seismic fragility analysis of nuclear power plant structures and equipments, the safety margin of design ground response spectrum is directly used as a response spectrum shape factor. The effects of input response spectrum shape on the floor response spectrum were investigated by performing the direct generation of floor response spectrum from the ground response spectrum. The safety margin included in the design ground response spectrum should be considered as a floor response spectrum shape factor for the seismic fragility analysis of the equipments located in a building.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.928-934
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• 2009

Underwater impulsive sound such as underwater blasting noise, piling noise and stone breaking hammer affects marine animal hearing response and organs. This study describes the characteristics of various impulsive noise from waterfront construction site and their effect on fish. Time constant, peak pressure, energy and SEL(sound exposure level) of four different underwater impulsive sounds are quantified. Auditory and non-auditory tissue damage ranges are derived by comparing their quantities to the exposure criteria for fish. Damage ranges of auditory tissue and non-auditory tissue of underwater boring blast of 150 kg of charge, are about 100 m and 300 m, respectively. Other three impulsive sounds also gives damage effects but less than that of underwater boring blast.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.287-296
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• 1994

Safety-related structures of power plants have to be protected against the effects of possible hazards and natural phenomena. Earthquakes are considered a major dynamic design loading as a requirement of plant design, but the effects of blast-induced vibratons are not. Due to the difficulties of obtaining construction site for new plants, following ones are inevitably being built in the site adjacent to existing power plants. Therefore considerable thought has been recently given to the dynamic loading generated by blasting works near the plants. In this paper, discussed is applicability of existing vibration standards and industrial codes to the blasting works near safety related structures. Also evaluated are the parameters for the safe vibration limits such as measure of vibration level, frequency consideration, structure response, propagation equation, etc.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.561-572
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• 2017

Seismic base isolation has been accepted as one of the most popular design procedures to protect important structures against earthquakes. However, due to lack of information and experimental data the application of base isolation is quite limited to nuclear power plant (NPP) industry. Moreover, the effects of inelastic behavior of soil beneath base-isolated NPP have raised questions to the effectiveness of isolation device. This study applies the wavelet analysis to investigate the effects of soil-structure interaction (SSI) on the seismic response of a base-isolated NPP structure. To evaluate the SSI effects, the NPP structure is modelled as a lumped mass stick model and combined with a soil model using the concept of cone models. The lead rubber bearing (LRB) base isolator is used to adopt the base isolation system. The shear wave velocity of soil is varied to reflect the real rock site conditions of structure. The comparison between seismic performance of isolated structure and non-isolated structure has drawn. The results show that the wavelet analysis proves to be an efficient tool to evaluate the SSI effects on the seismic response of base-isolated structure and the seismic performance of base-isolated NPP is not sensitive to the effects in this case.