• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.107-115
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• 2019

Recently, since earthquakes have happened frequently in Gyeongju and Pohang areas in Korea, the earthquake detection research gets lots of attention. Geophysical monitoring data have been changed during the earthquake activity because the huge amount of energy is accumulated. The change of telluric current can be predicted by both of piezoelectric and electrokinetic effects before or during the earthquake occurrence, and if the change value exceeds the conventional telluric current noise, we can measure changes in the electric field associated with earthquakes. In this study, we have self-developed and verified the system that can monitor the telluric current. In order to verify our telluric current monitoring system, we installed lines of 40 m (E-W direction) and 28 m (N-S direction) on the site in Pohang. The telluric currents were sampled at 1 kHz for about a month. We have compared and analyzed the data of earthquake signals and electrical noises based on the earthquakes that occurred during the monitoring period. We have monitored if there were significant signals related to the earthquake on measured time series data. Through this study, we will suggest the direction of continuous research in the future.

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

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.503-515
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• 2017

Underground structures that have recently become larger are required to be stable not only during normal times but also during earthquakes. Especially, it is very important to maintain the stability of the subsea tunnels during the earthquake. The objective of this paper is to verify the effectiveness of the flexible segment, which is one of the breakthrough facilities to maintain the stability of the subsea tunnel during the earthquake using the shaking table test. Another goal of this paper is to propose the optimum position of the flexible segment through 3D dynamic numerical analysis based on the verified results from shaking table tests. The 1g shaking table test considering the similarity ratio (1:100) to the cross section of the selected artificial subsea tunnel was carried out considering the Geongju and Artificial seismic waves, longitudinal and lateral wave, and with/without flexible segments eight times or more. As a result of the shaking table test, it was confirmed that the flexible segment is effective in improving the seismic performance of the undersea tunnel in all the experimental results. In addition, 3D dynamic numerical analysis was performed to select the optimum position of the flexible segment which is effective for improving seismic performance. As a result, it was confirmed that the seismic acceleration is attenuated when the flexible segment is installed adjacent to the branch section in subsea tunnel.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.114-122
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• 2018

This study presents the emergency assessment method about seismic safety of cable-supported bridges using seismic acceleration sensors installed on the primary structural elements of them. The structural models of bridges are updated iteratively to make their dynamic characteristics to be similar to those of real bridges based on the comparison of their natural frequencies with those of real bridges estimated from acceleration data measured at ordinary times by the seismic acceleration sensor. The displacement at the location of each seismic acceleration sensor is derived by seismic analysis using design earthquake, and the peak value of them is determined as the disaster management criteria in advance. The displacement time history is calculated by the double integration of the acceleration time history which is recorded at each seismic acceleration sensor and filtered by high cut(low pass) and low cut(high pass) filters. Finally, the seismic safety is evaluated by the comparison of the peak value in calculated displacement time history with the disaster management criteria determined in advance. The applicability of proposed methodology is verified by performing the seismic safety assessment of 12 cable-supported bridges using the acceleration data recorded during Gyeongju earthquake.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.617-634
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of between earthquakes and fluctuation of water level in a groundwater well of the active-fault zone and 124 national groundwater monitoring wells in Gyeongju area. The spatial and temporal relationships between the fluctuation of water level and the earthquake were analyzed by the calculation of earthquake effectiveness (ε) and q-factor which are the function of earthquake magnitude and distance from epicenter. Two earthquake events of E1 (April 22, 2019, M 3.8) and E2 (June 11, 2019, M 2.5) show a close relationship with a post-seismic 83 cm decrease and a pre-seismic 76 cm increase in water level at the active fault zone of Dangu-ri, respectively. The spatial analysis of water level fluctuation data in National Groundwater Monitoring Networks caused by earthquake events shows a more distinct response in deep groundwater around fault zones than other area, and a greater change in deep groundwater than shallow groundwater. It's inferred that the decrease and increase in groundwater level are affected by the expansion of fractures and compression of rock mass due to seismic stress, respectively. The effective ranges of ε-value and q-factor of the monitoring well in Dangu-ri were calculated as 2.70E-10~5.60E-10 and 14.4~18.0, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.133-143
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• 2018

Liquefaction is one of secondary damages after earthquake and has been rarely reported until earthquake except Mw = 5.4 15 November 2017 Pohang earthquake in Korea. In recent years, Mw = 5.8 12 September 2016 Gyeongju earthquake and Mw = 5.4 15 November 2017 Pohang earthquake, which induced liquefaction, occurred in fault zone of Yangsan City located at south-eastern part of Korea. This explains that Korea is not safe against liquefaction induced by earthquake. In this study, the distance between the centroid of administrative district and the epicenter located at Yangsan fault, peak ground velocity (PGA) induced by both Mw = 5.0 and 6.5, and liquefaction potential index (LPI), which is calculated by using groundwater level and standard penetration test results of 274 in the area of Gimhae city located in adjacent to Nakdong river and across Yangsan fault, have been estimated and then kriging method using geographical information systems has been used to evaluate liquefaction effects on the damage of facilities. This study presents that Mw = 5.0 earthquake induces a small and low level of liquefaction resulting in slight damage of facilities but Mw = 6.5 earthquake induces a large and high level of liquefaction resulting in severe damage of facilities.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.47-59
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• 2007

Efficiency and limitations of HAZUS-MH, a GIS based systematic and informative system developed by FEMA and NIBS for natural hazard loss estimations, are discussed by means of a pilot study in the Korean Peninsula. Gyeongsang-do has been selected for the test after careful reviews of previous studies including historical and modern seismicity in the peninsula. A ShakeMap for the selected scenario earthquake with magnitude 6.7 in Gyeongju area is prepared. Then, any losses due to the scenario event have been estimated using HAZUS. Results of the pilot test show that the study area may experience significant physical, economic, and social damages. Detailed study in the future will provide efficient and crucial information to the decision makers and emergency agents to mitigate any disaster posed by natural hazards.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.589-602
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• 2020

As can be seen in many earthquakes, liquefaction causes differential settlement, which sometimes produces serious damages such as building destruction and ground subsidence. There are many possible active faults near the Busan city and the Yangsan, Dongrae, and Ilgwang faults among them pass through the city. The Busan city is also located within the influence of recent earthquakes, which occurred in the Gyeongju, Pohang, and Kumamoto (Japan). Along the wide fault valleys in the city, the Quaternary unconsolidated alluvial sediments are thickly accumulated, and the reclaimed lands with beach sediments are widely distributed in the coastal area. A large earthquake near or in the Busan city is thus expected to cause major damage due to liquefaction in urban areas. This study conducted an assessment of the liquefaction hazard according to seismic recurrence intervals across the Busan city. As a result, although there are slight differences in degree depending on seismic recurrence intervals, it is predicted that the liquefaction potential is very high in the areas of the Nakdonggang Estuary, Busan Bay, Suyeong Bay, and Songjeong Station. In addition, it is shown that the shorter the seismic recurrence interval, the greater difference the liquefaction potential depending on site periods.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.351-363
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• 2012

Although the Korean peninsula has been considered as a largely aseismic region compared with the surrounding high seismic areas such as North China and Japan, there are more than thirty Quaternary faults reported so far, which are mostly centered in the southeastern peninsula. Structural studies of active faults exposed in Yangnam-myeon of Gyeongju, SE Korea are largely interpreted to post date the late Quaternary, suggesting that the NE-trending reverse faults may result from the active stress regime in the peninsula. The prevailing present-day E-W $S_{Hmax}$ orientations in the peninsula are consistent with the nature of plate forcing stemming from the convergence between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates. It is clear that the Quaternary faults have been reactivated, although resolving more elaborate time intervals responsible for a future rupture remains a significant challenge. This study contributes to better assess many of potential seismic hazards in the study area, in particular, in terms of seismic stability for foundation of nuclear power plant.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.7_spc
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• pp.443-451
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• 2016

A Gyeongju earthquake in the magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale (the moment magnitude of 5.4), which was recorded as the strongest earthquake in Korea, occurred in September 12, 2016. Compared with the 2011 Virginia earthquake, the moment magnitude was slightly smaller and its duration was 3 seconds, much shorter than 10 seconds of the Virginia earthquake, resulting in relatively minor damage. But the two earthquakes are quite similar in terms of the overall scale, unexpectedness, and social situation. The North Anna Nuclear Power Plant, which is a nuclear power plant located at 18 km away from the epicenter of the Virginia earthquake, had no damage to nuclear reactors because the reactors were automatically shut down as the design basis earthquake value was exceeded. Ground accelerations of the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake did not exceed the threshold value but the manual shutdown was carried out so that Wolsong Nuclear Power Site was not damaged. Damaged historic homestead house and masonry structures due to the Virginia earthquake have been repaired, reinforced, and rebuilt based on a long-term earthquake recovery project. Likewise, it will be necessary to carefully carry out an earthquake recovery planning program to improve overall seismic performance and to reconstruct the historic buildings and structures damaged as a result of the Gyeongju earthquake.