• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.151-164
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• 2022

According to the records of historical and instrumental earthquakes, the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula is considered the highest seismic activity area. Owing to recent reports of numerous Quaternary faults along the Yangsan and Ulsan fault zones, paleoseismological studies are being actively conducted in these areas. The study area is located in the central part of the Ulsan fault zone, where the largest number of active faults have been reported. Based on lineament and geomorphic analysis using LiDAR images and aerial photographs, fault-related landforms showing topographic relief were observed and a trench survey was conducted. The trench length 20 m, width 5 m, depth 5 m is located approximately 300 m away to the northeast from the previously reported Malbang fault. From the trench section, we interpreted the geometric and kinematic characteristics of the fault based on the deformed features of the Quaternary sedimentary layers. The attitude of the reverse fault, N26°W/33°NE, is similar to those of the reported faults distributed along the Ulsan fault zone. Although a single apparent displacement of approximately 40 cm has been observed, the true displacement could not be calculated due to the absence of the slickenline on the fault plane. Based on the geochronological results of the cryogenic structure proposed in a previous study, the most recent faulting event has been estimated as being earlier than the late Wurm glaciation. We interpreted the thrust fault system of the study area as an imbrication structure based on the previous studies and the fault geometry obtained in this additional trench. Although several previous investigations including many trench surveys have been conducted, they found limited success in obtaining the information on fault parameters, which could be due to complex characteristics of the reverse fault system. Additional paleoseismic studies will contribute to solving the mentioned problems and the comprehensive fault evolution.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.230-242
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• 2020

We performed a magnetotelluric (MT) survey to delineate the geological structures below the depth of 20 km in the Gyeongju area where an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 occurred in September 2016. The measured MT data were severely distorted by electrical noise caused by subways, power lines, factories, houses, and farmlands, and by vehicle noise from passing trains and large trucks. Using machine-learning methods, we classified the MT time series data obtained near the railway and highway into two groups according to the inclusion of traffic noise. We applied three schemes, stochastic gradient descent, support vector machine, and random forest, to the time series data for the highspeed train noise. We formulated three datasets, Hx, Hy, and Hx & Hy, for the time series data of the large truck noise and applied the random forest method to each dataset. To evaluate the effect of removing the traffic noise, we compared the time series data, amplitude spectra, and apparent resistivity curves before and after removing the traffic noise from the time series data. We also examined the frequency range affected by traffic noise and whether artifact noise occurred during the traffic noise removal process as a result of the residual difference.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.264-271
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• 2019

Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju, known as an astronomical observatory, is a cultural monument with great historical, academic, and artistic value, as its unique shape is preserved well in its original form. The outer structure, ground stability, and seismic reliability of Cheomseongdae have been assessed by numerous researchers through various scientific methods, but research on the underground structure has been insufficient. This paper contains detailed models of the underground structure of Cheomseongdae interpreted in 2D and 3D images based on the data acquired through GPR surveys conducted of features in and around the base of Cheomseongdae. As a result, the existence of twelve small features arranged in a circle, although only about half of them remain, was confirmed at a depth of 0.4 - 0.6m. Furthermore, a structure three bays long (north-south direction) and four bays wide (east-west direction) was detected beneath Cheomseongdae at the depth of 0.7 - 1.0m. Other than 2 layers of foundations as is known, a square structure with the dimensions of 7m × 7m is situated at a depth of 0.6m, directly under Cheomseongdae, and what is reading that is expected to be the foundation structure of Cheomseongdae was detected and confirmed. This foundation structure is circular with a diameter in the east-west direction of 11m and in the north-south direction of 12m. The northern, western, and eastern edges of this foundation structure are about 1m away from the foundation of Cheomseongdae, whereas the the south side extends to about 5m wide.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.380-392
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• 2002

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the usage of microtremor in estimation of subsurface structure and ground response to strong ground motion. To accomplish the purpose, the current status of microtremor study are reviewed and microtremors recorded at several stations are analysed. First of all, the stability of microtremor is examined through the analysis of microtremors recorded for 80 seconds per hour during the time from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for eight hours at night time. It is found that the shape of microtremor spectra of low frequency below 10Hz is approximately invariable with time and the spectra contain informations about subsurface structure. The subsurface structures estimated from the predominant frequency determined from the recorded microtremors are compared with the known ones from geophysical surveys at several stations in Kyungju. The comparison of structures shows rough agreements at most stations. Horizontal to vertical spectral ratio(HVSR) technique for microtremor has been proposed as an indirect method to determine ground response to strong ground motion. The HVSR for microtremors recorded in Kyungju is calculated and compared with theoretical transfer function calculated from the known structures. The comparison shows rough coincidence of the peak frequency of spectra between them.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.86-93
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• 2020

The demand for maintenance in Korea infrastructure facilities constructed since the 1970s has increased significantly compared to the demand for new construction. Moreover, after the Gyeongju and Pohang earthquakes, seismic performance evaluation, repair, and retrofitting projects have been carried out. Therefore, in this study, a specimen was designed following the L-type GFRP Plate Externally Bonded Retrofit method, one among other retrofit methods. The L-type GFRP Plate was bonded to the specimen by epoxy and a washered steel nail. A four-point bending test was performed to confirm the strengthening effect of the Externally Bonded Retrofit method using an L-type GFRP Plate. The strengthening effect of the L-type GFRP plate was proven experimentally, and the behavior of the beam designed following the L-type GFRP Plate Externally Bonded Retrofit method was evaluated according to Korea's "Design Manual & Specification for Strengthening of RC Structures by Advanced Composites System". Furthermore, the effectiveness of the bonding method, a combination of epoxy and washered steel nail, was also checked. The results showed that the design, according to the guidelines mentioned above, predicted the strength of the member well, but the failure mode did not satisfy the design assumption because of unexpected damage to the GFRP plate due to the fixing method, washered steel nail.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.127-139
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• 1998

A new technique of simultaneous inversion for 3-D seismic velocity structure by using direct, reflected, and refracted waves is applied to the southeast part of the Korean Peninsula including Pohang Basin, Kyongsang Basin and Ryongnam Massif. Pg, Sg, PmP, SmS, Pn, and Sn arrival times of 44 events with 554 seismic rays are inverted for locations and crustal structure. $6{\times}6$ with $0.5^{\circ}$ and 8 layers (4 km each layer) model was inverted. 3-D seismic crustal velocity tomography including eight sections from surface to Moho, ten profiles along latitude and longitude are analyzed. The results are as follows: 1) the average velocity and thickness of sediment are 5.04 km/s and 3-4 km, and the velocity of basement is 6.11 km/s. The shape of velocity in shallower layer is agreement with Bouguer gravity anomaly (Cho et al., 1997). 2) the velocities fluctuate strongly in the upper crust. The velocity distribution of the lower crust under Conrad appears basically horizontal. 3) the average depth of Moho is 30.4 km, and velocity is 8.01 km/s. 4) from the velocity and depth of the sediment, the thickness, velocity and form of the upper crust, and the depth and form of Moho, we can find the obvious differences among Ryongnam Massif, Kyongsang Basin and Pohang Basin. 5) the deep faults (a Ulsan series faults) near Kyongju and Pohang areas can be found to be normal and/or thrust faults with detachment extended to the bottom of the upper crust.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.687-695
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• 2021

With the recent occurrence of large-scale earthquakes in Korea, the importance of seismic design has greatly increased. Seismic design standards stipulate that dynamic time history analysis be performed for important or special structures. In the seismic analysis and design of such structures, determining a rational design input seismic wave is a very important factor in ensuring the reliability of the analysis and design. In the seismic design standards, rational design seismic waves must reflect the characteristics of the area (fault) and satisfy the design response spectrum for each seismic performance level. This requirement can be partially satisfied by modifying the actual seismic wave measured in the area (fault) according to the design response spectrum. In this study, a method of correcting and generating seismic wave time histories according to the design response spectrum based on actual measured seismic waves using the harmonic wavelet transform was proposed. To examine the applicability of the proposed technique, the technique was applied to earthquakes of magnitude 5.8 and 5.4, respectively, that occurred in Gyeongju (2016) and Pohang (2017), and the seismic wave time histories corresponding to the design response spectrum were modified and generated.

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

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2024

This research addresses the types and causes of defects in seismic retrofitting projects of school facilities, which, following the Gyeongju and Pohang earthquakes in September 2016 and November 2017 respectively, have been identified as having comparatively lower seismic resilience among public buildings. The incidence of seismic retrofitting has notably increased in the subsequent years, raising concerns about the potential for defects arising from these efforts. The government has committed to enhancing the seismic resilience of all public facilities by 2035, with a specific focus on completing upgrades for educational establishments by 2029. Although prior investigations have explored construction defects in school facilities, there exists a gap in research specifically targeting defects within seismic retrofitting processes. Thus, this study aims to catalog the defects associated with seismic retrofitting efforts and analyze their underlying causes to identify crucial management strategies for defect mitigation. Furthermore, by examining the interplay between defect types and their causative factors, the study seeks to pinpoint essential management practices that could preempt defects during the construction phase, ultimately aiding in the reduction of future maintenance expenditures.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.139-149
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• 2017

The maintenance, repair, and reinforcement projects and structural stability assessments of Seokguram have primarily focused on examining the condition of stone members of Seokguram and the concrete dome structure for Seokguram. However, a 12 m-high rock slope located behind Seokguram raises a concern of slope failure and rockfall, which may reduce stability of Seokguram. It is also unclear whether the soil slopes and masonry wall at the side and the front of Seokguram have sufficient long-term stability against localized heavy rains and earthquakes, which have been frequent in recent years. The present study investigates the ground and the slopes around Seokguram using detailed field survey to identify geographical and geological risk factors, and assess structural stability of the exposed rock mass behind and the slope in front of Seokguram and the masonry wall using stability analysis.