• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2012

This pre-supported nail method is able to decrease ground displacements more than NATM because this method reinforces ground with grouted steels before tunnel excavation. Therefore this method has advantage of being able to increase the stability and workability. This study presents applicability of pre-supported nail method with case of site measurement for shallow tunnel composed with high groundwater level and unconsolidated soil, performs this research the mechanism of new supporting system is compared with the conventional existing supporting system in terms of soil reinforcement. NATM has characteristics that construction stage displacement of the apparent height difference is observed in the step of divided excavation processing. Otherwise it is analyzed that pre-supported nail method is not sensitive in the displacement problem of excavation processing in comparison to NATM. It is found that this method is very applicable in shallow depth tunnel such as portal area, tunnel in soil and weak zone without arching effect.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.5-19
• /
• 2009

Most of earthquake-induced geotechnical hazards have been caused by the site effects relating to the amplification of ground motion, which is strongly influenced by the local geologic conditions such as soil thickness or bedrock depth and soil stiffness. In this study, an integrated GIS-based information system for geotechnical data, called geotechnical information system (GTIS), was constructed to establish a regional counterplan against earthquake-induced hazards at an urban area of Daejeon, which is represented as a hub of research and development in Korea. To build the GTIS for the area concerned, pre-existing geotechnical data collections were performed across the extended area including the study area and site visits were additionally carried out to acquire surface geo-knowledge data. For practical application of the GTIS used to estimate the site effects at the area concerned, seismic zoning map of the site period was created and presented as regional synthetic strategy for earthquake-induced hazards prediction. In addition, seismic zonation for site classification according to the spatial distribution of the site period was also performed to determine the site amplification coefficients for seismic design and seismic performance evaluation at any site in the study area. Based on this case study on seismic zonations in Daejeon, it was verified that the GIS-based GTIS was very useful for the regional prediction of seismic hazards and also the decision support for seismic hazard mitigation.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.15-23
• /
• 2009

The site effects relating to the amplification of ground motion under earthquake loading are strongly influenced by both the subsurface soil condition and geologic structure. In this study, the site effects at the Hongseong area in Korea were examined by both the site investigation including borehole drilling and in-situ seismic tests and the site visit for acquiring geologic information of ground surface. Subsurface of Hongseong area with a major instrumental earthquake event in 1978 is composed of weathered layers of a maximum of 45 m thickness overlying bedrock. A geotechnical information system based on GIS framework was implemented to effectively find out spatial geologic structure of study area and it indicated Hongseong is a shallow and wide shaped basin. Two-dimensional finite element (FE) analyses for a representative cross-section of the Hongseong area were performed to evaluate seismic site responses. From the results of seismic responses, it was observed that the ground motions were amplified during the propagation of shear waves through the soil layer overlying the bedrock and the duration of shaking near the basin edges was prolonged due to the surface waves generated by interactions of shear waves with basin geometry. Furthermore, one-dimensional FE seismic response analyses were additionally conducted for soil sites selected in the basin, and it gives similar results to the two-dimensional seismic responses at most locations in the basin with the exception of the locations near the basin edges, because the basin in this study is very shallow and wide.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.5-16
• /
• 2018

In this study, seismic performance of geotechnical seismic isolation system capable of primary seismic isolation in the ground was evaluated. 1-G shaking table test was used to assess the performance of Teflon or steel slag as geotechnical seismic isolation systems installed beneath superstructure foundation. Response acceleration and response spectra were analyzed considering different input motions. The results were compared with those of fixed foundation structure without seismic isolation system. The steel slag-type seismic isolation system showed significant reduction in acceleration. The teflon-type seismic isolation system did not show significant effects on acceleration reduction in low-to-moderate seismicity condition, but it did show better effects in case of strong seismic condition. As input motion was transferred to the upper mass, the response spectrum of the fixed foundation structure was amplified in the short period range. In contrast, the response spectrum of the structure with seismic isolation using teflon or steel slag amplified in the long period range. It is found that the change of periodicity and the friction characteristics between isolation materials and foundations affected acceleration reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.37 no.12
• /
• pp.7-23
• /
• 2021

Underground utility tunnels, which contribute to supply of electricity, communication, water and heat, are critical lifelines of an urban area. In case service is discontinued or functional disruption happens, there will be a huge socio-economic impact. For the improved seismic design and evaluation of underground structures, this study proposes a ground displacement measure when the site is subjected to a scenario earthquake based on hazard-consistent source spectra and site amplification/attenuation. This measure provides a rational estimation of ground displacement and can be an alternative to existing response displacement methods.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.17-35
• /
• 2016

Earthquake-induced disasters are often more severe in locations with soft soils than firm soils or rocks due to differences in ground motion amplification. On a regional scale, such differences can be estimated by spatially predicting subsurface soil thickness over the entire target area. In general, soil deposits are generally deeper in coastal or riverside areas than in inland regions. In this study, a coastal metropolitan area, Incheon, was selected to assess site effects and provide information on seismic hazards. Spatial prediction of geotechnical layers was performed for the entire study area within the GIS framework. Approximately 7,000 existing borehole drilling data in the Incheon area were gathered and archived into the GIS Database (DB). In addition, surface geotechnical data were acquired from a walkover survey. Based on the built geotechnical DB, spatial zoning maps of site-specific seismic response parameters were created and presented for use in a regional seismic strategy. Site response parameters were performed to determine site coefficients for seismic design over the entire target area and compared with each other. Site classifications and subsequent seismic zoning were assigned based on site coefficients. From this seismic zonation case study in Incheon, we verified that geotechnical GIS-DB can create spatial zoning maps of site-specific seismic response parameters that are useful for seismic hazard mitigation particularly in coastal metropolitan areas.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.203-218
• /
• 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 GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.31-40
• /
• 2023

We installed temporary strong motion seismometers at the ground surface, 1 m, 2 m, and 9 m at an existing seismic station that houses permanent seismometers installed at 20 m and 100 m, to investigate the influence of installation depth on the recorded ambient and anthropogenic noise level and the characteristics of earthquake signals. Analysis of the ambient noise shows that anthropogenic noise dominates where vibration period T < 1 s at the studied site, whereas wind speed appears to be strongly correlated with the noise level at T > 1 s. Frequency-wavenumber analysis of 2D seismometer array suggests that ambient noise in short periods are predominantly body waves, rather than surface waves. The level of ambient noise was low at 9 m and 20 m, but strong amplification of noise level at T < 0.1 s was observed at the shallow seismometers. Both the active-source test result and the recorded earthquake data demonstrated that the signal level is decreased with the increase of depth. Our result also shows that recorded motions at the ground and 1 m are strongly amplified at 20 Hz (T = 0.05 s), likely due to the resonance of the 3 m thick soil layer. This study demonstrates that analysis of ambient and active-source vibration may help find optimal installation depth of strong motion seismometers. We expect that further research considering various noise environments and geological conditions will be helpful in establishing a guideline for optimal installation of strong motion seismometers.

• Land and Housing Review
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.451-456
• /
• 2012

In this study, a numerical analysis to evaluate the reduction of seismic load due to pile group was performed and compared the peak ground acceleration(PGA) measured at free-field and foundation. The special attention was given to the amplification of seismic acceleration on the foundation due to the pile effects. The analysis considering pile effects was carried out for 4, 8 and 12 piles with same condition by PLAXIS 2D Dynamics. Based on the analysis results, it is found that the overall reduction in seismic load due to foundation and reduction rates are similar irrespective of pile numbers. This study gives a possibility for effective design of piled foundation by reducing seismic load about 20~25%.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.17-28
• /
• 2022

The effect of the soil-structure interaction (SSI) on has been recently evaluated in shaking table tests. However, most of these tests were conducted on single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) superstructures and a single-pile. This study investigates the inertial interaction effect of a multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) superstructure system with a group piles on a large-scale shaking table test. Whereas the SDOF superstructure system shows a single-frequency amplification tendency, the MDOF superstructure system exhibited amplification tendencies of the acceleration phase and frequency responses for multiple frequencies. In addition, the amplification phenomenon between the footing and the column-type superstructure exceeded that between the footing and the wall-type superstructure, indicating a greater inertial interaction effect of the column-type superstructure. The relationship between shear force and inertial force, the relative vertical and horizontal displacements on the footing was figured out. Also, the ananlysis of dynamic p-y curve at each depth was conducted. In summary, the MDOF and SDOP superstructure systems exhibited different behaviors and the column-type superstructure exerted a higher interaction effect than the wall-type superstructure.