• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.443-456
• /
• 2021

Structural design of the vertical displacements and shear strains in the earth fill (EF) dams has great importance in the structural engineering problems. Moreover, far fault earthquakes have significant seismic effects on seismic damage performance of EF dams like the near fault earthquakes. For this reason, three dimensional (3D) earthquake damage performance of Oroville dam is assessed considering different far-fault ground motions in this study. Oroville Dam was built in United States of America-California and its height is 234.7 m (770 ft.). 3D model of Oroville dam is modelled using FLAC3D software based on finite difference approach. In order to represent interaction condition between discrete surfaces, special interface elements are used between dam body and foundation. Non-reflecting seismic boundary conditions (free field and quiet) are defined to the main surfaces of the dam for the nonlinear seismic analyses. 6 different far-fault ground motions are taken into account for the full reservoir condition of Oroville dam. According to nonlinear seismic analysis results, the effects of far-fault ground motions on the nonlinear seismic settlement and shear strain behaviour of Oroville EF dam are determined and evaluated in detail. It is clearly seen that far-fault earthquakes have very significant seismic effects on the settlement-shear strain behaviour of EF dams and these earthquakes create vital important seismic damages on the swelling behaviour of dam body surface. Moreover, it is proposed that far-fault ground motions should not be ignored while modelling EF dams.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.97-104
• /
• 2017

Here we present the timings of reactivated events from a fault in the northern Pohang area, which should be located at the northern-end of Yangsan fault line, the major fault in the southeastern Korean Peninsula. Recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach was employed for determining the fault-activated timing, combined with illite-polytype quantification using the optimized full-pattern-fitting (FPF) method, and K-Ar age-dating for each size fraction($<0.1{\mu}m$, $0.1-0.4{\mu}m$, and $0.4-1.0{\mu}m$) of 4 fault clay samples. Two chronological records of brittle fault-activation events were recognized at $19.6{\pm}1.86Ma$ and $26.1{\pm}2.55-27.9{\pm}3.46Ma$. The ages are much younger than those of fault clays from Sangcheon-ri area (41.5~43.5 and 50.7 Ma), the southern part of Yangsan fault line, and are close to the timing of East Sea-opening event. Further chronological analysis for additional sites of the Yangsan fault should be needed to reveal the time-scheme of the tectonic events and their spatial distributions along the fault line.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.323-332
• /
• 2014

The Nobi fault zone, which generated the 1891 Nobi Earthquake (M8.0), includes five or six faults distributed in and around Gifu and Aichi prefectures, Japan. Because large cities are located near the fault zone (e.g., Gifu and Nagoya), and because the zone will likely be reactivated in the future, relatively thorough surveys have been conducted on the 1891 Nobi earthquake event, examining the fault geometry, house collapse rate, and the magnitude and distribution of earthquake intensity and fault displacement. In this study, we calculated the earthquake slip along faults in the Nobi fault zone by applying a 3D numerical analysis. The analysis shows that a zone with slip displacements of up to 100 mm included all areas with house collapse rates of 100%. In addition, the maximum vertical displacement was approximately ${\pm}1700mm$, which is in agreement with the ${\pm}1400mm$ or greater vertical displacements obtained in previous studies. The analysis yielded a fault zone with slip displacements of > 30 mm that is coincident with areas in which house collapse rates were 60% of more. The analysis shows that the regional slip sense was coincident with areas of uplift and subsidence caused by the Nobi earthquake.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 2014

Recently developed illite-age-analysis (IAA) approach has been applied to determine the multiple events for the Singal and Wangsukcheon faults in the Chugaryeong fault belt, Korea. Fault reactivated events during Late Cretaceous to Paleogene events($69.2{\pm}0.3$ Ma and $27.2{\pm}0.5$ Ma) for the Singal fault and of $75.4{\pm}0.8$ Ma for the Wangsukcheon fault were determined by combined approach of the optimized illite-polytype quantification and the K-Ar age-dating of clay fractions separated from the fault clays. These absolute geochronological determinations of the multiple tectonic events recorded in the Chugaryeong fault belt are crucial to establish the tectonic evolution of the Korean Peninsula since Late Cretaceous.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.485-498
• /
• 2015

Structural analysis for a large-scale fault in Maegok-dong, Ulsan, was carried out based on filed-works to investigate the geometric and kinematic characteristics of the fault as well as its Quaternary slip. As results, a series of repeated stratigraphy, minor faults, fracture zones, and deformation band clusters are observed over a distance of about 100 m in the first studied site consisting of sedimentary rocks, which may indicate the damage zone of a large-scale fault in this site. In the second site, mainly composed of granitic clastic rocks, a large-scale thrust fault is expected based on low-angle dipping faults showing branched and/or merged patterns. Age of the last slip on this fault was restrained as after 33,275 ± 355 yr BP based on radiocarbon dating for organic material included in the gouge zone. Dimension of fault damage zone, dominant sense of slip, and age of the slip event associated with the fault suggest that these structures have a close relationship with the Ulsan Fault and/or Yeonil Tectonic Line, which are well-known large-scale neotectonic structural features around the study area. Therefore, it is necessary to study the characteristics of the faults in detail based on structural geology and paleoseismology in order to ensure seismic and geologic stability of the buildings under construction, and to prevent geologic hazards in this area.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.342-348
• /
• 2018

An earthquake of $M_L$ 5.8 hit the Gyeongju area on September 12, 2016. A sequence of foreshock-mainshock-aftershock of 588 events with equal to or greater than magnitude 1.5 occurred for six months in this area. Around ninety-nine percentage (98.8%) of the total energy was released intensively within a day, and about 80% of the total events took place within a month after the Gyeongju earthquake. The epicentral distribution of aftershocks of major events ($M_L$ 5.1, 5.8, 4.5, and 3.5) were elongated in the direction of $N30^{\circ}E$. They correlate well with the focal mechanism solution. These facts support the inference that the Gyeongju earthquakes occurred on a sub-parallel subsidiary fault of the Yangsan fault zone or on the linking damage zones between Deokcheon and Yangsan fault. During the last six years before the Gyeongju earthquake, there were few events within 10-km radius from the epicenter. This seismic gap area was filled with a sequence of the Gyeongju earthquakes. The b value for aftershock of the Gyeongju earthquakes is 1.09.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2016

We conducted three-dimensional finite element analysis to predict the presence of upcoming fault zones during tunneling. The analysis considered longitudinal displacements measured at tunnel face, and used 28 numerical models with various fault attitudes. The x-MR (moving range) control chart was used to analyze quantitatively the effects of faults distributed ahead of the tunnel face, given the occurrence of a longitudinal displacement. The numerical models with fault were classified as fault gouge, fault breccia, and fault damage zones. The width of fault cores was set to 1 m (fault gouge 0.5 m and fault breccia 0.5 m) and the width of fault damage zones was set to 2 m. The results, suggest that fault centers could be predicted at 2~26 m ahead of the tunnel face and that faults could be predicted earliest in the 45° dip model. In addition, faults could be predicted earliest when the angle between the direction of tunnel advance and the strike of the fault was smallest.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.361-368
• /
• 2003

We have investigated the electric resistivity structure of the fault zone located in the Hongseong area where a big earthquake with M 5.0 occurred in 1978. Usually, Electric and Electromagnetic methods are broadly operated in the field of engineering works since these methods are effective to understand the distribution of geological weak zones - fault or fracture zones. We have conducted the dipole-dipole array resistivity method and MT(magnetotelluric) method and interpreted the resistivity distribution of the fault zone with the aid of various inversion methods. An MT survey was performed at 18 points along a 2.9 km survey line perpendicular to the fault line and a magnetic dipole source was used to enhance the S/N ratio in the high frequency. A Electric dipole-dipole array resistivity survey with the dipole length of 50 meters was carried out perpendicular to the fault. In view of two survey results, the fault marks the boundary between two opposite resistivity structures, especially the low resistivity zone is exhibited deeply through the prospective fault line. The result that the low resistivity zone is located at the center of the fault zone corresponds with the fact that the fault zone of the Hongseong area is active. We expect these results to provide basic information about the physical properties of fault zones in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.37 no.6_2
• /
• pp.1901-1922
• /
• 2021

Since most large earthquakes occur by reactivation of preexisting active faults, it is important to understand the locations and characteristics of active faults in terms of earthquake hazard research and earthquake disaster prevention. Recently, several remote sensing techniques are broadly used for lineament analysis performed prior to field surveys in active fault surveys. The aim of this paper is introducing simple principles and application examples of each remote sensing technique (satellite remote sensing, airborne remote sensing, InSAR, LiDAR) widely used for active fault investigation. This paper also explains the analytical methods for the slope break generated by fault activity based on GIS and the horizontal displacement of the strike-slip fault. In discussion, we would like to discuss the problems and solutions on making DEM based on aerial photography, and a new developed technique (RRIM) to overcome the problems of DEM based on aerial LiDAR. Understanding remote sensing techniques used for active fault investigation and utilizing appropriate methods depending on the situation and limitations of each remote sensing technique are important for effective active fault investigation.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.57 no.11
• /
• pp.1929-1932
• /
• 2008

In case of a line-to-ground fault at transmission lines, a portion of fault current will flow into the earth through the footings of the faulted tower causing electrical potential rise nearby the faulted tower footings. In this situation, any buried pipelines or structures nearby the faulted tower can be exposed to the electrical stress by earth potential rise. Although many research works has been conducted on this phenomena, there has been no clear answer of the required separation distance between tower footings and neary buried pipeline because of its dependancy on the soil electrical charactersics of the concerned area and the faulted system.