• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.610-614
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• 2005

Rock mass classification by using electrical resistivity tomography(ERT) method is widely performed for the determination of rock support type in tunnel design. In the region of high electrical noise level, however, the result of the ERT will have many erroneous features. In this study, the back ground electrical noise had been measured to find out the reason why the results of ERT in this area did not agree to the expected geology confirmed by boreholes. In order to overcome this limitation of ERT, a hybrid surface-borehole array seismic refraction tomography had been followed. Using this technique, we could get P-wave velocity section including the depth level of tunnel. The comparison of the P-wave velocity and RMR shows fairly good statistical relationship to make it possible to set up the rock mass classification for the entire tunnel line.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.507-522
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• 2021

Specific survey objectives often cannot be met using only one geophysical method, as each method's results are influenced by the specific physical properties of subsurface materials. In particular, areas susceptible to geological hazards require investigation using more than one method in order to reduce risks to life and property. Instead of analyzing the results from each method separately, this work develops a four-quadrant criterion for classifying areas of levees as safe or weak. The assessment is based on statistically determined thresholds of seismic velocity (P-wave velocity from seismic refraction and S-wave velocity from multichannel analysis of surface waves) and electrical resistivity. Thresholds are determined by subtracting the standard deviation from the mean during performance testing of this correlation technique applied to model data of four horizontal and inclined fracture zones. Compared with results from the crossplot of resistivity and P-wave velocity, crossplot analysis using resistivity and S-wave velocity data provides more reliable information on the soil type, ground stiffness, and lithological characteristics of the levee system. A loose and sandy zone (represented by low S-wave velocity and high resistivity) falling within the second quadrant is interpreted to be a weak zone. This interpretation is well supported by the N values from standard penetrating test for the central core.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.14-25
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• 2022

The passive surface wave method measures seismic signals from ambient noises or vibrations of natural phenomena without using an artificial source. Since passive sources are usually in lower frequencies than artificial ones being able to ensure the information on deeper geological structures, the passive surface wave method can investigate deeper geological structures. In the passive method, frequency dispersion curves are obtained after data acquisition, and the dispersion curves are analyzed by assuming 1D-layered earth, which is like the method of active surface wave survey. However, when computing dispersion curves, the passive method first obtains and analyzes coherence curves of received signals from a set of receivers based on spatial autocorrelation. In this review, we explain how passive surface wave methods measure signals, and make data processing and interpretation, before analyzing field application cases.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2007

In this study, we propose a joint inversion method, using genetic algorithms, to estimate an S-wave velocity structure for deep sedimentary layers from receiver functions and surface-wave phase velocity observed at several sites. The method takes layer continuity over a target area into consideration by assuming that each layer has uniform physical properties, especially an S-wave velocity, at all the sites in a target area in order to invert datasets acquired at different sites simultaneously. Numerical experiments with synthetic data indicate that the proposed method is effective in reducing uncertainty in deep structure parameters when modelling only surface-wave dispersion data over a limited period range. We then apply the method to receiver functions derived from earthquake records at one site and two datasets of Rayleigh-wave phase velocity obtained from microtremor array surveys performed in central Tokyo, Japan. The estimated subsurface structure is in good agreement with the results of previous seismic refraction surveys and deep borehole data. We also conclude that the proposed method can provide a more accurate and reliable model than individual inversions of either receiver function data only or surface-wave dispersion data only.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.17-27
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• 2022

To characterize the dynamic properties of Gimhae Plains sediments, we calculated natural frequencies using microtremor horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios and derived shear wave velocity profiles by inversion of Rayleigh-wave dispersion curves obtained by the high frequency-wavenumber and modified spatial autocorrelation methods. Our results suggest that in this region, strong amplification of ground motion is expected in the vibration frequency (f ≥ 1 Hz). Additionally, obtained velocity profiles show that shear wave velocities are ~200 and 400 m/s for the shallow marine and old fluvial sediments, respectively. Bedrock is possibly encountered at depths of 60-100 m at most sites. We developed a simplified shear wave velocity model of shallow sediments based on the obtained profiles. Our results suggest that a large area in the Gimhae Plains could be categorized as an S6 site based on the Korean seismic design code (KDS 17 10 00).

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.142-152
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• 2008

SPT-Uphole method was introduced for the evaluation of near subsurface shear wave velocity (Vs) profile. In SPT-Uphole method, SPT (Standard Penetration Test) which is common in geotechnical site investigation was used as a source and several surface geophones in line were used as receivers. 1D shearwave velocity profile can be obtained in the manner of downhole method, Vs distribution map which is the triangular shape around the boring point can be developed by tomography inversion. To obtain the exact travel time information of shear wave component, a procedure using the magnitude summation of vertical and horizontal components was used based on the evaluation of particle motion at the surface. It was verified that proposed method could give reliable Vs distribution map through the numerical study using the FEM (Finite Element Method) model. Finally, SPT-Uphole method was performed and the feasibility of proposed method was verified in the field.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.29-36
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• 2014

Under the situation that the seismic vulnerability are a worsening problem in many world's megacities, the disaster preparedness including earthquake hazards is a matter of primary concern in the capital city of Korea, Seoul. Especially, because it is hard to move or dismantle the architectural heritages, the mitigation of earthquake damages is potentially more difficult than other structures. Moreover, in order to decide the proper preparedness plan against future earthquakes, it is very important to understand how soils pass the seismic waves to architectural heritages. In this paper, therefore, the ground condition and depth of bedrock was investigated by the MASW-method at heritages located in Seoul. Then one-dimensional seismic response analysis was conducted based on the distribution of shear wave velocity. As the major result of analyses, peak acceleration, site amplification factor and natural period are proposed in each site for recurrence period.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.632-642
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• 2015

Seismograms are composed of 3 characteristics, that is, seismic source, attenuation, and site amplification. Among them, site amplification characteristics should be considered significantly to estimate seismic source and attenuation characteristics with more confidence. This purpose of this study is to estimate the site amplification characteristics at each site using horizontal to vertical (H/V) spectral ratio method. This method, originally proposed by Nakamura (1989), has been applied to study the surface waves in microtremor records. It has been recently extended to the shear wave energy of strong motion and applied to the study of site amplification. This study analyzed the H/V spectral ratio of 6 ground motions respectively using observed data from 4 sites nearby in Yedang Reservoir. And then, site amplification effects at each site, from 3 kinds of seismic energies, that is, S waves, Coda waves energy, and background noise were compared each other. The results suggested that 4 sites showed its own characteristics of site amplification property in specific resonance frequency ranges (YDS: ~11 Hz, YDU: ~4 Hz, YDD: ~7 Hz). Comparison of this study to other studies using different analysis method can give us much more information about dynamic amplification of domestic sites characteristics and site classification.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.28-33
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• 2009

Methane hydrates are considered important in terms of their effect on global warming and as potential energy resources. Now, mainly the presence of a BSR and seismic velocity are used for estimation of methane hydrate concentration in the seismic reflection survey. But recent studies on seismic attenuation show that it can be used also to estimate methane hydrates concentration. In this study, we tried to estimate attenuation from 2D seismic reflection data acquired at Nankai Trough in Japan and analyzed attenuation properties in methane hydrate bearing sediments. Seismic attenuation estimated by QVO method in an offset range $125{\sim}1,575m$. We observed high attenuation in methane hydrate bearing sediments over BSR in a frequency range of 30-70Hz. Thus, this result demonstrates that seismic reflection wave within this frequency range are affected significantly by the existence of methane hydrate concentration zone.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.25-31
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• 2007

For areas such as the Korean Peninsula, which have moderate seismic activity but no available records of strong ground motion, synthetic seismograms can be used to evaluate ground motion without waiting for a strong earthquake. Such seismograms represent the estimated ground motions expected from a set of possible earthquake scenarios. Local site effects are especially important in assessing the seismic hazard and possible ground motion scenarios for a specific fault. The earthquake source and rupture dynamics can be described as a two-step process of rupture initiation and front propagation controlled by a frictional sliding mechanism. The seismic wavefield propagates through heterogeneous geological media and finally undergoes near-surface modulations such as amplification or deamplification. This is a complex system in which various scales of physical phenomena are integrated. A unified approach incorporates multi-scale problems of dynamic rupture, radiated wave propagation, and site effects into an all-in-one model using a three-dimensional, fourth-order, staggered-grid, finite-difference method. The method explains strong ground motions as products of complex systems that can be modified according to a variety of fine-scale rupture scenarios and friction models. A series of such deterministic earthquake scenarios can shed light on the kind of damage that would result and where it would be located.