• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.449-460
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• 2022

Safe underground construction in a rock mass requires adequate ground investigation and effective determination of rock conditions. The estimation of rock mass behavior is difficult, because rock masses are innately anisotropic and heterogeneous at different scales and are affected by various environmental factors. Quantitative rock mass classification systems, such as the Q-system and rock mass rating, are widely used for characterization and engineering design. The measurement of rock classification parameters is subjective and can vary among observers, resulting in questionable accuracy. Geophysical investigation methods, such as seismic surveys, have also been used for ground characterization. Torsional shear wave propagation characteristics in cylindrical rods are equal to that in an infinite media. A probabilistic quantitative relationship between the Q-value and shear wave velocity is thus investigated considering long-wavelength wave propagation in equivalent continuum jointed rock masses. Individual Q-system parameters are correlated with stress-dependent shear wave velocities in jointed rocks using experimental and numerical methods. The relationship between the Q-value and the shear wave velocity is normalized using a defined reference condition. This relationship is further improved using probabilistic analysis to remove unrealistic data and to suggest a range of Q-values for a given wave velocity. The proposed probabilistic Q-value estimation is then compared with field measurements and cross-hole seismic test data to verify its applicability.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2023

Ground subsidence in urban areas due to excessive development and degraded underground facilities is a serious problem. Geophysical surveys have been conducted to estimate the distribution and scale of cavities and subsidence. In this study, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) was performed near an area of road subsidence in an urban area. The subsidence arose due to groundwater leakage that carried soil into a neighboring excavation site. The ERT survey line was located between the main subsidence area and an excavation site. Because ERT data are affected by rapid topographic changes and surrounding structures, the influence of the excavation site on the data was analyzed through field-scale numerical modeling. The effect of an excavation should be considered when interpreting ERT data because it can lead to wrong anomalous results. A method for performing 2D inversion after correcting resistivity data for the effect of the excavation site was proposed. This method was initially tested using a field-scale numerical model that included the excavation site and subsurface anomaly, which was a loosened zone, and was then applied to field data. In addition, ERT data were interpreted using an existing in-house 3D algorithm, which considered the effect of excavation sites. The inversion results demonstrated that conductive anomalies in the loosened zone were greater compared to the inversion that did not consider the effects of excavation.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.224-231
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• 2005

In geophysical field surveys, commercial equipments often fail to resolve the subsurface target or even sometimes fail to be applied because they do not fit to the various field situations or the physical properties of the medium or target. We developed a geophysical measurement system, which can be easily adapted for the various field situations and targets. The system based on PXI with A/D converter and some stand alone equipment such as Network Analyzer was applied to borehole radar survey, borehole sonic measurement and electromagnetic noise measurement. The system for borehole radar survey consists of PXI, Network Analyzer, dipole antennas, GPIB interface is used for PXI to control Network Analyzer. The system for borehole sonic measurement consists of PXI, 24 Bit A/D converter, high voltage pulse generator, transmitting and receiving piezoelectric sensors. The electromagnetic noise measurement system consists of PXI, 24 Bit A/D converter, 2 horizontal component electric field sensors and 2 horizontal and 1 vertical component magnetic filed sensors. The borehole radar system has been successfully applied to detect the width of the artificial tunnel through which the borehole pass and to image buried steel pipe, while the commercial borehole radar equipment failed. The borehole sonic system was tested to detect the width of artificial tunnel and showed a reasonable result. The characteristic of electromagnetic noise was grasped at an urban area with the data from the electromagnetic noise measurement system. The system is also applied to characterize the signal distortion by induction between the electric cables in resistivity survey. The system can be applied various geophysical problems with a simple modification of the system and sensors.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.243-252
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• 2020

To share an understanding of trajectory measurement in surveys using borehole, this tutorial summarizes the relevant mathematical principles of the borehole deviation survey based on coordinate transform. For uncased or open holes, calculations of the azimuth-deviation-tool face rotation using three-component accelerometer and magnetometer measurements are summarized. For the steel-cased holes, calculations are based on the time-derivative formula of the coordinate transform matrix; yaw-pitch-roll angles through time are mathematically determined by integrating the threecomponent angular velocity measurements from the gyroscope while also removing the Earth's rotation effect. Sensor and data fusion to increase the accuracy of borehole deviation survey is explained with an example of the method. These principles of borehole deviation surveys can be adapted for attitude estimation in air-borne surveys or for positioning in tunnels where global positioning system (GPS) signals cannot be accessed. Information on the optimization filter that must be incorporated in sensor fusion is introduced to help future research.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.100-113
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• 2017

Induced polarization (IP) method is based on the measurement of a polarization effect known as overvoltage of the ground. IP techniques have been usually used to find mineral deposits, however, nowadays widely applied to hydrogeological investigations, surveys of groundwater pollution and foundation studies on construction sites. IP surveys can be classified by its source type, i.e., time-domain IP estimating chargeability, frequency-domain IP measuring frequency effect (FE), and complex resistivity (CR) and spectral IP (SIP) measuring complex resistivity. Recently, electromagnetic-based IP has been studied to avoid the requirement for spike electrodes to be placed in the ground. In order to understand IP methods in this study, we: 1) classify IP surveys by source type and measured data and illustrate their basic theories, 2) describe historical development of each IP forward modeling and inversion algorithm, and finally 3) introduce various case studies of IP measurements.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.210-224
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• 2019

Surface wave (SW) surveys, which have been applied to numerous application fields ranging from micro-scale ultrasonic analysis to geological scale analysis, are widely used to monitor near-surface stability. The survey method is basically made through analysis on dispersion of SW propagating along the earth surface, in order to delineate shear velocity structure of subsurface. SW survey data are inverted with assuming one-dimensional (1D) layered-earth in order to recover shear wave velocities of each layer, after being analyzed to make the dispersion curve that shows phase velocity of SW with respect to frequency. This study reviews surface wave surveys with explaining the basic theory including the characteristics of dispersion and the procedure of general data processing. Even though surface wave surveys can be categorized into active and passive methods, this paper focuses only on active surface wave methods which includes continuous SW (CSW), spectral analysis of SW (SASW) and multichannel analysis of SW (MASW). Passive method will be reviewed in the subsequent paper.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2008

Electrical resistivity and seismic refraction surveys were conducted to investigate geologic structures and geotechnical characteristics of the subsurface, along with rock physical property measurements in Dokdo island. The survey results in Seodo island show that the fault adjacent to the fisherman's shelter is a normal fault and extended towards the NW direction, and that Bedded Lapilli Tuff in the downstream was more severely influenced by weathering and erosion than Trachy Andesite II in the upstream of the survey area. In Dongdo island, Trachy Andesite III and Scoria Bedded Lapilli Tuff were severely weathered and eroded, considered as weathered to soft rock formations, and their weathered zone becomes thicker towards the antiaircraft facility in the NE direction of the survey area. The study results also illustrate that Trachyte and Trachy Andesite are hardest, Massive Tuff Breccia is next, and Stratified Ash Tuff is the most soft rock in Dokdo island.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.189-207
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• 2003

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the behavior and to study the safety evaluation of the Unmun Dam located in Cheongdo-Gun of GyeongBuk Province, Korea. For this purpose, soil analyses including boring data, geophysical surveys and monitoring the buried geotechnical gauges, such as pore-pressure gauge, earth-pressure gauge, displacement gauge, multi-layer settlement gauge, leakage flow-meter, were conducted. In addition to these data, numerical analyses of behavior of dam were performed to predict and to compare the data which were obtained from the above methods. Since many defects, such as gravel and weathered rock blocks in the dam core, and lots of amounts of leakage, by boring analyses were found, reinforcement by compaction grouting system (CGS) has been conducted in some range of dam. Some geotechnical gauge data were also used to confirm the effects of reinforcement. Analyses of monitoring the data of geotechnical gauges buried in the dam, such as pore-pressure gauge, earth-pressure gauge, displacement gauge, multi-layer settlement gauge, and leakage flow-meter shows the load transfer of dam and the possibility of hydraulic fracturing. As a conclusion, some problems in the dam found. Especially, the dam near spillway shows the high possibility of leakage. It should be pointed out that only the left side of he dam has not a leakage problem. As a whole, the dam has problems of weakness, because of unsatisfactory construction. It is strongly recommended that highly intensive monitoring is required.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.108-113
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• 2006

Urban conditions, such as existing underground facilities and ambient noise due to cultural activity, restrict the general application of conventional geophysical techniques. At a tunnelling site in an urban area along an existing railroad, we used the refraction microtremor (REMI) technique (Louie, 2001) as an alternative way to get geotechnical information. The REMI method uses ambient noise recorded by standard refraction equipment and a linear geophone array to derive a shear-wave velocity profile. In the inversion procedure, the Rayleigh wave dispersion curve is picked from a wavefield transformation, and iteratively modelled to get the S-wave velocity structure. The REMI survey was carried out along the line of the planned railway tunnel. At this site vibrations from trains and cars provided strong seismic sources that allowed REMI to be very effective. The objective of the survey was to evaluate the rock mass rating (RMR), using shear-wave velocity information from REMI. First, the relation between uniaxial compressive strength, which is a component of the RMR, and shear-wave velocity from laboratory tests was studied to learn whether shear-wave velocity and RMR are closely related. Then Suspension PS (SPS) logging was performed in selected boreholes along the profile, in order to draw out the quantitative relation between the shear-wave velocity from SPS logging and the RMR determined from inspection of core from the same boreholes. In these tests, shear-wave velocity showed fairly good correlation with RMR. A good relation between shear-wave velocity from REMI and RMR could be obtained, so it is possible to estimate the RMR of the entire profile for use in design of the underground tunnel.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

Airborne electromagnetics (AEM) is a useful tool for investigating volcanic structures because it can survey large and inaccessible areas. Disadvantages include lower accuracy and limited depth of investigation. The Grounded Electrical Source Airborne Transient Electromagnetic(GREATEM)survey system was developed to increase the depth of investigation possible using AEM. The method was tested in a survey at Mount Bandai in north-eastern Japan. Mount Bandai is an andesitic stratovolcano that rises 1819m above sea level. An eruption in July 1888 left a hoof-shaped collapsed wall in its northern crater and avalanche debris at its base. Previous surveys of Mount Bandai allow for comparisons of data on its structure and collapse mechanism as obtained by GREATEM and other geophysical methods. The results show resistive structures in recent volcanic cones and conductive structures in the collapsed-crater area. Conductive areas around the collapsed wall correspond to an alteration zone resulting from hydrothermal activity, supporting the contention that a major cause of the collapse associated with the 1888 eruption was hydrothermal alteration that structurally weakened the interior of the volcanic edifice.