• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2004

High levels of ambient noise and safety factors often limit the use of 'active-source' seismic methods for geotechnical investigations in urban environments. As an alternative, shear-wave velocity-depth profiles can be obtained by treating the background microtremor wave field as a stochastic process, rather than adopting the traditional approach of calculating velocity based on ray path geometry from a known source. A recent field test in Melbourne demonstrates the ability of the microtremor method, using only Rayleigh waves, to resolve a velocity inversion resulting from the presence of a hard, 12 m thick basalt flow overlying 25 m of softer alluvial sediments and weathered mudstone. Normally the presence of the weaker underlying sediments would lead to an ambiguous or incorrect interpretation with conventional seismic refraction methods. However, this layer of sediments is resolved by the microtremor method, and its inclusion is required in one-dimensional layered-earth modelling in order to reproduce the Rayleigh-wave coherency spectra computed from observed seismic noise records. Nearby borehole data provided both a guide for interpretation and a confirmation of the usefulness of the passive Rayleigh-wave microtremor method. Sensitivity analyses of resolvable modelling parameters demonstrate that estimates of shear velocities and layer thicknesses are accurate to within approximately $10\%\;to\;20\%$ using the spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) technique. Improved accuracy can be obtained by constraining shear velocities and/or layer thicknesses using independent site knowledge. Although there exists potential for ambiguity due to velocity-thickness equivalence, the microtremor method has significant potential as a site investigation tool in situations where the use of traditional seismic methods is limited.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.965-977
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• 2015

Determination of dynamic parameters of a structure such as predominant frequency and damping ratio is one of the most important subjects in dynamics of structures. Different methods are used to determine predominant frequency. These methods are different in the cost, implement accessibility, accuracy, speed, applicability in different conditions, simplicity of calculations and required data accessibility. Calculation of damping ratio by using common experimental procedures is very difficult and costly, then it is assumed as a constant value in most calculations. Microtremor measurements and using spectral ratio method to determine the predominant frequency and damping ratio of structure is of interest in recent years. In this paper, as a case study, the effects of retrofitting on structural dynamic parameters of two four-story buildings by using microtremor measurements and also finite element analysis, is investigated. The results of this study show that microtremor measurements can be utilized to assess the improvement of dynamic behavior of the retrofitted structure and the effectiveness of the method of retrofitting.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.16 no.4 s.50
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• pp.381-392
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• 2006

The passive surface wave survey using microtremor is conducted in areas of crystalline rock basements to obtain average shear-wave velocity structures to 30 m deep (Vs30), on which the earthquake-resistant design standard is based. Test data were recorded at two sites with triangular and L-shaped arrays for 4 seconds with an sampling interval of 2 ms. The microtremor recorded at a site were analysed using the spatial autocorrelation method to obtain phase-velocity spectra and effects of major factors such as size and shape of away and number of record and receiver were examined. At the other site, shear-wave velocities were derived from VSP and microtremor data separately. The results from these two methods agree to each other reasonably well, indicating that the microtremor method can be an effective geophysical tool to measure Vs30.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2005

We have used the microtremor method, with arrays of up to 96 m diameter, to carry out non-invasive estimation of shear-wave velocity profiles to a depth of 30 to 50 m in unconsolidated Quaternary Yarra Delta sediments. Two silt units (Coode Island Silt, and Fishermans Bend Silt) dominate our interpretation; the method yields shear velocities for these units with precision of $5\%$, and differentiates between the former, softer unit ($V_s$=130 m/sec) and the latter, firmer unit ($V_s$=235 m/sec). Below these silts, the method resolves a firm unit correlating with known gravels ($V_s$ 500 to 650 m/sec). Using surface traverses with the single-station H/V spectral ratio method, we show that the variation in thickness of the softer silt can be mapped rapidly but only qualitatively. The complexity of the geological section requires that array methods be used when quantitative shear-wave velocity profiles are desired.

• 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 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).

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2006

In this study, we propose a joint inversion method, using genetic algorithms, to determine the shear-wave velocity structure of deep sedimentary layers from receiver functions and surface-wave phase velocity. Numerical experiments with synthetic data indicate that the proposed method can avoid the trade-off between shear-wave velocity and thickness that arises when inverting the receiver function only, and the uncertainty in deep structure from surface-wave phase velocity inversion alone. We apply the method to receiver functions obtained from earthquake records with epicentral distances of about 100 km, and Rayleigh-wave phase velocities obtained from a microtremor array survey in the Kanto Plain, Japan. The estimated subsurface structure is in good agreement with the previous results of seismic refraction surveys and deep borehole data.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.157-164
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• 2005

Urban conditions such as underground facilities and ambient noises due to cultural activity restrict the application of conventional geophysical techniques in general. We used the refraction microtremor (REMI) technique as an alternative way to get the geotechnical information, in particular shear-wave (S-wave) velocity information, at a site along an existing rail road. The REMI method uses ambient noises recorded using standard refraction equipment to derived shear-wave velocity information at a site. It does a wavefield transformation on the recorded wavefield to produce Rayleigh wave dispersion curve, which are then picked and modeled to get the shear-wave velocity structure. At this site the vibrations from the running trains provided strong noise sources that allowed REMI to be very effective. REMI was performed along the planned new underground rail tunnel. In addition, Suspension PS logging (SPS) were carried out at selected boreholes along the profile in order to draw out the quantitative relation between the shear wave velocity from the PS logging and the rock mass rating (RMR) determined from the inspection of the cores recovered from the same boreholes, These correlations were then used to relate the shear-wave velocity derived from REMI to RMR along the entire profile. The correlation between shear wave velocity and RMR was very good and so it was possible to estimate the RMR of the total zone of interest for the design of underground tunnel,

• 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.13 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2010

To study the thickness variation of volcanic rocks of Jeju Island, microtremor data were recorded at eight and four sites using short-period and broadband seismometers, respectively, for 30 ~ 60 minutes with a 100 Hz sampling rate. During the daytime, these records show increased cultural noise at frequencies above 1.8 Hz. Natural noise occurs in the frequency range of 0.4 to 0.8 Hz in both daytime and nighttime data. Predominant frequencies determined by the H/V spectral-ratio method are in the range of 0.2 ~ 0.7 Hz. These frequencies decrease gradually as the central part of the Mt. Halla is approached. This may indicate that the basement is warped downward beneath the center of the island, which is consistent with previous gravimetric and magnetic models. Assuming an average shear-wave velocity of 1,800 m/s for the overburden basalts, the depths to basement are estimated to be between 640 and 2,140 m.