• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.181-190
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• 2022

In assessing the seismic safety of nuclear power plants, it is essential to analyze the structures using the observed ground motion. In particular, spatial variation in which the characteristics of the ground motion record differ may occur if the location is different within the site and even if the same earthquake is experienced. This study analyzed the spatial variation characteristics of the ground motion observed at the structure and site using the earthquake records measured at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant. Even if they were located on the same floor within the same unit, there was a difference in response depending on the location. In addition, amplification was observed in Unit 5 compared to other units, which was due to the rock layer having a slower shear wave velocity than the surrounding bedrock. Significant differences were also found in the records of the structure's foundation and the free-field surface. Based on these results, the necessity of considering spatial variation in the observed records was suggested.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.2 s.177
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• pp.111-128
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• 2006

Three dimensional crustal structure and source features of earthquake hypocenters on the Korean peninsula were investigated using P and S-wave travel time tomography. The main goal of this research was to find Vp/Vs anomalies at earthquake hypocenters as well as those of crustal structure of basins and deep tectonic settings. This allowed fer the extrapolation of more detailed seismotectonic force from the Korean peninsula. The earthquake hypocenters were found to have high Vp/Vs ratio discrepancies (VRD) at the vertical sections. High V/p/Vs ratios were also found in the sedimentary basins and beneath the Chugaryong Rift Zone (CRZ), which was due to mantle plume that subsequently solidified with many fractures and faults which were saturated with connate water. The hypocenters of most earthquakes were found in the upper crust for Youngwol (YE), Kyongju (KE), Hongsung (HE), Kaesong (KSE), Daekwan (DKE), and Daehung (DHE) earthquakes, but near the subcrust or the Moho Discontinuity for Mt. Songni (SE), Sariwon (SRE) and Mt. Jiri (JE) earthquakes. Especially, we found hot springs of the Daekwan, Daehung and Unsan regions coincide with high VRD. Also, this cannot rule out the possibility that there are some partial meltings in the subcrust of this region. High VRD might indicate that many faults and fractures with connate water were dehydrated when earthquakes took place, reducing shear modulus in the hypocenter areas. This is can be explained by due to the fact that a point source which is represented by the moment tensor that may involve changes in volume, shear fracture, and rigidity. High Vp/Vs ratio discrepancies (VRD) were also found beneath Mt. Backdu beneath 40 km, indicating that magma chamber existed beneath Mt. Backdu is reducing shear modulus of S-wave velocity.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 1997

It is recognized that the dynamic of a structure is affected by the characteristics of the soil layer and foundation. However the design codes for the seismic design of structures are partially reflecting the caharcteristics of the soil layers due to the inherent complexity of them and the lack of systematic study results for the foundation-soil system, and leading to unconservative or too conservative results. In this study, the kinematic interaction effects of foundation-soil system was investigated for the seismic analyses of structures estimating the effects of the shear wave velocity, the depth of the soil layer, the embedment of a foundation and pile foundation, and the modified classification criteria of soil layers are proposed for the reasonable seismic analyses of structures considering the characteristics of soil layers and foundations. For the embedded medium or large foundations (including pile foundations), at least 60m soil layer below the foundation should be considered for the seismic analyses of structures to tate into account the kinematic interaction effects of the foundation-soil system, and also the rocking motion of foundation-soil system with or without piles should be included in the seismic analyses of structures.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.23-32
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• 2004

The local geologic and dynamic site characteristics, which include soil profiles, shear wave velocity profiles and depths to the bed rock were gathered from 148 sites all over the Korean peninsula and those values are compared to those in the western USA. Site response analyses were performed based on equivalent linear scheme using design rock-outcrop acceleration of 0.154g which corresponds to the collapse level of earthquake for seismic category I structure. The results show that the amplification factor based on Korean seismic design guideline underestimates the motion in short-period range and overestimates the motion in mid-period range. It is suggested that the existing Korean seismic guideline based on UBC is required to be modified considering dynamic site characteristics in Korea for the reliable estimation of site amplification.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.6C
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• pp.241-253
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• 2010

For seismic design of a vertical shaft, three-dimensional Finite Element (FE) analyses were performed to evaluate the accurate response of a vertical shaft and to apply a Response Displacement Method (RDM). Special attention is given to the evaluation of seismic base and response displacement of surrounding soil, estimation of load and loading method. Based on the result, it was found that shear wave velocity of seismic base greater than 1500m/s was appropriate for the seismic design. It was also found that double cosine method which evaluates a response displacement of surrounding soil was most appropriate to consider the characteristic of multi-layered soil. Finally, shape effect of the structure was considered to clarify the dynamic behavior of vertical shaft and it would be more economical vertical shaft design when a vertical shaft was analyzed by using RDM.