• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.983-997
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• 2015

This research evaluates the soil conditions for seismic stations situated in Romania using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR). The strong ground motion database assembled for this study consists of 179 analogue and digital strong ground motion recordings from four intermediate-depth Vrancea seismic events with $M_w{\geq}6.0$. In the first step of the analysis, the influence of the earthquake magnitude and source-to-site distance on the H/V curves is evaluated. Significant influences from both the earthquake magnitude and hypocentral distance are found especially for soil class A sites. Next, a site classification method proposed in the literature is applied for each seismic station and the soil classes are compared with those obtained from borehole data and from the topographic slope method. In addition, the success and error rates of this method are computed and compared with other studies from the literature. A more in-depth analysis of the H/V results is performed using data from seismic stations in Bucharest and a comparison of the free-field and borehole H/V curves is done for three seismic stations. The results show large differences between the free-field and the borehole curves. As a conclusion, the results from this study represent an intermediary step in the evaluation of the soil conditions for seismic stations in Romania and the need to perform more detailed soil classification analysis is highly emphasized.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.575-585
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• 2020

In this numerical study, the 2D dynamic behavior of a clayey basin and its effect on damage pattern over basin edge are investigated. To attain this goal, a fully nonlinear time domain analysis method has been applied. Then, the fragility curves of the considered two typical industrial structures for that certain point are estimated using the acceleration time histories recorded at each surface point. The results show that the use of the damage related parameters in site effect analyses, instead of amplification curves, can yield more realistic estimation of the basin dynamic response. In a distance about 150 m from outcrop at the basin edge, the differences between fragility curves increase when increasing the distance from outcrop with respect to the reference rock site. Outside this region and towards the basin center, they tend to occur in rather single curves. Furthermore, to connect the structural damage to the basin edge effect, the earthquake demand value at different points for two typical structures was evaluated. It was seen that the probability of occurrence of damage increases over 250 m from outcrop, while the effect of the basin edge was limited to 150 m in case of the basin edge evaluation by using fragility curves.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.7-23
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• 2021

Underground utility tunnels, which contribute to supply of electricity, communication, water and heat, are critical lifelines of an urban area. In case service is discontinued or functional disruption happens, there will be a huge socio-economic impact. For the improved seismic design and evaluation of underground structures, this study proposes a ground displacement measure when the site is subjected to a scenario earthquake based on hazard-consistent source spectra and site amplification/attenuation. This measure provides a rational estimation of ground displacement and can be an alternative to existing response displacement methods.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.17 no.1 s.50
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• pp.1-13
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• 2007

In order to evaluate the local site effects at two town fortress areas in Korea where stone parapets were col-lapsed by historical earthquakes, site characteristics were assessed using site investigations such as borehole drillings and seismic tests. Equivalent-linear site response analyses were conducted based on the shear ways velocity ($V_s$) profiles and geotechnical characteristics determined from site investigations. The study sites are categorized as site classes C and B according to the mean $V_s$ to 30 m ranging from 500 to 850 m/s, and their site periods are distributed in the short period range of 0.06 to 0.16 sec, which contains the natural period of fortress wall and stone parapet. From the results of site response analyses in the study areas, for site class C indicating most of site conditions, contrary to site class B, the short-period (0.1-0.5 sec) and mid-period (0.4-2.0 sec) site coefficients, $F_a$ and $F_v$ specified in the Korean seismic design guide, underestimate the ground motion in short-period band and overestimate the ground motion in mid-period band, respectively, due to the high amplification in short period range, which represent the site-specific seismic response characteristics. These site-specific response characteristics indicate the potential of resonance in fortress walls during earthquake and furthermore could strongly affect the collapse of parapets resulted from seismic events in historical records.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

In order to evaluate the effect of shear wave velocity of a seismic control point on site response analysis, one-dimensional equivalent linear site response analysis were performed on the model soil profile based on the results of a detailed site investigation of sedimentary layers at Incheon and Busan. The results of the analysis show that an increase of shear wave velocity on the seismic control point (base rock) results in an increase of acceleration in the soil layers. This was mainly due to an unclear definition of the seismic control point. For this reason, the Korean Seismic Design Standard requires a specific definition of the seismic control point, including spatial conditions and soil properties, similar to the MCE (Maximum Considered Earthquake) in FEMA 369.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2015

Site coefficient and amplification factor of current domestic Seismic Design Code based on American Seismic Code, have no consideration for the domestic ground condition in which the base rock is normally placed within 30m form the surface. By previous studies, the measured spectral acceleration of the result of dynamic centrifugal test and analysis was smaller than the design spectral acceleration for the period over 1.5 sec. Accordingly, in this study structural analysis and design using dynamic centrifugal test result for pile foundation were achieved, and the quantity of concrete and reinforcement of wall frame was compared with each other. Comparison results of cost using KBC the design spectral acceleration of SC, SD site and SDS, the quantity of reinforcement using SDS for SD site was 17~23% smaller than using the design code SD site.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.87-97
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• 2009

The seismic site coefficients are often used with the seismic hazard maps to develop the design response spectrum at the surface. The site coefficients are most commonly developed deterministically, while the seismic hazarde maps are derived probabilistically. There is, hence, an inherent incompatibility between the two approaches. However, they are used together in the seismic design codes without a clear rational basis. To resolve the fundamental imcompatibility between the site coefficients and hazard maps, this study uses a novel probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) technique that simulates the results of a standard PSHA at a rock outcrop, but integrates the site response analysis function to capture the site amplification effects within the PSHA platform. Another important advantage of the method is its ability to model the uncertainty, variability, and randomness of the soil properties. The new PSHA was used to develop fully probabilistic site coefficients for site classes of the seismic design code and another sets of site classes proposed in Korea. Comparisons highlight the pronounced discrepancy between the site coefficients of the seismic design code and the proposed coefficients, while another set of site coefficients show differences only at selected site classes.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.2 s.48
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• pp.39-50
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• 2006

Site response analyses were peformed based on equivalent linear technique using the shear wave velocity profiles of 162 sites collected around the Korean Peninsula. The she characteristics, particularly the shear wave velocities and the depth to bedrock, are compared to those in the western United States. The site coefficients of short period $(F_a)$ and the long period $(F_v)$ obtained from this study were significantly different compared to 1997 Uniform Building Code (1997 UBC). $F_a$ underestimated the motion in shot period ranges and $F_v$ overestimated the motion in mid period ranges in Korean seismic guideline. It is found that the existing Korean seismic design code were is required to be modified considering geological site conditions in Korea for the reliable estimation of sue amplification. Problems of the current seismic design code were dicussed in this paper and the development of site classification method and modification of desing response spectra were discussed in the companion papers(II-Development of Site Classification System and III-Modification of Dosing Response Specra).

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.17-35
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• 2016

Earthquake-induced disasters are often more severe in locations with soft soils than firm soils or rocks due to differences in ground motion amplification. On a regional scale, such differences can be estimated by spatially predicting subsurface soil thickness over the entire target area. In general, soil deposits are generally deeper in coastal or riverside areas than in inland regions. In this study, a coastal metropolitan area, Incheon, was selected to assess site effects and provide information on seismic hazards. Spatial prediction of geotechnical layers was performed for the entire study area within the GIS framework. Approximately 7,000 existing borehole drilling data in the Incheon area were gathered and archived into the GIS Database (DB). In addition, surface geotechnical data were acquired from a walkover survey. Based on the built geotechnical DB, spatial zoning maps of site-specific seismic response parameters were created and presented for use in a regional seismic strategy. Site response parameters were performed to determine site coefficients for seismic design over the entire target area and compared with each other. Site classifications and subsequent seismic zoning were assigned based on site coefficients. From this seismic zonation case study in Incheon, we verified that geotechnical GIS-DB can create spatial zoning maps of site-specific seismic response parameters that are useful for seismic hazard mitigation particularly in coastal metropolitan areas.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2014

Site coefficient and amplification factor of current domestic Seismic Design Code (KBC-2009) have no consideration for the domestic ground condition in which the base rock is normally placed within 30m form the surface. Accordingly, in this study dynamic centrifugal test and analysis for pile foundation into sand and upper structure were achieved. and the response spectrums of free surface and basement were compared with each other. Within the period 1 sec., the measured spectral acceleration of free surface and basement was bigger than the design spectral acceleration of SC and SD site. However the measured spectral acceleration of free surface and basement for the period over 1.5 sec. was smaller than the design spectral acceleration of SC site. There was no severe difference of spectral acceleration according to the upper structure, embedded depth of foundation and free surface conditions. Consequently, normal domestic apartment housing for the period range over 1.5sec. could be design more economically applying these test result.