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.

The spatial variation characteristics of seismic motions at the nuclear power plant's site and structures were analyzed using earthquake records obtained at the Fukushima nuclear power plant during the Great East Japan Earthquake. The ground responses amplified as they approached the soil surface from the lower rock surface, and the amplification occurred intensively at about 50 m near the ground. Due to the soil layer's nonlinear characteristics caused by the strong seismic motion, the ground's natural frequency derived from the response spectrum ratio appeared to be smaller than that calculated from the shear wave velocity profile. The spatial variation of the peak ground acceleration at the ground surface of the power plant site showed a significant difference of about 0.6 g at the maximum. As a result of comparing the response spectrums at the basement of the structure with the design response spectrum, there was a large variability by each power plant unit. The difference was more significant in the Fukushima Daiichi site record, which showed larger peak ground acceleration at the surface. The earthquake motions input to the basement of the structure amplified according to the structure's height. The natural frequency obtained from the recorded results was lower than that indicated in the previous research. Also, the floor response spectrum change according to the location at the same height was investigated. The vertical response on the foundation surface showed a significant difference in spectral acceleration depending on the location. The amplified response in the structure showed a different variability depending on the type of structure and the target frequency.

After the manual shutdown of the Wolseong nuclear power plant due to an earthquake in Gyeongju in 2016, anxiety about the earthquake safety of nuclear power plants has become a major social issue. The shear wall structure used as a major structural element in nuclear power plants is widely used as a major structural member because of its high resistance to horizontal loads such as earthquakes. However, due to the complexity of the structure, it is challenging to predict the dynamic characteristics of the structure. In this study, a three-story shear wall structure is fabricated, and the in-structure response characteristics of the shear wall structure are evaluated through shaking table tests. The test is performed using the Gyeongju earthquake that occurred in 2016, and the response characteristics due to the domestic earthquake are evaluated.

원자력시설 SPRA 방법으로서 기기 사이 부분 종속 관계를 정확하게 고려하기 위하여 샘플링기반접근법이 개발된 바 있다. 그러나 이는 샘플링 기반 방법이므로 정확한 지진 리스크 산정을 위하여 많은 수의 샘플을 추출해야 하는 단점이 있다. 이에 따라 본 연구에서 는 기존 방법을 개선하기 위한 효과적인 방법을 제안한다. 본 연구에서 제안한 방법의 주요한 특징은 다음과 같다. 기존 샘플링방법인 몬테카를로샘플링(MCS) 방법을 대신하여 다차원에서 효과적인 샘플링이 가능한 라틴하이퍼큐브샘플링(LHS) 방법을 샘플링기반 SPRA에 도입한다. 또한, 기존 지진세기 세분화 정도를 최종 지진 리스크 결과와 연계하여 결정한다. 제안된 방법이 결합된 샘플링기반 SPRA 접근법을 실제 원전 예제에 적용한 결과, 제안된 방법이 기존의 방법과 비교하여 결과 정확도에 있어서 거의 비슷하나 총 샘플 추출수 기준에서 효율성을 약 2배 가량 높이 것을 확인하였다. 또한, 샘플링 개수가 적은 영역에서 LHS 기반 방법이 MCS 기반 방법보다는 해의 정확도를 높이는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

Pseudo-static approach has been conventionally applied for the design of gravity type quay walls. In this method, seismic coefficient (kh), expressed in terms of acceleration due to gravity, is used to convert the real dynamic behavior to an equivalent pseudo-static inertial force for seismic analysis and design. Therefore, the calculation of an appropriate kh considering frequency characteristics of input earthquake is critical for representing the real dynamic behavior. However, the definitions of kh, which is used for simplified analysis in Korea, focuses only on convenience that is easy to use, and the frequency characteristics of input earthquake are not reflected in the kh definitions. This paper evaluates the influences of the frequency characteristics of input earthquake on kh by initially reviewing the kh definitions in the existing codes of Japan for port structures and then by performing a series of dynamic centrifuge tests on caisson gravity quay walls of different earthquake input motions (Ofunato, Hachinohe). A review of the existing codes and guidelines has shown that the kh values are differently estimated according to the frequency characteristics of input earthquake. On the other hand, based on the centrifuge tests, it was found that the permanent displacements of wall are more induced when long-period-dominant earthquake is applied.

This study reviews concepts, theories and formulas included in standards on soil-structure interaction and also shows practical example of application for engineers. Real structures are 3 dimensional and multi degree of freedom but they are often idealized to single degree of freedom for convenience. In this study, detailed procedures to calculate soil spring constants and damping coefficients and method to model soil-structure system are explained. Additionally, case studies to judge fixed base condition and evaluation of applicability of simple analysis method based on response spectra are performed.

Soil-foundation-structure interaction (SFSI) is one of the important issues in the seismic design for evaluating the exact behavior of the system. A seismic design of a structure can be more precise and economical, provided that the effect of SFSI is properly taken into account. In this study, a series of the dynamic centrifuge tests were performed to compare the seismic response of the single degree of freedom(SDOF) structure on the various types of the foundation. The shallow and pile foundations were made up of diverse mass and different conjunctive condition, respectively. The test specimen consisted of dry sand deposit, foundation, and SDOF structure in a centrifuge box. Several types of earthquake motions were sequentially applied to the test specimen from weak to strong intensity of them, which is known as a stage test. Results from the centrifuge tests showed that the seismic responses of the SDOF structure on the shallow foundation and disconnected pile foundation decreased by the foundation rocking. On the other hand, those on the connected pile foundation gradually increased with intensity of input motion. The allowable displacement of the foundation under the strong earthquake, the shallow and the disconnected pile foundation, have an advantage in dissipating the earthquake energy for the seismic design.

To investigate earthquake responses of structures with basements affected by soil deposits, centrifuge tests were performed using an in-flight earthquake simulator. The test specimen was composed of a single-degree-of-freedom structure model, a basement and sub-soil deposits in a centrifuge container. The test parameters were the dynamic period of the structure model, boundary conditions of the basement, existence of soil deposits, centrifugal acceleration level, and type and level of input earthquake accelerations. When soil deposits did not exist, the earthquake responses of the structures with fixed basement were significantly greater than those of the structure without basement. Also, the earthquake responses of the structures with the fixed basement surrounded by soil deposits were amplified, but the amplifications were smaller than those of the structures without basement. The earthquake responses of the structures with the half-embedded basement in the soil deposits were greater than those estimated by the fixed base model using the measured free-field ground motion. The test showed that the basement and the soil deposit should be simultaneously considered in the numerical analysis model, and the stiffness of the half-embedded was not effective.

This paper reviews the current seismic design code and research for dynamic earth pressure on retaining structures. Domestic design codes do not clearly define the estimation of dynamic earth pressure and give different comments for seismic coefficient, wall inertia and distribution of dynamic earth pressure using Mononobe-Okabe method. AASHTO has been revised reflecting current research and aims for effective seismic design. Various design codes are analyzed to compare their performance and economic efficiency. The results are used to make improvement of current domestic seismic design code. Further, it is concluded that the experimental investigation is also needed to verify and improve domestic seismic code for dynamic earth pressure.

In this study, a series of dynamic centrifuge tests were performed for a soil-foundation-structural interaction system in dry sand with various embedded depths and superstructure conditions. Sinusoidal wave, sweep wave and real earthquake were used as input motion with various input acceleration and frequencies. Based on the results, a natural period and an earthquake load for soil-structure interaction system were evaluated by comparing the free-field and foundation accelerations . The natural period of free field is longer than that of the soil-foundation-structure system. In addition, it is confirmed that the earthquake load for soil-foundation-structure system is smaller than that of free-field in short period region. In contrast, the earthquake load for soil-foundation-structure interaction system is larger than that of free-field in long period region. Therefore, the current seismic design method, applying seismic loading of free-field to foundation, could overly underestimate seismic load and cause unsafe design for long period structures, such as high-rise buildings.

본 연구는 원심 모형 시험을 위한 동적 현장 지반의 모사 기법을 제안하였다. 현장지반 모사를 위해서 현장 지반의 층상구조 및 전단파 속도 주상도에 대한 자료를 바탕으로 모형시료를 조성하고, 구속압 별 공진주 시험을 수행하였다. 그리고 공진주 시험을통하여 지반의 특성계수와 구속압 영향계수를 구하고, 모형 지반의 전단파 속도를 예측하였다. 이를 현장의 전단파 속도 주상도와 비교하여 시료 조건을 결정하였다. 그리고 결정된 시료 조건을 바탕으로 원심모형시험 모델을 제작하고, 인-플라이트 상태에서 벤더 엘리먼트시험을 수행하여 제안된 기법의 타당성을 검증하였다. 그리고 대형지진시험이 수행된 적이 있는 대만 화련의 현장 지반을 대상으로 축소모델링 기법을 적용하였다.

To investigate earthquake responses of structures with basements and soil deposits, centrifuge tests using an in-flight earthquake simulator were performed. The fixed and embedded basements did not reduce the earthquake responses of SDOF structures due to the dynamic behaviors of massive soil deposits.