This paper investigates seismic damage potential of recent September 12 M5.8 Gyeongju earthquake from diverse earthquake engineering perspectives using the accelerograms recorded at three stations near the epicenter. In time domain, strong motion durations are evaluated based on the accelerograms and compared with statistical averages of the ground motions with similar magnitude, epicentral distance and soil conditions, while Fourier analysis using FFT is performed to identify damaging frequency contents contained in the earthquake. Effective peak ground accelerations are evaluated from the calculated response spectra and compared with apparent peak ground accelerations and the design spectrum in KBC 2016. All these results are used to consistently explain the reason why most of seismic damage in the earthquake was concentrated on low-rise stiff buildings but not quite significant. In order to comparatively appraise the damage potential, the constant ductility spectrum constructed from the Gyeongju earthquake is compared with that of the well-known 1940 El Centro earthquake. Deconvolution analysis by using one accelerogram speculated to be recorded at a stiff soil site is also performed to estimate the soil profile conforming to the response spectrum characteristics. Finally, response history analysis for 39- and 61-story tall buildings is performed as a case study to explain significant building vibration felt on the upper floors of some tall buildings in Busan area during the Gyeongju earthquake. Seismic design and retrofit implications of M5.8 Gyeongju earthquake are summarized for further research efforts and improvements of relevant practice.

Friction dampers using the flexural deformation of shear walls can be installed as coupling beam system between two adjacent walls of shear wall structures. To verify the seismic control performance of proposed friction dampers, numerical nonlinear analysis of shear walls governed by flexural behavior is conducted. Control effectiveness of shear walls connected by beams with the proposed dampers are compared for single shear wall with same flexural rigidity. Average responses of the shear walls with the dampers are found with seven scaled-downed earthquakes based on KBC 2005 design spectrum. Slip load is the most important design parameter. It is designed to be 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90% of total vertical shear force at damper location to prevent damper slip in specific stories. Nonlinear time-history analysis is conducted by using SeismoSturct analysis program. Seismic control performance of the dampers is evaluated for base shear, energy dissipation and top-floor displacement. Results show that the dampers are the most effective in reducing the responses when their total slip load is 30% of total vertical shear force.