The stochastic method is applied to simulate strong ground motions at seismic stations of seven metropolises in South Korea, creating an earthquake scenario based on the causative fault of the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake. Input parameters are established according to what has been revealed so far for the causative fault of the Gyeongju earthquake, while the ratio of differences in response spectra between observed and simulated strong ground motions is assumed to be an adjustment factor. The calculations confirm the applicability and reproducibility of strong ground motion simulations based on the relatively small bias in response spectra between observed and simulated strong ground motions. Based on this result, strong ground motions by a scenario earthquake on the causative fault of the Gyeongju earthquake with moment magnitude 6.5 are simulated, assuming that the ratios of its fault length to width are 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1. The results are similar to those of the empirical Green’s function method. Although actual site response factors of seismic stations should be supplemented later, the simulated strong ground motions can be used as input data for developing ground motion prediction equations and input data for calculating the design response spectra of major facilities in South Korea.

This study simulated strong ground motion waveforms in the southern Korean Peninsula, based on the physical earthquake modeling of the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) BroadBand Platform (BBP). Characteristics of intensity attenuation were investigated for M 6.0-7.0 events, incorporating the site effects. The SCEC BBP is software generates broadband (0-10 Hz) ground-motion waveforms for earthquake scenarios. Among five available modeling methods in the v16.5 platform, we used the Song Model. Approximately 50 earthquake scenarios each were simulated for M 6.0, 6.5, and 7.0 events. Representative metrics such as peak ground acceleration (PGA) and peak ground velocity (PGV) were obtained from the synthetic waveforms that were simulated before and after the consideration of site effects (VS30). They were then empirically converted to distribution of instrumental intensity. The intensity that considers the site effects is amplified at low rather than high VS30 zones.

The empirical Green’s function method is applied to the foreshock and the mainshock of the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake to simulate strong ground motions of the mainshock and scenario earthquake at seismic stations of seven metropolises in South Korea, respectively. To identify the applicability of the method in advance, the mainshock is simulated, assuming the foreshock as the empirical Green’s function. As a result of the simulation, the overall shape, the amplitude of PGA, and the duration and response spectra of the simulated seismic waveforms are similar with those of the observed seismic waveforms. Based on this result, a scenario earthquake on the causative fault of Gyeongju earthquake with a moment magnitude 6.5 is simulated, assuming that the mainshock serves as the empirical Green’s function. As a result, the amplitude of PGA and the duration of simulated seismic waveforms are significantly increased and extended, and the spectral amplitude of the low frequency band is relatively increased compared with that of the high frequency band. If the empirical Green’s function method is applied to several recent well-recorded moderate earthquakes, the simulated seismic waveforms can be used as not only input data for developing ground motion prediction equations, but also input data for creating the design response spectra of major facilities in South Korea.

본 연구에서는 미국 남캘리포니아 지진센터에서 개발한 물리적 지진모델링 기반 광대역 강지진동 모사 플랫폼( 버전 16.5)을 활용하여, 규모 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 지진에 대한 진도 감쇠 특성 분석을 수행하였다. 지진 발생 위치는 2016년 규모 5.8 경주 지진 진앙 인근을 가정하였으나 지각 전파 모델의 경우 남캘리포니아 강지진동 모사 플랫폼에서 제공하 는 미국의 대표적인 지각 모델 두 개를 사용하였다. 하나는 판 내부를 대표하는 미국 중동부 지역(Central and Eastern United States, CEUS) 모델이고 다른 하나는 판의 경계를 대표하는 미 서부 지역(LA Basin) 모델이다. 버전 16.5 플랫 폼에는 5개의 모델링 방법론이 제시되고 있으며 본 연구에서는 Song 모델과 Exsim 모델을 사용하였다. 동일 규모의 지진이라 하더라도 지진발생 환경이 다른 지역(CEUS vs LA Basin)에서는 같은 진앙 거리에서 진도 2 등급에 가까운 차이가 발생할 수 있음을 본 연구를 통해서 발견하였다. 본 연구에서 나타난 지역별 진도 감쇠 특성의 차이를 감안할 때 한반도에서 좀 더 정밀한 지진재해 평가를 위해서는 지역에 적합한 진도 감쇠 특성을 이해하는 것이 중요할 것으로 판단되며 본 연구는 지역 특화된 진도 감쇠 특성을 고려하지 않을 경우 진도 감쇠 분포의 불확실성 정도를 잘 보여준다.

For areas such as the Korean Peninsula, which have moderate seismic activity but no available records of strong ground motion, synthetic seismograms can be used to evaluate ground motion without waiting for a strong earthquake. Such seismograms represent the estimated ground motions expected from a set of possible earthquake scenarios. Local site effects are especially important in assessing the seismic hazard and possible ground motion scenarios for a specific fault. The earthquake source and rupture dynamics can be described as a two-step process of rupture initiation and front propagation controlled by a frictional sliding mechanism. The seismic wavefield propagates through heterogeneous geological media and finally undergoes near-surface modulations such as amplification or deamplification. This is a complex system in which various scales of physical phenomena are integrated. A unified approach incorporates multi-scale problems of dynamic rupture, radiated wave propagation, and site effects into an all-in-one model using a three-dimensional, fourth-order, staggered-grid, finite-difference method. The method explains strong ground motions as products of complex systems that can be modified according to a variety of fine-scale rupture scenarios and friction models. A series of such deterministic earthquake scenarios can shed light on the kind of damage that would result and where it would be located.