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Geotechnical comparison of weathering degree and shear wave velocity in the decomposed granite layer in Hongseong, South Korea

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Abstract

As part of a fundamental characterization of a subsurface layer in South Korea, the weathering degree and shear wave velocity (V S) were evaluated in a decomposed granite in Hongseong, using X-ray fluorescence analyses and site investigations, including borehole drilling with standard penetration test (SPT) and in situ seismic tests. The subsurface layer was composed of a weathered layer 10–40 m thick at most sites. Weathering degree analyses indicated that three chemical weathering indices, the modified weathering potential index (MWPI), Vogt ratio (VR), and weathering index of Parker (WIP), generally increased with decreasing depth. In situ seismic tests revealed that V S ranged between 200 and 500 m/s in the weathered layer. Using the V S and N values from the SPT at borehole seismic testing sites, correlations between V S and N values were established for the weathered layer. Furthermore, examination of the relationships of the V S and N values with the MWPI, WIP, and 100/VR indices showed that the index values increased linearly with increasing V S and exponentially with increasing N values.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Basic Research Project of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (No. 2015R1A2A1A01007980). The author would like to appreciate the helpful comments of anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earthquake Research Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, 124 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-350, Korea

    Chang-Guk Sun

  2. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Government of the Republic of Korea, 11 Doum 6-ro, Government Complex-Sejong, Sejong, 339-012, Korea

    Bo-Hyun Kim

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Ka-Hyun Park & Choong-Ki Chung

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  1. Chang-Guk Sun
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Correspondence to Choong-Ki Chung.

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Sun, CG., Kim, BH., Park, KH. et al. Geotechnical comparison of weathering degree and shear wave velocity in the decomposed granite layer in Hongseong, South Korea. Environ Earth Sci 74, 6901–6917 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4692-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4692-0

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