Broadband Hybrid Ground Motion Simulation for Earthquake Engineering Applications in South Korea

지진공학 실무 활용을 위한 한국형 광대역 하이브리드 지반 운동 시뮬레이션

Being in a stable continental region (SCR) with a limited history of instrumentation, South Korea has not collected sufficient instrumental data for data-driven ground motion models. To address this limitation, we investigated the suitability of the hybrid ground motion simulation method that Graves and Pitarka (2010, 2015) proposed for simulating earthquake ground motions in South Korea. The hybrid ground motion simulation method used in this study relies on region-specific parameters to accurately model phenomena associated with the seismic source and the wave propagation. We initially employed relevant models and parameters available in the literature as a practical approach. We incorporated a three-dimensional velocity model developed by Kim et al. (2017) and a one-dimensional velocity model presented by Kim et al. (2011) to account for the crustal velocity structure of the Korean peninsula. To represent the earthquake source, we utilized Graves and Pitarka's rupture generator algorithm along with a magnitude-area scaling relationship developed for SCR by Leonard (2014). Additionally, we assumed the stress and attenuation parameters based on studies of regional seismicity. Using the implemented platform, we simulated the 2016 Mw5.57 Gyeongju earthquake and the 2017 Mw5.4 Pohang earthquake. Subsequently, we compared results with recorded accelerations and an empirical ground motion prediction equation at strong motion stations. Our simulations had an overall satisfactory agreement with the recorded ground motions and demonstrated the potential of broadband hybrid ground motion simulation for engineering applications in South Korea. However, limitations remain, such as the underestimation of long-period ground motions during the 2017 Pohang earthquake and the lack of a model to predict the ground motion amplification associated with the near-surface site response accurately. These limitations underscore the importance of careful validation and refinement of region-specific models and parameters for practically implementing the simulation method.