Estimation of Subsurface Structure and Ground Response by Microtremor

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the usage of microtremor in estimation of subsurface structure and ground response to strong ground motion. To accomplish the purpose, the current status of microtremor study are reviewed and microtremors recorded at several stations are analysed. First of all, the stability of microtremor is examined through the analysis of microtremors recorded for 80 seconds per hour during the time from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for eight hours at night time. It is found that the shape of microtremor spectra of low frequency below 10Hz is approximately invariable with time and the spectra contain informations about subsurface structure. The subsurface structures estimated from the predominant frequency determined from the recorded microtremors are compared with the known ones from geophysical surveys at several stations in Kyungju. The comparison of structures shows rough agreements at most stations. Horizontal to vertical spectral ratio(HVSR) technique for microtremor has been proposed as an indirect method to determine ground response to strong ground motion. The HVSR for microtremors recorded in Kyungju is calculated and compared with theoretical transfer function calculated from the known structures. The comparison shows rough coincidence of the peak frequency of spectra between them.