Embedded in the 1st Kashiwazaki International Symposium on Seismic Safety of Nuclear Installations: "Mission for Technology Innovation toward Next Generation"
Abstract Submissions deadline: |
31 August 2010 |
Notification of acceptance: |
30 September 2010 |
Registration to the symposium: |
15 October 2010 |
Presentation material deadline: |
31 October 2010 |
Introduction |
The NEA/CSNI-IAGE workshop on “Seismic Observation in Deep Boreholes and their Applications” will be held from 25-26 November 2010 at the Niigata Institute of Technology, Kashiwazaki, Niigata, Japan, hosted by Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES) as an embedded workshop of the "1st Kashiwazaki International Symposium on Seismic Safety of Nuclear Installations". Please note that the Symposium will include a second embedded workshop on "Seismic Isolation of Nuclear Facilities".
This first announcement is to inform you of this workshop and call for papers to be submitted for presentation at the workshop.
The OECD/NEA/CSNI’s workshop on “Seismic Input Motions Incorporating Geological Studies,” which was held from 15-17 November 2004 in Tsukuba, Japan and hosted by National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED), identified the role of deep borehole seismology in earthquake engineering. It was confirmed that seismic motion observation in deep borehole was an effective approach to detect seismic source characteristics as well as to improve accuracy on estimation of seismic wave propagation characteristics. Consequently, promotion of the deep borehole seismic observation was recommended in the workshop.
There are several ongoing projects of the seismic observation in deep boreholes, for example, Digital Strong-motion Seismograph Network (KiK-net) in Japan by NIED; San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) by National Scientific Foundation (NSF) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); ANZA seismic network in southernmost of California by University of California at San Diego (UCSD); Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE) by Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). A project on installing deep borehole geophysical observatory in close vicinity of North Anatolian Fault in Turkey is planned principally by Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ).
At the 2007 Niigata-ken Chuetsu-oki Earthquake, the seismic ground motion observed at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant (K-K NPP) was far higher than the design basis seismic ground motion that was determined in accordance with Japanese former Regulatory Guide for Reviewing Seismic Design of Nuclear Power Reactor Facilities. Several analyses suggested that the effect of deep 3-D structure of sedimentary layers carried out an important role on ground motion amplification. In addition, appropriateness of evaluation methods for ground motion attenuation characteristics especially on hard rock site has been discussed among the regulatory bodies in Japan. It was the time consuming discussion, nevertheless, the attenuation characteristics is still remaining issue.
Therefore JNES started a project to evaluate wave propagation characteristics in deep ground by installing vertical array seismic observation system. In this system, multi-depth level seismometers from ground surface down to seismic bedrock will be installed. Direct data on amplification and attenuation characteristics of ground motion as well as seismic source characteristics will be obtained by this project. Kashiwazaki site was selected to represent a soft rock site, and a hard rock site is planned to be selected in next phase. JNES also attempts to improve evaluation method of attenuation characteristics based on the observed data by using this system. The methodologies for deep boring, logging and instrumentation to be applied in this project will be very useful for other organizations and all information will be disclosed in a technical document for their convenience.
In order to ensure seismic safety of nuclear installations, it is necessary to estimate design basis seismic ground motion with high reliability. The amplification and attenuation characteristics of ground motion are important in this regard. There are several methods to get these characteristics such as geophysical exploration and direct boring. Acquiring rock properties directly from deep boring and analyzing observed seismic motion records at deep borehole will be very useful and valuable to improve analytical methodology but this will be very cost consuming. To develop a simple way of soil property evaluation in deep ground comparing these methods will be helpful for most countries.
The objectives of the workshop will be (i) overview of current status and activities on seismic observation in deep boreholes around the world; (ii) sharing information of recent development on survey, observation and analyzing techniques, simple ways of soil properties evaluation; (iii) discussion on issues
Addressed topics are followings.
To see “Objectives, Content and Outline” of “1st Kashiwazaki International Symposium on Seismic Safety of Nuclear Installations”, please refer to the symposium web page.
The workshop is embedded in the symposium “Kashiwazaki International Symposium on Seismic Safety of Nuclear Facilities”, which includes an opening session, this workshop devoted to technical presentations and panel sessions by participants on the topics outlined in the objectives and a final session. The final session will summarize discussions of every workshop, develop conclusions and recommendations for possible further activity of nuclear society in the world. All the participants are expected to take part in the discussion and in the formulation of conclusions in the final session.
Last reviewed: 3 August 2010
