Local Site Effects in the Town of Benevento (Italy) from Noise Measurements

— The study of ground motion amplification produced by surface geology is extremely interesting in the Benevento area, Southern Italy, as it is characterized by high seismic hazard. The present moderate-to-low seismicity makes the noise method appropriate to estimate the seismic site response in the area. The three components of seismic noise have been recorded in five sites in the Benevento metropolitan area characterized by different surface geology, in order to estimate the seismic site response. In evaluating site amplification effects we used the direct interpretation of amplitude spectra and standard spectral ratio techniques, evaluating sediment-to-bedrock, sediment-to-average and H/V spectral ratios. The temporal evolution of the noise spectra is analysed within one day, in order to assess the stationarity of the noise signal. The noise wavefield properties have been studied through polarization analyses in selected bands of frequency, where spectral peaks are observed to dominate, to better understand the real nature of those peaks. Results give evidence of low amplification levels, missing any correlation between spectral amplitudes and sediment thickness over the basement. We interpret this result as due to the poor impedance contrast between sediments and basement, which is characterized by low values of shear waves velocity. Moreover, sharp amplitude peaks are observed in the raw spectra of the sediment-sites, in the 2–4 Hz frequency band; a numerical simulation interprets this effect as possibly associated with a wide-scale structure, invoking the presence of a sharper impedance contrast at greater depth. At high frequencies the action of ambient noise sources, mainly active on horizontal components of motion, is retained dominant to generate the prominent peaks observed in the H/V spectral ratios; in some cases the presence of a near-surface low-velocity layer can contribute to amplify the seismic motion generated at these frequencies.     

用HV谱比法推测银川市区沉积层基底分布特征

在缺乏其他资料的情况下,地脉动常常用做确定地震动对地表介质产生影响效应的简便手段。本文以银川市区为研究对象,根据地震勘探资料有目的的选取5条测线在银川市区进行地脉动观测,观测点共141个。用Nakamura提出的HV谱比法解析观测数据,在给定地下构造剪切波速度(VS)的基础上,由H/V比值曲线中的基本频率推测盆地深层地下构造。通过理论计算进一步验证了解析结果。结合前人地震勘探资料推测了银川市区脉动基本频率分布特征,并给出2D和3D银川市基底构造变化情况,对比分析表明,HV谱比法得到的脉动基本频率值可以反映银川盆地基底变化情况。     

3D near-surface soil response from H/V ambient-noise ratios

The applicability of the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) ambient-noise spectral ratio for characterizing earthquake site effects caused by near-surface topography and velocity structures was evaluated at sites underlain by thick (i.e. >100 m) sediment deposits near the southern-end of the New Madrid seismic zone in the central United States. Three-component ambient-noise and velocity models derived from seismic (shear-wave) refraction/reflection surveys showed that a relatively horizontal, sharp shear-wave velocity interface in the soil column resulted in an H/V spectral ratio with a single well-defined peak. Observations at sites with more than one sharp shear-wave velocity contrast and horizontally arranged soil layers resulted in at least two well-defined H/V spectral ratio peaks. Furthermore, at sites where there were sharp shear-wave velocity contrasts in nonhorizontal, near-surface soil layers, the H/V spectra exhibited a broad-bandwidth, relatively low-amplitude signal instead of a single well-defined peak.     

The reference spectral noise ratio method to evaluate the seismic response of a site

The seismic response of several sites in the Durban area of South Africa has been investigated using a refined version of the spectral ratio (H/V) generated by cultural seismic noise. Two samples of noise separated by an interval of several minutes for the vertical and the two orthogonal horizontal components were taken at each site. Though the two samples differed noticeably in the time as well as in the frequency domain, when the components are considered separately, the ratios of the horizontal to the vertical spectra were very similar for most of the pairs. This similitude was obvious not only in the frequencies of the peaks, but also in the range of amplifications involved. These observations have been used to introduce a refinement to the Nakamura Method. This refinement consists in using as a reference the H/V spectral ratio of a well-known, hard rock site. All the other soft sites of interest are then compared with this standard reference site. This comparison provides valuable information on the frequencies and amplification factors introduced by the critical soft sediments. This refined method will be referred here as the ‘Reference spectral noise ratio’.This method, is compared to a similar one devised to investigate the response of horizontal layers to longitudinal seismic waves, using the ratio of the spectra generated by long- period waves.     

Earthquake Induced Site Effect in the Algiers–Boumerdes Region: Relation Between Spectral Ratios Higher Peaks and Observed Damage During the May 21st M w 6.8 Boumerdes Earthquake (Algeria)

The Algiers–Boumerdes regions were hit by an M _w 6.8 destructive earthquake on May 21, 2003. The accelerometric and seismometric networks successfully recorded the main shock and many aftershocks at some locations where the damage was most extensive. A microtremor measurement was performed in the same locations; some of them are localized on the Mitidja basin. In this paper, we propose to analyze earthquake-induced site effect derived from horizontal to vertical spectral ratio from ambient noise (noise horizontal to vertical—NHV), or from very weak, weak, moderate and strong ( peak ground acceleration—PGA >10 % g) seismic motions (EHV), and transfer function evaluation from soil velocity profile data at four sites. H/V spectral ratios are computed by using both Fourier and response spectra. Compared to the transfer function, the obtained results show that in the case of soft soils, NHV as well as EHV give a good estimation of the soil's fundamental frequency, whereas the NHV underestimate the H/V amplitude and the EHV amplitude increase with the seismic motion intensity. In the case of firm soils, whereas the NHV gives flat curves synonymous for a rock site or a bump, the EHV is more appropriate as seen by identifying clear peaks with non negligible amplitude. In the case of soft sites as well as in the case of firm sites, strong peaks at frequencies higher than the fundamental one are found from EHV curves. Those peaks would not be found when looking at NHV ratios alone, are evidenced by the computed transfer function as well as by an analytical formulation, and are in agreement with the observed distribution of damage during the M _w 6.8 2003 Boumerdes earthquake. Finally, the same analysis is performed by using response spectra rather than Fourier spectra and leads to the same conclusions. Moreover, the calculation of the response spectra is more easily compared with the smoothing operation of the Fourier spectra.     

震级、震源距对地震信号H/V影响分析

本文采用喜马拉雅科学探测台阵四川省境内10个台站,计算了所有地震信号0.5—15 Hz的H/V谱比,分析了震级、震源距对H/V谱比的影响,并与各台站场地地脉动H/V谱比进行了比较. 结果表明: 震级对各台站地震信号的H/V谱比振幅值以及峰值频率几乎没有影响;震源距对谱峰明显的H/V谱比曲线的谱形和峰值频率影响不大,但对谱峰不明显的H/V谱比曲线的峰值频率有一定影响;H/V谱峰明显的台站,地震信号与地脉动信号的H/V谱比曲线的峰值频率具有很高的一致性,H/V谱峰不明显的台站,二者的峰值频率有一定差异.      

应用微动H/V谱比法和台阵技术探测场地响应和浅层速度结构

为了快速而且廉价地获取北京市详细的场地响应和浅层速度结构,应用于地震动模拟和地震灾害预防,我们开展了微动观测技术和处理方法研究.本文利用2007年夏季北京五棵松地区进行的几个微动观测实验数据,使用单台H/V谱比法分析场地的卓越频率及其对应的放大系数,并对比了不同地震仪和观测时间对H/V曲线的影响;应用高分辨率F-K频谱分析方法从微动台阵数据中得到Rayleigh波的频散曲线并使用邻域算法反演出浅层速度结构.H/V结果表明该地区卓越频率在2.1～2.2 Hz之间,对应的放大系数下限约为3;利用微动H/V方法得到的场地卓越频率具有较高的稳定性.微动台阵反演结果给出了比较合理的波阻抗界面深度和层平均速度结构,认为地下80多米处的波阻抗界面是决定场地卓越频率和其场地放大系数的主要界面.本研究表明微动技术应用于评估城市地震场地响应和浅层速度结构是可行且易于实施的.     

基于地脉动和地铁振动的钢筋混凝土建筑结构响应分析

在北京城区的一栋钢筋混凝土建筑(Reinforced Concrete building,简称RC)中,进行历时两天的地脉动和地铁振动观测.介绍了利用地脉动和地铁振动信号研究RC建筑结构响应的观测方法、仪器设备、数据采集和数据处理方法.对观测数据进行两种分析:(1)对连续的地脉动背景噪声,采用H/V谱比法;(2)对经过...     

A nonparametric characterization of vertical ground motion effects

Design guidelines have traditionally oversimplified the vertical ground motion effects by defining a constant vertical‐to‐horizontal response spectral ratio (V/H). With the recognition that such practice is not always conservative, recent studies have proposed improvements to the representation of vertical seismic effects in design codes, based on empirical ground motion relations. Conventional empirical modeling requires selecting the functional form of the predictive model. Because of the complicated nature of ground motions, identification of the underlying function is a challenge. A related drawback to this approach is its high susceptibility to overfitting, especially with today's highly complex models. To address these issues, this paper proposes a nonparametric approach to characterize the vertical seismic effects. Using support vector machines, the V/H ratio is determined without an assumed functional form. The accuracy of the model is measured by adopting an epsilon‐insensitive residual function with a regularization term added to prevent overfitting. An example application using ground motion records from strike‐slip and normal faulting earthquakes is presented, and the results are compared with a current empirical model, for different magnitude, distance, and local soil conditions. The median V/H estimates from the two models are shown to be in good general agreement. The standard deviation estimates from the proposed model are consistently larger than the estimates from the empirical model. The results from this study show that the proposed method is a viable alternative and offers the opportunity to characterize vertical seismic effects without an assumed functional form. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地震放大效应与地下地质结构——龙门山山前玉皇观区域观测数据分析

通过布置于龙门山断裂带中段、龙门山山前玉皇观区域的地震观测台站阵列接收地震数据,研究该区域的地震动放大效应和地下地质结构.观测阵列共10台宽频带地震仪,分布在玉皇观河口冲积扇区域.分别采用参考场址谱比法(RSSR)和HV谱比法(HVSR)计算64个高信噪比近震数据的振幅谱比函数,结果显示在玉皇观区域具有较明显的地震动放大效应,并且局部场址效应显著.以S06场址为例,建立近地表地震地质模型,通过SH波放大效应正演模拟研究该场址的地震动放大模式.RSSR与HVSR的结果表明,两者所计算的场址放大效应主频一致,但是HVSR的放大峰值却比RSSR的放大峰值大一倍左右,表明HVSR的结果可能包含了波场在近地表低速层之下传播路径的改造作用.另外,采用27个远震P波的接收函数计算了该区域地壳上地幔S波速度结构.接收函数研究结果显示玉皇观地区的莫霍面深度为44 km,沉积盖层、结晶地壳和上地幔的S波速度分别为2.5 km·s~(-1)、3.5 km·s~(-1)和4.5 km·s~(-1).观测阵列台站之间的接收函数反演结果一致性较好,说明本研究区域范围内地形地貌等近地表结构因素的相对变化对接收函数的影响不大.     

Experimental study of the ground motion on a large scale topographic hill at Kitherion (Greece)

We present the results of an experiment about the effects on the seismic ground motion of a hill of large dimensions (6km long, 3km large and 700m high) near Corinth (Greece). We installed 7 seismometers across the hill, and analyzed the ground motion with different methods: the classical spectral ratios (CSR) and the horizontal to vertical spectral ratios calculated both on noise (HVNR) and earthquake data (RF). The amplification at the resonant frequency (around 0.7Hz) is low, as expected, but one of the two stations installed at the top exhibits large amplification (up to a factor of 10) at 3Hz. The comparison between the H/V results and the CSR ones suggests that the former method is able to point out the fundamental frequencies of a hill. Amplifications and spatial localization predicted by numerical 3D modeling are consistent with the experimental data only at frequencies lower than 1Hz.     

Site characterizations for the Tehran network (TDMMO) in Tehran Region Using Micro-Earthquake,Microtremor and Quarry Blast Data

We did a Study of Horizontal-to-Vertical Component Spectral Ratio in the Tehran seismic zone. Micro-earthquakes, microtremors and quarry blasts data were used as an estimation of the site response in the Tehran zone. Site effects were studied based on horizontal to vertical ratios by the Nakamura׳s technique. Also, we used the spectra of signals for three components with the lowest noise levels for spectral slope studies. The analysis used seismic events from a network of 13 seismic stations by the permanent local seismological network of the Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization (TDMMO) from 2004 to 2007. The number of events used were different for each station. Quarry blast events were with 1.2≤M_L≤2.2 and micro-earthquakes were with 1.1≤M_L≤4.1.By comparing results for earthquake, microtremor and quarry blast, we could see that there is a significant difference between them. The data showed clear observations, especially in high-frequencies. The H/V spectral ratios indicate dominant frequency for rock/soft site with a higher ratio level for quarry blast ratios, which are comparable to the earthquake results due to their difference sources. The results derived by spectral H/V ratios and spectral analysis may be used to distinguish between local earthquakes and quarry blasts.     

A stochastic based approach for a new site classification method: application to the Algerian seismic code

Building codes have widely considered the shear wave velocity to make a reliable subsoil seismic classification, based on the knowledge of the mechanical properties of material deposits down to bedrock. This approach has limitations because geophysical data are often very expensive to obtain. Recently, other alternatives have been proposed based on measurements of background noise and estimation of the H/V amplification curve. However, the use of this technique needs a regulatory framework before it can become a realistic site classification procedure. This paper proposes a new formulation for characterizing design sites in accordance with the Algerian seismic building code(RPA99/ver.2003), through transfer functions, by following a stochastic approach combined to a statistical study. For each soil type, the deterministic calculation of the average transfer function is performed over a wide sample of 1-D soil profiles, where the average shear wave(S-W) velocity, V s, in soil layers is simulated using random field theory. Average transfer functions are also used to calculate average site factors and normalized acceleration response spectra to highlight the amplification potential of each site type, since frequency content of the transfer function is significantly similar to that of the H/V amplification curve. Comparison is done with the RPA99/ver.2003 and Eurocode8(EC8) design response spectra, respectively. In the absence of geophysical data, the proposed classification approach together with micro-tremor measures can be used toward a better soil classification.     

汶川地震远场地震动场地相关性与分析方法评价

为考查远场地震动的场地相关性并评价一些场地特性分析方法的适用性,采用不同方法对汶川地震山东省12个远场台站的强震记录进行了分析.选取台站分别位于按建筑抗震设计规范(CBC)场地划分中的Ⅰ—Ⅲ类场地上.地震动记录的分析方法包括傅里叶幅值谱法,地震反应谱法,水平与竖向谱比率法,参考点谱比率法,以及尾波分析等.结果表明,按傅里叶幅值谱法,地震反应谱法,水平与竖向谱比法计算得到的卓越周期均远大于台站场地的卓越周期,不同方法得到的结果之间也有较大差别,且主要反映长周期地震动的卓越频率;参考点谱比率法的结果未反映地震动的卓越周期,也与场地的卓越周期差别较大;对完整记录尾波分析所得的结果比较接近场地的卓越周期.希望本文能为考虑远场地震作用时设计谱的建立,以及场地特性估计时地震动分析方法的选取提供参考依据.     

Site amplification of S-waves in Bursa City and its vicinity, Northwestern Turkey: comparison of different approaches

Microearthquake recordings of local events have been used to quantify the site effects in the vicinity of Bursa City, northwest Turkey. Since the city is located near the southwest branch of the western extension of the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) zone, the importance of the seismic hazard in the region becomes progressively more important. The accelerograms of 69 earthquakes that were recorded on different geologic units, massive limestone, slope deposit and Quaternary sediment were analyzed to estimate the response of the recording sites. Site amplification functions were obtained by using three different approaches (standard spectral ratio, SSR; horizontal to vertical, H/V ratio and generalized inversion method, GIM) and the differences between the methods were also evaluated. We found large discrepancies between the SSR and H/V ratio methods, specifically; the former yields almost three times higher amplitudes than those obtained in the latter approach. Station located within the Bursa Quaternary basin (SCKR) is characterized by the largest estimates of the amplification amplitudes (8.0, 4.5 and 4.0 for SSR, H/V ratio and GIM, respectively) in all the three methods. On the other hand, stations located on deep limestone geological unit (SIGD and SKAY) show the least amplification level, ranging between 1.0 and 1.6. Three methods are able to identify resonant frequencies of the sites, although the absolute amplitudes of the amplification function are obtained different from each method.     

Effects of Surface Geology on Seismic Ground Motion Deduced from Ambient-Noise Measurements in the Town of Avellino, Irpinia Region (Italy)

The effects of surface geology on ground motion provide an important tool in seismic hazard studies. It is well known that the presence of soft sediments can cause amplification of the ground motion at the surface, particularly when there is a sharp impedance contrast at shallow depth. The town of Avellino is located in an area characterised by high seismicity in Italy, about 30?km from the epicentre of the 23 November 1980, Irpinia earthquake (M?=?6.9). No earthquake recordings are available in the area. The local geology is characterised by strong heterogeneity, with impedance contrasts at depth. We present the results from seismic noise measurements carried out in the urban area of Avellino to evaluate the effects of local geology on the seismic ground motion. We computed the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) noise spectral ratios at 16 selected sites in this urban area for which drilling data are available within the first 40?m of depth. A Rayleigh wave inversion technique using the peak frequencies of the noise H/V spectral ratios is then presented for estimating Vs models, assuming that the thicknesses of the shallow soil layers are known. The results show a good correspondence between experimental and theoretical peak frequencies, which are interpreted in terms of sediment resonance. For one site, which is characterised by a broad peak in the horizontal-to-vertical spectral-ratio curve, simple one-dimensional modelling is not representative of the resonance effects. Consistent variations in peak amplitudes are seen among the sites. A site classification based on shear-wave velocity characteristics, in terms of Vs30, cannot explain these data. The differences observed are better correlated to the impedance contrast between the sediments and basement. A more detailed investigation of the physical parameters of the subsoil structure, together with earthquake data, are desirable for future research, to confirm these data in terms of site response.     

Ambient noise H/V spectral ratio in site effects estimation in Fateh jang area,Pakistan

Local geology or local site effect is a crucial component while conducting seismic risk assessment studies. Investigations made by utilization of ambient noise are an effective tool for local site estimation. The present study is conducted to perform site response analysis at 13 different sites within urban settlements of Fateh jang area(Pakistan). The aim of this study was achieved by utilizing Nakamura method or H/V spectral ratio method. Some important local site parameters, e.g., the fundamental frequencies f0 of soft sediments, amplitudes A0 of corresponding H/V spectral ratios, and alluvium thicknesses over 13 sites within the study area, were measured and analyzed. The results show that the study area reflects low fundamental frequency f0. The fundamental frequencies of the sediments are highly variable and lie in a range of 0.6–13.0 Hz. Similarly, amplification factors at these sites are in the range of 2.0–4.0.     

New relationship between fundamental site frequency and thickness of soft sediments from seismic ambient noise

In this contribution, new relationship between the fundamental site frequency and the thickness of soft sediments is obtained for many sites in Egypt. The Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (“H/V”) technique (known as Nakamura technique) can be used as a robust tool to determine the thickness of soft sediments layers overlaying bedrock from observations and measurements of seismic ambient noise data. In Egypt, numerous seismic ambient noise measurements have been conducted in several areas to determine the dynamic properties of soft soil for engineering purposes. At each site in each studied area, the fundamental site frequency was accurately estimated from the main peak in the spectral ratio between the horizontal and vertical component. Consequently, an extensive database of microtremor measurements, well logging data, and shallow seismic refraction data have been configured and assembled for the studied areas. New formula between fundamental site frequency (f₀) and thickness of soft sediments (h) is established. The new formula has been validated and compared with other formulas of earlier scientists, and the results indicate that the calculated depth and geometry of the bedrock surface using new formula are in a good agreement with well logs data and previously published seismic refraction surveys in the investigated sites.     

玉溪盆地三维速度结构建模

本文以玉溪盆地为例,提出了一种包含数据预处理、模型建立、模型修正和模型检验的建模方法.基于各类数据间不同的可信度,给出了消除各类数据间速度偏差的折减函数.为避免以往模型修正过程中对地震波形数据的依赖以及对地脉动H/V谱进行模拟等复杂问题,本文提出了一种改进的模型修正方法,即根据基阶瑞雷波H/V谱与实测地脉动H/V谱形状变化相似的原则,对模型进行修正.修正依据为:在玉溪盆地中,单个地脉动测点所在位置处的地下速度结构中各沉积层面的深度均增加约15 m时,由该点的地下速度结构得到的基阶瑞雷波H/V谱的波峰周期和波谷周期均增加约0.1 s,且二者分别由盆地内沉积层的深层和浅层的速度结构所控制.由于地脉动数据的获取较方便,因此该模型修正方法具有广泛的适用性,由该方法修正后的玉溪盆地三维速度结构模型经检验具有较高的准确度.      

P- and S-Wave Site Response of the Seismic Network RESNOM Determined from Earthquakes of Northern Baja California, Mexico

—We determined the response to P- and S-wave incidence of the permanent stations of the seismic network of Baja California (RESNOM) using two independent methods. We selected 65 events with magnitudes between 2.2 and 4.8 and hypocentral distances ranging between 5 and 330 km. The site response of the ten stations analyzed was first estimated using average spectral ratios between the horizontal and the vertical components of motion (H/V ratios). As a second approach we performed a simultaneous inversion for source and site. In order to invert the spectral records to determine the site response, we made an independent estimate of the attenuation for two different source-station path regions. Then we corrected the spectral records for the attenuation effect before we made the inversion. Although the average H/V ratio of many sites is inside the error bars of the site response estimated with the spectral inversion, the spectral inversion tends to give higher values. For the S wave some sites show similar frequency of predominant peak when comparing the responses obtained with both methods. In contrast, for the P waves the H/V ratios disagree with the results of the inversion. In general, the site response of the stations is strongly frequency dependent for both P and S waves. We also found that the natural frequency of resonance of the sites is near 0.5 Hz for P and near 0.8 Hz for the S waves.