Directional dependence of site effects observed near a basin edge at Aegion,Greece

We study site effects using 520 weak motion earthquake records from a vertical array in Aegion, Greece. The array is inside a basin, has four stations in soil, and one in bedrock (178 m depth). The site is marked by high seismicity and complex surface geology. We first use the records to establish the downhole accelerometer orientations and their evolution with time. Then we estimate site effects using empirical spectral ratios with and without a reference site (standard and horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio). We find significant site amplification which cannot be accounted for by 1D model predictions, along with a significant difference in the amplification level between the two horizontal components. These are indications of 2D effects, namely surface waves generated at the basin edge. The difference in amplification between the horizontal components is maximised when these are rotated with respect to the orientation of the basin edge. The strongest amplification takes place in the direction parallel to the basin edge (SH, or out-of-plane motion), and is up to 2 times higher than in the perpendicular direction (SV, or in-plane motion). This directional effect on the amplification is corroborated by numerical 2D modelling using incident SH and SV waves, with the former possibly generating strong Love waves. In the records, the directionality is clear for windows containing the largest amplitudes of the records (S waves and strong surface waves), while it tends to vanish for coda-wave windows. This directionality is also observed when using response spectral ratios rather than Fourier ratios. We compute soil-to-rock amplification factors for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and find it is significantly higher than what is predicted by current design codes. We attribute this difference to the basin edge amplification, linear soil behaviour, and to the inability of simple scalar values like PGA to describe complex amplification effects. Finally, we analyse the earthquake records at a surface station near the slope crest and do not observe significant topographic amplification.     

Seismic response of L��Aquila downtown from comparison between 2D synthetics spectral ratios of SH, P-SV and Rayleigh waves and observations of the 2009 earthquake sequence

This is the first part of a study on the seismic response of the L’Aquila city using 2D simulation and experimental data. We have studied two velocity-depth models with the aim of outlining the behavior of a velocity reversal in the top layer, which is associated with the stiff Brecce de L’Aquila unit (BrA). In this setting, the SMTH model is topped by a layer with about 2:1 impedance contrast with the underlying layer while the NORV model has no velocity reversal. We have simulated the propagation of SH and P-SV wavefields in the range 0–10 Hz for incidence 0°–90°. Earthquake spectral ratios of the horizontal and vertical components at six sites in L’Aquila downtown are compared to corresponding synthetics spectral ratios. The vertical component of P-SV synthetics enables us to investigate a remarkable amplification effect seen in the vertical component of the recorded strong motion. Sites AQ04 and AQ05 are best matched by synthetics from the NORV model while FAQ5 and AQ06 have a better match with synthetics spectral ratios from the SMTH model. All simulations show this behavior systematically, with horizontal and near-horizontal incident waves predicting the overall pattern of matches more clearly than vertical and near-vertical incidence. The model inferences are in agreement with new geological data reporting lateral passages in the top layer from the stiff BrA to softer sediments. Matches are good in terms of frequency of the first amplification peak and of spectral amplitude: the horizontal components have spectral ratio peaks predominantly at 0.5 Hz in the simulations and at 0.7 Hz in the data, both with amplitudes of 4, while the vertical component spectral ratios reach values of 6 at frequencies of about 1 Hz in both data and simulations. The vertical component spectral ratios are very well matched using Rayleigh waves with incidence at 90°. The NORV model without the velocity reversal predicts spectral ratio peaks for the horizontal components at frequencies up to 6 Hz. The reversal of velocity acts as a low-pass frequency filter on the horizontal components reducing the amplification effect of the sediment filled valley.     

Revisiting the Basin-edge Effect at Kobe During the 1995 Hyogo-Ken Nanbu Earthquake

The basin edge effect, i.e., the interference of the direct S wave with the surface wave diffracted off the basin edge has been invoked by many authors to explain the damage distribution during the January 17, 1995 Hyogo-Ken Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake. Here we present the results of numerical experiments obtained with the spectral element method in 2-D geometry. Our results confirm that the amplification of horizontal motion close to the basin edge can be twice as large as the one measured in the center of the basin. This additional amplification is shown to depend strongly on the edge geometry and on frequency, due to physical dispersion of diffracted surface waves. In particular we obtain maximal amplification around 3 Hz, at frequencies critical for buildings.     

Numerical study on basin-edge effects in the seismic response of the Gubbio valley,Central Italy

The Gubbio basin in Central Italy is a intermountain basin of extensional tectonic origin, typical of Central and Southern Apennines, characterized by moderate seismicity. The strongest recorded event within the area is a magnitude 5.7 earthquake which occurred on 29 April 1984 along the Gubbio fault, bordering the eastern side of the basin. The main objective of this study is to analyze the features of earthquake ground motion as related to basin-edge effects, by performing physics-based numerical simulations of the 1984 earthquake through a high-performance spectral element code. The simulated ground motions are found in reasonable agreement with the recorded motions when using the kinematic source model developed by Ameri et al. (Bull Seismol Soc Am 99:647–663, 2009), with a rise-time equal to 1 s and a nucleation point located in the middle of the fault. Pronounced differences were noted between records from the basin and adjacent sites at outcropping bedrock, owing to both the strong impedance contrast between soft alluvial sites and bedrock formations (lithostratigraphic amplification), as well as lateral discontinuities related to the 2D/3D geometry of the basin (generation of surface waves). Since the fault was located beneath the basin, 1D amplification effects were found to be more relevant than those associated with the generation of surface waves from the basin edge. Finally, an envelope delay spectrum was computed for the simulated ground motions, showing that surface waves are excited in the frequency band of 0.2–0.8 Hz with a significant increase of ground motion duration within the basin.     

Characteristics of strong ground motion data recorded in the Gubbio sedimentary basin (Central Italy)

Various authors, analysing the set of accelerograms recorded at Gubbio Piana (GBP) (central Italy), have demonstrated that strong amplification occurs at this accelerometric station, which is installed within an alluvial basin. In particular, Ambraseys et al. [(2005a), Bull Earthq Eng 3:1–53; (2005b), Bull Earth Eng 3:55–73] observed that the strong motion peaks at GBP greatly exceed the median values predicted by the attenuation relationships they derived for Europe. In this work, we analyse and discuss some characteristics of the ground motion recorded at the GBP station. We show that the ground motion parameters, such as peak-ground acceleration and peak-ground velocity, are strongly influenced by the presence of locally induced surface waves that produce both a lengthening of the significant shaking duration and an increase in the peak values with respect to a nearby bedrock site. The basin-induced surface waves are observed in the three components of motion and their effects on the peak values are particularly evident in the vertical component. In the frequency domain, the energy of the surface waves is mostly restricted to the frequency band 0.4–0.8 Hz for both the horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal and vertical Fourier amplitudes are also very similar, and this indicates that the H/V spectral ratio technique is not applicable to describing the site response due to the propagation of seismic wave in a complex 2D/3D geological structure. Finally, a preliminary polarization analysis shows that the directions of polarization, as well as the degree of elliptical polarization, exhibit a strong variability with time, that may be related to a complex propagation of Love and Rayleigh waves within the basin.     

The effects of torsion and motion coupling in site response estimation

Soil amplification characteristics are investigated using data from the Chibaken‐Toho‐Oki earthquake and its aftershocks recorded at Chiba dense array in Japan. The frequency‐dependent amplification function of soil is calculated using uphole‐to‐downhole spectral ratio analysis, considering the horizontal components of shear wave. The identified spectral ratios consistently demonstrate the splitting of peaks in their resonance frequencies and low amplification values in comparison with a 1D model. The torsional behaviour and horizontal ground motion coupling are clarified as the reasons for these phenomena at the site. To prove the hypothesis, the torsional motion is directly evaluated using the data of the horizontal dense array in different depths at the site. The comparison between Fourier spectra of torsional motion and identified transfer functions reveals the peaks at the same frequencies. The wave equation including torsion and horizontal motion coupling is introduced and solved for the layered media by applying wave propagation theory. Using the developed model, the effects of torsional motion with horizontal motion coupling on soil transfer function are numerically examined. Splitting and low amplification at resonance frequencies are confirmed by the results of numerical analysis. Furthermore, the ground motion in two horizontal directions at the site is simulated using site geotechnical specification and optimizing the model parameters. The simulated and recorded motions demonstrate good agreement that is used to validate the hypothesis. In addition, the spectral density of torsional ground motions are compared with the calculated one and found to be well predicted by the model. Finally, the results are used to explain the overestimation of damping in back‐calculation of dynamic soil properties using vertical array data in small strain level. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

三维沉积盆地对地震动的放大效应间接边界元法模拟

基于一种高精度间接边界元法(IBEM), 实现了沉积盆地三维地震响应的频域、 时域精细求解, 并以半空间中椭球形沉积盆地对平面P波和SV波的散射为例, 着重探讨了入射角度、 入射波型、 入射频率、 盆地长宽比和深宽比对沉积盆地地震动放大效应的影响规律． 结果表明: 盆地形状对地震波的放大效应和空间分布状态具有显著影响, 且具体规律受控于入射波频段． ① 随着盆地深度增大, 盆地边缘面波发育更为充分, 在较宽频段内均会出现显著的地震动放大效应, 且深盆地的放大区域集中于盆地中部． ② 圆形盆地对地震波的汇聚效应最为显著, 而狭长盆地对地震波的汇聚作用相对较弱, 高频情况下可在盆地内部形成多个聚焦区域． ③ 不同波型入射下, 盆地对地震动放大效应的机制有所差异: P波入射下, 竖向位移放大主要是由于盆地边缘面波由四周向中部汇聚所致; SV波入射下, 边缘面波汇聚效应相对较弱, 而当盆地较深时, 底部透射体波和边缘面波易形成同相干涉从而显著放大地震动． 按盆地内外介质波速比为1/2, P波和SV波垂直入射下频域最大放大倍数分别为25和15, 时域放大倍数约为4.0和3.7(雷克子波)． ④ 低频波入射下, 位移从盆地中部向边缘逐渐减小, 且浅层沉积盆地对地表位移幅值的放大作用不明显． ⑤ P波和SV波的入射角度对盆地地震动放大幅值及空间分布特征也具有显著影响．      

断层位置对三维盆地地震效应的影响

采用谱元法模拟了盆地模型和一维水平成层模型的地震动强度和放大系数的分布特征,探究了直下型断层与盆地的相对位置对盆地地震效应的影响.结果显示:盆地地震动受断层位置的影响显著,特别是当断层邻近且平行于盆地边缘时,盆地地表地震动的边缘效应更加明显,强烈地震动区域的位置随断层位置的移动而改变明显;不同分量放大系数的分布特征差别...     

考虑土体非线性及倾角影响的盆地地震响应研究

基于二维沉积盆地模型,采用D-P弹塑性模型模拟盆地的非线性特征。利用显式有限元与黏弹性边界结合的方法,通过改变盆地边缘倾角,在时域和频域内分析盆地地表的地震动响应,对比线性与非线性盆地地震反应的差异。结果表明:(1)土体非线性对整个盆地范围内地震动的影响都较显著。考虑非线性时地震动放大系数明显降低,降低幅度在30%~50%。同时,考虑非线性和倾角影响时最强烈放大区域的范围和位置变化,且很小倾角下的分布特征显著不同。(2)两分量的放大系数都有随边缘倾角的增大而增强的趋势,但均是盆地边缘区域受非线性的影响最为显著。此外,真实地震波输入下显著放大区域的范围及线性与非线性结果的差异程度相对更大。(3)考虑非线性时,对于不同频率地震波的放大系数差别明显,但都表现出从低频到高频谱比分布越来越复杂的现象,同时盆地倾角的影响程度随频率的增大更加明显。(4)考虑土体非线性并未改变地震波传播的总体特征,但各震相强度相对降低。     

Study of Basin-edge Effects on the Ground Motion Characteristics Using 2.5-D Modelling

This paper presents the role of basin-edge geometry in the generation of surface waves using 2.5-D modelling. The simulated responses of various basin-edge models revealed surface wave generation near the basin edge and their propagation normal to the edge. Seismic responses of basin-edge models using different fundamental frequency of soil along with spectral analysis of differential ground motion confirmed that surface waves start generating near the basin edge when body-wave frequency exceeds the fundamental frequency of soil. Spectral analysis of differential ground motion also confirmed the generation of high frequency surface wave. An increase of surface-wave amplitude with soil thickness was obtained. Large ground displacement observed near the basin edge may be due to the interference of surface/diffracted waves with the direct waves and their multiples. The effect of edge roughness on the surface-wave characteristics was found to be negligible as compared with the edge geometry. Simulated results revealed a decrease of surface-wave amplitude with edge slope, particularly in the case of surface waves caused by S waves. Surface wave generation near the basin edge was obtained for all four considered angles of incidence. At the same time, it was also inferred that the characteristics of these surface waves depend on the angle of incidence to some extent. The findings of this paper reveal that basin-edge effects deserve a particular attention for the purpose of earthquake-resistant design and seismic microzonation.Acknowledgement Financial assistance by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) New Delhi and the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi is gratefully acknowledged.     

Exploration of S-wave velocity profiles at strong motion stations in Eskisehir,Turkey, using microtremor phase velocity and S-wave amplification

We have explored 1D S-wave velocity profiles of shallow and deep soil layers over a basement at strong motion stations in Eskisehir Province, Turkey. Microtremor array explorations were conducted at eight strong motion stations in the area to know shallow 1D S-wave velocity models. Rayleigh wave phase velocity at a frequency range from 3 to 30 Hz was estimated with the spatial autocorrelation analysis of array records of vertical microtremors at each station. Individual phase velocity was inverted to a shallow S-wave velocity profile. Low-velocity layers were identified at the stations in the basin. Site amplification factors from S-wave parts of earthquake records that had been estimated at the strong motion stations by Yamanaka et al. (2017) were inverted to the S-wave velocities and Q-values of the sedimentary layers. The depths to the basement with an S-wave velocity of 2.2 km/s are about 1 km in the central part of the basin, while the basement becomes shallow as 0.3 km in the marginal part of the basin. We finally discussed the effects of the shallow and deep sedimentary layers on the 1D S-wave amplification characteristics using the revealed profiles. It is found that the shallow soil layers have no significant effects in the amplification at a frequency range lower than 3 Hz in the area.     

基于伪谱和有限差分混合方法的兰州盆地强地面运动二维数值模拟

利用伪谱和有限差分混合方法对兰州盆地进行二维强地面运动模拟.假设3个不同的震源深度5、10、20 km的同一地震下,以一个5层的二维剖面作为模型,以此来研究地震波传播过程并分析复杂的二维非均质路径效应,以及局部地下速度构造对强地面运动振幅加乘的影响,从而了解路径效应对强地面运动最大峰值位移的影响程度.研究结果显示:伪谱和有限差分混合方法模拟地震波场结合了有限差分法和伪谱法的优点,弥补了二者的不足,能较好地处理介质不连续面的计算,同时保证了和伪谱法相当的计算精度.通过地震波场模拟可知沉积盆地的强地面运动较基岩相比具有放大效应,震源深度的不同对兰州盆地垂直分量地面最大峰值位移影响较大,在震源深度为5 km时最小,为0.06 cm;震源深度10 km时在水平剖面30～55 km范围内峰值位移最大,达到0.14 cm;但对水平分量的峰值位移影响较小.     

Response of sedimentary basin to obliquely incident SH waves

This research studies the impact of the incident angle of SH waves on the seismic response of two-dimensional sedimentary basins by using a nonlinear method. At first Ricker wavelet is input for a detailed analysis, followed by a statistical analysis based on a total of 100 real earthquake motions recorded at rock sites. The results show that the incident angle has a significant implication on the basin ground motion. First, the incident angle affects the short-period components more than the long-period ones of the spectral response acceleration, but the dominant period of the spectral response acceleration is insensitive to incident angle and location. Second, the MDIA of a basin is not necessarily 0° (vertical incidence) but in the range of approximately 0°–30°, and hence due attention should be paid to the influence of incident angle in seismic response analysis. Third, basin central areas are seismically preferable to edge regions for short-period buildings located on the basin, while, for long-period buildings, the edge areas become preferable. However, with the increase in incident angle, the difference between edge and central areas diminishes gradually. Finally, given that the dimensions of a basin are perceivable to incidence waves, the slope angle has a considerable impact on the PGA distribution pattern by controlling whether or not peak appears in the edge area. The MDP is most likely to be in the edge area of a basin with small slope angle when subjected to excitation with small incident angle (including vertical incidence).     

Study of Sediment Nonlinearity Using Explosion Data in the Mississippi Embayment

Strong and weak motion data from the Mississippi Embayment Seismic Excitation Experiment (ESEE) were analyzed for signatures of nonlinear site responses. This experiment was performed jointly by the University of Memphis and U. S. Geological Survey in October 2002, by detonating two explosions of 2500 and 5000 lbs. Intrinsic and scattering Q estimates (Q_I and Q_S) from the coda of the strong motion data were found to be very low compared to previously determined Q values of P- and Rayleigh waves of weak motion data from the same explosions. The Q_I estimates from P-wave late coda of the strong motion data are less by more than 100 at 3 Hz and by more than 200 at 10 Hz, compared to the P-wave Q values determined from the weak motion data by Langston et al (2005). Also, Q_I determined from the late coda of strong motion Rayleigh-wave data is less by more than 200 at 0.5 Hz and by more than 50 at 3.0 Hz, compared to Q values determined from Rayleigh-wave weak motion data. A resonance peak spectral amplitude of the early part of a strong motion seismogram is shifted to lower frequencies compared to that from a later part of the same seismogram. Spectral amplitude ratios between transverse and vertical components of the strong motion data are degraded between frequencies 2 and 10 Hz for P waves, and less than 4 Hz for Rayleigh waves compared to the weak motion transverse to vertical spectral ratio. All these are signatures of nonlinear site responses during strong ground motion. This study proves the non-transportability of weak motion attenuation results to estimate ground motion from a future large earthquake that may take place in areas like the New Madrid Seismic zone.     

Comparison of 3D, 2D and 1D numerical approaches to predict long period earthquake ground motion in the Gubbio plain, Central Italy

In this work we studied the performance of different numerical approaches to simulate the large amplifications of long period earthquake ground motion within the Gubbio plain, a closed-shape intra-mountain alluvial basin of extensional tectonic origin in Central Italy, observed during the Umbria-Marche 1997 seismic sequence. Particularly, referring to the Sep 26 1997 M_w6.0 mainshock, we considered the following numerical approximations: (a) 3D model, including a kinematic model of the extended seismic source, a layered crustal structure, and the basin itself with a simplified homogeneous velocity profile; (b) 2D model of a longitudinal and transversal cross-section of the basin, subject to vertical and oblique incidence of plane waves with time dependence at bedrock obtained by the 3D simulations; (c) 1D model. 3D and 2D numerical simulations were carried out using the spectral element code GeoELSE, exploiting in 3D its implementation in parallel computer architectures. 3D numerical simulations were successful to predict the observed large amplification of ground motion at periods beyond about 1 s, due to the prominent onset of surface waves originated at the southern edge of the basin and propagating northwards. More specifically, the difference of 3D vs 2D results is remarkable, since the latter ones fail to approach such large amplification levels, even when an oblique incidence of plane waves is considered.     

Effects of strong lateral discontinuity on ground motion characteristics and aggravation factor

This paper presents the effects of strong lateral discontinuity (SLD) in basins on the ground motion characteristics, differential ground motion (DGM) and aggravation factor (aggravation factor is simply the extra spectral amplification due to complex 2D site effects over the 1D response of the soil column). The seismic responses of open- and closed-basin models with SLD were simulated using SH-wave finite difference algorithm with fourth-order spatial accuracy. Simulated seismic responses, DGM and its spectra revealed that SLD induces Love waves, and the lower cutoff frequency for the same is equal to the fundamental frequency (f₀) of the soil layer. The maximum average aggravation factor (AAF) and DGM were obtained near the edge of open basin and at the centre of closed basin. A decrease of amplitude of Love wave, DGM level and AAF with offset from SLD was observed in an open basin. On the other hand, in closed basin, spatial variation of AAF and DGM level was highly variable. Duration of shaking, AAF and DGM level was more in the closed basin than in an open basin. Increase of DGM level and AAF with decrease of the width of basin was observed.     

Site effects in 3D basins using 1D and 2D models: an evaluation of the differences based on simulations of the seismic response of Euroseistest

Site effects are one of the most predictable factors of destructive earthquake ground motion but results depend on the type of model chosen. We compare simulations of ground motion for a 3D model of the Mygdonian basin in northern Greece (Euroseistest) using different approximation for this basin. Site effects predicted using simple 1D models at many points inside the basin are compared to site effects predicted using four different 2D cross sections across the basin and with results for a full 3D simulation. Surface topography was neglected but anelastic attenuation was included in the simulations. We show that lateral heterogeneity may increase ground motion amplification by 100 %. Larger amplification is distributed in a wide frequency range, and amplification may occur at frequencies different from the expected resonant frequencies for the soil column. In contrast, on a different cross section, smaller conversion of incident energy into surface waves and larger dispersion leads to similar amplitudes of ground motion for 2D and 1D models. In general, results from 2D simulations are similar to those from a complete 3D model. 2D models may overestimate local surface wave amplitudes, especially when the boundaries of the basin are oblique to the selected cross section. However, the differences between 2D and 3D site effects are small, especially in regard of the difficulties and uncertainties associated to building a reliable 3D model for a large basin.     

Seismic characterization and monitoring of Fucino Basin (Central Italy)

The Fucino basin (Central Italy) is one of the largest intramountain alluvial plain in the Apennines range. It has a tectonic origin related to the presence of important systems of faults located in its northern and eastern edges. Some of these faults are still active and capable of generating strong seismic events. Site effects related to the soft soils filling the basin can be very important. In this paper we show the preliminary results of a seismic network installed in the Fucino area in order to collect information about site amplification effects and geometry of the basin. We analyze ambient seismic vibrations and recordings of about 150 local earthquakes mainly related to the seismic sequence of the April 6th 2009 Mw 6.3 L’Aquila event. Moreover the strongest events of L’Aquila sequence were analyzed at the three permanent strong-motion stations operating in the area. Using standard spectral techniques we investigate the variation of resonance frequencies within the basin. The ground motion recorded in the Fucino plain is mainly characterized by strong energy at low-frequencies (f < 1 Hz) affecting both horizontal and vertical components. This is particularly evident for stations deployed in correspondence of very thick deposits of sedimentary filling, where a significant increase of ground-motion amplitude and duration is likely caused by locally generated surface waves. The amplification at low-frequencies (<1 Hz) on the horizontal components can reach up a factor of 10 in comparison to nearby stiff sites. However, we found evidences of seismic amplification phenomena also for stiff sites surrounding the basin, including stations of the Italian strong motion network. The independent geological information and the shallow shear-velocity profiles available for the basin can be combined with resonance frequencies for deriving representative geological sections to be used as base for future numerical 2D–3D modeling of the basin.     

柴达木盆地东部地震地面运动放大效应

柴达木盆地是青藏高原东北部大型断陷山间盆地,该地区的流动观测记录了2008年11月10日发生于大柴旦附近的M_W6.3地震。和附近的基岩上的记录相比,盆地内部的记录显示出非常显著的地面运动放大效应,表现为峰值速度的增大、持续时间的延长,其呈现出长持续时间的后续震相。傅里叶频谱分析表明盆地内部显著的后续震相的频率和直达波相比较低,地面质点运动轨迹图显示后续震相为面波运动特征。为了解释地面运动的差异,构建二维模型,通过交错网格高阶有限差分方法计算了地震波在盆地内部的传播过程,结果显示盆地内部低速层的存在造成直达波的放大以及多次反射与转换,盆地边缘结构造成的波的相干叠加产生了强烈的次生面波,其低频、大振幅、长持续时间的特征是盆地内部地面运动放大的主要原因。