Numerical and analytical investigation of compressional wave propagation in saturated soils

In geotechnical earthquake engineering, wave propagation plays a fundamental role in engineering applications related to the dynamic response of geotechnical structures and to site response analysis. However, current engineering practice is primarily concentrated on the investigation of shear wave propagation and the corresponding site response only to the horizontal components of the ground motion. Due to the repeated recent observations of strong vertical ground motions and compressional damage of engineering structures, there is an increasing need to carry out a comprehensive investigation of vertical site response and the associated compressional wave propagation, particularly when performing the seismic design for critical structures (e.g. nuclear power plants and high dams). Therefore, in this paper, the compressional wave propagation mechanism in saturated soils is investigated by employing hydro-mechanically (HM) coupled analytical and numerical methods. A HM analytical solution for compressional wave propagation is first studied based on Biot’s theory, which shows the existence of two types of compressional waves (fast and slow waves) and indicates that their characteristics (i.e. wave dispersion and attenuation) are highly dependent on some key geotechnical and seismic parameters (i.e. the permeability, soil stiffness and loading frequency). The subsequent HM Finite Element (FE) study reproduces the duality of compressional waves and identifies the dominant permeability ranges for the existence of the two waves. In particular the existence of the slow compression wave is observed for a range of permeability and loading frequency that is relevant for geotechnical earthquake engineering applications. In order to account for the effects of soil permeability on compressional dynamic soil behaviour and soil properties (i.e. P-wave velocities and damping ratios), the coupled consolidation analysis is therefore recommended as the only tool capable of accurately simulating the dynamic response of geotechnical structures to vertical ground motion at intermediate transient states between undrained and drained conditions.     

采动微地震波传播与衰减特性研究

为分析采动地震波煤岩响应及其波场特性,构建顶板岩层和煤层2种传播介质接收采动地震波的多通道微震监测系统,研究2种介质采动地震波的传播和衰减特征。研究结果表明：顶板岩层接收到采动地震波的平均波速、加速度均高于煤层,2种介质中的地震波加速度均与爆破装药量成正相关,与传播距离、介质密度负相关。采动微地震波能量、信号时长随传播距离分别呈指数、线性衰减,近爆心处煤层传播微地震波能量、信号时长均高于顶板,超过一定距离后顶板高于煤层;采动微地震波传播距离有限,顶板的有效传播距离高于煤层,地震波有效传播距离与爆破装药量线性正相关。采动地震波低频部分的品质因子高于高频部分,顶板岩层的品质因子高于煤层。研究成果有助于地震波传播介质选取、检波器布设优化。     

Analytical study of ground motion caused by seismic wave propagation across faulted rock masses

Studying seismic wave propagation across rock masses and the induced ground motion is an important topic, which receives considerable attention in design and construction of underground cavern/tunnel constructions and mining activities. The current study investigates wave propagation across a rock mass with one fault and the induced ground motion using a recursive approach. The rocks beside the fault are assumed as viscoelastic media with seismic quality factors, Q_p and Q_s. Two kinds of interactions between stress waves and a discontinuity and between stress waves and a free surface are analyzed, respectively. As the result of the wave superposition, the mathematical expressions for induced ground vibration are deduced. The proposed approach is then compared with the existing analysis for special cases. Finally, parametric studies are carried out, which includes the influences of fault stiffness, incident angle, and frequency of incident waves on the peak particle velocities of the ground motions.     

考虑散射效应沉积河谷空间相关多点地震动模拟

提出了一种考虑地震波散射效应的沉积河谷空间相关多点地震动模拟方法。基于弹性波传播理论,采用合理功率谱、相干函数和传递函数模型,借助原型谱表示法得到沉积河谷空间相关多点地震动,并验证了方法的可行性。其中,传递函数应用动力边界元法计算,可在很宽的频带内精细模拟沉积河谷中波型转换及聚焦效应。针对常见V型河谷开展了计算模拟,结果表明,河谷地形及松软沉积层对地震波传播具有显著影响,河谷地表地震动空间差异性十分显著,一维模型难以考虑地震波的散射及聚焦效应,从而会明显低估沉积内部部分区域的地震动峰值加速度。沉积河谷中大跨结构抗震设计宜采用考虑地震波散射效应的空间相关多点地震动输入。     

Traveling wave effects on a tall and narrow building: Observation and analysis

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the seismic response of a tall and narrow building, for example, a turbine building of thermal power plant, due to a traveling shear wave. It is considered that the dynamic response of the building can be affected by the spatial variance of seismic ground motion, because the building has a long-shaped foundation (43 meters wide by 343 meters long by 4 meters thick). First, analytical study was conducted using obliquely incident harmonic motion. And comparing the earthquake response observed at different points of foundation slab, it was found that the response at the end point where input wave reaches later is larger than that at the other end. From these studies, it was assured that the antisymmetric mode, which can be neglected in ordinary analysis, is excited by phase difference of input motion.     

苏州第四纪深厚沉积层一维等效线性和非线性地震反应对比分析

合理描述土体动力本构关系对场地设计地震动参数取值的准确性有显著影响。以苏州城区200 m深的钻孔剖面为研究对象,对比分析了一维等效线性波传分析法（ELA法）和基于修正Matasovic本构模型的多自由度集中质量非线性分析法（NLA法）给出的深厚场地地震反应,研究了基岩输入地震动特性和地震基岩面的选取对深厚场地地震反应的影响。结果表明：（1）随基岩地震动强度（PGA）的增大,ELA法给出的地表PGA呈单调递增的特征,而NLA法给出的地表PGA呈先快速增大后缓慢减小或几乎不变的趋势;（2）ELA法和NLA法给出的地表加速度反应谱（Sa谱）在短周期范围内存在明显差异,ELA法对基岩高频地震动具有显著的滤波效应,而NLA法对基岩高频地震动的影响表现为随基岩PGA的增大先放大后减小的特征;（3）随地震基岩面深度的增大,地表Sa谱的谱值呈现出稍许增大的趋势,但对周期T<0.1 s部分,NLA法给出的地表Sa谱的谱值则呈现出稍许减小的现象;（4）中、大震作用下,地表地震动持时不仅与基岩地震动特性有关,还与地震反应分析方法和地震基岩面的选取密切相关,NLA法能更合理地反映基岩地震动强度和上覆土层厚度对地表地震动持时的影响。     

汶川地震紫坪铺面板堆石坝地震波输入研究

对国家强震动台网中心紫坪铺面板堆石坝区域台站实测主震记录以及大坝台网实测余震记录进行分析,研究主震与强余震地震动的基本特征。分别选取茂县地办、郫县走石山、成都中和这3组基岩台站实测主震地震动,紫坪铺台站2008年11月6日实测余震地震动以及按水工抗震规范人工生成地震动作为数值计算的地震动输入,对紫坪铺大坝进行三维动力有限元分析,并与实测结果进行对比。研究表明,郫县走石山与成都中和2个远场台站位于断层下盘,其实测地震动的加速度反应谱长周期（0.65 s以后）分量过于丰富,不宜作为断裂带附近紫坪铺大坝的地震动输入;紫坪铺大坝台站实测的余震地震动1 Hz附近（大坝基频）的频率成分相对较少,且持续时间较短,以至于难以激发大坝响应;对比坝顶实测地震动加速度反应谱和数值计算反应谱,建议汶川地震中紫坪铺大坝动力计算时可采用茂县地办台站实测地震动或按抗震设计规范反应谱人工生成地震动。     

Seismic performance evaluation of dam-reservoir-foundation systems to near-fault ground motions

Ground motion records obtained in recent major strong earthquakes have provided evidence that ground motions recorded near the near-fault regions differ in many cases from those observed further away from the seismic source. As the forward directivity and fling effect characteristics of the near-fault ground motions, they have the potential to cause more considerable damage to structures during an earthquake. Therefore, understanding the influence of near-fault ground motions on the performance of structures is critical to mitigate damage and perform effective response. This paper presents results of a study aimed at evaluating the effects of near-fault and far-fault ground motions on seismic performance of concrete gravity dams including dam-reservoir-foundation interaction. Koyna gravity dam is selected as a numerical application. Four different near-fault ground motion records with an apparent velocity pulse are used in the analyses. The earthquake ground motions recorded at the same site from other events that the epicenter far away from the site are employed as the far-fault ground motions. The seismic performance evaluation method based on the demand-capacity ratio, the cumulative overstress duration and the spatial extent of overstressed regions is presented. The concrete damaged plasticity model including the strain hardening or softening behavior is employed in nonlinear analyses. Nonlinear seismic damage analyses of the selected concrete dam subjected to both near-fault and far-fault ground motions are performed. The results obtained from the analyses show the effects of near-fault ground motions on seismic performance of concrete gravity dams and demonstrate the importance of considering the near-fault ground excitations.     

Basin Structure and Numerical Simulation for the Mechanisms of Seismic Disasters

In the present study seismic wave propagation in heterogeneous media is numerically simulated by using the pseudospectral method with the staggered grid RFFT differentiation in order to clarify the cause for the complicated distribution characteristics of strong ground motion in regions with basin structure. The results show that the maximum amplitudes of simulated ground acceleration waveforms are closely related to the basin structure. Interference of seismic waves in the basin strongly affects the distribution of maximum seismic waveforms, which may result in peak disasters during earthquakes. Peak disasters might be away from basin boundaries or earthquake faults. Seismic energy transmitted into the basin from the bedrock can hardly penetrate the bottom of the basin and then travel back into the bedrock region. The seismic energy is absorbed by basin media, and transferred into the kinematical energy of seismic waves with great amplitude in the basin. Seismic waves between basins may result in seriou     

Tectonic stress,seismicity, and seismic hazard in the southeastern Carpathians

Intermediate-depth earthquakes in the Vrancea region occur in response to stress generation due to descending lithosphere beneath the southeastern Carpathians. In this article, tectonic stress and seismicity are analyzed in the region on the basis of a vast body of observations. We show a correlation between the location of intermediate-depth earthquakes and the predicted localization of maximum shear stress in the lithosphere. A probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) for the region is presented in terms of various ground motion parameters on the utilization of Fourier amplitude spectra used in engineering practice and risk assessment (peak ground acceleration, response spectra amplitude, and seismic intensity). We review the PSHA carried out in the region, and present new PSHA results for the eastern and southern parts of Romania. Our seismic hazard assessment is based on the information about the features of earthquake ground motion excitation, seismic wave propagation (attenuation), and site effect in the region. Spectral models and characteristics of site-response on earthquake ground motions are obtained from the regional ground motion data including several hundred records of small and large earthquakes. Results of the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment are consistent with the features of observed earthquake effects in the southeastern Carpathians and show that geological factors play an important part in the distribution of the earthquake ground motion parameters.     

Analysis of wave propagation in dry granular soils using DEM simulations

In this paper, a three-dimensional particle-based technique utilizing the discrete element method (DEM) is proposed to study wave propagation in a dry granular soil column. Computational simulations were conducted to investigate the soil response to sinusoidal motions with different amplitudes and frequencies. Three types of soil deposits with different void ratios were employed in these simulations. Different boundary conditions at the base such as rigid bedrock, elastic bedrock, and infinite medium were also considered. Analysis is done in time domain while taking into account the effects of soil nonlinear behavior. The computational approach is able to capture a number of essential characteristics of wave propagation including motion amplification and resonance. Dynamic soil properties were then extracted from conducted simulations and used to predict the response of the soil using the widely used equivalent linear method program SHAKE and compare its predictions to DEM results. Generally, there was a good agreement between SHAKE and DEM results except when the exciting frequency was close to the resonance frequency of the deposit where significant discrepancy in computed shear strains between SHAKE predictions and DEM results was observed.     

Analysis of nonstationary properties of ground motion recorded during the Montenegro earthquake of 15 April 1979

The accelerogram of a strong ground motion represents the detailed characteristics of an earthquake and contains a large number of data both for earthquake engineers and seismologists. It shows not only the intensity, the frequency content and the duration of the strong ground motion, but also data referring to source origin, wave propagation mechanism, geological and site conditions at the recording site and its closer surrounding. Therefore, recently, accelerograms analysis has become a widely accepted method for fundamental investigations referring to understanding the background of the seismic waves generation and propagation mechanism and investigation of the strong ground motion nature and the parameters defining the ground motion for the needs of seismic resistant design.Presented in this paper are the results from the nonstationary analysis of the horizontal components of ground motion records obtained during the Montenegro earthquake of 15 April 1979. For the purpose of the analysis, the physical spectra concept was applied, since it enables simultaneous investigation of the time varying nature of the amplitude and the frequency content of the recorded ground motion. The application of the physical spectra for the design of a realistic synthesized accelerogram is also presented.     

浅切割的高山峡谷复杂地形的地震动放大效应研究

高山峡谷复杂地形是我国西部地区常见的地形和场地条件,大量的工程(桥梁、大坝等)修建在这类场地上。实际震害调查结果表明不规则地形对地震动具有明显的放大作用,对边坡的稳定性和建筑物的安全性构成不利的影响。因此研究高山峡谷复杂地形的地震动放大效应具有重要的工程价值。本文针对浅切割的高山峡谷复杂地形(山体顶和峡谷底的高差在100~500 m范围内),基于边界积分方程法获得场地任意点的地震动,详细探讨了入射波类型(P波和SV波)、入射波频率、入射角、山体和峡谷的几何参数对浅切割的高山峡谷复杂地形的地震动放大效应的影响,发现山体的存在明显改变场地地震动的空间分布;高山峡谷复杂地形对地表地震动的放大作用与入射波频率密切相关;不同的地震波类型对应不同的地震动空间分布模式;峡谷深度对地震动放大效应的影响取决于入射波的类型;不对称的几何形状导致地震动的空间分布也呈现明显的不对称,并且SV波入射时的不对称性强于P波;当地震波斜入射时,峡谷背向震源侧的地震动远大于面向震源侧的地震动。本文的研究方法可以获得考虑高山峡谷复杂地形地震动放大效应的场地任意位置的地震动,为边坡的稳定性分析提供更符合实际的地震输入。     

SV波入射下河谷地形地震动分布特征分析

基于显式有限元方法和人工透射边界,对二维河谷地形在3条地震动波以SV波形式垂直入射和30°斜入射下进行了地震反应分析,比较了河谷地表各观测点地震动的差别,探讨了河谷地形地震动空间分布特征。结果表明,河谷地形对地震动分布具有重要影响,沿河谷斜坡顶到谷底的各观测点地震动峰值加速度（PGA）存在显著差异,地震动位移存在差动现象,地震动加速度反应谱在大于1 Hz的高频段差别明显。入射角度是影响场地地震反应的重要因素,斜入射时各观测点PGA和相对位移的离散程度明显大于垂直入射情形。     

The effect of reservoir length on seismic performance of gravity dams to near- and far-fault ground motions

In this article, the effect of reservoir length on seismic performance of gravity dams to near- and far-fault ground motions is investigated. For this purpose, four finite element models of dam–reservoir–foundation interaction system are prepared by using the Lagrangian approach. In these models, the reservoir length varies from H to 4H (H: the height of dam). The Folsom gravity dam is selected as a numerical application. Two different ground motion records of 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake are used in the analyses. One of ground motions is recorded in near fault; the other is recorded in far fault. Also, the two records have the same peak ground acceleration. The study mainly consists of three parts to assess the effects of reservoir length on the seismic performance of the concrete gravity dam. In the first part, the linear time-history analyses of the four finite element models prepared for the Folsom gravity dam are performed. In the second part, the seismic performance of the dam is evaluated according to demand–capacity ratio and cumulative inelastic duration. Finally, the nonlinear time-history analyses of the finite element models of the dam are carried out by using Drucker–Prager yield criteria for dam concrete. It is seen from the analyses results that the seismic behavior of the concrete gravity dams is considerably affected from the length of the reservoir. The reservoir length of 3H is adequate for concrete gravity dams. The selection of ground motion is on of the important parts of seismic evaluation of gravity dams. Also, the frequency characteristics of the ground motion having the same peak ground acceleration affect the seismic performance of the dam. The near-fault ground motions are generally creates more stress on the dam body than far-fault ground motions. The used performance approach provides a systematic methodology for assessment of the seismic performance and necessity of nonlinear analyses for dam systems.     

Equivalent-Linear Seismic Ground Response Analysis of Some Typical Sites in Mumbai

Any earthquake event is associated with a rupture mechanism at the source, propagation of seismic waves through underlying rock and finally these waves travel through the soil layers to the particular site of interest. The bedrock motion is significantly modified at the ground surface due to the presence of local soil layers above the bedrock beneath the site of interest. The estimation of the amplifications in ground response due to the local soil sites is a complex problem to the designers and the problem is more important for mega cities like Mumbai in India, where huge population may get affected due to devastations of earthquake. In the present study, the effect of local soil sites in modifying ground response is studied by performing one dimensional equivalent-linear ground response analysis for some of the typical Mumbai soil sites. Field borelog data of some typical sites in Mumbai city viz. Mangalwadi site, Walkeswar site, BJ Marg near Pandhari Chawl site are considered in this study. The ground responses are observed for range of input motions and the results are presented in terms of surface acceleration time history, ratio of shear stress to vertical effective stress versus time, acceleration response spectrum, Fourier amplitude ratio versus frequency etc. The typical amplifications of ground accelerations considering four strong ground motions with wide variation of low to high MHA, frequency contents and durations are obtained. Results show that MHA, bracketed duration, frequency content have significant effects on the amplification of seismic accelerations for typical 2001 Bhuj motion. The peak ground acceleration amplification factors are found to be about 2.50 for Mangalwadi site, 2.60 for Walkeswar site and 3.45 for BJ Marg site using 2001 Bhuj input motion. The response spectrum along various soil layers are obtained which will be useful for designers for earthquake resistant design of geotechnical structures in Mumbai for similar sites in the absence of site specific data.     

2.5维各向异性介质中地震波场数值模拟

这里实现了在2.5维各向异性介质中地震波传播的数值模拟。首先从2.5维一阶速度-应力弹性各向异性波动方程出发,得出了该方程的拟谱法数值解法;然后通过对Marmousi速度模型进行数值模拟,表明了拟谱法的有效性;最后计算并分析了均匀和混合各向异性介质中波的传播快照和理论模拟的地震记录,进一步认识了波在各向异性介质中的传播规律。     

Importance of quantification of local site effects based on wave propagation in seismic microzonation

This paper presents the three most important aspects of seismic microzonation namely prediction of fundamental frequency (F ₀) of soil deposit, aggravation factor (aggravation factor is simply the extra spectral amplification due to complex 2D site effects over the 1D response of the soil column) and the spatial variability of the ground motion caused by the basin-edge induced Love waves. The predicted F ₀ of single, double and three-soil-layered models revealed that the available empirical relations to predict the F ₀ of layered soil deposits are inadequate. We recommend the use of analytical or numerical methods to predict such an important parameter based on wave propagation effects. An increase of amplitude of Love wave, strain level and average aggravation factor (AAF) with increase of impedance contrast was obtained. Based on the trend of rate of decrease of AAF and maximum strain with offset from the basin-edge, we can qualitatively infer that the effects of induced Love wave may reduce to a negligible value after a traveled distance of 6.5–10.0 λ _F (where λ _F is the wavelength corresponding to the F ₀ of soil layer). The obtained increase of strain level with the decrease of distance between two receiver points used for the computation of strain reflects that structures having spatial extent smaller than the λ _F may suffer damage due to the basin-edge induced surface waves. The fast rate of decrease of strain with the offset from the strong lateral discontinuity (SLD)/basin-edge may be attributed to the dispersive nature of Love wave. We can incorporate the increased spectral amplification due to the induced surface waves in the form of aggravation factor but till date we have no effective way to incorporate the effects of developed strain by induced surface waves in seismic microzonation or in building codes.     

三向地震作用下叠交隧道地震响应振动台试验研究

叠交隧道是涉及隧道之间、隧道与土体相互作用的复杂体系,其安全性将严重影响城市轨道交通建设。目前,对于叠交隧道振动台试验的研究集中在水平平行和交叉叠交隧道、单向和双向地震动输入。鉴于此,利用自行设计的层状三向剪切模型箱,对竖直平行叠交隧道开展三向地震作用下的振动台模型试验,研究地基土−叠交隧道模型体系动力特性、地基土加速度、叠交隧道加速度、地表沉降、地基土孔压、叠交隧道动土压力及叠交隧道应变等地震响应。结果表明：随着震波峰值加速度（peak ground acceleration,简称PGA）依次增加,地基土−叠交隧道模型体系的自振频率随之减小,而阻尼比随之增大;叠交隧道周围地基土加速度和孔压的梯度差随着地震波PGA的增大而增大,且上隧道周围梯度差比下隧道更大;地基土对加速度的放大效应随着地震波PGA的增大而减弱;相同地震波作用下,相同位置处的叠交隧道加速度傅里叶谱形状相似,但幅值随着地震波PGA的增大而增大。此外,与顶部和底部位置相比,腰部位置加速度傅里叶谱频段范围变宽,幅值峰值有所降低;地表沉降峰值随着地震波PGA的增大而减小,相比地基土两侧位置,中心位置的沉降峰值明显较小;地震波的类型对叠交隧道动土压力峰值和应变峰值影响较小;对于动土压力峰值,两隧道的最大值均为腰部,而上、下隧道的最小值分别为底部、顶部;对于应变峰值,上隧道在腰部明显大于顶部和底部,而下隧道在4个位置相差不大。     

Effect of surface wave inversion non-uniqueness on 1D seismic ground response analysis

Surface wave methods are increasingly being used for geotechnical site characterization. The methodology is based on the dispersive characteristic of Rayleigh waves in vertically heterogeneous medium. Experimental dispersion curve is inverted to obtain one-dimensional shear-wave velocity profile by inverse problem solution. Uncertainty associated with this surface wave inversion has drawn much attention. Inverse problem solution can provide different equivalent shear-wave velocity profiles, which may lead to different seismic site response analysis. In this study, a neighborhood algorithm has been used for inversion of dispersion curve to get a set of equivalent shear-wave velocity profiles. These equivalent velocity profiles are then used for 1D ground response analysis for different input motion record of the same earthquake at different epicentral distances. Results show significant variation in amplification spectrum in terms of maximum amplification as well as peak frequency. The extent of this uncertainty largely depends on the characteristics of the ground motion records at different epicentral distances. A linear variation is observed between mean coefficients of variation of amplification spectrum and epicentral distance of ground motion records. A gradual increase in mean value of peak frequency and peak amplification with the epicentral distance is also observed.