Computerized seismic intensities of recently felt earthquakes in Israel

The traditional process of evaluating seismic intensities from questionnaires is laborious and very subjective. An attempt here is made to introduce computerized processing of questionnaires. This is made possible by modifying the questionnaire forms and developing a computer program that performs the evaluation in a rather objective manner. The prime assumption behind this procedure is that observed intensities in a certain location are normally distributed. This new approach has been tested successfully with recently obtained data on earthquakes in Israel, yielding evaluated intensities and isoseismal maps for earthquakes in the Jordan Valley (January 13, 1982), Lebanon (June 3, 1983), the Gulf of Suez (June 12, 1983), the Jezreel Valley (August 24, 1984), and near Jericho (January 25, 1985).     

地震作用下桩竖向抗震承载力的退化效应

在地震荷载作用下，由于土体振动孔隙水压力的产生，桩的竖向承载力将发生退化，基于桩的竖向承载机理以及地震作用下土的有效应力状态变化，提出了桩竖向抗震承载力退化效应的应力动力分析方法，分别建立了地震作用下极限桩侧阻力和极限桩端阻力的退化计算模型，最后应用该方法对液化砂土地基上的桩基进行了竖向抗震承载力退化计算。     

Seismotectonics of the Hindukush and Baluchistan arc

A seismicity map of that part of the Pakistan-Afghanistan region lying between the latitudes 28° to 38°N and longitudes 66° to 75°E is given using all available data for the period 1890–1970. The earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 and above were considered in the preparation of this map. On the basis of this map, it is observed that the seismicity pattern over the well-known Hindukush region is quite complex. Two prominent, mutually orthogonal, seismicity lineaments, namely the northvestern and the north-eastern trends, characterize the Hindukush area. The northwestern trend appears to extend from the Main Boundary Fault of the Kashmir Himalaya on the southeast to the plains of the Amu Darya in Uzbekistan on the northwest beyond the Hindukush. The Sulaiman and Kirthar ranges of Pakistan are well-defined zones of intermontane seismicity exhibiting north-south alignment.Thirty-two new focal-mechanism solutions for the above-mentioned region have been determined. These, together with the results obtained by earlier workers, suggest the pre-dominance of strike-slip faulting in the area. The Hazara Mountains, the Sulaiman wrench zone and the Kirthar wrench zone, as well as the supposed extension of the Murray ridge up to the Karachi coast, appear to be mostly undergoing strike-slip movements.In the Hindukush region, thrust and strike-slip faulting are found to be equally prevalent. Almost all the thrust-type mechanisms belonging to the Hindukush area have both the nodal planes in the NW-SE direction for shallow as well as intermediate depth earthquakes. The dip of P-axes for the events indicating thrust type mechanisms rarely exceeds 35°. The direction of the seismic slip vector obtained through thrust type solutions is always directed towards the northeast. The epicentral pattern together with these results suggest a deep-seated fault zone paralleling the northwesterly seismic zone underneath the Hindukush. This NW-lineament has a preference for thrust faulting, and it appears to extend from the vicinity of the Main Boundary Fault of the Kashmir Himalaya on the southeast of Uzbekistan on the northwest through Hindukush. Almost orthogonal to this NW-seismic zone, there is a NE-seismic lineament in which there is a preference for strike-slip faulting.The above results are discussed from the point of view of convergence of the Indian and Eurasian plates in the light of plate tectonics theory.     

利用电磁观测粗略判定地震及台湾地震震级公式校正

通过对点频及5KC电磁波传播路径的理论特征分析并结合99年度发生在闽台地区的几个地震震前所记录到的电磁波异常持续时间进行分析、研究,总结出如何利用电磁观测粗略判定闽台地震的方法,如何利用公式来估算震级,以及台湾地震震级估算公式校正。     

砂土自由场地基水平垂直振动离心模拟试验

利用最新研制的R500B振动台在450 g-t离心机上对砂土自由场地基在水平和垂直地震下的动态反应做了离心模拟试验研究。模拟离心重力场为30 g,振动台在水平和垂直方向的控制最大加速度分别为20 g和10 g。模型内布置相应的微型加速度计以测量地震反应。结果表明,在水平和竖向同时激振与单向分别激振砂土两种情况下,砂土地基有不同的动力反应,应在设计中予以考虑水平和竖向同时激振的耦合作用对砂土地基的影响     

Dynamic soil properties and seismic ground response analysis for North Indian seismic belt subjected to the great Himalayan earthquakes

The paper highlights the importance of using site-specific shear modulus reduction (G/G_max versus shear strain, γ) curves and damping ratio (D versus shear strain, γ) curves for ground response analysis. In order to develop comprehensive G/G_max–γ and D–γ curves (i.e. over a wide range of strain level), two types of apparatus, viz. resonant column and cyclic simple shear, have been used. The case study considered the geological deposits from the river beds of Yamuna River originating from the Himalayan seismic zone of North India. The tests results have been analysed to develop G/G_max–γ and D–γ curves and compared with standard curves. It has been observed that upper and lower boundaries for the standard curves are remarkably different for the geological deposit under consideration. In order to assess the impact of using standard curves rather than site-specific curves, ground response analysis has been carried out at five sites along the Yamuna River using two types of curves (standard and site-specific developed in this study). The study showed that the amplification of shear waves at these sites based on the experimentally derived curves is much higher as compared to the standard curves. The proposed curves better represent dynamic behaviour of the soil deposits of the region and will provide a realistic response as far as practically possible, for the structures constructed in the states of Haryana and Delhi and nearby areas. It is anticipated that the data presented in this paper will have wide application and usage.

     

Reappraisal of great historical earthquakes in the northern Chile and southern Peru seismic gaps

A critical reappraisal of great historical interplate earthquakes in the occidental margin of South America, including southern Peru and northern Chile, is carried out.A spacetime distribution of the earthquakes associated to the seismotectonics regions defined by the rupture zones of the greatest events (1868, Mw = 8.8 and 1877, Mw = 8.8) is obtained. Both regions are seismic gaps that are in the maturity state of their respective earthquake cycles. The region associated to the 1868 earthquake presents a notable seismic quiescence in the present century.     

Occurrence patterns of large earthquakes in the seismic zones along the Hellenic Arc

Occurrence patterns of large shallow and intermediate depth earthquakes in the seismic zones along the Hellenic Arc have been investigated. It is shown that throughout this active region the earthquakes tend to occur in a rather systematic manner. At each time-period earthquakes occur within a discrete activated segment of the arc. These occurrence patterns are considered to offer an insight into identifying where large earthquakes are expected to occur in the future.     

福建数字地震台网测定台湾地震的震级问题

本文对 1 999年 1月至 2 0 0 0年 1 2月福建数字地震台网测定的台湾地区ML≥ 5 .0级地震 (9.2 1地震序列取ML≥ 5 .5级地震 )测定了Ms震级 ,并将福建台网测定的ML、Ms震级与中国地震局分析预报中心测定的大震速报Ms震级进行了比较。     

A modified rock physics model for analysis of seismic signatures of low gas-saturated rocks

In seismic applications, the bulk modulus of porous media saturated with liquid and gas phases is often estimated using Gassmann's fluid substitution formula, in which the effective bulk modulus of the two-phase fluid is the Reuss average of the gas and liquid bulk moduli. This averaging procedure, referred to as Wood's approximation, holds if the liquid and gas phases are homogeneously distributed within the pore space down to sizes well below the seismic wavelength and if the phase transfer processes between liquid and gas domains induced by the pressure variations of the seismic wave are negligible over the timescale of the wave period. Using existing theoretical results and low-frequency acoustic measurements in bubbly liquids, we argue that the latter assumption of “frozen” phases, valid for large enough frequencies, is likely to fail in the seismic frequency range where lower effective bulk modulus and velocity, together with dispersion and attenuation effects, are expected. We provide a simple method, which extends to reservoir fluids a classical result by Landau and Lifshitz valid for pure fluids, to compute the effective bulk modulus of thermodynamically equilibrated liquid and gas phases. For low gas saturation, this modulus is significantly lower than its Wood's counterpart, especially at the crossing of bubble point conditions. A seismic reflector associated to a phase transition between a monophasic and a two-phase fluid thus will appear. We discuss the consequences of these results for various seismic applications including fizz water discrimination and hydrocarbon reservoir depletion and CO₂ geological storage monitoring.     

Analysis of flood causes and associated socio-economic damages in the Hindukush region

Pakistan is exposed to numerous hazards, but the problem of recurrent floods has been causing massive losses to lives and other properties. Swat valley is no exception to it. In this paper, an attempt has been made to analyse the causes and associated socio-economic impacts of floods on the Swat valley, Pakistan. Swat valley falls in the Hindukush region, North-west-Pakistan. The valley has been studied with special reference to its physical and socio-economic environment. Similarly, three-sample villages were also randomly selected from the active floodplain for micro-level analysis. The sample villages include Ningolai, Delay and Ghureijo. All the three-sample communities are located on the right bank of river Swat. This area is located in the active flood zone of Swat valley. The analysis revealed that in the study area, floods occur during summer season, which is mainly caused by heavy rainfall as well as rapid melting of snow and glacier. Besides these, there are some floods intensifying factors, which accelerate intensity of floods and enhance resultant damages in the valley. It was found that during flood season, water overflows the natural levees and trigger tremendous loses to housing, agricultural land, standing crops and other properties. The flood-related Government Departments have only implemented limited structural mitigation measures. However, in addition to structural measure, land-use zoning and flood abatement strategies would largely help in reducing the adverse consequences of this recurrent phenomenon.     

NIED seismic moment tensor catalogue for regional earthquakes around Japan: quality test and application

We have examined the quality of the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED) seismic moment tensor (MT) catalogue obtained using a regional broadband seismic network (FREESIA). First, we examined using synthetic waveforms the robustness of the solutions with regard to data noise as well as to errors in the velocity structure and focal location. Then, to estimate the reliability, robustness and validity of the catalogue, we compared it with the Harvard centroid moment tensor (CMT) catalogue as well as the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) focal mechanism catalogue. We found out that the NIED catalogue is consistent with Harvard and JMA catalogues within the uncertainty of 0.1 in moment magnitude, 10 km in depth, and 15° in direction of the stress axes. The NIED MT catalogue succeeded in reducing to 3.5 the lower limit of moment magnitude above which the moment tensor could be reliably estimated. Finally, we estimated the stress tensors in several different regions by using the NIED MT catalogue. This enables us to elucidate the stress/deformation field in and around the Japanese islands to understand the mode of deformation and applied stress. Moreover, we identified a region of abnormal stress in a swarm area from stress tensor estimates.     

Pathways to seismic hazard evaluation: Extreme and characteristic earthquakes in areas of low and high seismicity

The general philosophy of seismic hazard evaluation described here is appropriate for selection of seismic input to regional earthquake engineering codes prior to detailed on-site inspections and geotechnical assessments. Some probabilistic seismic hazard methodologies which can be applied in areas of low and high seismicity, are briefly described to emphasise the main equations with specimen results. Three aspects of hazard assessment are explored by different pathways. These include the analysis of regional earthquake catalogues to obtain magnitude recurrence, particularly using Gumbel extreme value statistics. This is extended to assess ground shaking hazard which is usually sought by earthquake engineers. Thirdly, the concept of earthquake perceptibility is developed, leading to the identification of an earthquake magnitude or type which is characteristic of a region. This most perceptible earthquake is most likely to be felt at any site in a region and provides an earthquake selection criterion which can be used in aseismic design of noncritical structures. Because there are several methods of seismic hazard evaluation, the view is expressed that it is sensible for practical purposes to seek results from different methods or different pathways to the hazard evaluation.Paper presented at the Commission of the European Communities' School on Earthquake Hazard Evaluation, Athens, and at the 21st General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, held in Sofia, 1988.Now at School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, University Plain, Norwich NR4 7TJ, U.K.     

Mauritania Slide Complex: morphology,seismic characterisation and processes of formation

Recently acquired Parasound and high resolution multi-channel seismic reflection data have afforded a more detailed investigation of the Mauritania Slide Complex. The slide is more complex than previously reported, and has affected an area in the order of 34,000 km² between ∼ 600 and > 3,500 m water depths. The ovate-shaped slide displays a long run-out distance > 300 km. Slide formation was pre-conditioned mainly by uninterrupted deposition of upwelling-induced organic-rich sediment in an open slope environment which gave rise to rapid accumulation of poorly consolidated bedded sediment intercalated with thin weak layers. The stages of slide development were characterised by multiple failure events probably occurring mainly as retrogressive sliding which exploited widespread weak layers as glide planes. The study suggests excess pore pressures as being the most important trigger mechanism for slide formation. Earthquakes associated with nearby Cape Verde Islands may have played a mostly complementary or, at one time, a leading role in triggering sediment failures. Diapiric growths have locally triggered minor instability events which resulted in remobilizing of pre-existing debris flows as well as translational sliding. The combined activities of all these triggering factors are the most like cause of the complex morphology of the Mauritania Slide Complex.     

Inelastic displacement demand of RC buildings subjected to earthquakes generated by intermediate-depth Vrancea seismic source

Evaluating inelastic displacement demand of structures exposed to seismic hazard is required for the design of new buildings as well as for seismic risk assessment of existing structures. Most of the buildings are designed to withstand strong earthquakes by responding in the nonlinear range. Having special parts of the structure designed to develop a stable hysteretic behaviour allows the structure to deform in order to accommodate the displacement demand imposed by strong ground motions. This paper is centred on finding a correspondence between the maximum elastic and inelastic displacement responses of the single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems subjected to earthquakes generated by Vrancea seismic source. Vrancea intermediate-depth earthquakes are responsible for the seismic hazard throughout Romanian territory. They have distinctive features, such as large displacement demand and large predominant periods, which makes Romania a special seismic environment. Using a database of Romanian and Japanese strong ground motions generated by intermediate-depth earthquakes and performing nonlinear dynamic analysis on the SDOF oscillators following the Takeda model, this study estimates the inelastic to elastic displacement ratio of reinforced concrete systems. Soil conditions, epicentral distance and magnitude influence on inelastic response is analysed using constant ductility response spectra. The main findings of the study are: the local increase of the inelastic to elastic displacement ratio for type C soil (Eurocode 8 classification) for large magnitude earthquakes and the significant effect of soil conditions on the inelastic response of the SDOF systems. The inelastic amplification was evaluated using a functional form depending on system ductility, soil conditions and earthquake magnitude.