A numerical study on the basin edge effect on soil amplification

In this paper a numerical study on the effects of the basin edge on the dynamic behavior of the model basins are investigated. For this purpose a range of bedrock inclinations at the valley sides from slighter $10^{\circ }$ and $20^{\circ }$ to steeper $30^{\circ }$ and $40^{\circ }$ are selected. A numerical study using nonlinear code which utilizes appropriate static and dynamic boundary conditions, and includes hysteresis damping formulation based on user defined degradation curves is conducted utilizing two sandy and clayey materials. Using several different real earthquake motions provide opportunity for the assessment of the site response to the variation of the motion intensity. The analyses results are presented in the form of the acceleration and spectral acceleration amplification curves. Also, by conducting 1D analyses along the valley the aggravation curve for every case are evaluated and discussed. It was seen that variation of the bedrock inclination not only affects the peaks of the spectral amplification curves, but also the position of the maximums of the curves on the valley surface are changed. Also, the frequency domain results show that different parts of the valleys are sensitive to different periods. While the lateral parts are sensitive to lower periods, the maximum amplification of the inner parts takes place at higher periods. Based on results the 2D behavior not only is dominant at the latreal parts of the valley, but also affects the behavior of the inner parts. Also, the use of the 1D analyes for the estimation of the 2D behavior remains insufficient. Finally, the results of this research show the important effect of the motion intensity on the 2D behavior of the valley specially on the increase of the resonance period at higher period.     

Key structural parameters affecting earthquake ground motion in 2D and 3D sedimentary structures

Alluvial valleys generate strong effects on earthquake ground motion (EGM). These effects are rarely accounted for even in site-specific studies because of (a) the cost of the required geophysical surveys to constrain the site model, (b) lack of data for empirical prediction, and (c) poor knowledge of the key controlling parameters. We performed 3D, 2D and 1D simulations for six typical sedimentary valleys of various width and depth, and for a variety of modifications of these 6 “nominal models” to investigate sensitivity of EGM characteristics to impedance contrast, attenuation, velocity gradient and geometry. We calculated amplification factors, and 2D/1D and 3D/2D aggravation factors for 10 EGM characteristics, using a representative set of recorded accelerograms to account for input motion variability. The largest values of the amplification and aggravation factors are found for the Arias intensity and cumulative absolute velocity, the lowest for the root-mean-square acceleration. The aggravation factors are largest for the vertical component. For each model, at least one EGM characteristic exhibits a significant 2D/1D aggravation factor, while all EGM characteristics exhibit significant 2D/1D aggravation factor on the vertical component. For all investigated sites, there is always an area in the valley for which 1D estimates are not sufficient. 2D estimates are insufficient at several sites. The key structural parameters are the shape ratio and overall geometry of the sediment-bedrock interface, impedance contrast at the sediment-bedrock interface, and attenuation in sediments. The amplification factors may largely exceed the values that are usually considered in GMPEs between soft soils and rock sites.     

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.     

大型河谷场地地震动特性研究

采用有限差分方法,通过算例研究了大型河谷场地地震动特性分析中的人工边界的选取方法,对比分析了不同人工边界的选取对数值模拟结果的影响,确定了散射场地震反应分析输入边界的地震动输入方法,认为在进行有限差分动力计算时,模型两侧施加自由场边界的模拟效果要优于两侧施加粘性边界的模拟效果;同时,对FLAC计算软件进行二次开发,对2个地形差异较大的河谷场地,采用线性和非线性摩尔-库仑模型进行了地震反应对比分析,研究了河谷场地地震动幅值和频谱特性随地形变化的规律。模拟数据表明,河谷场地谷底处地震动基本无放大作用,地势凸起处放大作用则较为明显;当考虑土体非线性时,随着地震动强度的增加,放大作用逐渐减小;谱分析结果表明,地势凸起处受高频地震动的影响显著,而地势平坦的谷底则受低频地震动的影响显著。     

Ground motion amplification by cylindrical valleys embedded in a layered medium

The phenomenon of localized amplification of seismic waves due to subsurface irregularities has attracted the attention of seismologists and engineers for many years. In this paper we present a hybrid numerical method to investigate the ground motion amplification due to sedimentary basins. This method combines the integral representation and the finite element to solve the scattering problem due to an arbitrary cylindrical scatterer. A study is done on two shapes of valleys to show the effect of the angle of incidence, the incident wave type and the layering on the amplification of the surface displacement components by different valleys.     

基于SOILQUAKE软件方法的厚层淤泥场地设防地震动参数确定探讨

以天津滨海某厚层淤泥场地为例,分别采用等效线性化法（LSSRLI-1）和新一代土层地震反应分析SOILQUAKE软件方法在场地危险性计算确定的不同设防水准地震动输入条件下进行了建模土层地震反应计算。计算结果表明：（1）对厚层淤泥软弱场地,与新版区划图结果相比等效线性化法可能会低估场地地震作用,甚至是低估场地设防烈度;（2） SOILQUAKE软件方法在软弱场地设计地震动参数确定时仍能体现一定的放大作用,尤其是强地震动作用下,克服了等效线性化方法在软弱场地计算时出现的设计谱明显矮、宽现象,与当前认识相一致,为软弱场地重大工程设防参数确定提供了参考;（3） SOILQUAKE软件方法在软弱场地设计地震动参数确定较新版区划图结果设防标准有大幅度提高,考虑到相关抗震设防规范的协调性,还需进一步对其他类型软弱场地进行大量强震记录输入计算检验,以便更好的工程应用。     

High frequency strong ground motion modelling in the Catania area associated with the Ibleo-Maltese fault system

A hybrid statistical-deterministic approach has been applied to estimate strong ground motion parameters (PGA, spectral ordinates) in South-Eastern Sicily for a M = 7 earthquake. A number of 100 different rupture processes have been simulated along a composite fault system representing two segments of the Ibleo-Maltese fault scarp. Map at regional scale of mean PGA in the 0.5–20 Hz frequency band shows highest values (0.4–0.5 g) nearby and North of Catania, due to a dominant directivity effect. The COV parameter, which expresses the variability of PGA values as a function of source complexity, is higher in the region nearby and South of the town of Augusta, where, depending on the rupture history, rather large PGA values can be observed (>0.4 g). PGA attenuation curves suggest that an azimuthal variation could be related to the source extent and directivity. The response and pseudo acceleration spectra are computed for different sites in the town of Catania including an approximate 1D site response. Ground motion amplification effects at high frequency (5–20 Hz) are produced by thin shallow layer of soft clay, loose pyroclastites and fill. We observe small amplification effects, in the frequency ranges 2–3 Hz and 5–10 Hz, in sites where recent alluvia reach a thickness of some tens of meters. Otherwise, sites located on outcrops of massive lavas show moderate attenuation.     

Semi‐empirical model for site effects on acceleration time histories at soft‐soil sites. Part 2: calibration

A previously developed simplified model of ground motion amplification is applied to the simulation of acceleration time histories at several soft‐soil sites in the Valley of Mexico, on the basis of the corresponding records on firm ground. The main objective is to assess the ability of the model to reproduce characteristics such as effective duration, frequency content and instantaneous intensity. The model is based on the identification of a number of parameters that characterize the complex firm‐ground to soft‐soil transfer function, and on the adjustment of these parameters in order to account for non‐linear soil behavior. Once the adjusted model parameters are introduced, the statistical properties of the simulated and the recorded ground motions agree reasonably well. For the sites and for the seismic events considered in this study, it is concluded that non‐linear soil behavior may have a significant effect on the amplification of ground motion. The non‐linear soil behavior significantly affects the effective ground motion duration for the components with the higher intensities, but it does not have any noticeable influence on the lengthening of the dominant ground period. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Numerical Study of Effects of Valley-Weathering and Valley-Shape-Ratio on the Ground Motion Characteristics

A study of combined effects of valley-weathering and valley-shaperatio on the ground motion characteristics and associated differential ground motion (DGM) is documented in this paper. In order to properly quantify the weathering effects, a forth-order-accurate staggered-grid viscoelastic time-domain finite-difference program has been used for the simulation of SH-wave responses. Simulated results revealed that the defocusing caused by valley is frequency-independent in contrast to the ridge-focusing. A decrease of average spectral amplification (ASA) with an increase of shape-ratio of the non-weathered triangular and elliptical valleys was obtained. Overall, the amplification and de-amplification pattern was larger in case of triangular valleys as compared to the elliptical valleys. It can be concluded that the dwelling within or near the topcorners of weathered valleys may suffer more damage as compared to their surroundings. A weathered triangular valley with large shape-ratio may cause unexpected damage very near its top-corners since both the ASA and DGM are largest.     

2017年九寨沟MS7.0地震场地特征分析

场地条件对地震动具有较大影响, 研究不同场地条件下的地震动特征对地震动的校正具有重要意义。 本文以九寨沟地震为例, 收集了66个台站的198条三分量强震观测记录和SRTM(Shuttle Radar Topography Mission)公里格网的DEM(Digital Elevation Model)数据, 从多个角度对场地特征进行分析。 首先根据坡度法使用DEM数据对九寨沟特征进行了场地分类, 然后讨论了不同场地类型下的加速度时程、 加速度反应谱、 地震动衰减等地震动特征。 研究表明, 缺少实测资料的情况下, 地形坡度可以作为Vs30(地表以下30 m范围的平均剪切波速度)的一种替代指标, 利用坡度法可以较快速地对场地进行分类; 利用强震观测记录能够从多角度对台站的场地特征进行分析, 不同场地类型对地震动影响不同, 其中, 土层对地震动具有明显的放大效应。 该结论可以为地震动结果的校正提供依据。     

Analysing tension infiltrometer data from sloped surface using two‐dimensional approximation

Tension infiltrometers allow water to infiltrate into the soils at various specified pressure heads. The resulting infiltration rates can then be analysed for soil hydraulic properties by either analytical or inverse numerical methods. Tension infiltrometers however are primarily designed to be deployed on horizontal land surfaces, and their applications have been studied widely using an inverse numerical tool HYDRUS‐2D. However, natural landscapes are often nonhorizontal, and infiltration through tension infiltrometers on sloped surfaces is no longer an axisymmetrical two‐dimensional (2D) process but a fully three‐dimensional (3D) one. In addition, minimal research has examined the effect of simplifying the 3D problem to a 2D one on the hydraulic conductivity estimated using tension infiltrometer data from different land slopes of various soil types. Therefore, in this study, tension infiltrometer data on different slopes have been obtained from a catchment located at National University of Singapore. In addition, tension infiltrometer data of six soil types on different slopes and with different initial water content were simulated using HYDRUS‐3D. Combining field measurements, forward and inverse modelling, the influence of applying a 2D approximation on hydraulic property estimations using tension infiltrometer data was examined. The results show that the estimations for soils with high infiltration rates are more sensitive to application of the 2D approximation. The maximum allowable slopes for employing 2D approximation on clayey and sandy soils are 25° and less than 3°, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum allowable slope decreases with decreasing initial water content. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Paleomagnetic evidence for clockwise rotation of the northern arm of Sulawesi,Indonesia

Paleomagnetic results from the northern arm of Sulawesi show that the arm has been subjected to a clockwise rotation of more than 90° and that its rotational motion began no later than the middle Miocene. The mean direction showing a normal polarity at the Eocene to the early Miocene isD = 98.0° andI = 6.9°. A declination value ofD = 50.1° obtained from Miocene rocks indicates a transition stage of the rotational motion. The datum from Plio-Pleistocene volcanics isD = ?4.6° andI = ?9.3°. This suggests that the rotational motion terminated before the initiation of volcanic activity during the Plio-Pleistocene.     

山谷地形对入射SV波地震反应分析

基于黏弹性人工边界的显式动力有限元方法,研究了突出平台状山谷地形场地的地形效应,分析了山谷地形对地表地震动的影响.结果表明:(1)沿着地震动输入方向地表反应较其他方向上的反应强烈;(2)与单一凸起山体地形对地表地震动的放大效应相比,相邻地形的存在对地表地震动位移傅里叶谱谱比曲线的形状影响不大,但是对PGD有着较大的影响...     

Variations of Strength,Resistivity and Thermal Parameters of Clay after High Temperature Treatment

This paper reports the variations of strength, resistivity and thermal parameters of clay after high-temperature heating. Experiments were carried out to test the physical properties of clay heated at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 800°C in a furnace. The experiment results show that below 400°C the uniaxial compressive strength and resistivity change very little. However, above 400°C, both increase rapidly. At a temperature under 400°C, the thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity decrease significantly. The thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) test indicate that a series of changes occur in kaolinite at temperatures from 400 to 600°C, which is considered the primary cause of the variation of physical and mechanical properties of clay under high temperatures.     

Side-effect of using response spectral amplification ratios for soft soil sites—Earthquake source-type dependent amplification ratios

Our previous studies show that site effects (amplification of rock motions), source and path effects are coupled when response spectra are used to characterize the amplification ratios for a soil site modelled as nonlinear or elastic. The coupling is referred to as a “side effect” of using response spectral amplification ratios. In the present study we use a suite of rock site records, well distributed with respect to magnitude and source distance, from crustal, subduction interface and slab earthquakes to evaluate the response spectral amplification ratio for soft soil sites. We compare these side-effects for ground motions generated by three types of earthquakes, and we find that, at periods much shorter or much longer than the natural period of a soil site modelled as elastic, the average amplification ratios with respect to rock site ground motions from three types of earthquakes are moderately different and are very similar for other spectral periods. These differences are not statistically significant because of the moderately large scatter of the amplification ratios. However, the extent of magnitude- and source-distance-dependence of amplification ratios differs significantly. After the effects of magnitude and source distance on the amplification ratios are accounted for, the differences in amplification ratios between crustal and subduction earthquake records are very large in some particular combinations of source distance and magnitude range. These findings may have potential impact in establishing design spectra for soft soil sites using strong motion attenuation models or numerical modelling.     

不同类型黄土场地地震诱发灾害分析

基于FLAC3D数值模拟方法,建立不同类型的黄土场地计算模型,研究地震动强度和频率对不同类型黄土场地的动力响应特征和变形规律,分析不同类型黄土场地地震动响应的差异性,揭示不同类型黄土场地诱发的地震灾害,结合理论分析验证数值模拟结果的可靠性。研究表明:黄土-泥岩接触型二元结构斜坡极易发生滑动破坏引起斜坡失稳,并且在坡肩位置引起较为明显的动力响应,加速度放大系数是坡顶的2倍左右,是一元结构黄土斜坡相同部位加速度放大系数的1.5倍左右; 黄土斜坡临空面的存在会引起土体沿坡面发生一定范围的滑动和堆积,黄土塬内较塬边更为稳定,不易发生损伤破坏; 低频地震波对平坦场地的地震响应影响明显,随着高程的增加,频带宽度增加,傅里叶谱幅值增加,坡肩处的幅值是坡脚的2倍左右; 黄土斜坡场地易诱发大面积的滑坡灾害,黄土塬场地在剪切力和压张破坏条件下易诱发局部震陷灾害。     

Parametric analysis of the seismic response of a 2D sedimentary valley: implications for code implementations of complex site effects

A detailed 2D model has been constructed and validated for Euroseistest valley, in northern Greece. We take advantage of this model to investigate what parameters, in addition to surface soil conditions (obviously the most important parameter), can be used to correctly characterize site response in a 2D structure. Through a parametric analysis using 2D numerical simulations for SH waves, we explore the differences between the computed ground motion for different simplifications of the valley's structure. We consider variations in the velocity structure within the sediments, and variations of the shape between sediments and bedrock. We also compare the results from different 1D models reflecting current approaches to the determination of site response. Our results show clearly that, in the case of Euroseistest, site response owes fundamentally to its closed basin shape because it is largely controlled by locally generated surface waves. Thus, in terms of predicting site response, a rough idea of its shape ratio and of the average mechanical properties of the sediments are better than a very detailed 1D profile at the central site. Although the details of ground motion may vary significantly between the models, the relative amount of surface waves generated in the 2D models seems to be relatively constant. Moreover, if we quantify the additional amplification caused by the lateral heterogeneity in terms of the ‘aggravation factor’ introduced by Chávez-García & Faccioli [7], a roughly constant factor between 2 and 3 seems to appropriately take into account the effects of lateral heterogeneity. Of course, a correct estimate of the overall impedance contrast is necessary to correctly predict the maximum amplification, a caveat that also applies to 1D models. In this sense, Euroseistest rings an alarm bell. In this valley the more significant impedance contrast lies at about 200 m depth, and it is missed both by consideration of the average shear wave velocity of the first 30 m (the V_s30 criterion) or using the detailed velocity profile down to a depth where a shear wave velocity larger than 750 m/s is found. Our conclusions indicate that, in order to improve current schemes to take into account site effects in building codes, the more to be gained comes from consideration of lateral heterogeneity, at least in the case of shallow alluvial valleys, where locally generated surface waves are likely to be important.     

天津滨海软土场地的大震远场作用

利用天津滨海地区丰富的地震地质钻孔资料及测试数据,建立了相应的地震反应模型.选取美国加州1992年Landers地震的远场记录P0841作为基底输入,采用工程上常用的等效线性化方法进行了土层地震反应分析,以期对天津滨海软土场地的大震远场作用得到一些定性的认识．结果显示,天津滨海软土场地对远场大震地震动峰值加速度的放大作用比较显著,但不同场地条件放大作用有明显差异,Ⅳ类场地的放大效应明显减弱.对基岩与地表反应谱比的分析显示, 滨海场地对基岩地震动的不同频率分量的放大作用具有明显的不同,对短周期分量甚至出现了缩减,但当滨海软土场地受到与场地卓越周期相吻合的地震动影响时,可能会产生很可观的放大作用,这对建在其上的高层、超高层建筑可能会构成较大的威胁．      

软粘土固结变形微观分维指标分析

软粘土宏观性质与其微结构有着密切联系。对天津滨海新区软粘土先后进行了固结实验和扫描电镜实验,并对扫描图像进行处理,提取微观结构指标进行分析。结果显示,随着固结压力的增加,软粘土原有微观结构遭到强烈破坏,粘土粒度分维、颗粒表面起伏分维降低,颗粒分布分维增大。表现为颗粒粒径和表面起伏程度降低,颗粒排列出现明显的定向方向,密实度增大。