Surface Soil Effects Study Using Short-period Microtremor Observations in Almería City, Southern Spain

—?In Almería city large earthquakes occurred and many buildings were completely destroyed in these historical earthquakes. The actual population of Almería city is about 200,000 people. This population is rapidly increasing and new urbanizing areas are growing to the eastern part of the city where they are located in softer soil conditions. Consequently, the evaluation of surface soil conditions is very important from a standpoint of earthquake disaster mitigation. We have obtained a landform classification map developed by analysing aerial photos, large-scale topographic maps and 80 borehole data. Eleven unit areas, which have different soil conditions, were inferred from this research. Also, S-wave velocity prospecting tests were carried out at several sites within the city. The shear-velocity values of the ground vary from 1689?m/s in hard rock to 298?m/s in soft soil. These results are useful for understanding the uppermost soil characteristics and are used for soil classification. Finally, short-period microtremor observations were densely carried out in the research area and NAKAMURA's method (1989) was applied for determining predominant periods. Microtremors were observed at about 173 sites with mainly 400?m interval in rock sites and 200?m interval in relatively soft soil sites. From the result of these microtremor measurements, the predominant period determined at rock site, in the western part of the city and historic area, is very short, about 0.1?s, and very stable. However at soft soil sites, in the center of the city, near Zapillo Beach and in the newly developed urban area, the predominant period is about 1.0?s and even larger in concordance with the geological conditions. Finally, at medium soil sites, in the eastern part of the city, the predominant period is about 0.4?s and it appears very stable in the whole region. The difference of predominant periods between hard rock and soft soil sites is very clear and it has been observed that the distribution of predominant periods depends heavily on the surface soil conditions.     

Comparison between different techniques for evaluation of predominant periods using strong ground motion records and microtremors in Pereira Colombia

This paper presents a comparison between different techniques for evaluation of predominant periods in soft soil, for the urban area of Pereira city, Western Colombia. In this study we used microtremor and strong ground motion records obtained by a local array of seven accelerographs stations deployed in the city. Response spectra and spectral ratios have been calculated and compared with strong seismic events recorded in solid rock and soft soil stations. These observations allowed the determination of dominant response spectra for several sectors in the urban area. For the microtremor measurements and earthquake data, dominant periods were determined using interpretation of Fourier amplitude spectra and Nakamura's technique. A comparison between dominant periods obtained from strong ground motion records and those obtained from microtremor measurements show similarities, which is in the range 0.2–0.5 s. A preliminary version of a site response map for Pereira city was obtained from this analysis.     

Effect of site amplification on inelastic seismic response

The available models for eff ective periods of site and structure are reviewed in context of frequency tuning in the inelastic seismic response of soil-structure system. The eff ect of seismic intensity and ductility demand, on the eff ective periods, is investigated, and inelastic site amplifi cation is shown to be strongly correlated to the normalized eff ective period. Two non-dimensional parameters, analogous to the conventional site amplifi cation factors in codes, are defi ned to quantify the inelastic site amplifi cation. It is shown that the inelastic site amplifi cation factor (i.e. ratio of constant ductility spectral ordinates at soil site to those at rock outcrop) is able to represent the site eff ects more clearly, as compared to the inelastic site amplifi cation ratio (i.e. ratio of inelastic spectral ordinates at soil site to the corresponding elastic spectral ordinates at rock outcrop). Further, the peak in the amplifi cation factor corresponding to the eff ective site period diminishes rapidly with increasing ductility demand.     

Seismic microzonation of the greater Bangkok area using microtremor observations

Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, is located at a remote distance from seismic sources. However, it has a substantial risk from these distant earthquakes due to the ability of the underlying soft clay to amplify ground motions. It is therefore imperative to conduct a detailed seismic hazard assessment of the area. Seismic microzonation of big cities, like Bangkok, provides a basis for site‐specific hazard analysis, which can assist in systematic earthquake mitigation programs. In this study, a seismic microzonation map for the greater Bangkok area is constructed using microtremor observations. Microtremor observations were carried out at more than 150 sites in the greater Bangkok area. The predominant periods of the ground were determined from the horizontal‐to‐vertical (H/V) spectral ratio technique. A microzonation map was then developed for the greater Bangkok area based on the observations. Moreover, the transfer functions were calculated for the soil profile at eight sites, using the computer program SHAKE91, to validate the results from the microtremor analysis. The areas near the Gulf of Thailand, underlaid by a thick soft clay layer, were found to have long natural periods ranging from 0.8s to 1.2s. However, the areas outside the lower central plain have shorter predominant periods of less than 0.4s. The study shows that there is a great possibility of long‐period ground vibration in Bangkok, especially in the areas near the Gulf of Thailand. This may have severe effects on long‐period structures, such as high‐rise buildings and long‐span bridges. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Analysis of the weightiness of site effects on reinforced concrete (RC) building seismic behaviour: The Adra town example (SE Spain)

The damage distribution in Adra town (south‐eastern Spain) during the 1993 and 1994 Adra earthquakes (5.0 magnitude), that reached a maximum intensity degree of VII (European Macroseismic Scale (EMS scale)), was concentrated mainly in the south‐east zone of the town and the most relevant damage occurred in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with four or five storeys. In order to evaluate the influence of ground condition on RC building behaviour, geological, geomorphological and geophysical surveys were carried out, and a detailed map of ground surface structure was obtained. Short‐period microtremor observations were performed in 160 sites on a 100m × 100m dimension grid and Nakamura's method was applied in order to determine a distribution map of soil predominant periods. Shorter predominant periods (0.1–0.3 s) were found in mountainous and neighbouring zones and larger periods (greater than 0.5 s) in thicker Holocene alluvial fans. A relationship T = (0.049 ± 0.001)N, where T is the natural period of swaying motion and N is the number of storeys, has been empirically obtained by using microtremor measurements at the top of 38 RC buildings (ranging from 2 to 9 storeys). 1‐D simulation of strong motion on different soil conditions and for several typical RC buildings were computed, using the acceleration record in Adra town of the 1993 earthquake. It is noteworthy that all the aforementioned results show the influence of site effects in the degree and distribution of observed building damage. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于小波方法的近断层地震动速度脉冲周期的统计特性

采用小波方法筛选出了180条断层距在20 km之内且PGV大于10 cm/s的具有速度脉冲特征的近断层地震波,分别对基岩和土层场地、走滑(SS)和非走滑(NSS)断层、不同脉冲峰值标准情形下近断层脉冲周期和矩震级的关系进行了统计,得到了不同情形下脉冲周期-震级经验公式回归系数,以供近场地震动速度脉冲的相关研究参考使用。结果表明:走滑断层产生的脉冲周期比非走滑断层的大,但随震级的增大情况发生变化;无论走滑断层还是非走滑断层,当震级较小时,土层场地的脉冲周期比基岩场地的大,随着震级的增加,基岩场地的脉冲周期将比土层场地的大;根据不同标准的速度脉冲峰值PGV记录,得到的周期-震级关系曲线有很大区别。     

Prediction of ground motion in the Osaka sedimentary basin associated with the hypothetical Nankai earthquake

We studied the long-period ground motions in the Osaka sedimentary basin, Japan, which contains a 1- to 3-km thickness of sediments and is the site of many buildings or construction structures with long-natural period. We simulated the broadband ground motions likely to be produced by the hypothetical Nankai earthquake: the earthquake expected to give rise to the most severe long-period ground motion within the basin. For the simulation, we constructed multiscale heterogeneous source models based on the Central Disaster Management Council of Japan (CDMC) source model and adopted a hybrid computation method in which long-period motion and short-period motion are computed using a 3-D finite difference method and the stochastic Green’s function method, respectively. In computing long-period motions, we used a 3-D structure model of the crust and the Osaka sedimentary basin. The ground motions are estimated to have peak velocities of 50–90 cm/s, prolonged durations exceeding 300 s, and long predominant periods of 5–10 s in the area with great thickness of sediments. The predominant periods are in agreement with an approximate evaluation by 4 H/V _s where H and V _s are the thickness of the sediment and the average S wave velocity, respectively.     

场地周期的确定方法综述

场地周期作为场地固有特性是评价场地条件的重要参数。本文在详细阐述场地周期基本概念的基础上将其区分为场地卓越周期和场地基本周期,并详细分析总结了这两种周期的不同确定方法。场地卓越周期是地震波在场地中传播幅值被明显放大频带对应的周期,主要是是利用地脉动或强震动记录通过频谱分析得出的,给出的是场地周期的范围,有时根据频谱曲线会无法识别场地卓越周期。场地基本周期是将场地假定为覆盖在均匀、各向同性线弹性基岩半空间上的水平成层均匀、各项同性的线弹性土层场地,无阻尼的情况下第一振型对应的周期。通过场地的物理参数(剪切波速或剪切模量,土层厚度和质量密度等)计算得出,计算方法包括解析法、数值法和简化法,实际应用中经常采用的方法是简化法。一般地,两种方法的确定结果不尽相同,在场地不太厚,场地土不太软的情况下,二者的确定结果相近。     

The role of peri‐glacial active layer development in determining soil‐regolith thickness across a Triassic sandstone outcrop in the UK

This paper examines the weathering processes that have combined to produce the distribution of soil‐regolith (SR) thickness across the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group outcrop (750 km²) in Nottinghamshire, UK. Archive borehole logs (n = 282) taken across the outcrop showed that SR thickness had mean and median depths of ~1·8 and 1·5 m, respectively. Cores were taken from a forested site to depths ~3 m for geochemical analysis. At this site the SR thickness was ~1·7 m. Analysis of the loss of elements, compared to bedrock using mass balance calculations (τ) showed that all the calcite and gypsum cement had been removed to depths of >3 m. Thus the major difference between the SR and the underlying saprolite was that the former exists as loose sand as opposed to a semi‐durable rock. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of core samples suggested that the non‐durable rock or saprolite had greater cementation of clay particles. We propose that the mechanism through which the clay cement (and other interlocking grain bonds) was eased apart was through freeze–thaw processes associated with the summer ‘active layer development (ALD)’ during the last glacial activity in the UK. We tested this theory by developing a Monte Carlo simulation based on a simplified version of the Stefan equation. Current Arctic datasets of air and ground temperatures were obtained to provide reasonable starting conditions for input variables. These were combined with known data for thermal conductivity, bulk density and moisture content of the Sherwood Sandstone regolith. Model predictions (n = 1000) of the distribution of SR thickness accurately reflect the observed distribution thickness from the borehole logs. This is strong evidence that freeze–thaw and ‘ALD’ processes are major factors in determining the thickness of SR across this outcrop. British Geological Survey © NERC 2012     

From regional- to local-scale seismic hazard assessment: examples from Southern Spain

An approach that relates results from a regional seismic hazard assessment study with local-scale site-effect characterizations in an area of low-to-moderate seismic activity such as Andalusia (southern Spain), is presented. Results of a previous probabilistic seismic hazard analysis of Andalusia on rock conditions are disaggregated to infer hazard controlling earthquakes for different target motions. A collection of controlling magnitude-distance pairs and the corresponding site-specific response spectra at main capital cities of the region are obtained. These spectra are first-order approximations to expected seismic actions required in local earthquake risk assessments. In addition, results of independent, local-scale studies developed in Almeria City (SE Andalusia) are used to derive an updated seismic zonation of the city. These include predominant soil period estimates and shear-wave velocity profiles at different locations. If a local seismic risk assessment study or an earthquake-resistant structural design is to be developed, it may be recommended the use of different seismic actions on sites characterized by distinct response to seismic shaking (as derived from the seismic zonation). The seismic action related to worst-case scenarios may be modeled through a hazard-consistent response spectrum, obtained by hazard disaggregation at the spectral acceleration with period matching the prevailing resonant period of the target site or structure.     

The Frozen Soils and Devastating Characteristics of West Kunlun Mountains Pass Ms 8.1 Earthquake Area in 2001

The investigation on damages to frozen soil sites during the West Kunlun Mountains Pass earthquake with Ms 8.1 in 2001 shows that the frozen soil in the seismic area is composed mainly of moraine, alluvial deposit, diluvial deposit and lacustrine deposit with the depth varying greatly along the earthquake rupture zone. The deformation and rupture of frozen soil sites are mainly in the form of coseismic fracture zones caused by tectonic motion and fissures,liquefaction, seismic subsidence and collapse resulting from ground motion. The earthquake fracture zones on the surface are main brittle deformations, which, under the effect of sinlstral strike-slip movement, are represented by shear fissures, tensional cracks and compressive bulges. The distribution and configuration patterns of deformation and rupture such as fissures, liquefaction, seismic subsidence and landslides are all related to the ambient rock and soil conditions of the earthquake area. The distribution of earthquake damage is characterized by large-scale rupture zones, rapid intensity attenuation along the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Highway, where buildings distribute and predominant effect of rock and soil conditions.     

北京地区中硬场地对地震动加速度反应谱的放大效应研究

当前,合理确定地震动峰值加速度与反应谱特征周期是工程场地地震动参数确定工作的主要内容。本文以北京地区典型中硬场地为研究对象,分析场地条件对不同周期地震动反应谱值的影响。首先,计算不同震级、震中距条件下的基岩地震动加速度反应谱,合成基岩输入地震动时程;再利用110个工程场地的钻孔资料进行土层地震反应计算,分析中硬场地条件对不同输入环境下的地震动加速度反应谱值的放大效应。结果表明,中硬场地对高、中频震动放大效应明显,尤其是对0.2-0.5s周期段地震动加速度反应谱值的放大倍数大多在1.3以上;场地覆盖层厚度变化对不同频段地震动加速度反应谱值的放大倍数所产生的影响是不同的,与场地自振周期的相关性很强;在不同的地震动输入环境下,中硬场地对不同频段地震动加速度反应谱的影响是不同的,这一结论对实际的抗震设防工作具有一定参考价值。     

Ground‐motion attenuation relationship for the Sumatran megathrust earthquakes

A representative attenuation relationship is one of the key components required in seismic hazard assessment of a region of interest. Attenuation relationships for peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity and response spectral accelerations for Sumatran megathrust earthquakes, covering M_w up to 9.0, are derived based on synthetic seismograms obtained from a finite‐fault kinematic model. The relationships derived are for very hard rock site condition and for a long‐distance range between 200 and 1500 km. They are then validated with recorded data from giant earthquakes on the Sumatran megathrust occurring since year 2000. A close examination of the recorded data also shows that spectral shapes predicted by most of the existing attenuation relationships and that specified in the IBC code are not particularly suitable for sites where potential seismic hazard is dominated by large‐magnitude, distant, earthquakes. Ground motions at a remote site are typically signified by the dominance of long‐period components with periods longer than 1 s, whereas the predominant periods from most of the existing attenuation relationships and the IBC code are shorter than 0.6 s. The shifting of response spectrum towards longer period range for distant earthquakes should be carefully taken into account in the formulation of future seismic codes for Southeast Asia, where many metropolises are located far from active seismic sources. The attenuation relationship derived in the present study can properly reproduce the spectral shape from distant subduction earthquakes, and could hopefully give insights into the formulation of future seismic codes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geophysical investigation of the Sandalp rock avalanche deposits

In the study of rock avalanche phenomena, numerical modelling makes use of back analyses of the rock avalanche propagation for calibration of the modelling assumptions and parameters. The back analyses require knowledge of the run-out area boundaries and the thickness distribution of the deposit. Geophysical methods can be applied to retrieve the thickness distribution, but, due to strong heterogeneities and logistic problems they are seldom applied. The aim of this work is to assess the potential of integrated geophysical methods to recognise and characterise a deposit created by two rock avalanches which occurred in the Sandalp valley (Switzerland) in 1996. The topography of the site before and after the rock avalanche is known and can be used as a benchmark. Resistivity tomography, seismic P-wave tomography, and active and passive surface wave analysis have been applied on several profiles deployed both on the rock avalanche deposit and in the surrounding area. Innovative approaches for surface wave analysis based on laterally constrained inversion and multimodal inversion have been applied to the data. A comparison of the results of the geophysical investigations with the topographic benchmark has shown the capability of the geophysical methods to locate the bottom of the deposit in the areas where the contrast with the host sediments properties is significant. In these areas, the deposit has higher resistivities and lower seismic velocities than the underlying materials. In the areas where the deposit is thicker and richer in fine-grained materials the geophysical parameters are not able to discriminate between the rock avalanche deposit and the underlying sediments. As a secondary task, the geophysical methods also allowed the bedrock pattern to be outlined.     

The new accelerograph network for Santa Fe De Bogota, Colombia and implications for microzonation

The new accelerographic network of Santa Fe de Bogotá is composed of 29 three-component stations with sensors at the surface and three additional six-component borehole stations with three sensors at the surface and three at depth (115, 126 and 184 m). In total, 32 stations have been operative in the metropolitan area of Bogotá since 1999. During this period of time, a significant number of weak motion are recorded and used for a preliminary analysis of local site effects. Using the SH-wave response spectra we verify the behavior of the different seismic zones proposed by the previous microzonation study of the city. A comparison between normalized SH-wave response spectra and the normalized design spectra for each zone clearly depicts that parts of the design spectra should be revised, as well as the boundaries between different zones may require some changes. The spectral amplification levels reach up to a factor of 5. The predominant periods obtained by the amplification spectra in different stations in the city, show variability from 0.3 to 3.0 s. A comparison is also made between the predominant periods obtained using H/V spectral ratios of microtremors and those using weak motion. In general, microtremors tend to predict slightly lower values of dominant periods than those calculated by the weak motion spectra. However, there is a general correlation between the two data sets. Using the data recorded by one of the borehole station, an equivalent linear seismic response analysis was conducted. The modeled and recorded response spectra show similarities in period peaks, however, the modeled soil amplification is underestimated for periods less than 0.8 s. Since the available record is weak motion which represents mostly the linear response of the soils, further analysis is required.     

Long-term changes in cladoceran assemblages in the Danube floodplain area (Slovak–Hungarian stretch)

In this paper, the distribution of Cladocera species in the different sampling sites: the main channel/old river bed, parapotamal type side arms and plesiopotamal side arms, is described. The structure of cladoceran assemblages in the by-passed Danube section and in the adjacent floodplain water bodies has changed since the Gabčíkovo hydropower plant was put into operation. Great changes have been observed in the previous parapotamal side arm situated between river km 1840 and 1820, artificially fed with water from the head-race canal. The dominance of tychoplanktonic (benthic and phytophilous) species has increased, while the typical euplanktonic species have disappeared. Three characteristic groups of cladoceran assemblages were recorded when a different type of habitat was taken into consideration. Euplanktonic cladocerans prevailed on all sampling sites before damming. In periods after damming, littoral species, and later also a euplanktonic forms, dominated on the main channel sampling sites. In parapotamal and plesiopotamal side arms with rich littoral macrovegetation during periods after damming, phytophilous cladoceran species were the ones with the highest occurrence. The samplings from the first time period were rather homogenous. The samplings from the second and third period were more similar when considering the sample site than regarding the time period. In total, 64 cladoceran species were recorded in the course of 13 years (from 1991 to 2004). The increase in number of Cladocera species from 1991 to 2004 was significant. Chydorus sphaericus was found to be the most widely distributed species in the study area. The finding of Disparalona hamata is the first faunistic record from the central part of the Danubian watersheds.     

2020年7月12日唐山古冶5.1级地震揭示的北京城区地震动场地效应分析

局部场地条件对地震动特性影响显著,深厚的软弱覆盖层引起的地震动场地效应会显著放大中长周期反应谱。采用谱比法,对2020年7月12日唐山古冶5.1级地震中获得的部分强震动记录进行统计,发现在本次地震中北京城区的地震动场地效应显著,深厚覆盖层明显放大了加速度反应谱,在T=1.2 s左右反应谱放大倍数可达4.0,说明北京地区的场地和盆地效应使得远场地震动的中长周期成分显著放大。此外,发现参考基岩场地记录是否与土层场地处遭受的基岩地震动一致,仍然是制约统计结果可靠性的关键因素。      

Surface‐climate attributes at Injisuthi Outpost,Drakensberg, and possible ramifications for weathering

Aerial and sub‐aerial climatic data were collected from a station at 1920 m a.s.l. in the Injisuthi region of the South African Drakensberg. Sensors monitored air temperature, soil surface and rock surface temperature, for two rock types, over the summer and winter of 2001/2002. Rainfall was measured from the summer of 2001 to January 2004. These are the first rock and soil surface‐climate data to be collected for an exposed site at this altitude in the area. Rainfall over the two calendar years 2002 and 2003 was found to be below estimates for the region, but patterns imply numerous rock wetting and drying cycles in summer. At the site, air, rock and soil temperatures differ considerably on a diurnal basis with respect to both absolute temperature and daily ranges. Mean rock daily ranges, as conducive to possible thermal fatigue, are found to be similar in the summer and winter periods. Of the two rock types monitored, the darker coloured basalt attained higher maximum and marginally lower minimum temperatures than the sandstone. Soil frost did not occur at 2·5 cm depth, but rock did reach below ?6 °C in winter. Both rock types maintain relatively high rock temperatures in winter (exceeding 25 °C), thus chemical weathering is probably only moisture restricted during this dry period. Findings highlight the importance of directly monitoring rock temperature when attempting to discern the rock weathering environment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.