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.     

Site effects in Mexico City urban zone. A complementary study

Site effects are a major factor affecting seismic risk at Mexico City conurbation and have been carefully studied. However, most of the studies and instrumentation concentrate in Mexico City. We present an evaluation of site effects in the counties of Estado de Mexico, to the North of Mexico City, that have been incorporated into Mexico City conurbation. We measured microtremors at 67 points and operated a temporal digital seismograph network. Our results allow us to extend the dominant period map of Mexico City to the heavily populated and industrialized counties of Estado de Mexico. Additionally, we propose a map of maximum relative amplification. Both maps are consistent with local geology, and could be useful for microzonation of this region.     

Preliminary seismic microzonation of Sivas city (Turkey) using microtremor and refraction microtremor (ReMi) measurements

Sivas city, located in the inner east part of Anatolia (Turkey), is far from seismic sources. However, the city is under risk owing to strong earthquakes occurring around the area, and different soil conditions that can produce variation in the ground motion amplification. Microzonation of cities provides a basis for site-specific hazard analysis in urban settlements. In particular, seismic microzonation can be achieved by means of detailed seismic assessment of the area, including earthquake recordings and geological studies. In this paper, we propose a preliminary microzonation map for the city of Sivas, based on the variation in the dominant periods of the sediments covering the area. The periods are retrieved from microtremor measurements conducted at 114 sites, using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio technique. The results of microtremor analysis were compared with those obtained from refraction microtremor measurements at two profiles crossing the studied area. According to the classification of dominant periods, Sivas area can be divided into four zones, probably prone to different levels of seismic hazard. However, specific studies including analysis of weak earthquakes are required in the future to validate our microzonation map.     

Site response in Tecoman,Colima, Mexico—II. Determination of subsoil structure and comparison with observations

In a companion paper local transfer functions were estimated at Tecoman using earthquake and microtremor data. In this paper, the subsoil structure at this city is investigated using seismic refraction and cross-correlation of noise records as a case study. P- and S-wave refraction profiles were measured at five sites within the city. Standard analysis constrained only very shallow layers. The P-wave refraction deployment was also used to record ambient vibration. These data were processed using an extension of the SPAC (SPatial AutoCorrelation (Aki, 1957) [1]) method; cross-correlation is computed between station pairs and the results are inverted to obtain a phase velocity dispersion curve. Penetration depth was larger than that from the refraction experiments but the shear-wave velocity of the basement could not be determined. For this reason, additional microtremor measurements were made using broad band seismometers with a larger spacing between stations. The results allowed to constrain the shear-wave velocity of the basement. Site amplification computed for the final profiles compare well with observed ground motion amplification at Tecoman. The case of Tecoman illustrates that even a simple subsoil structure may require crossing data from different experiments to correctly constrain site effects.     

应用微动H/V谱比法和台阵技术探测场地响应和浅层速度结构

为了快速而且廉价地获取北京市详细的场地响应和浅层速度结构,应用于地震动模拟和地震灾害预防,我们开展了微动观测技术和处理方法研究.本文利用2007年夏季北京五棵松地区进行的几个微动观测实验数据,使用单台H/V谱比法分析场地的卓越频率及其对应的放大系数,并对比了不同地震仪和观测时间对H/V曲线的影响;应用高分辨率F-K频谱分析方法从微动台阵数据中得到Rayleigh波的频散曲线并使用邻域算法反演出浅层速度结构.H/V结果表明该地区卓越频率在2.1～2.2 Hz之间,对应的放大系数下限约为3;利用微动H/V方法得到的场地卓越频率具有较高的稳定性.微动台阵反演结果给出了比较合理的波阻抗界面深度和层平均速度结构,认为地下80多米处的波阻抗界面是决定场地卓越频率和其场地放大系数的主要界面.本研究表明微动技术应用于评估城市地震场地响应和浅层速度结构是可行且易于实施的.     

Application of microtremor measurements to the estimation of earthquake ground motions in Kushiro city during the Kushiro-Oki earthquake of 15 january 1993

Microtremor measurements were conducted in Kushiro City, Hokkaido Island of Japan. The thickness of alluvial deposits in the central area of Kushiro City abruptly changes from 0 to 80 m. Predominant ground motion at a microtremor measuring site is represented by the spectral ratio, the ratio of Fourier amplitude spectrum of microtremor in the horizontal direction to that in the vertical direction. The peak frequency of the spectral ratio corresponds well to the predominant frequency estimated from the thickness of alluvial layer at each site. Based on a hypothesis that the spectral ratio can be regarded identical with a half of the amplification factor from diluvial bed rock to the ground surface, the strong ground motion due to the Kushiro-oki earthquake at each site is estimated. The method of estimation is verified by the comparison of the synthesized accelerogram with the recorded one at West Port of Kushiro. The results satisfactorily explain major damages and vibrations felt in Kushiro City during the earthquake.     

Site effects and soil-structure interaction in the valley of Mexico

An engineering approach is proposed for representing both site effects and soil-structure interaction in extended alluvial valleys, by using the one-dimensional model of shear were propagation corrected empirically to account for lateral heterogeneities and generated surface waves. The peak structural response is expressed by means of spectral contours that are a function of the predominant period of the site and the fundamental period of the structure. Variations of the peak spectral ordinates with the prevailing site period can be deduced from these contours. A number of events of firm ground, representative of the most dangerous earthquakes expected in Mexico City, are assumed as design earthquakes. Making use of the resulting spectral contours, the provisions for site effects recommended in the Mexican seismic code are evaluated. Also, considering as control motion the 1985 Michoacan earthquake recorded at a representative firm site, spectral contours with soil-structure interaction are obtained which allow one to identify the significant interaction effects originating in the Valley of Mexico for medium- and long-period structures. The influence and relative importance of the critical parameters involved are examined within practical ranges of interest.     

Site effects in Mexico City: Constraints from surface wave inversion of shallow refraction data

In order to understand and simulate site effects on strong ground motion records of recent earthquakes in Mexico City, it is fundamental to determine the in situ elastic and anelastic properties of the shallow stratigraphy of the basin. The main properties of interest are the shear wave velocities and Q-quality factors and their correlation with similar parameters in zones of the city. Despite population density and paved surfaces, it is feasible to gather shallow refraction data to obtain laterally homogeneous subsoil structures at some locations. We focused our analysis in the Texcoco Lake region of the northeastern Mexico City basin. This area consists of unconsolidated clay sediments, similar to those of the lake bed zone in Mexico City, where ground motion amplification and long duration disturbances are commonly observed. We recorded Rayleigh and Love waves using explosive and sledgehammer sources and 4.5 Hz vertical and horizontal geophones, respectively. Additionally, for the explosive source, we recorded three-component seismograms using 1 Hz seismometers. We obtained phase velocity dispersion curves from ray parameter-frequency domain analyses and inverted them for vertical distribution of S wave velocity. The initial model was obtained from a standard first-break refraction analysis. We also obtained an estimation of the Q_S shear wave quality factor for the uppermost stratigraphy. Results compare well with tilt and cone penetrometer resistance measurements at the same test site, emphasizing the importance of these studies for engineering purposes.     

Evaluation of the change in dominant periods in the lake-bed zone of Mexico City produced by ground subsidence through the use of site amplification factors

We compute site amplification functions for several sites in Mexico City using actual accelerograms recorded from 1985 to 2010 and we present field evidence of the change in the dominant period of a given site (T_s) as a consequence of ground subsidence produced by groundwater withdrawal. The changes in T_s are larger in the lake-bed zone where thicker clay deposits exist, although there are sites in the southwest part of the lake-bed zone where T_s has remained constant. With the information obtained from the site amplification functions and available geotechnical soundings we develop an empirical model to estimate the future value of T_s for several sites in Mexico City. Because the practical application of the model requires extrapolation we also present a method to compute the uncertainty of the model when it is used to forecast a future value of T_s at a given site. Our results suggest that significant changes in the dominant period at several sites in Mexico City can be expected in the future.     

Evaluation of local site effect from microtremor measurements in Babol City,Iran

Every year, numerous casualties and a large deal of financial losses are incurred due to earthquake events. The losses incurred by an earthquake vary depending on local site effect. Therefore, in order to conquer drastic effects of an earthquake, one should evaluate urban districts in terms of the local site effect. One of the methods for evaluating the local site effect is microtremor measurement and analysis. Aiming at evaluation of local site effect across the city of Babol, the study area was gridded and microtremor measurements were performed with an appropriate distribution. The acquired data was analyzed through the horizontal-to-vertical noise ratio (HVNR) method, and fundamental frequency and associated amplitude of the H/V peak were obtained. The results indicate that fundamental frequency of the study area is generally lower than 1.25 Hz, which is acceptably in agreement with the findings of previous studies. Also, in order to constrain and validate the seismostratigraphic model obtained with this method, the results were compared with geotechnical, geological, and seismic data. Comparing the results of different methods, it was observed that the presented geophysical method can successfully determine the values of fundamental frequency across the study area as well as local site effect. Using the data obtained from the analysis of microtremor, a microzonation map of fundamental frequency across the city of Babol was prepared. This map has numerous applications in designing high-rise building and urban development plans.     

Application of the microtremor measurements to a site effect study

Earthquake has left much life and property damages. The occurrence of such events necessitates the execution of plans for combating the earthquakes. One of the most important methods for combating earthquakes includes assessing dynamic characteristics of soil and site effect. One of the methods by which one can state dynamic characteristics of the soil of an area is the measurement of microtremors. Microtremors are small-scale vibrations that occur in the ground and have an amplitude range of about0.1–1 microns. Microtremor measurement is fast, applicable, cost-effective. Microtremor measurements were taken at 15 stations in the Babol, north of Iran. Regarding H/V spectral ratio method, peak frequency and amplification factor were calculated for all microtremor stations.According to the analysis, the peak frequency varies from0.67 to 8.10 Hz within the study area. Also, the authors investigated the validity of the results by comparing them with SESAME guidelines and geotechnical conditions of study area. The microtremor analysis results are consistent with SESAME guidelines and geotechnical condition of study area. The results show that the microtremor observations are acceptable methods for assessing dynamic characteristics of soil and site effect in the Babol City.     

Estimation of Shallow S-Wave Velocity Structure in Damascus City,Syria, Using Microtremor Exploration

Array measurements of microtremors were carried out at thirty sites in Damascus city, Syria to estimate S-wave velocity structures of shallow soil formations for site effect analysis. The microtremor data were recorded by 6 vertical-component seismometers distributed along the circumferences of two circles as well as a 3-component seismometer deployed in the center. The phase velocities were estimated at each site from the vertical components of recorded microtremor data by using the Spatial Autocorrelation method. Then, Genetic Simulated Annealing Algorithm technique was applied for inversion of the phase velocities to estimate 1-D S-wave velocity structures beneath the sites. The inverted Vs profiles are not uniform in Damascus city and the results show that a shallow soft layer (∼200 m/s) appears in the eastern part of the city as well as the central part along Barada River. This layer controls the amplification distribution in the city with a high amplification mainly observed at the locations having this layer. The inversion results also show that the depth to the engineering bedrock (∼750 m/s) is very shallow along the foothills of Mt. Qasyoun in the north-west. Then the depth increases towards the east and the south. The maximum depth to the engineering bedrock (∼80 m) was observed in the southern part of Damascus. To validate the results of the inversions, the spectral ratios between the horizontal and vertical components (H/V) of the recorded microtremor data at the central seismometer were compared with the computed ellipticities of the fundamental-mode Rayleigh-waves based on the respective Vs structure. The results show a good agreement in a period range of 0.05 s to 0.5 s. In this period range, the dominant peaks of the H/V ratios are due to the overall effect of the velocity contrasts between the shallow layers representing the subsurface S-wave velocity structure. Moreover, the average S-wave velocity for the top 10 m of soils (V_S10) shows a better correlation with the averaged site amplification in a period range of 0.05 s to 0.5 s than V_S30 which indicates that V_S10 can be a better proxy for high-frequency site amplification in the case of Damascus city.     

Numerical analysis of seismic wave amplification in Nice (France) and comparisons with experiments

The analysis of site effects is very important since the amplification of seismic motion in some specific areas can be very strong. In this paper, the site considered is located in the centre of Nice on the French Riviera. Site effects are investigated considering a numerical approach (Boundary Element Method) and are compared with experimental results. The experimental results are obtained thanks to real earthquakes (weak motion) and microtremor measurements. The investigation of seismic site effects through numerical approaches is interesting because it shows the dependency of the amplification level on such parameters as wave velocity in surface soil layers, velocity contrast with deep layers, seismic wave type, incidence and damping.In this specific area of Nice, experimental measurements obtained for weak motion lead to strong site effects. A one-dimensional (1D) analytical analysis of amplification does not give a satisfactory estimation of the maximum reached levels. A boundary element model is then proposed considering different wave types (SH, P, SV) as the seismic loading. The alluvial basin is successively assumed as an isotropic linear elastic medium and an isotropic linear viscoelastic solid with Zener type behaviour (standard solid). The influence of frequency and incidence is analysed. The thickness of the surface layer, its mechanical properties, its general shape as well as the seismic wave type involved have a great influence on the maximum amplification and the frequency for which it occurs. For real earthquakes, the numerical results are in very good agreement with experimental measurements for each motion component. The boundary element method leads to amplification values very close to the actual ones and much larger than those obtained in the 1D case. Two-dimensional basin effects are then very strong and are well reproduced numerically.     

HORIZONTAL-TO-VERTICAL SPECTRUM RATIO OF EARTHQUAKE GROUND MOTION FOR SITE CHARACTERIZATION

Nakamura's method, which uses a horizontal-to-vertical Fourier spectrum ratio of microtremor, has become popular to determine the predominant period and amplification of a site. In this study, this method is extended for earthquake ground motion recordings using new strong motion data recorded by JMA-87-type accelerometers. From the analysis of these accelerograms, horizontal-to-vertical Fourier spectrum ratios of a site for different earthquakes are also found to be stable irrespective of magnitude, distance and depth. To establish this fact, attenuation relations of velocity response spectra for horizontal and vertical components are derived for three damping ratios (0, 2 and 5 per cent) using the JMA data. Then the horizontal-to-vertical ratios of the velocity response spectra are obtained. The results show that the horizontal and vertical velocity response spectra are dependent on magnitude, distance and depth, but that their ratios are almost independent of magnitude, distance and depth. However, since the current data set consists of mostly intermediate to far field data, this observation should be limited to records of these distance ranges. Introducing station coefficients, representing site amplification, to this relation yields the value comparable to the horizontal-to-vertical Fourier spectrum ratio at a specific site. The stability of the spectrum ratio is explained by the transfer function between the ground surface and stiff-soil outcrop due to S-wave propagation. These results suggest that site amplification characteristics can be evaluated by one-point two-component surface recordings of earthquake ground motion, in a similar manner as proposed by Nakamura for microtremor. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Availability of seismic vulnerability index (Kg) in the assessment of building damage in Van,Eastern Turkey

The seismic vulnerability index(Kg) is a parameter that depends on the dynamic properties of soil. With this parameter, it is possible to evaluate the vulnerability of a point-based site under strong ground motion. Since it is related to the natural vibration period and amplification factor, the parameter can be calculated for both soil and structure. In this study, HVSR microtremor measurements are recorded at more than 200 points in the Van region to generate a seismic vulnerability index map. After generating the map, it is determined that the hazard potential and seismic vulnerability index is high at the sites close to Van Lake and at the densely populated city center. Damage information of the buildings investigated after the 2011 Van earthquakes(Mw = 7.1) are placed on the seismic vulnerability index map and it is realized that there may be a correlation between the damage and the seismic vulnerability index. There is a high correlation, approximately 80 percent, between the damage rate map based on the damaged building data and the K_g values. In addition, vulnerability indexes of buildings are calculated and the effect of local soil conditions and building properties on the damage levels are determined. From the results of this study and the site observations after the 2011 Van earthquakes, it is found that structural damage is not only structure-dependent but is also related to the dynamic behavior of soil layers and local soil conditions.     

Deterministic Seismic Scenarios for Imphal City

In this article, the spatial variation of ground motion in Imphal City has been estimated by the finite-fault seismological model coupled with site response analysis. The important seismic sources around Imphal City have been identified from the fault map and past seismicity data. The rock level acceleration time histories at Imphal City for the 1869 Cachar (M_w 7.5) earthquake and a hypothetical M_w 8.1 event in the Indo-Burma subduction zone have been estimated by a stochastic finite-fault model. Soil investigation data of 122 boreholes have been collected from several construction projects in Imphal City. Site response analysis has been carried out and the surface level ground motion has been determined for Imphal City for these two earthquake events. The results are presented in the form of peak ground acceleration (PGA) contour map. From the present study it has been ascertained that the maximum amplification for PGA over Imphal City is as high as 2.5. The obtained contour maps can serve as guidelines for identifying vulnerable areas and disaster mitigation in Imphal City.     

Towards a microzonation of the Greater Beirut area: an instrumental approach combining earthquake and ambient vibration recordings

Lebanon is situated on the 1000 km long Levant transform fault that separates the Arabic from the African tectonic plates. In Lebanon, the Levant fault splits up into a set of ramifications that had, in the past, generated major destructive earthquakes causing a lot of destruction and thousands of casualties. The most devastating one was the 551 A.D. offshore earthquake that destroyed Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. This paper presents a site effect study in Beirut, aimed at proposing a framework for future microzonation works in the city. It includes two complementary parts. A 6-month, temporary seismological experiment was first conducted to estimate the site response at 10 sites sampling the main geological units of Beirut on the basis of local and regional earthquake recordings. This spatially sparse information was then complemented by a large number (615) of microtremor measurements covering the Beirut municipality and part of its suburbs with a 400 m dense grid. The recordings were analysed with the standard site-to-reference and horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio methods for earthquake recordings, and the horizontal-to-vertical ratio for ambient noise recordings. Significant ground motion amplification effects (up to a factor of 8) are found in a few areas corresponding to recent deposits. The consistency between results from earthquake and microtremor recordings allows proposing a map of the resonance frequencies within the city and its suburbs, with frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 5 Hz for the deepest deposits, and 5–10 Hz for shallow areas. Finally, the results are discussed and a way to combine the results obtained from the temporary stations to the great number of recordings coming from the permanent Lebanese network is proposed.     

Regional amplification of ground motion in central Mexico. Results from coda-length magnitude data and preliminary modeling

Seismic ground motion in central Mexico is amplified relative to ground motion observed at the same epicentral distance along the Pacific Coast in a frequency band that includes destructive ground motion at Mexico City. Although several hypothesis have been advanced, at present there is no generally accepted explanation of such amplification. We have analyzed coda-length magnitude data reported by Servicio Sismológico Nacional (SSN) for events recorded during 1993 to increase our understanding of the spatial distribution of this phenomenon. Our results indicate that regional amplification: (a) is detected by magnitude residual computed at each station, relative to the average of SSN network;and (b) is likely related to the crustal structure under the central portion of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). Finally, preliminary wave propagation modelling (using SH wave, finite difference method) suggests that crustal heterogeneity is a possible cause of regional amplification. However, if this is so, it is required that both geometry and velocity distribution vary between the coast and Mexico City.     

Microzonation of Potenza (Southern Italy) in terms of spectral intensity ratio using joint analysis of earthquakes and ambient noise

A temporary seismic network composed of 11 stations was installed in the city of Potenza (Southern Italy) to record local and regional seismicity within the context of a national project funded by the Italian Department of Civil Protection (DPC). Some stations were moved after a certain time in order to increase the number of measurement points, leading to a total of 14 sites within the city by the end of the experiment. Recordings from 26 local earthquakes (M_l 2.2−3.8 ) were analyzed to compute the site responses at the 14 sites by applying both reference and non-reference site techniques. Furthermore, the Spectral Intensity (SI) for each local earthquake, as well as their ratios with respect to the values obtained at a reference site, were also calculated. In addition, a field survey of 233 single station noise measurements within the city was carried out to increase the information available at localities different from the 14 monitoring sites. By using the results of the correlation analysis between the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios computed from noise recordings (NHV) at the 14 selected sites and those derived by the single station noise measurements within the town as a proxy, the spectral intensity correction factors for site amplification obtained from earthquake analysis were extended to the entire city area. This procedure allowed us to provide a microzonation map of the urban area that can be directly used when calculating risk scenarios for civil defence purposes. The amplification factors estimated following this approach show values increasing along the main valley toward east where the detrital and alluvial complexes reach their maximum thickness.     

Microtremor Measurements for the Microzonation of Dinar

v--vThe geotechnical site conditions in Dinar town located in western Turkey were investigated after the 1995 Dinar earthquake based on borings, in situ penetration tests, seismic wave velocity measurements, and microtremor records. The variation of damage distribution within the town was evaluated with respect to 23 district damage ratios calculated, based on the detailed damage survey conducted by the General Directorate of Disaster Affairs. Site amplifications were estimated from microtremor spectral ratios and microzonation was performed using a GIS methodology. The results of in situ penetration tests and seismic wave velocity measurements as well as the damage distribution were compared with the amplification zonation obtained from microtremor records. The results indicate the applicability of microtremor spectral ratios for assessing the local site conditions and site amplifications.