A study of response spectra for different geological conditions in Gujarat,India

In this study, the effect of ground geology on the acceleration response spectra is studied at 32 sites in Gujarat, India. The sites are grouped into Proterozoic, Mesozoic, Tertiary and Quaternary. The normalized acceleration response spectra at 5% damping of 407 strong ground motions (horizontal and vertical components) recorded at these sites varying in magnitude from 3.0 to 5.7 are determined. The study shows that the shape of the acceleration response spectra is influenced by the regional geology and local site conditions. The peak of maximum horizontal spectral amplification is between 0.03 and 0.05 s in Proterozoic formations, 0.06 and 0.10 s in Mesozoic formations, 0.06 and 0.08 s in Tertiary and 0.12 s in Quaternary formations. The maximum vertical spectral acceleration is at 0.025 s in Proterozoic, 0.07 s in Mesozoic, 0.05 s in Tertiary and 0.10 s in Quaternary formations. The average acceleration amplification factor in all the geological formations is between 2.5 and 3.0 both in horizontal and vertical components. It has been observed that acceleration response spectra at sites having same geological formations are also influenced by local site conditions. The study shows that the acceleration response spectrum in the current Indian code applicable for the entire country underestimates the seismic forces at hard-rock sites and overestimates at soft-soil sites. Using recorded strong motion data with Mw ranging from 3.5 to 5.7, an attenuation relationship is developed at six periods to predict geometric mean of horizontal spectral amplitudes for rock and soil sites. The spectral amplitudes predicted with the attenuation relationship match well with the observed one within statistical limits for hypocentral distances less than 200 km.     

Site-specific spectral response of seismic movement due to geometrical and geotechnical characteristics of sites

It is well-known that the response of a site to a seismic solicitation depends on local topographical and geotechnical characteristics. Many aspects of seismic site effect still need to be studied in more detail and they can be incorporated in the seismic norms after quantification. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to establishment of a simple method to include complex site effects in a building code. Horizontal ground movements in various points of two-dimensional (2D) irregular configurations subjected to synthetic SV waves of vertical incidence are calculated. The parametric studies are achieved by means of HYBRID program combining finite elements in the near field and boundary elements in the far field (FEM/BEM). The results are shown in the form of pseudo-acceleration response spectra. For the empty valleys, we can classify the spectral response according to a unique geometric criterion: the “surface/angle” ratio, where surface is the area of the valley opening, and angle denotes the angle between the slope and horizontal line in the above corner. To assess the influence of the 2D effect on the spectral response of filled valleys, the response of alluvial basins are compared with the response of one-dimensional columns of soil. Finally, an offset criterion is proposed to choose a relevant computation method for the spectral acceleration at the surface of alluvial basins.     

Amplification of earthquake ground motion by steep topographic irregularities

The problem of amplification of seismic waves by surface topographic irregularities is addressed through analytical and numerical investigations. First, a closed‐form expression for estimating the fundamental vibration frequency of homogeneous triangular mountains is obtained, using Rayleigh's method. Subsequently, numerical modelling based on the spectral element approximation is used to study the 3D seismic response of several real steep topographic irregularities excited by vertically propagating plane S‐waves. A topographic amplification factor is obtained for each case, by a suitable average of the ratio of acceleration response spectra of output vs input motion. The 3D amplification factors are then compared with those derived by 2D analyses as well as with the topographic factors recommended in Eurocode 8 for seismic design. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic microzonation of Dehradun City using geophysical and geotechnical characteristics in the upper 30 m of soil column

The understanding of geotechnical characteristics of near-surface material is of fundamental interest in seismic microzonation. Shear wave velocity (Vs), one of the most important soil properties for soil response modeling, has been evaluated through seismic profiling using the multichannel analysis of surface waves in the city of Dehradun situated along the foothills of northwest Himalaya. Fifty sites in the city have been investigated with survey lines between 72 and 96 m in length. Multiple 1-D and interpolated 2-D profiles have been generated up to a depth of 30–40 m. The Vs were used in the SHAKE2000 software in combination with seismic input motion of the recent Chamoli earthquake to obtain site response and amplification spectra. The estimated Vs are higher in the northern part of the study area (i.e., 200–700 m/s from the surface to a depth of about 30 m) as compared to the south and southwestern parts of the city (i.e., 180–400 m/s for the same depth range). The response spectra suggest that spectral acceleration values for two-story structures are three to eight times higher than peak ground acceleration at bedrock. The analysis also suggests peak amplification at 3–4, 2–2.5, and 1–1.5 Hz in the northern, central, and south-southwestern parts of the city, respectively. The spatial distributions of Vs and spectral accelerations provide valuable information for the seismic microzonation in different parts of the urban area of Dehradun.     

Estimation of strong seismic ground motion for engineering use in Perth Western Australia

Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) was performed to determine two alternate magnitude-distance combinations for the 475 yr event, and the worst-case scenario event in Perth, Western Australia. Regional strong ground motion (SGM) time histories on rock sites are used to modify an eastern North America (ENA) seismic model to suit southwest Western Australian (SWWA) conditions. This model is then used to stochastically simulate a set of 475 yr design events and a set of worst-case scenario event for rock sites in the Perth metropolitan area (PMA). The simulated time histories are then used as input to typical soft soil sites in the PMA to estimate surface ground motions. The spectral accelerations of the ground motions on rock and soil sites are calculated and compared with the corresponding design spectra defined in current and previous Australian earthquake loading code. Discussions of the adequacy of the code spectra and the differences to ours, along with implications on structural response and damage are made.     

地震反应分析中输入界面的选取对地表地震动参数的影响

地震反应分析中输入界面选取合理与否对设计地震动参数有重要影响。基于唐山地区钻孔剖面,分别选取剪切波速为500m/s的硬黏土和800m/s的岩石顶面作为基岩输入界面,采用一维等效线性化方法讨论中硬场地输入界面的选取对地表地震动参数的影响,结果表明:(1)地表峰值加速度放大倍数及地表加速度反应谱特征周期都随输入界面深度的增加而递增,且这种递增与输入地震动的强度及频谱特性都有密切联系;(2)随着输入界面深度的增加,地表加速度反应谱几乎全频段内增大,仅在短周期内出现减小的情况,但幅度十分有限;(3)中硬场地地震反应分析中基岩输入界面宜取剪切波速为800m/s的土层顶面。     

2D equivalent linear site effect simulation: example applications to two deep valleys

In the framework of the Sismovalp European project, an equivalent linear 2D code was developed to compute the response of a valley to SH waves, using the discrete wave-number method proposed by Aki and Larner (Aki K, Larner KL (1970) J Geophys Res 75:5). To overcome the frequency upper bound limitation, the Aki and Larner’s method is combined with a one-dimensional computation using a classical multi-layer method (Aki K, Richards PG (1980) Quantitative Seismology: Theory and Methods, vols. 1 & 2. W.H. Freeman & Co, San Francisco). The so-called “Aki–Larner extended method” is associated to an iterative algorithm, as proposed by Seed and Idriss (Seed HB, Idriss IM (1969) Report No. EERC 70–10, Earthquake Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, California) which accounts for the modulus and damping degradation using a linear visco-elastic model. A comparison of the results in the linear and the equivalent linear cases, for a magnitude 6.0 earthquake, shows that the account for the equivalent linear behaviour of the soil significantly reduces the amplification level, especially at frequencies higher than the fundamental resonance frequency of the site. In the case of site effects or microzonation studies devoted to produce design spectra for engineering structures, this can have a major impact on the associated results and costs, depending on the frequency of interest for the considered structure. As a first application of the developed technique, 2D equivalent linear Aki–Larner computations are used to perform the seismic microzonation study of the upper Rhone valley, in the Visp area (Switzerland), a typical 2D alpine valley. These investigations made it possible to determine site specific spectra, associated with different zones, to be used instead of the code spectra that do not take into account the local 2D amplification.     

Site response studies and seismic microzoning in the Middle Aterno valley (L��aquila, Central Italy)

Following the April 6th, 2009 Abruzzo mainshock, the Italian Civil Protection Department promoted a multidisciplinary study aimed at developing seismic microzonation maps for post-earthquake reconstruction planning. In the framework of this project, a Working Group, including the authors, was assembled to carry out a microzonation study on six villages located in the Middle Aterno valley. This paper focuses on the villages of Castelnuovo and Poggio Picenze, which experienced MCS intensity values of IX–X and VIII–IX, respectively. 1D and 2D linear equivalent site response analyses were carried out on representative geological cross-sections through the damaged centres and the expansion zones. The subsoil models resulting from geological, geotechnical and geophysical investigations were calibrated by comparing numerical amplification functions, in the linear range, with horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio derived from both aftershocks and noise recordings. The input motions adopted for the analyses were five artificial accelerograms compatible with three response spectra obtained from the Italian seismic code, as well as from ad hoc probabilistic and deterministic studies. The results were expressed in the form of horizontal profiles of amplification factors in terms of peak ground acceleration, F_PGA, as well as of the Housner intensity, FH, in two different range of periods; this latter parameter was shown to be almost independent of the input motion and allowed to express the dependency of site amplification on the frequency range. The amplification factors computed along the representative geological sections were finally extended with a rational procedure to the surrounding areas to draw Grade-3 microzonation maps.     

南北地震带川滇甘陕地区竖向与水平向加速度反应谱比的统计分析

本文收集了从南北地震带川滇甘陕地区263个有详细场地资料的强震台站获得的802组强震动记录,按照场地、震级和震中距等因素统计分析了竖向与水平向加速度反应谱比的形状以及不同场地、震级和震中距下不同周期段内的谱比平均值,并与建筑抗震规范GB50011—2010规定的0.65进行了比较。结果表明:竖向与水平向加速度反应谱比受场地、震级和震中距等因素的影响; Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类场地在全周期段的谱比均值基本上大于0.65;无论何种分组情况谱比均值在0.1—1.0 s周期范围内基本低于定值0.65,周期大于1.0 s的谱比均值基本上远高于0.65。因此对于大部分抗震规范直接把竖向地震作用取为水平向地震作用的0.65倍,有待商榷。本文建议根据水平向反应谱的标定方式来确定现有竖向强震动记录的竖向地震作用。      

The Umbria–Marche case: some suggestions for the Italian seismic zonation

Probabilistic seismic hazard maps, in terms of spectral acceleration and uniform hazard response spectra at given sites, considering local soil conditions, represent a much more complete estimate of the seismic hazard than the traditional maps in terms of peak ground acceleration or macroseismic intensity. This is particularly true when the requests of urban planners and engineers have to be met. The present analysis shows how some hazard parameters, such as the effective peak acceleration and the spectrum intensity, can well synthesise the overall information available from traditional probabilistic studies, but also suggests that soil condition is a first-order ingredient for effective seismic hazard mapping at national level. Three Italian towns, damaged by the 1997 Umbria–Marche earthquake sequence, are considered as example to demonstrate that: (1) soil condition dependent uniform hazard spectra well approximate actual spectra recorded during some events of the seismic sequence; (2) for these localities, the design spectrum of the present Italian seismic code does not seem adequate.

These considerations have induced the Italian scientific community to propose an updating of the national seismic zonation on the basis of several hazard parameters, that are described in this paper.     

Response spectral amplification ratios from 1- and 2-dimensional nonlinear soil site models

In order to determine the effect of geometry on the ground response of 2-dimensional (2-D) basins filled with soils that can develop nonlinear response, we use three basin models with width/depth ratios 3, 6 and 10. The three basins are subjected to a suite of rock site records with various magnitudes and source distances. We compute response spectral amplification ratios at four locations on the surface of the 2-D basins, and determine the average variation of the amplification ratios with respect to excitation spectra, for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and 3 spectral periods of 0.2, 0.5, 1 s. Similarly, we compute the average response spectral amplification ratios for two 1-dimensional (1-D) nonlinear models, one having the soil profile at the basin centre and the other having a soil profile at half the depth of the basin. From the relationship between the average amplification ratios and excitation spectra, we determine the cross-over point in terms of excitation spectral values that separate the amplification range from the deamplification range. Our results show that the cross-over point varies significantly from one location to another on the ground surface and from one basin to another, in a range of 0.3–1.1g for PGA. The effects of basin geometry are very strong at weak and moderate excitation, but decrease with increasing excitation spectra in a significant portion around the basin centre. Our results provide some justification for using 1-D models for 2-D basins with a width/depth ratio ?6 if the soil site is subjected to strong ground shaking.     

Characteristics of response spectra for long-periods of main-shock recordings of the Chi-Chi earthquake

Current practice uses predictive models to extrapolate long-period response spectra based on far-field recordings in moderate and weak earthquakes. However, the spectra are not long enough and the data are often not reliable, which means that the seismic design code cannot accurately define seismic design requirements for long-period structures. The near-field recordings in the main-shock of the Chi-Chi earthquake have a large signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which makes them suitable for studying the long-period acceleration response spectrum up to 20 sec. The acceleration response spectra from 246 stations within 120 km of the causative fault are statistically analyzed in this paper. The influence of distance and site conditions on long-period response spectrum is discussed, and the shapes of the amplification spectra are compared with the standard spectra specified in the seismic design code of China. Finally, suggestions for future revisions to the code are proposed.     

Regional seismic responses of shallow basins incorporating site‐city interaction analyses on high‐rise building clusters

This study assesses the 3D amplification effects in shallow basins and quantifies the effects of site‐city interaction (SCI) on high‐rise buildings. A regional‐scale 3D spectral element simulation is conducted on the Tuen Mun‐Yuen Long basin, which contains multiple subbasins with heterogeneous and nonlinear soil profiles, while 3D city models with various building layouts are fully integrated into the basin model for our SCI study. We found a good correlation between spectral amplification factors and soil depths. Site response is significantly amplified at basin edges and centers due to surface waves generated at basin edges and the focusing effects stemming from 3D basin geometry. Transfer functions of 3D basins can be up to fourfold at fundamental frequencies as compared to 1D response, and further amplifications occur at high frequencies due to surface waves. In the SCI simulations, we observe wave trapping in the open space amid buildings resulting in energy concentration and up to twofold PGA amplifications. The wave trapping effect diminishes as the space between buildings increase beyond their range of influence (～100 m). The SCI analyses show that destructive kinetic energy in superstructures increases 28% in one horizontal direction but decreases 22% in the other. Our study concluded that, 1D site response analysis can significantly underestimate the seismic demand in shallow basins. Site‐city interaction of high‐rise buildings increases the short‐period spectra of ground motions, leading to an increase in their story accelerations by up to 50% and to a substantial decrease in the seismic safety of short structures in their vicinity.     

How to model rockburst seismic loads for civil engineering purposes?

Usually rockbursts from underground mining induce minor quakes of MM intensity up to V. Sometimes however the surface tremors reach level of MM epicentral intensity I ₀ = VI to VIII. Since a fast industrial development often takes place in the mining areas then some seismic design rules for new buildings are needed. The main obstacle is then lack of respective design response spectrum and an unclear definition of the level of design acceleration to apply. Particularly the latter one is difficult to overcome because the rockburst ground motion records differ from natural earthquakes when it comes to their spectral properties as well as return periods. This paper presents a method how to rationally define the design acceleration so that a seismic code, e,g, Eurocode 8, can be applied in practical design procedures in the mining areas.     

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.     

液化场地强震记录的频谱特征

为研究液化场地上建筑物承受地震作用的特性,本文利用11组液化场地实测记录,对液化场地的地震动特征进行了分析。结果显示,场地液化后,地表加速度幅值减小,长周期成分显著增多,记录中出现明显的 “尖刺” 。对比国内外抗震规范设计反应谱与液化场地实测加速度反应谱,分析得出:在短周期T＜0.3 s,规范设计反应谱值与实测记录反应谱基本一致;在中长周期段0.3 s＜T＜1.5 s,规范反应谱值明显低于实测记录反应谱值;在长周期段T＞1.5 s,规范设计谱较实测记录反应谱值略低。基于5种数值方法模拟的液化场地地震动结果显示:周期T＜1.0 s时,数值计算的反应谱值基本高于液化场地实测反应谱值,或与之吻合;而周期T＞1.0 s时,数值计算的反应谱值均低于液化场地实测反应谱值。      

设计反应谱长周期区段的研究

本文利用近20年国内外大地震时获得的数字强震仪记录分析强震动的长周期分量特性,给出了不同场地上的平均加速度反应谱及其拟合曲线。结果表明,现行抗震设计规范中设计谱的特征周期和长周期谱值明显偏小。在此基础上提出了长周期设计反应谱的修正建议。文中还根据统计分析提出了不同阻尼比的反应谱修正公式。     

Dynamic properties of the Quaternary sedimentary rocks and their influence on seismic site effects. Case study in Bucharest City,Romania

Bucharest is one of the cities most affected by earthquakes in Europe. Situated at 150–170 km distance from Vrancea epicentral zone, Bucharest had suffered many damages due to high energy Vrancea intermediate-depth earthquakes. For example, the 4 March 1977 event produced the collapse of 32 buildings with 8–12 levels, while more than 150 old buildings with 6–9 levels were seriously damaged. The studies done after this earthquake had shown the importance of the surface geological structure upon ground motion parameters. New seismic measurements are performed in Bucharest area aiming at defining better elastic and dynamic properties of the shallow sedimentary rocks. Down-hole seismic measurements were performed in a number of 10 cased boreholes drilled in the Bucharest City area. Processing and interpretation of the data lead to the conclusion that shallow sedimentary rocks can be considered weak in the area, down to 150–200 m depth. Seismic wave velocity values and bulk density values presented in the paper associated with local geology are useful primary data in the seismic microzonation of Bucharest City. They are used as 1D models to derive transfer functions and response spectra for the stack of sedimentary rocks in several parts of Bucharest area, leading to a better knowledge of the local site amplification and associated frequency spectra. In a recent study the H/V spectral ratio using Nakamura’s method was applied on the seismic noise measurements in 22 sites in Bucharest City in order to derive the fundamental period associated with these sites. The values confirm the previous results, showing a dominant resonance in the period range of 1.25–1.75 s. The fundamental periods obtained with Nakamura’s method are in good agreement with those computed on the basis of geological and geotechnical data in boreholes, which show an increase of the fundamental period in the Bucharest area from south to north, in the same direction as the increase of the thickness of the Quaternary deposits above the Fratesti layer which is considered the bedrock in the area.     

三种土层结构反应谱平台值的统计分析

本文以建筑抗震设计规范规定的反应谱为目标谱,通过调整加速度峰值和特征周期来人工合成数百条加速度时程曲线,并将其作为土层地震反应分析的地震动输入。在若干有工程意义的场地剖面中,选取和构造了部分软弱土层分别在底部、中部和顶部的三种土层剖面,利用土层地震反应分析的一维等效线性化波动方法,计算了不同土层剖面在不同地震动输入下的地表加速度反应谱的平台值。在统计分析的基础上,给出了不同场地三种土层结构的反应谱平台值的平均值。通过与正常剖面的反应谱平台值比较,给出了三种土层结构的反应谱平台值的影响系数。本文的研究获得了一些有意义的成果。     

Effect of irregular structural configuration on floor acceleration demand in hill‐side buildings

A suite of reinforced‐concrete frame buildings located on hill sides, with 2 different structural configurations, viz step‐back and split‐foundation, are analyzed to study their floor response. Both step‐back and split‐foundation structural configurations lead to torsional effects in the direction across the slope due to the presence of shorter columns on the uphill side. Peak floor acceleration and floor response spectra are obtained at each storey's center of rigidity and at both its stiff and flexible edges. As reported in previous studies as well, it is observed that the floor response spectra are better correlated with the ground response spectrum. Therefore, the floor spectral amplification functions are obtained as the ratio of spectral ordinates at different floor levels to the one at the ground level. Peaks are observed in the spectral amplification functions corresponding to the first 2 modes in the upper portion of the hill‐side buildings, whereas a single peak corresponding to a specific kth mode of vibration is observed on the floors below the uppermost foundation level. Based on the numerical study for the step‐back and split‐foundation hill‐side buildings, simple floor spectral amplification functions are proposed and validated. The proposed spectral amplification functions take into account both the buildings' plan and elevation irregularities and can be used for seismic design of acceleration‐sensitive nonstructural components, given that the supporting structure's dynamic characteristics, torsional rotation, ground‐motion response spectrum, and location of the nonstructural components within the supporting structure are known, because current code models are actually not applicable to hill‐side buildings.