Side effect of using response spectral amplification ratios for soil sites—variability and earthquake-magnitude and source-distance dependent amplification ratios for soil sites

We investigate a special type of variability in response spectral amplification ratios computed from numerical “engineering” models for a soft soil site. The engineering models are defined by shallow soil layers over “engineering” bedrock with a shear-wave velocity over 600–700 m/s and the model is subjected to vertical propagating shear waves. The variability, perhaps unique in earthquake engineering, is a result of the “perfectly accurate” computational procedure. For example, an engineering soil site model, subjected to two rock site records or the two horizontal components of a rock site record, produces different response spectral amplification ratios. We use a large number of strong-motion records from “engineering” rock sites, with a reasonably balanced distribution with respect to magnitude and source distance, generated by subduction earthquakes in Japan, to investigate the nature of the variability. In order to avoid any approximation in removing the effect of soil nonlinear response, we use a simple model, a single horizontal soil layer over a bedrock, modelled as elastic. We then demonstrate that a similar type of variability observed in the one- or two-dimensional nonlinear soil models is caused by the nature of response spectral amplification ratios, not a direct result of soil nonlinear response. Examination of variability reveals that the average of response spectral amplification ratios systematically depends on both earthquake magnitude and source distance. We find that, at periods much longer than the site natural periods of the soil sites, the scatter of the amplification ratios decreases with increasing magnitude and source distance. These findings may have a potential impact in establishing design spectra for soft soil sites using strong-motion attenuation models or dynamic numerical modelling.     

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.     

High frequency site amplification evaluated from Borehole data in the Taipei Basin

Based on the quarter-wavelength approximation, the frequency-dependent site amplifications, A(f ), at 18 free-field strong-motion stations in and near the Taipei Basin are evaluated from well-logging data. The V ₃₀, which is the average of the S-wave velocities in the topmost 30 m, is a significant factor in classifying the sites. Results show that the site amplifications at all sites in study are larger than 1 and functions of frequency. Compared with the Haskell method, the quarter-wavelength approximation is almost an average and a good representation of overall amplifications. It is noted that the site amplifications evaluated in this study can apply only to frequencies greater than about 1.1 Hz for class C sites and 3.1 Hz for class D.     

Local site effects and dynamic soil behavior

Amplitudes of seismic waves increase significantly as they pass through soft soil layers near the earth's surface. This phenomenon, commonly known as site amplification, is a major factor influencing the extent of damage on structures. It is crucial that site amplification is accounted for when designing structures on soft soils. The characteristics of site amplification at a given site can be estimated by analytical models, as well as field tests. Analytical models require as inputs the geometry of all soil layers from surface to bedrock, their dynamic properties (e.g. density, wave velocity, damping), and the incident bedrock motions. Field tests involve recording and analyzing the dynamic response of sites to artificial excitations, ambient forces, and actual earthquakes. The most reliable estimates of site amplification are obtained by analyzing the recorded motions of the site during strong earthquakes. This paper presents a review of the types and the generating mechanisms of site amplification, and the models and methods that are used to characterize them from earthquake records.     

On the applicability of neural networks for soil dynamic amplification analysis

Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) have gained a solid status as a tool for modeling complex phenomena in different areas of research and engineering practice. In this paper, their applicability to estimate the mapping of seismic acceleration from bedrock to free surface in a complex soil profile is explored. Such a use is intended to serve as a hypothesis-free alternative to the dynamic amplification analysis, which is currently based on geophysical and soil dynamics procedures. Were the neural networks to be useful to such a mapping, they could in principle be employed for several purposes, such as soil identification using instrumental data, design of early warning systems and estimation of probabilistic spectra via Monte Carlo simulation, in which the ANN act as an efficient solver surrogate. The conditions under which these ambitious purposes can be reached are discussed. Two classes of multi-layer perceptrons were tested, which are characterized by time-independent and time-dependent connections. It is shown that the first class of networks is useful for response spectrum mapping, while the second performs very well in the assessment of free-surface time series. It arises as the main conclusion that the most promising perspective of application of ANN in this respect is for the estimation of probabilistic free-surface spectra, which is an important goal for the modern trend of reliability-based aseismic design. The limitations to the other said applications are also highlighted.     

3D near-surface soil response from H/V ambient-noise ratios

The applicability of the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) ambient-noise spectral ratio for characterizing earthquake site effects caused by near-surface topography and velocity structures was evaluated at sites underlain by thick (i.e. >100 m) sediment deposits near the southern-end of the New Madrid seismic zone in the central United States. Three-component ambient-noise and velocity models derived from seismic (shear-wave) refraction/reflection surveys showed that a relatively horizontal, sharp shear-wave velocity interface in the soil column resulted in an H/V spectral ratio with a single well-defined peak. Observations at sites with more than one sharp shear-wave velocity contrast and horizontally arranged soil layers resulted in at least two well-defined H/V spectral ratio peaks. Furthermore, at sites where there were sharp shear-wave velocity contrasts in nonhorizontal, near-surface soil layers, the H/V spectra exhibited a broad-bandwidth, relatively low-amplitude signal instead of a single well-defined peak.     

Stiff soil amplification effects in the 7 September 1999 Athens (Greece) earthquake

The Athens, Greece, earthquake of 7 September 1999 provided a number of reliable strong motion recordings and well-defined patterns of damage at sites with known geological and geotechnical conditions. Joint evaluation of this evidence shows that the very stiff soils of the Athens basin, compared to the nearby outcropping soft rocks, have amplified the peak horizontal acceleration by an average of 40% or more and have shifted elastic response spectra to higher periods. US and the European seismic code provisions (NEHRP-97 and EC-8), place stiff soils and soft rocks at the same site category and consequently fail to predict these adverse effects. A larger number of site categories and new site coefficients that depend on the seismic excitation frequency appear necessary in order to overcome this deficit of the codes.     

Response of the Tarzana strong motion site during the 1994 Northridge earthquake

Exceptionally high ground motions (horizontal peak ground acceleration (PGA) of 1.82g) were recorded at the Tarzana Station during the main shock of the 1994 Northridge earthquake (moment magnitude 6.7 at an epicentral distance of 6 km). At the time of the main shock, the instrument was located near the edge of a 21 m-high ridge with side slopes ranging from 3H:1V to 15H:1V. The ridge is underlain by shallow fill and soft rocks of Medelo Formation.

The objectives of this study were to (1) identify the relative contributions of various factors such as local geology, topography, source mechanism, and travel path on the large ground motions recorded at Tarzana Station and (2) develop an analytical model that could adequately predict observed ground motions at the Tarzana site during the Northridge earthquake and at similar sites during future earthquakes. This study is an integral part of a series of inter-related studies referred to as the ROSRINE research (Resolution of Site Response Issues during Northridge Earthquake) project.

The PGA at the surface of competent bedrock (1 km/s shear wave velocity found about 100 m below ground surface) is estimated by Silva [ROSRINE Study (2000)] at 0.46 gravity (g). To identify the source of ground motion amplification, one-dimensional ( ), two-dimensional (TELDYN and SASSI), and three-dimensional (SASSI) analyses were conducted using both recorded aftershock data and an estimated ground acceleration time histories at a 100 m depth.

The results of the analyses indicate that (1) local geology and topography could only partially account for the observed ground motion amplification, and (2) the PGA and response spectra at a point near the edge of the ridge (the location of the instrument at the time of the main shock) is in good agreement with recorded values when the angle of incident of shear waves (SV waves) at 100 m depth is assumed at 30° from vertical. Considering the local geology and variation of shear wave velocity with depth, the 30° incident angle at 100 m depth corresponds to an 8° incident angle of shear waves at the ground surface. This observation is, in general, consistent with the incident angles of shear waves reported from study of the recorded aftershock data.     

Evaluation of seismic site factors in the Mississippi Embayment. II. Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis with nonlinear site effects

An integrated probabilistic seismic hazard analysis procedure that incorporates nonlinear site effects, PSHA-NL, is developed and used to characterize the influence of thick deposits of the upper Mississippi Embayment (ME) on seismic site coefficients. PSHA-NL follows the methodology of the 2002 USGS hazard maps and generates a compatible set of ground motion records. The motions are propagated using nonlinear and equivalent linear site response analyses and ME properties developed in a companion paper and used to derive surface uniform hazard response spectra. A set of generic site coefficients are derived and summarized in a format similar to NEHRP site coefficients, with an added dimension of ME deposits thickness to the Paleozoic rock, a physically meaningful impedance boundary. These coefficients compare well with NEHRP site coefficients for 30 m profiles. For thicker soil profiles, developed site coefficients are lower at short periods and higher at long periods than NEHRP site coefficients.     

Evidence of nonlinear site response in horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio from near-field earthquakes

The issue is addressed as to whether the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) method is sensitive to the amplitude of ground motion from near-field earthquakes. Twenty-one three-component accelerograms from two closely located similar soil sites in the town of Lefkas are used. The recordings represent 17 earthquakes covering a wide range of magnitudes, epicentral distances and azimuths. Peak horizontal accelerations (PGA) and velocities (PGV) lie in the ranges 20–540 cm/s² and 1.4–55.2 cm/s. For each HVS ratio, the site's fundamental-resonance frequency, f_res, is determined visually. Linear correlation analysis shows that f_res is strongly (negatively) correlated to PGA and PGV (r between −0.7 and −0.8); no correlation is found with resonance amplitude or epicentral distance. We show that the observed correlation is attributable to soil nonlinearity and indicate how weak-motion estimates of f_res can be corrected for use in assessing site response during strong shaking.     

A novel framework integrating downhole array data and site response analysis to extract dynamic soil behavior

Seismic site response analysis is commonly used to predict ground response due to local soil effects. An increasing number of downhole arrays are deployed to measure motions at the ground surface and within the soil profile and to provide a check on the accuracy of site response analysis models. Site response analysis models, however, cannot be readily calibrated to match field measurements. A novel inverse analysis framework, self-learning simulations (SelfSim), to integrate site response analysis and field measurements is introduced. This framework uses downhole array measurements to extract the underlying soil behavior and develops a neural network-based constitutive model of the soil. The resulting soil model, used in a site response analysis, provides correct ground response. The extracted cyclic soil behavior can be further enhanced using multiple earthquake events. The performance of the algorithm is successfully demonstrated using synthetically generated downhole array recordings.     

软土层几何特性与剪切波速对场地峰值加速度的影响

软土层对场地地震动的影响一直以来是地震工程学的研究重点。本文应用一维真非线性场地反应分析方法,对某单层匀质场地内软土层的几何特征(厚度与埋深)和剪切波速变化对地面峰值加速度的影响进行了数值分析。研究结果表明:软土层的存在使得场地加速度幅值分布在软土层处发生突变,随着软土层几何特性和剪切波速的不同,这种突变可能使得地面峰值加速度增大或减小;存在一个由软土层厚度、埋深和相对剪切波速三个参数构成的临界状态面,当软土层的状态位于临界面以内时,软土层对地面峰值加速度起放大效应,且加速度效应系数随着上述三个变量的增大表现出先增大后减小的变化规律;当软土层位于临界面以外时,其对地面峰值加速度起衰减效应,加速度效应系数随着上述三个变量的增大而减小。根据算例的参数分析建立了其临界面方程,并提出了估计软土层加速度效应系数的经验公式,可为类似问题提供参考。     

Two-dimensional nonlinear site response analysis of Adapazarı plain and predictions inferred from aftershocks of the Kocaeli earthquake of 17 August 1999

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of local site conditions in the Adapazarı plain crossing the severely damaged central part of Sakarya during the 17th August earthquake. A two-dimensional model has been used to obtain the free-field motions in the valley and on surface formations. A preliminary geotechnical profile model developed from available but limited soil data was checked using recordings of some specific locations where a strong ground motion accelerometer array was in operation after the main earthquake. The range of validity of the model was assessed and modifications were made to compare with the actual recorded motions. The purpose of building such a model, which was used to study the aftershocks in Adapazarı, is to provide an improved database to be used for the design of structures in the city. This study also attempts to provide greater insight into the local site response phenomena through the use of a two-dimensional nonlinear analysis. Simulated site responses are in global agreement with the recorded data. In general agreement between the amplification functions of the computed and recorded data is satisfactory for the frequencies of engineering interest. Alluvial sites show amplification factors in the range of 4–6 in the frequencies between 0.6 and 2 Hz. A relatively shallow alluvial station, HASTAHANE, experienced considerable amplification for small aftershocks and deamplification for the strongest aftershock in frequencies between 0.5 and 2 Hz. Another station, TOYOTA, with significant deamplification characteristics and a clearly observed peak response frequency shift at the soil resonant frequency may have experienced soil shear failure during the strongest aftershock. Other alluvial stations, SEKER and GENC, show deamplification characteristics at 0.55 and at around 1 Hz. with the peak frequency shifts during the magnitude 5.8 aftershock. In general, site responses are larger in the alluvial basin for all aftershocks except the magnitude 5.8 event.     

Local amplification of deep mining induced vibrations Part 1: Experimental evidence for site effects in a coal basin

The work presented in this paper lies under the scope of a research program aiming to assess the impact of deep coal mining induced vibrations on the surface constructions. The concerned section of the program is dedicated to the study of geological site effects and their influence on the mining induced vibrations for which the experimental investigations have been carried out and developed in this paper (Part 1). The empirical methods based on H/V spectral ratios have been applied on data sets provided from mining induced vibrations recorded within private residences above the deep coalmine as well as complementary measurements of ambient noise. The results evidence an amplified zone in the southern part of the Gardanne basin where drilling data confirmed the presence of particularly fractured and soft stratigraphic units. This joint analysis of induced seismicity and ambient noise enabled to validate the method based on H/V ratios applied to the mining context.     

Learning of pore pressure response and dynamic soil behavior from downhole array measurements

Downhole arrays are deployed to measure motions at the ground surface and within the soil profile, with some arrays instrumented to also record the pore pressure response within soft soil profiles during excitation. The measurements from these arrays have typically been used in conjunction with parametric and nonparametric inverse analysis approaches to identify soil constitutive model parameters for use in site response analysis or to identify averaged soil behavior between locations of measurement. The self-learning simulations (SelfSim) inverse analysis framework, previously developed and applied under total stress conditions, is extended to effective stress considerations and is employed to reproduce the measured motions and pore pressures from downhole arrays while extracting the underlying soil behavior and pore pressure response of individual soil layers. SelfSim is applied to the 1987 recordings from the Imperial Valley Wildlife Liquefaction Array. The extracted soil behavior suggests a new functional form for modeling the degradation of the shear modulus with respect to excess pore pressures. The extracted pore pressure response is dependent on the number and amplitude of shear strain cycles and has a functional form similar to current strain-based pore pressure generation models.     

Low-velocity zone and topography as a source of site amplification effect on Tarzana hill,California

Tarzana station is located in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains in California near the crest of a low (<20 m) natural hill with gentle slopes. The hill is about 500 m in length by 130 m in width and is formed of extremely weathered shale at the surface to fresh at depth. Average S-wave is about 250 m/s in the top 17–18 m, and S- and P-wave velocities significantly increase below this depth. According to the NEHRP classification based on V_S30∼300 m/s it is a site class D. Strong-motion instrumentation at Tarzana consisted of an accelerograph at the top of the hill, a downhole instrument at 60 m depth, and an accelerograph at the base of the hill. More than 20 earthquakes were recorded by at least three instruments at Tarzana from 1998 till 2003. Comparisons of recordings and Fourier spectra indicate strong directional resonance in a direction perpendicular to the strike of the hill. The dominant peaks in ground motion amplification on the top of the hill relative to the base are at frequencies ∼3.6 and 8–9 Hz for the horizontal components. Our hypothesis is that the hill acts like a wave trap. This results in an amplification at predominant frequencies f=V/4 h (h is layer's thickness) at f∼3.6 Hz for S-waves (using average V_S17=246 m/s and h=17 m) and f∼7.9 Hz for P-waves (using average V_P17=535 m/s and h=17 m). As was shown by Bouchon and Barker [Seismic response of a hill: the example of Tarzana, California. Bull Seism Soc Am 1996;86(1A):66–72], topography of this hill amplifies and polarizes ground motion in the frequency range of 3–5 Hz. Hill acts as a magnifying polarizing glass: It polarizes ground motion in the direction perpendicular to the strike of the hill and also amplifies ground motions that had been also amplified by a low-velocity layer.     

1-g Experimental investigation of bi-layer soil response and kinematic pile bending

The effect of soil inhomogeneity and material nonlinearity on kinematic soil–pile interaction and ensuing bending under the passage of vertically propagating seismic shear waves in layered soil, is investigated by means of 1-g shaking table tests and nonlinear numerical simulations. To this end, a suite of scale model tests on a group of five piles embedded in two-layers of sand in a laminar container at the shaking table facility in BLADE Laboratory at University of Bristol, are reported. Results from white noise and sine dwell tests were obtained and interpreted by means of one-dimensional lumped parameter models, suitable for inhomogeneous soil, encompassing material nonlinearity. A frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz and 5 Hz to 35 Hz for white noise and sine dwell tests, respectively, and an input acceleration range from 0.015 g to 0.1 g, were employed. The paper elucidates that soil nonlinearity and inhomogeneity strongly affect both site response and kinematic pile bending, so that accurate nonlinear analyses are often necessary to predict the dynamic response of pile foundations.     

Development of site-specific design ground motions in Western and Eastern North America

This paper presents results recently obtained for generating site-specific ground motions needed for design of critical facilities. The general approach followed in developing these ground motions using either deterministic or probabilistic criteria is specification of motions for rock outcrop or very firm soil conditions followed by adjustments for site-specific conditions. Central issues in this process include development of appropriate attenuation relations and their uncertainties, differences in expected motions between Western and Eastern North America, and incorporation of site-specific adjustments that maintain the same hazard level as the control motions, while incorporating uncertainties in local dynamic material properties. For tectonically active regions, such as the Western United States (WUS), sufficient strong motion data exist to constrain empirical attenuation relations for M up to about 7 and for distances greater than about 10–15 km. Motions for larger magnitudes and closer distances are largely driven by extrapolations of empirical relations and uncertainties need to be substantially increased for these cases.

For the Eastern United States (CEUS), due to the paucity of strong motion data for cratonic regions worldwide, estimation of strong ground motions for engineering design is based entirely on calibrated models. The models are usually calibrated and validated in the WUS where sufficient strong motion data are available and then recalibrated for applications to the CEUS. Recalibration generally entails revising parameters based on available CEUS ground motion data as well as indirect inferences through intensity observations. Known differences in model parameters such as crustal structure between WUS and CEUS are generally accommodated as well. These procedures are examined and discussed.