A method for absorption compensation based on adaptive molecular decomposition

In this paper, we present a new method for seismic stratigraphic absorption compensation based on the adaptive molecular decomposition. Using this method, we can remove most of the effects resulting from wavelets truncation and interference which usually exist in the common time-frequency absorption compensation method. Based on the assumption that the amplitude spectrum of the source wavelet is smooth, we first construct a set of adaptive Gabor frames based on the time-variant properties of the seismic signal to transform the signal into the time-frequency domain and then extract the slowly varying component (the wavelet’s time-varying amplitude spectrum) in each window in the time-frequency domain. Then we invert the absorption compensation filter parameters with an objective function defined using the correlation coefficients in each window to get the corresponding compensation filters. Finally, we use these filters to compensate the time-frequency spectrum in each window and then transform the time-frequency spectrum to the time domain to obtain the absorption-compensated signal. By using adaptive molecular decomposition, this method can adapt to isolated and overlapped seismic signals from the complex layers in the inhomogeneous viscoelastic medium. The viability of the method is verified by synthetic and real data sets.     

复杂地表条件下高斯波束叠前深度偏移(英文)

在复杂地表条件的区域,地震数据的采集和处理是一项极大的挑战。虽然可以通过静校正来消除起伏地表的影响,然而当地表高程以及近地表速度剧烈变化时,简单的垂直时移对地震波场造成的畸变会严重降低偏移成像的质量。基于射线的偏移方法可以直接在起伏地表面进行波场的延拓成像,是解决上述问题的有效手段。本文针对复杂地表条件下的高斯波束叠前深度偏移进行研究,对倾斜叠加公式进行修改,使之包含地表高程以及速度的信息,通过直接在复杂地表面进行平面波的合成,得到了一种具有更高成像精度的改进方法。首先简单介绍常规高斯波束偏移的基本原理和计算流程,并以此为基础,给出复杂地表条件下高斯波束偏移原有的实现方法以及本文的改进方法,最后通过模型和实际资料的试算验证本文方法的有效性。     

Tectonics of southwestern Mexico,isotopic evidence,nuclear Central America,Late Cretaceous break up

In the paleogeographic reconstruction of Mexico and northern Central America, an ever-increasing amount of evidence shows that the entire region is a collage of suspect terranes transported from abroad, whose timing and sense of motion are now beginning to be understood. Among these, the Chortis block (nuclear Central America) and the Baja California Peninsula have been proposed as pieces of continent separated from the Pacific coast of southwestern Mexico, that have moved either southeastward by the Farallon plate or northwestward by the Kula plate. Previous studies mainly confined to the northern margin of the Chortis block, confirmed a left-lateral displacement of 130 km in Neogene time. Further studies made northwestward along the Mexican coast provided a better understanding of magmatic and metamorphic processes in the area, and suggested times of detachment increased to 30 Ma, 40 Ma, and 66 Ma. The pre-detachment westernmost position of the block has changed, depending on the model chosen, from Puerto Vallarta and beyond, to the current position. Here we show that the isotopic mineral ages from coastal granites along the coast from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco (80 Ma) to Puerto Angel, Oaxaca (11 Ma) record systematic decrease of cooling ages from NW to SE. This pattern is interpreted to result from the progressive uplift of rocks exposed at the present-day coast in that direction, such uplift occurred in response to the development of the Middle America Trench at the newly formed continental margin when the Chortis block was sliding at an average rate of 1.5 cm/year in a sinistral sense to its present position. Our results also constrain the position of the Kula-Farallon spreading axis north of Puerto Vallarta. These observations led us to conclude that several indicators point to this time and region for the onset of strike-slip drifting of the Chortis block toward its current position. Here, we also present several view points in terms of other possilble interpretations to different tectonic, geologic and isotopic data sets published recently by different authors.     

Source parameters for the M<Subscript>w</Subscript> = 6.6, 03 February 2002, Çay Earthquake (Turkey) and aftershocks from GPS,Southwestern Turkey

The 03 February 2002 Çay Earthquake (M_w ～6.7) occurred on the fault segment between Eber and Ak?ehir Lakes followed by a large aftershock (M_w ～5.6) near the western end of the fault and two sequential aftershocks. We computed the coseismic surface displacements from static GPS measurements to determine the fault geometry parameters and uniform slip components. The coseismic displacements were obtained through combining the regional pre-earthquake and post-earthquake GPS data. Fault geometry and slips were acquired through the inversion of GPS data modeling the events as elastic dislocations in a half-space and assuming all four events took place on the same fault plane. Results suggest that one-segment fault of ～33 km length and dipping ～43° northward suffices to model the dislocation, assuming uniform slip distribution with 0.51 m dip slip, 0.26 m left-lateral slip extending to a depth down to ～11.5 km which is consistent with seismological evidence. The results also verify the normal faulting in the eastern flank of Isparta Angle which has long been assumed as a thrusting structure. While the available data cannot identify the four individual events on the same day, an attempted distributed slip model differentiates dip slip and left-lateral slips near the hypocenter with maximum values of ～1 and 0.6 m, respectively.     

Site classification of Turkish national strong-motion stations

Since 1973, the General Directorate of Disaster Affairs of Turkey has deployed several strong-motion accelerographs at selected sites. Within the framework of the project entitled Compilation of National Strong Ground Motion Database in Accordance with International Standards, site conditions were investigated within the upper 30-m depth by surface seismic and standard penetration tests. Preliminary characterization of the sites is made by making use of both geophysical and geotechnical criteria of NEHRP Provisions and Eurocode-8 site classification systems. The liquefaction susceptibility of those sites which comprise saturated cohesionless deposits is also determined. Mean shear-wave velocity, mean penetration resistance, site class, and liquefaction susceptibility of each site are tabulated. The Turkish strong-motion database supplemented by detailed information on site conditions is a valuable source of information particularly for those studies that put emphasis on the relationship between site conditions and strong-motion parameters.     

Fault complexity associated with the 14 August 2003 M<Subscript>w</Subscript>6.2 Lefkada,Greece, aftershock sequence

The M _w 6.2 Lefkada earthquake occurred on 14 August 2003 beneath the western coastline of Lefkada Island. The main shock was followed by an intense aftershock activity, which formed a narrow band extending over the western coast of the Island and the submarine area between Lefkada and Kefalonia Islands, whereas additional off fault aftershocks formed spatial clusters on the central and northwestern part of the Island. The aftershock spatial distribution revealed the activation of along-strike adjacent fault segment as well as of secondary faults close to the main rupture. The properties of the activated segments were illuminated by the precisely located aftershocks, fault plane solutions determination and the cross sections performed parallel and normal to their strike. The aftershock focal mechanisms exhibited mainly strike slip faulting throughout the activated area, although deviation of the dominant stress pattern is also observed. The results help to emphasize the importance of the identification of activated nearby fault segments possibly triggered by the main rupture. Because such segments are capable to produce moderate events causing appreciable damage, they should be viewed with caution in seismic hazard assessment in addition to the major regional faults.     

REXEL: computer aided record selection for code-based seismic structural analysis

In code-based seismic design and assessment it is often allowed the use of real records as an input for nonlinear dynamic analysis. On the other hand, international seismic guidelines, concerning this issue, have been found hardly applicable by practitioners. This is related to both the difficulty in rationally relating the ground motions to the hazard at the site and the required selection criteria, which do not favor the use of real records, but rather various types of spectrum matching signals. To overcome some of these obstacles a software tool for code-based real records selection was developed. REXEL, freely available at the website of the Italian network of earthquake engineering university labs (), allows to search for suites of waveforms, currently from the European Strong-motion Database, compatible to reference spectra being either user-defined or automatically generated according to Eurocode 8 and the recently released new Italian seismic code. The selection reflects the provisions of the considered codes and others found to be important by recent research on the topic. In the paper, record selection criteria are briefly reviewed first, and then the algorithms implemented in the software are discussed. Finally, via some examples, it is shown how REXEL can effectively be a contribution to code-based real records selection for seismic structural analysis.     

Loading Rate Dependence of Tensile Strength Anisotropy of Barre Granite

Granitic rocks usually exhibit strongly anisotropy due to pre-existing microcracks induced by long-term geological loadings. The understanding of the rock anisotropy in mechanical properties is critical to a variety of rock engineering applications. In this paper, Brazilian tests are conducted statically with a material testing machine and dynamically with a split Hopkinson pressure bar system to measure both static and dynamic tensile strength of Barre granite. To understand the anisotropy in tensile strength, samples are cored and labelled using the three principle directions of Barre granite to form six sample groups. For dynamic tests, a pulse shaping technique is used to achieve dynamic equilibrium in the samples during the dynamic test. The finite element method is then implemented to formulate equations that relate the failure load to the material tensile strength by employing an orthotropic elastic material model. For samples in the same orientation group, the tensile strength shows clear loading rate dependence. The tensile strengths also exhibit clear anisotropy under static loading while the anisotropy diminishes as the loading rate increases, which may be due to the interaction of pre-existing microcracks.     

Transient Electric Field in the Mesosphere above a Γ-shape Lightning Stroke

We describe the space–time distribution of the pulsed electric field in the middle atmosphere above a positive Γ-shaped lightning stroke. The channel of such a discharge contains a vertical and a horizontal section. The current wave moves initially vertically and then turns horizontally so that radiation appears from the vertical electric dipole followed by that from the horizontal dipole. Combined with reflection from the perfectly conducting ground, the source provides three subsequent pulses in the atmosphere, with the lag being determined by the finite velocity of the current wave in the Γ-shaped stroke. The pulses are reproduced by reflections from the air-ground and the air-ionosphere interfaces and the waveform resembles the M-component, which is often noted in the negative strokes (e.g. Yashunin et al., J Geophys Res 112:D10109, 2007). The non-stationary fine structure appears in the spatial distribution of electric field, which persists for 2 ms or even more and exceeds the runaway electron threshold. Estimates support the idea of free electron bunching in the mesosphere by the pulsed electric field. Focusing may occur about 10 km away from the point of electron- field interaction; it is delayed by a few ms from the moment of interaction. The data presented might be helpful in realistic modeling of the red sprite formation.     

Seismic damage analysis including inelastic shear–flexure interaction

The paper focusses on seismic damage analysis of reinforced concrete (R/C) members, accounting for shear–flexure interaction in the inelastic range. A finite element of the beam-column type recently proposed by the writers for the seismic analysis of R/C structures is first briefly described. The analytical model consists of two distributed flexibility sub-elements which interact throughout the analysis to simulate inelastic flexural and shear response. The finite element accounts for shear strength degradation with inelastic curvature demand, as well as coupling between inelastic flexural and shear deformations after flexural yielding. Based on this model, a seismic damage index is proposed taking into account both inelastic flexural and shear deformations, as well as their interaction. The finite element and the seismic damage index are used to analyse the response of R/C columns tested under cyclic loading and failing either in shear or in flexure. It is shown that the analytical model and damage index can predict and describe well the hysteretic response of R/C columns with different types of failure.