Seismic Ground Motion in Napoli for the 1980 Irpinia Earthquake

— The seismic ground motion in the urban area of Napoli has been computed for the 1980 earthquake (M_s = 6.9) with a hybrid technique based on the mode summation and the finite difference methods. The detailed geological setting of each quarter has been reconstructed from several stratigraphies and six geological zones have been recognized. Shear-wave velocity profiles have been assigned, based on hole tests and inversion of Rayleigh group velocities artificially generated. Realistic SH and P-SV wave seismograms have been computed along the representative cross sections of each zone, by assuming selected velocity profiles. Spectral amplifications of 2–4 have been computed at frequencies roughly corresponding to the eigenfrequencies of the most damaged buildings. Moreover, following the intensity-PGA correlations found for the Italian territory, the predicted peak ground accelerations, 0.04–0.10 g correspond to the intensity range VII-VIII on the MCS scale, in agreement with the observed data.     

Seismic Characterization of Neapolitan Soils

— Detailed shear-wave velocity profiles versus depth have been obtained in typical lithostratigraphies of Napoli. FTAN and hedgehog methods have been applied to Rayleigh surface waves recorded in refraction seismic surveys. The comparison with literature measurements shows good agreement with nearby down- and cross-hole tests. The pumiceous and lapilli content, and the different welding and alteration degree of the Neapolitan pyroclastic soils cause a strong scattering of the shear wave velocities (V_S) from bore-hole measurements, even for the same formation. Surface measurements, based on FTAN-hedgehog methods, determine average V_S along travel paths of about 100 m, give results that are comparable with down- and cross-hole velocity profiles, and have the additional advantage of being less scattered, and thus more representative of average properties than bore-hole measurements. The results of surface measurements should be preferred in the computation of realistic seismograms and are particularly suitable in urban areas, as they are not destructive and need just one receiver.