Hazard mapping of normalized peak strain in soils during earthquakes: microzonation of a metropolitan area

Seismic hazard maps of the Los Angeles metropolitan area are illustrated for normalized peak strain and for 50 years of exposure. The strain estimates are based on scaling in terms of peak ground velocity. The proportionality factor is the phase velocity with which the wave energy is propagating. A simplified seismicity model is used in which all earthquakes occur on faults represented by buried lines and in one zone of diffused seismicity. Poissonian model of earthquake occurrence is assumed. The same model was used in the 1980's to illustrate a method for microzoning of the same area for response spectral amplitudes. Maps of logarithms of normalized peak strain, cε_max, are presented for probabilities of at least one exceedance p = 0·99, 0·9, 0·5, 0·1 and 0·01. These can be used to construct site specific probability distribution functions of the normalized peak strain, cε_max. Such maps are useful for design of new and for retrofit of existing structures, sensitive to strain and differential ground motions (bridges, tunnels, pipelines, etc.).