Influence of horizontally variable soil properties on nonlinear seismic site response and ground motion coherency

Author(s):  
Yen‐Hsiang Chang ◽  
Chi‐Chin Tsai ◽  
Louis Ge ◽  
Duhee Park
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaetano Falcone ◽  
Gianluca Acunzo ◽  
Amerigo Mendicelli ◽  
Federico Mori ◽  
Giuseppe Naso ◽  
...  

<p>Estimation of site effects over large areas is a key-issue for land management and emergency system planning in a risk mitigation perspective. In general, site-conditions are retrieved from available global datasets and the ground-shaking estimation is based on ground motion prediction equations.</p><p>An advanced procedure to estimate site effects over large areas is here proposed with reference to the Italian territory. Site-condition were defined for homogenous morpho-geological areas in accordance to the borehole logs and the geophysical data archived in the Italian database for seismic microzonation (https://www.webms.it/). Ground motion modifications were determined by means of about 30 milion of one-dimensional numerical simulations of local seismic site response. Correlations between amplification factors (i.e. the ratio between free-field and outcrop response spectra), AF, and site-condition (i.e. harmonic mean of the shear wave velocity in the upper 30 m of the deposit, V<sub>S30</sub>) were determined for each morpho-geological homogeneous area depending on the reference seismic intensity (i.e. referred to the outcropping stiff rock characterised by V<sub>S30</sub> ≥ 800 m/s). The AF-V<sub>S30</sub> correlations were proved to satisfactory forecast the site effects when compared with the results of site specific estimation of local seismic site response.</p>


Author(s):  
Morgan P. Moschetti ◽  
Stephen H. Hartzell

ABSTRACT We investigate seismic site response by inverting seismic ground-motion spectra for site and source spectral properties, in a region of central Oklahoma, where previous ground-motion studies have indicated discrepancies between observations and ground-motion models (GMMs). The inversion is constrained by a source spectral model, which we computed from regional seismic records, using aftershocks as empirical Green’s functions to deconvolve site and path effects. Site spectra across the region exhibit multiple, strong, low-frequency (f<2  Hz) resonances. Modeling of vertically propagating SH waves reproduces the mean amplitudes and frequencies of the site spectra and requires a deep (∼1–2  km) impedance contrast. Comparison of regional seismic velocity models and geologic profiles indicates that the seismic impedance contrast is, or is in proximity to, the Great Unconformity, which marks the interface between Precambrian basement rocks and overlying Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Depth to Precambrian basement increases to the southwest across the study region (∼1500–4500  m), and the fundamental frequencies of the site spectra are anticorrelated with basement depth. The first higher-mode resonance also exhibits dependence on basement depth; although modeling suggests that the second higher mode should depend on basement depth, site spectra do not support this. The low-frequency resonances in central Oklahoma are not represented in the GMMs used in current seismic hazard analyses for tectonic earthquakes, though approaches to account for such features are under consideration in other regions of the central and eastern United States. Given the broad spatial extent of the Great Unconformity underlying eastern North America, it is likely that similar effects on seismic site response also occur in other areas. This study highlights the impact of regional geologic structure on earthquake ground motions and reiterates the need for modeling regional effects to improve ground-motion predictions and seismic hazard assessments.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Fabozzi ◽  
Stefano Catalano ◽  
Giuseppe Naso ◽  
Alessandro Pagliaroli ◽  
Edoardo Peronace ◽  
...  

<p>The seismic subsoil response in terms of amplification or attenuation of the ground motion is the result of a complex combination of factors, including the vertical and horizontal subsoil heterogeneities (Fabozzi et al., 2021). In volcanic areas in particular, the vertical subsoil heterogeneities are well identified by characteristic superposition of stiffer volcanic horizons on softer levels, giving rise to stiff-soft alternating layers, also in the form of multiple Vs inversions with the depth. This condition is typical of sheet-like blankets of lava or pyroclastic deposits, extensively covering the sedimentary substratum, frequent in the peripheral areas of large basaltic stratovolcanos or in areas adjacent to large explosive acidic volcanic edifices. The aim of the present work is to study the effect of such vertical heterogeneities on the seismic site response. With this end, in correspondence of volcanic areas identified by means of a preliminary geological screening in the Italian territory, subsoil properties relevant for seismic site response analyses were extracted from the Italian database of the seismic microzonation studies (DB-SMs in DPC, 2018), which is available at www.webms.it and is developed and maintained by CNR IGAG (National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, www.igag.cnr. it). The collection of input data was used for an extensive one-dimensional equivalent linear numerical site response analyses, in order to evaluate the influence of stiffness inversions on ground motion at surface. In particular, different idealized subsoil 1D models of the identified geological areas were defined in terms of variation of layers thickness, shear wave velocity and nonlinear properties. The effect of the variability of these parameters on the seismic site response in terms of amplification factors (ICMS, 2008) was studied parametrically.</p><p><strong>References </strong></p><ul><li>DPC, Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, 2018. Commissione tecnica per il supporto e monitoraggio degli studi di Microzonazione Sismica (ex art.5, OPCM3907/10), (2018) WebMs; WebCLE. A cura di: Maria Sole Benigni, Fabrizio Bramerini, Gianluca Carbone, Sergio Castenetto, Gian Paolo Cavinato, Monia Coltella, Margherita Giuffrè, Massimiliano Moscatelli. In: Giuseppe Naso. Andrea Pietrosante, Francesco Stigliano.</li> <li>Fabozzi S., Catalano S., Falcone G., Naso G., Pagliaroli A., Peronace E., Porchia A., Romagnoli G., Moscatelli M. (2021) Stochastic approach to study the site response in presence of shear wave velocity inversion: application to seismic microzonation studies in Italy. Engineering Geology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105914.</li> <li>ICMS, 2008. Indirizzi e Criteri per la Microzonazione Sismica. In: Gruppo di lavoro ICMS. Conferenza Delle Regioni E Province Autonome - Dipartimento Della Protezione Civile. https://www.centromicrozonazionesismica.it/it/download/category/7-indi rizzi-e-criteri-per-lamicrozonazione-sismica (In Italian).</li> </ul>


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor M. Taboada ◽  
Francisco A. Flores Lopez ◽  
Vishal Dantal ◽  
Diego Cruz Roque ◽  
Procoro Barrera Nabor

Author(s):  
Yen-Hsiang Chang ◽  
Chi-Chin Tsai ◽  
Chien-Chia Huang ◽  
Duhee Park

2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1363-1375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behrang Dadfar ◽  
M. Hesham El Naggar ◽  
Miroslav Nastev

Seismic site response of discontinuous permafrost is discussed. The presence of frozen ground in soil deposits can significantly affect their dynamic response due to stiffer conditions characterized by higher shear-wave velocities compared to unfrozen soils. Both experimental and numerical investigations were conducted to examine the problem. The experimental program included a series of 1g shaking table tests on small-scale models. Nonlinear numerical analyses were performed employing FLAC software. The numerical model was verified using the obtained experimental results. Parametric simulations were then conducted using the verified model to study variations of the free-field spectral accelerations (on top of the frozen and unfrozen soil blocks) with the scheme of frozen–unfrozen soil, and to determine the key parameters and their effects on seismic site response. Results show that spectral accelerations were generally higher in frozen soils than in unfrozen ones. It was found that the shear-wave velocity of the frozen soil as well as the assumed geometry of the blocks and their spacing have a significant impact on the site response.


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