scholarly journals An alternative approach to site factors for NBCC 2015

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 1017-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Dowling ◽  
W.D. Liam Finn ◽  
Carlos E. Ventura ◽  
Armin Bebamzadeh ◽  
Mike Fairhurst
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Site Amplification ◽  
Degree Of Approximation ◽  
Prediction Equation ◽  
Site Factors ◽  
Amplification Factors ◽  
Site Term ◽  
Alternative Site

The site amplification factors in the 2015 edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC 2015) for South Western British Columbia (SWBC) were developed using only the single site term associated with the ground motion prediction equation (GMPE) for crustal sources. The seismic hazard in SWBC is derived from three source types; crustal, subduction intraplate, and subduction interface sources. Therefore site factors based only on a crustal site term are approximate. This study was conducted to assess the degree of approximation. Alternative site amplification factors for Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia were calculated using site specific look-up tables incorporating all the GMPEs associated with each seismic source type and their associated site terms. The alternative site factors are significantly greater than those given in NBCC 2015 for periods 0.3 s, 0.5 s, and 1.0 s. These results suggest that the process for calculating site amplification factors should be reassessed by the committee currently reviewing seismic hazard for NBCC 2020.

scholarly journals Probabilistic seismic-hazard site assessment in Kitimat, British Columbia, from Bayesian inversion of surface-wave dispersion

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 928-940
Author(s):  
Jeremy M. Gosselin ◽  
John F. Cassidy ◽  
Stan E. Dosso ◽  
Camille Brillon
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Surface Wave ◽  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Wave Dispersion ◽  
Site Amplification ◽  
Site Classification ◽  
Surface Wave Dispersion ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Amplification Factors

This paper applies rigorous quantitative inversion methods to estimate seismic-hazard site classification and amplification factors in Kitimat, British Columbia, due to near-surface geophysical conditions. Frequency-wavenumber seismic-array processing is applied to passive data collected at three sites in Kitimat to estimate surface-wave dispersion. The dispersion data are inverted using a fully nonlinear Bayesian (probabilistic) inference methodology to estimate shear-wave velocity (VS) profiles and uncertainties. The VS results are used to calculate the travel-time average of VS to 30 m depth (VS30) as a representation of the average sediment conditions, and to determine seismic-hazard site classification with respect to the National Building Code of Canada. In addition, VS30-dependent site amplification factors are computed to estimate site amplification at the three Kitimat sites. Lastly, the VS profiles are used to compute amplification and resonance spectra for horizontally polarized shear waves. Quantitative uncertainties are estimated for all seismic-hazard estimates from the probabilistic VS structure. The Kitimat region is the site for several proposed large-scale industrial development projects. One of the sites considered in this study is co-located with a recently deployed soil seismographic monitoring station that is currently recording ground motions as part of a 5 year campaign. The findings from this work will be useful for mitigating seismic amplification and resonance hazards on critical infrastructure, as well as for future seismological research, in this environmentally and economically significant region of Canada.

scholarly journals Nonlinear Site Amplification as Function of 30 m Shear Wave Velocity

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoojoong Choi ◽  
Jonathan P. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Site Amplification ◽  
Site Factors ◽  
Empirical Relationships ◽  
Amplification Factors ◽  
Attenuation Relationships ◽  
Average Shear

We develop empirical relationships to predict nonlinear (i.e., amplitude-dependant) amplification factors for 5% damped response spectral acceleration as a continuous function of average shear wave velocity in the upper 30 m, Vs-30. We evaluate amplification factors as residuals between spectral accelerations from recordings and modified rock attenuation relationships for active regions. Amplification at low- and mid-periods is shown to increase with decreasing Vs-30 and to exhibit nonlinearity that is dependent on Vs-30. The degree of nonlinearity is large for NEHRP Category E (Vs-30<180 m/s) but decreases rapidly with Vs-30, and is small for Vs-30>∼300 m/s. The results can be used as Vs-30-based site factors with attenuation relationships. The results also provide an independent check of site factors published in the NEHRP Provisions, and apparent bias in some of the existing NEHRP factors is identified. Moreover, the results provide evidence that data dispersion is dependent on Vs-30.

scholarly journals Reduction of Bias and Uncertainty in Regional Seismic Site Amplification Factors for Seismic Hazard and Risk Analysis

GeoHazards ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-301
Author(s):  
Mohammad Kamruzzaman Talukder ◽  
Philippe Rosset ◽  
Luc Chouinard
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Shear Wave ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Site Amplification ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Site Class ◽  
Amplification Factors ◽  
Wave Velocities

Site amplification factors in National Building Codes are typically specified as a function of the average shear wave velocity over the first 30 m (Vs30) or site class (A, B, C, D and E) for defined ranges of Vs30 and/or ranges of depth to bedrock. However, a single set of amplification factors may not be representative of site conditions across the country, introducing a bias in seismic hazard and seismic risk analyses. This is exemplified by significant differences in geological settings between East and West coast locations in North America. Western sites are typically characterized by lower impedance contrasts between recent surface deposits and bedrock in comparison to Eastern sites. In North America, site amplification factors have been derived from a combination of field data on ground motions recorded during West Coast earthquakes and numerical models of site responses that are meant to be representative of a wide variety of soil profiles and ground motions. The bias on amplifications and their impact on seismic hazards is investigated for the Montreal area, which ranks second for seismic risks in Canada in terms of population and hazard (PGA of 0.25 g for a 2475 years return period). Representative soil profiles at several locations in Montreal are analyzed with 1-D site response models for natural and synthetic ground motions scaled between 0.1 to 0.5 g. Since bedrock depths are typically shallow (<30 m) across the island, bedrock shear wave velocities have a significant influence on the impedance contrast and amplifications. Bedrock shear wave velocity is usually very variable due to the differences in rock formations, level of weathering and fracturing. The level of this uncertainty is shown to be greatly decreased when rock quality designation (RQD) data, common information when bore hole data are logged, is available since it is highly correlated with both shear and compression wave velocities. The results are used to derive region-specific site amplification factors as a function of both Vs30 and site fundamental frequency and compared to those of the National Building Code of Canada (2015). The results of the study indicate that there are large uncertainties associated with these parameters due to variability in soil profiles, soil properties and input seismic ground motions. Average and confidence intervals for the mean and for predictions of amplification factors are calculated for each site class to quantify this uncertainty. Amplifications normalized relative to class C are obtained by accounting for the correlation between site class amplifications for given ground motions. Non-linearity in the analysis of equivalent linear 1-D site response is taken into account by introducing the non-linear G/Gmax and damping ratios curves. In this method, it is assumed that the shear strain compatible shear modulus and damping ratio values remains constant throughout the duration of the seismic excitation. This assumption is not fully applicable to a case when loose saturated soil profile undergo heavy shaking (PGA > 0.3 g). In this study, all simulations with input motion PGA >0.3 g have been performed by using the EL method instead of the NL method considering that cohesive soils (clay and silt) at Montreal sites are stiff and cohesionless soils (sand and gravel) are considerably dense. In addition, the field and laboratory data required to perform NL analyses are not currently available and may be investigated in future works.

scholarly journals Checking the site categorization criteria and amplification factors of the 2021 draft of Eurocode 8 Part 1–1

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Paolucci ◽  
Mauro Aimar ◽  
Andrea Ciancimino ◽  
Marco Dotti ◽  
Sebastiano Foti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Shear Wave ◽  
Ground Motion ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Soft Soil ◽  
Site Amplification ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Eurocode 8 ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Amplification Factors

AbstractIn this paper the site categorization criteria and the corresponding site amplification factors proposed in the 2021 draft of Part 1 of Eurocode 8 (2021-draft, CEN/TC250/SC8 Working Draft N1017) are first introduced and compared with the current version of Eurocode 8, as well as with site amplification factors from recent empirical ground motion prediction equations. Afterwards, these values are checked by two approaches. First, a wide dataset of strong motion records is built, where recording stations are classified according to 2021-draft, and the spectral amplifications are empirically estimated computing the site-to-site residuals from regional and global ground motion models for reference rock conditions. Second, a comprehensive parametric numerical study of one-dimensional (1D) site amplification is carried out, based on randomly generated shear-wave velocity profiles, classified according to the new criteria. A reasonably good agreement is found by both approaches. The most relevant discrepancies occur for the shallow soft soil conditions (soil category E) that, owing to the complex interaction of shear wave velocity, soil deposit thickness and frequency range of the excitation, show the largest scatter both in terms of records and of 1D numerical simulations. Furthermore, 1D numerical simulations for soft soil conditions tend to provide lower site amplification factors than 2021-draft, as well as lower than the corresponding site-to-site residuals from records, because of higher impact of non-linear (NL) site effects in the simulations. A site-specific study on NL effects at three KiK-net stations with a significantly large amount of high-intensity recorded ground motions gives support to the 2021-draft NL reduction factors, although the very limited number of recording stations allowing such analysis prevents deriving more general implications. In the presence of such controversial arguments, it is reasonable that a standard should adopt a prudent solution, with a limited reduction of the site amplification factors to account for NL soil response, while leaving the possibility to carry out site-specific estimations of such factors when sufficient information is available to model the ground strain dependency of local soil properties.

scholarly journals Seismic hazard assessment of Iran

1999 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Tavakoli ◽  
M. Ghafory-Ashtiany
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Peak Ground Acceleration ◽  
Grid Point ◽  
Seismic Hazard Assessment ◽  
Earthquake Hazard ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Historical Earthquakes ◽  
Earthquake Insurance ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
Seismic Source Models

The development of the new seismic hazard map of Iran is based on probabilistic seismic hazard computation using the historical earthquakes data, geology, tectonics, fault activity and seismic source models in Iran. These maps have been prepared to indicate the earthquake hazard of Iran in the form of iso-acceleration contour lines, and seismic hazard zoning, by using current probabilistic procedures. They display the probabilistic estimates of Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) for the return periods of 75 and 475 years. The maps have been divided into intervals of 0.25 degrees in both latitudinal and longitudinal directions to calculate the peak ground acceleration values at each grid point and draw the seismic hazard curves. The results presented in this study will provide the basis for the preparation of seismic risk maps, the estimation of earthquake insurance premiums, and the preliminary site evaluation of critical facilities.

Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for Taiwan: TEM PSHA2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 137-159
Author(s):  
Chung-Han Chan ◽  
Kuo-Fong Ma ◽  
J Bruce H Shyu ◽  
Ya-Ting Lee ◽  
Yu-Ju Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Ground Motion ◽  
Seismic Hazard Assessment ◽  
Site Amplification ◽  
Motion Prediction ◽  
Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment ◽  
Probabilistic Seismic Hazard ◽  
Ground Motion Prediction Equations ◽  
Ground Motion Prediction ◽  
Seismogenic Structure

The Taiwan Earthquake Model (TEM) published the first version of the Taiwan probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (named TEM PSHA2015) 5 years ago. For updating to the TEM PSHA2020, we considered an updated seismogenic structure database, including the structures newly identified with 3D geometry, an earthquake catalog made current to 2016, state-of-the-art seismic models, a new set of ground motion prediction equations, and site amplification factors. In addition to earthquakes taking place on each individual seismogenic structure, the updated seismic model included the possibility of an earthquake occurring on multiple structures. To include fault memory for illustrating activity on seismogenic structure sources, we incorporated the Brownian passage time model. For the crustal seismicity that cannot be attributed to any specific structure, we implemented both area source and smoothing kernel models. A new set of ground motion prediction equations is incorporated. In addition to the calculation of hazard at engineering bedrock, our assessment included site amplification factors that competent authorities of governments and private companies could use to implement hazard prevention and reduction strategies.

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