A Nonlinear Site Amplification Model for the Horizontal Component Developed for Ground-Motion Prediction Equations in Japan Using Site Period as the Site-Response Parameter

Author(s):  
Ruibin Hou ◽  
John X. Zhao

ABSTRACT This article presents a nonlinear site amplification model for ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs), using site period as site-effect proxy based on the measured shear-wave velocity profiles of selected KiK-net and K-NET sites in Japan. This model was derived using 1D equivalent-linear site-response analysis for a total of 516 measured soil-site shear-wave velocity profiles subjected to a total of 912 components of rock-site records. The modulus reduction and damping curves for each soil layer were assigned based on the soil-type description for a particular layer. The site period and site impedance ratio affect both the linear and nonlinear parts of this study, and were used as the site parameters in the 1D amplification model. A large impedance ratio enhances the amplification ratios when the site responds elastically and enhances the nonlinear response when the site develops a significant nonlinear response. The effects of moment magnitude and source distance on the linear part of the 1D amplification model were also incorporated in the model. To implement the 1D amplification model into GMPEs, a model adjustment is required to match the GMPE amplification ratio at weak motion and to retain the nonlinear amplification ratio at the strong motion of the 1D model. The two-step adjustment method by Zhao, Hu, et al. (2015) was adopted in this study with significant modifications. It is not possible to obtain a credible second-step adjustment parameter using the GMPEs dataset only. We proposed three methods for calculating the scale factors. Method 1 is a constant angle in a 30°–60° range for all spectral periods; method 2 was based on the GMPE dataset and 1-D model parameters; and method 3 was based on the strong-motion records used for the 1D site modeling. A simple second-step adjustment factor leads to smoothing amplification ratios and soil-site spectrum.

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 ◽  
...  

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boqin Xu ◽  
Ellen M Rathje ◽  
Youssef Hashash ◽  
Jonathan Stewart ◽  
Kenneth Campbell ◽  
...  

Small-strain damping profiles developed from geotechnical laboratory testing have been observed to be smaller than the damping inferred from the observed site amplification from downhole array recordings. This study investigates the high-frequency spectral decay parameter ( κ0) of earthquake motions from soil sites and evaluates the use of κ0 to constrain the small-strain damping profile for one-dimensional site response analysis. Using data from 51 sites from the Kiban-Kyoshin strong motion network (KiK-net) array in Japan and six sites from California, a relationship was developed between κ0 at the surface and both the 30-m time-averaged shear wave velocity ( V s30) and the depth to the 2.5 km/s shear wave velocity horizon ( Z2.5). This relationship demonstrates that κ0 increases with decreasing V s30 and increasing Z2.5. An approach is developed that uses this relationship to establish a target κ0 from which to constrain the small-strain damping profile used in one-dimensional site response analysis. This approach to develop κ0-consistent damping profiles for site response analysis is demonstrated through a recent site amplification study of Central and Eastern North America for the NGA-East project.


1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 964-973
Author(s):  
A. C. Heidebrecht ◽  
P. Henderson ◽  
N. Naumoski ◽  
J. W. Pappin

The results for nine sites with different characteristics subjected to earthquakes of varying intensity and frequency content are presented in the form of base shear coefficients, base shear coefficient ratios (surface to rock), and foundation factors. They indicate that large amplifications can be expected at structural periods close to the site periods, especially for low intensity excitation. Comparisons are made with the provisions of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) 1990. They show that, depending on the site and the nature and level of the excitation, the expected base shear can be well in excess of the values specified by the NBCC. Key words: seismic, design, code, soil, site, response, amplification, base, shear.


Author(s):  
Linda Al Atik ◽  
Norman Abrahamson

ABSTRACT Site response in ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs) is primarily characterized as a function of the time-averaged shear-wave velocity over the top 30 m of the site profile (VS30). Although the use of VS30 as a main site-response predictor parameter is practical, GMPE site adjustments to different target regions or target site conditions require characterization of the GMPE’s rock-site response in terms of host VS profile and host kappa. Regional VS profiles and kappa values have been traditionally used to characterize GMPEs host site conditions. These regional site properties may not reflect the average site response in GMPEs. We present a methodology, based on the quarter-wavelength principles, that allows the derivation of GMPE-compatible host 1D VS profiles and kappa values. This methodology is applied to the Next Generation Attenuation-West2 (NGA-West2) GMPEs to derive GMPE-specific host VS profiles and kappa for western United States (WUS) site conditions with VS30 of 360, 490, 620, 760, and 1100 m/s. This application uses, for input, the GMPEs’ site response in Fourier amplitude spectra domain relative to a reference VS30 of 1000 m/s and requires an assigned VS profile for the reference site condition. The impact of the choice of reference VS profile on the results is not large. Comparisons of the derived GMPE-specific VS profiles for VS30 of 760 m/s show differences in the host VS profiles among the NGA-West2 GMPEs for the same site condition in WUS. Differences are also observed when comparing the derived GMPE-compatible VS profiles with the commonly used profiles for WUS for VS30 of 760 m/s. These differences highlight the importance of using GMPE-compatible VS profiles and kappa in GMPE adjustments and in site-response analyses. Limitations of this approach for soft site conditions are discussed.


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