Seismic soil class map for Italy according to European and Italian codes map

Author(s):  
Giovanni Forte ◽  
Eugenio Chioccarelli ◽  
Melania De Falco ◽  
Pasquale Cito ◽  
Antonio Santo ◽  
...  

<p>Soil conditions affect ground motion amplification. Thus, seismic site classification is a critical issue to predict ground motion parameters in the context of both probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and real-time generation of shaking maps. Especially on large areas, simplified procedures for estimating the seismic soil amplification can be advantageous. In order to account for these local effects, some proxies which account for the soil behaviour can be identified; e.g., the average shear-wave velocity of the upper 30 m (VS,30), or the equivalent shear-wave velocity from the depth of the seismic bedrock (VS,eq). <br>In this study, two maps of seismic shallow soil classification for Italy according to Eurocode 8 (EC08) and the new Italian Building Code (ItBC2018) are presented. The methodology from which the maps are derived is described in Forte et al. (2019) and accounts for two sources of information: site-specific measurements and large-scale geological maps. The soil maps are obtained via a four-step procedure: <br>(1) a database of about four-thousand shear-waves velocity (Vs) measurements coming from in-hole tests, surface geophysical tests and microtremors is built, covering (unevenly) the whole national territory; <br>(2) twenty geo-lithological complexes are identified from the available geological maps; <br>(3) the investigations are grouped as a function of the geo-lithological complex and the distribution of measured VS,30, VS,eq are derived;<br>(4) medians and standard deviations of such distributions are assumed to be representative of the corresponding complexes that are consequently associated to soil classes. <br>The EC08 soil class map and the available database of Vs measurements were compared with the seismic soil map provided by the USGS based on a topographic slope-proxy (Allen and Wald, 2007). The latter is obtained by the correlation between topographic slope and VS,30, assuming morphometrical characteristics of the terrain as representative of the lithology. The slope-based method appears less reliable than the proposed approach, because its predictions resulted in a slight but systematic overestimation of the measured soil classes. Therefore, the proposed map can be more suitable for large-scale seismic risk studies, despite it is not a substitute of seismic microzonation and local site response analyses.<br>To make the results of the study available, a stand-alone software “SSC-Italy” has been developed and is freely available at http://wpage. unina.it/iuniervo/SSC-Italy.zip. </p>

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 1650010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Zaman ◽  
Pennung Warnitchai

Shear wave velocity ([Formula: see text]) through the uppermost subsurface (30 m) is usually considered an important parameter as it dictates the dynamic behavior of soil and also acts as an input parameter for site response analysis, seismic hazard analysis, and site classification. In majority of seismically active areas across the globe, especially in developing countries like Pakistan, the [Formula: see text] measurements are either not available or if available, they are very limited in number to develop a seismic site-conditions map. In the absence of proper geological studies and geotechnical investigation, the slope-derived method provides a simple solution to map the site-conditions. The current study presents the development of slope-derived [Formula: see text] map on the basis of a correlation between [Formula: see text] and topographic slope for active tectonic regions and its comparison with the [Formula: see text] values at various locations in Pakistan. The topographic slope is calculated from digital elevation model (CDEM) of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 30 arc-sec global topographic data set. The [Formula: see text] values comprise of directly available, values calculated/estimated from the standard penetration tests (SPTs [Formula: see text]-value) and primary waves at various locations in Pakistan. [Formula: see text] values at various parts/locations in Pakistan and values from the slope-derived [Formula: see text] map are found to be fairly comparable and based on these results for seismically active areas like Pakistan, slope-derived method can be applied for the first-order site-condition studies.


Author(s):  
Roberto Paolucci ◽  
Mauro Aimar ◽  
Andrea Ciancimino ◽  
Marco Dotti ◽  
Sebastiano Foti ◽  
...  

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.


Geo-Risk 2017 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxin Liu ◽  
Chaofeng Wang ◽  
Qiushi Chen ◽  
Guoxing Chen ◽  
C. Hsein Juang

2014 ◽  
Vol 580-583 ◽  
pp. 264-267
Author(s):  
Sheng Jie Di ◽  
Zhi Gang Shan ◽  
Xue Yong Xu

Characterization of the shear wave velocity of soils is an integral component of various seismic analysis, including site classification, hazard analysis, site response analysis, and soil-structure interaction. Shear wave velocity at offshore sites of the coastal regions can be measured by the suspension logging method according to the economic applicability. The study presents some methods for estimating the shear wave velocity profiles in the absence of site-specific shear wave velocity data. By applying generalized regression neural network (GRNN) for the estimation of in-situ shear wave velocity, it shows good performances. Therefore, this estimation method is worthy of being recommended in the later engineering practice.


2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Rodríguez-Marek ◽  
Jonathan D. Bray ◽  
Norman A. Abrahamson

A simplified empirically based seismic site response evaluation procedure that includes measures of the dynamic stiffness of the surficial materials and the depth to bedrock as primary parameters is introduced. This geotechnical site classification scheme provides an alternative to geologic-based and shear wave velocity-based site classification schemes. The proposed scheme is used to analyze the ground motion data from the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge earthquakes. Period-dependent and intensity-dependent spectral acceleration amplification factors for different site conditions are presented. The proposed scheme results in a significant reduction in standard error when compared with a simpler “rock vs. soil” classification system. Moreover, results show that sites previously grouped as “rock” should be subdivided as competent rock sites and weathered soft rock/shallow stiff soil sites to reduce uncertainty in defining site-dependent ground motions. Results also show that soil depth is an important parameter in estimating seismic site response. The standard errors resulting from the proposed site classification system are comparable with those obtained using the more elaborate code-based average shear-wave velocity classification system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Dalia Munaff Naji ◽  
Muge K. Akin ◽  
Ali Firat Cabalar

Assessment of seismic site classification (SSC) using either the average shear wave velocity (VS30) or the average SPT-N values (N30) for upper 30 m in soils is the simplest method to carry out various studies including site response and soil-structure interactions. Either the VS30- or the N30-based SSC maps designed according to the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) classification system are effectively used to predict possible locations for future seismic events. The main goal of this study is to generate maps using the Geographic Information System (GIS) for the SSC in Kahramanmaras city, influenced by both East Anatolian Fault and Dead Sea Fault Zones, using both VS30 and N30 values. The study also presents a series of GIS maps produced using the shear wave velocity (VS) and SPT-N values at the depths of 5 m, 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, and 25 m. Furthermore, the study estimates the bed rock level and generates the SSC maps for the average VS values through overburden soils by using the NEHRP system. The VS30 maps categorize the study area mainly under class C and limited number of areas under classes B and D, whereas the N30 maps classify the study area mainly under class D. Both maps indicate that the soil classes in the study area are different to a high extent. Eventually, the GIS maps complied for the purpose of urban development may be utilized effectively by engineers in the field.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 1331-1358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Van-Bang Phung ◽  
Chin Hsiung Loh ◽  
Shu Hsien Chao ◽  
Norman A Abrahamson

A ground motion prediction equation (GMPE) is presented for computing the median and standard deviation of peak ground acceleration (PGA) and 5% damped pseudo-spectral acceleration (PSA) for periods between 0.01 s and 5.0 s for probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) and engineering applications in Taiwan. An integrated strong motion dataset consisting of two subduction earthquake regions was selected from 3314 recordings from Taiwan with M4.5 to M7.1 and 3376 recordings from Japan with M6.5 to M9.1. This dataset was then used to validate, and refit where necessary, the function form provided by Abrahamson et al. for application to Taiwan subduction earthquakes. The proposed model accounts for the extrapolation behaviors associated with the large-magnitude scaling and the near-source scaling terms, both of which were developed empirically by using the combined Taiwan–Japan dataset. The distance attenuation and site term were developed specifically for the Taiwan region. The site term is based on two parameters; the time-averaged shear wave velocity of the top 30 m depth ( VS30) and the depth-to-the-shear wave velocity horizon of 1.0 km/s ( Z1.0).


2014 ◽  
Vol 915-916 ◽  
pp. 18-21
Author(s):  
Zhuo Shi Chen ◽  
Xiao Ming Yuan ◽  
Shang Jiu Meng

The main causes of the ground motion blind prediction bias are the variability of the adopted program, the shear-wave velocity of the site, and the soil nonlinear dynamic parameters. By considering the variability of shear-wave velocity and the dynamic parameters, this essay used LSSRLI-1 Codes and Mw6.0 seismic record of Parkfield earthquake to calculate ground responses of 9 different conditions at Turkey Flat site. The authors believe that the variability of shear-wave velocity caused the dominant impact to the blind prediction of this shallow stiff-soil site. That impact is much greater than that of the dynamic parameters. LSSRLI-1 program may either underestimate the ground response of the shallow stiff-soil site or may overestimate it, so we should combine the specific site conditions and a large amounts of data to do the further analysis.


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