Effect of stiff-soft alternanting layers in volcanic areas on seismic site response 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Fabozzi ◽  
Stefano Catalano ◽  
Giuseppe Naso ◽  
Alessandro Pagliaroli ◽  
Edoardo Peronace ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Ground Motion ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Site Response ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Stochastic Approach ◽  
Seismic Microzonation ◽  
Velocity Inversion ◽  
Seismic Site Response

<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>

An Empirical Geotechnical Seismic Site Response Procedure

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrián Rodríguez-Marek ◽  
Jonathan D. Bray ◽  
Norman A. Abrahamson
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Classification System ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Dynamic Stiffness ◽  
Evaluation Procedure ◽  
Site Classification ◽  
Seismic Site Response

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.

scholarly journals Parametric Study of Local Site Response for Bedrock Ground Motion to Earthquake in Phuentsholing, Bhutan

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 5273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karma Tempa ◽  
Raju Sarkar ◽  
Abhirup Dikshit ◽  
Biswajeet Pradhan ◽  
Armando Lucio Simonelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Ground Motion ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Parametric Study ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Site Response Analysis ◽  
Response Analysis ◽  
Geophysical Study

Earthquakes, when it comes to natural calamities, are characteristically devastating and pose serious threats to buildings in urban areas. Out of multiple seismic regions in the Himalayas, Bhutan Himalaya is one that reigns prominent. Bhutan has seen several moderate-sized earthquakes in the past century and various recent works show that a major earthquake like the 2015 Nepal earthquake is impending. The southwestern city of Bhutan, Phuentsholing is one of the most populated regions in the country and the present study aims to explore the area using geophysical methods (Multispectral Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW)) for understanding possibilities pertaining to infrastructural development. The work involved a geophysical study on eight different sites in the study region which fall under the local area plan of Phuentsholing City. The geophysical study helps to discern shear wave velocity which indicates the soil profile of a region along with possible seismic hazard during an earthquake event, essential for understanding the withstanding power of the infrastructure foundation. The acquired shear wave velocity by MASW indicates visco-elastic soil profile down to a depth of 22.2 m, and it ranged from 350 to 600 m/s. A site response analysis to understand the correlation of bedrock rigidness to the corresponding depth was conducted using EERA (Equivalent-linear Earthquake Site Response Analysis) software. The amplification factors are presented for each site and maximum amplification factors are highlighted. These results have led to a clear indication of how the bedrock characteristics influence the surface ground motion parameters for the corresponding structure period. The results infer that the future constructional activity in the city should not be limited to two- to five-story buildings as per present practice. Apart from it, a parametric study was initiated to uncover whatever effects rigid bedrock has upon hazard parameters for various depths of soil profile up to 30 m, 40 m, 60 m, 80 m, 100 m, 120 m, 140 m, 160 m, 180 m and 200 m from the ground surface. The overriding purpose of doing said parametric study is centered upon helping the stack holders who can use the data for future development. Such a study is the first of its kind for the Bhutan region, which suffers from the unavailability of national seismic code, and this is a preliminary step towards achieving it.

The influence of velocity gradients choice in deep alluvial basin seismic site response

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Cascone ◽  
Jacopo Boaga
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Velocity Gradients ◽  
Seismic Site Response ◽  
The World

<p align="justify"><span>The characterization of seismic site response represents one of the most important issues of seismic hazard assessment and risk mitigation planning. Characterizing the site conditions involves the measurement of several soil properties such as the shear-wave velocity (Vs), density and damping properties as a function of depth. Therefore, most of the site-effect studies in earthquake ground motions are based on the properties of the upper 30 meters and the anti-seismic building codes propose in most cases a simplified analysis based on shear wave velocity of the shallow subsoil. From a seismological perspective, the upper 30 meters would almost never represent more than 1% of the distance from the source. This should be taken into account especially for large and deep alluvial basins, representing the most inhabited geological environment of the world, where could be difficult to estimate the thickness and the velocity profile of the soft sediment overlying the rigid seismic bedrock. </span></p> <p align="justify"><span>The common approach adopted to characterize greater depths is then an extrapolation of shear wave velocity in depth, considering a selected linear or non-linear velocity gradients till the depth of the considered seismic bedrock (usually set to Vs ≥ 800 m/s). These gradients are generally derived from geological information or from literature, but how much the gradients choice affects the final site response analyses is often a neglected aspect.</span></p> <p align="justify"><span>In this work we try to investigate the generic case of deep alluvial basins. We consider the shallow subsoil as characterized by several <em>in-situ</em> tests in northern Italy. We extrapolate the deeper soil structure considering different literature velocity gradients obtained for deep basins in different geological contests: tectonic basins (Lower Rhine Basin and Po Plain) and Alpine basins (Grenoble and Lucerna Basins). We perform one-dimensional analysis of shear waves with the Linear Equivalent Method. The study demonstrates how relevant can be the role of velocity gradient choice for the ground response scenario. Starting from the same shallower Vs structures, the computed seismic motion at surface can present variation in the order of 50% varying the velocity gradients in depth. The results are of relevant interest for the analysis of seismic hazard in the deep alluvial basins environments, which host the main urban areas around the world. </span></p>

Characterization of the engineering geological units with the shear wave velocity parameter: statistical analysis of data from the Italian seismic microzonation studies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gino Romagnoli ◽  
Gianluca Carbone ◽  
Stefano Catalano ◽  
Massimo Cesarano ◽  
Stefania Fabozzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Seismic Microzonation ◽  
Geophysical Data ◽  
Borehole Logs ◽  
Geological Units

<p>The availability of a unique database, where all data of the seismic microzonation studies carried out in about 1900 municipalities of Italy (https://www.webms.it/) are achieved with a standardized format, allowed statistical elaborations in terms of subsoil parameters. In particular, we analysed borehole logs and geophysical data in order to characterize them with the shear wave velocity (Vs) vertical profile, and the code of standardized engineering geological units, according to the Italian Guidelines for Seismic Microzonation (Seismic Microzonation Working Group, 2015; 2018). The Vs parameter, extracted from about 3700 geophysical surveys, was correlated to the engineering geological units from the borehole logs, with 1meter step. The correlation was performed for about 1700 available Down-Hole (DH) surveys and for about 2000 Multichannel Analyses of Surface Waves (MASW). For these latter, we selected only MASW surveys located near boreholes, no more than 100 m away. The statistical analysis on the distribution and dispersion of Vs parameter allowed to calculate the Vs values related to the mode, mean, median, standard deviation, first quartile, third quartile, minimum and maximum, and the trend with depth of Vs for each engineering geological unit. Validation with external datasets (e.g. Italian Vs30 map, Mori et al., 2020) demonstrates that the characterization of engineering geological units in term of Vs, based on velocity profiles extracted by the Italian seismic microzonation dataset, allow to reliably characterize the engineering geological model, where no geophysical data are available. Statistics of subsoil parameters will represent a fundamental tool for computing local seismic ground motion parameters (e.g. PGA, H<sub>SM</sub>) in the areas not covered by seismic microzonation studies.</p><p><strong>References</strong></p><p>- Mori, F., Mendicelli, A., Moscatelli, M., Romagnoli, 796 G., Peronace, E., Naso, G., 2020. A new Vs30 map for Italy based on the seismic microzonation dataset. Engineering Geology 275, 105745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105745.</p><p>- Seismic Microzonation Working Group, 2015. Guidelines for Seismic Microzonation http://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/httpdocs/cms/attach_extra/GuidelinesForSeismicMicrozonation.pdf</p><p>- Seismic Microzonation Working Group, 2018. Standard di rappresentazione e archiviazione informatica Versione 4.1. http://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/attivita-rischi/rischio-sismico/attivita/commissione-supporto-monitoraggio-studi-microzonazione/standard-rappresentazione-archiviazione-informatica</p>

Shear‐wave velocity based seismic microzonation of Lorca city (SE Spain) from MASW analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 739-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Martínez‐Pagán ◽  
M. Navarro ◽  
J. Pérez‐Cuevas ◽  
F.J. Alcalá ◽  
A. García‐Jerez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Seismic Microzonation ◽  
Se Spain

Estimation Study on Shear Wave Velocity of Seabed Using GRNN

2014 ◽  
Vol 580-583 ◽  
pp. 264-267
Author(s):  
Sheng Jie Di ◽  
Zhi Gang Shan ◽  
Xue Yong Xu
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Seismic Analysis ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Response Analysis ◽  
Generalized Regression Neural Network ◽  
Engineering Practice ◽  
Site Classification

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.

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