Estimates of Site-Dependent Response Spectra for Design (Methodology and Justification)

1994 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger D. Borcherdt
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Strong Motion ◽  
Response Spectra ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Ground Shaking ◽  
Geological Conditions ◽  
Site Classes ◽  
Code Provisions

Recent borehole-geotechnical data and strong-motion measurements constitute a new empirical basis to account for local geological conditions in earthquake-resistant design and site-dependent, building-code provisions. They provide new unambiguous definitions of site classes and rigorous empirical estimates of site-dependent amplification factors in terms of mean shear-wave velocity. A simple four-step methodology for estimating site-dependent response spectra is specified herein. Alternative techniques and commentary are presented for each step to facilitate application of the methodology for different purposes. Justification for the methodology is provided in terms of definitions for the new site classes and derivations of simple empirical equations for amplification as a function of mean shear-wave velocity and input ground-motion level. These new results provide a rigorous framework for improving estimates of site-dependent response spectra for design, site-dependent building-code provisions, and predictive maps of strong ground shaking for purposes of earthquake hazard mitigation.

New Site Coefficients and Site Classification System Used in Recent Building Seismic Code Provisions

2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Dobry ◽  
R. D. Borcherdt ◽  
C. B. Crouse ◽  
I. M. Idriss ◽  
W. B. Joyner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Classification System ◽  
Site Amplification ◽  
Site Classification ◽  
Site Class ◽  
Site Classes ◽  
Code Provisions

Recent code provisions for buildings and other structures (1994 and 1997 NEHRP Provisions, 1997 UBC) have adopted new site amplification factors and a new procedure for site classification. Two amplitude-dependent site amplification factors are specified: Fa for short periods and Fv for longer periods. Previous codes included only a long period factor S and did not provide for a short period amplification factor. The new site classification system is based on definitions of five site classes in terms of a representative average shear wave velocity to a depth of 30 m (V¯s). This definition permits sites to be classified unambiguously. When the shear wave velocity is not available, other soil properties such as standard penetration resistance or undrained shear strength can be used. The new site classes denoted by letters A - E, replace site classes in previous codes denoted by S1 - S4. Site classes A and B correspond to hard rock and rock, Site Class C corresponds to soft rock and very stiff / very dense soil, and Site Classes D and E correspond to stiff soil and soft soil. A sixth site class, F, is defined for soils requiring site-specific evaluations. Both Fa and Fv are functions of the site class, and also of the level of seismic hazard on rock, defined by parameters such as Aa and Av ( 1994 NEHRP Provisions), Ss and Sl ( 1997 NEHRP Provisions) or Z ( 1997 UBC). The values of Fa and Fv decrease as the seismic hazard on rock increases due to soil nonlinearity. The greatest impact of the new factors Fa and Fv as compared with the old S factors occurs in areas of low-to-medium seismic hazard. This paper summarizes the new site provisions, explains the basis for them, and discusses ongoing studies of site amplification in recent earthquakes that may influence future code developments.

scholarly journals Investigation of Soil Characterization in Hatay Province in Turkey by Using Seismic Refraction, Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves and Microtremor

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-484
Author(s):  
Cengiz Kurtuluş ◽  
Ibrahim Sertcelik ◽  
Fadime Sertçelik ◽  
Hamdullah Livaoğlu ◽  
Cüneyt Şaş
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waves ◽  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Strong Motion ◽  
Site Classification ◽  
Eurocode 8 ◽  
Site Class ◽  
Multichannel Analysis

In this study, shallow seismic surveys, including seismic refraction, Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), Refraction Microtremor (ReMi), and Microtremor measurements were conducted to estimate site characterization at 26 strong-motion stations of AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency) in the province of Hatay, situated in one of the most seismically active regions in southern Turkey. The Horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique was applied, using smoothed Fourier spectra derived from a long duration series to determine dominant frequency values at different amplification levels. Shear wave velocity up to 30 m of the ground was detected with MASW analysis. In the ReMi analysis, up to 80 m was reached with a corresponding average of 650 m/s shear wave velocity. The shear wave velocities estimated by the MASW method up to 30 m were compared with those found by the ReMi method, and they were observed to be very compatible. The province of Hatay was classified according to Vs30 based NEHRP Provisions, Eurocode-8, the Turkish Building Earthquake Regulation (TBDY-2018), and Rodriguez-Marek et al. (2001). The shear-wave velocity (Vs30), Horizontal to Vertical ratio’s (H/V) peak amplitude, dominant period, and site class of each site were determined. The H/V peak amplitudes range between 1.9 and 7.6, while the predominant periods vary from 0.23 sec to 2.94sec in the study area. These results are investigated to explain the consistency of site classification schemes.

κ0 for soil sites: Observations from KiK-net sites and their use in constraining small-strain damping profiles for site response analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boqin Xu ◽  
Ellen M Rathje ◽  
Youssef Hashash ◽  
Jonathan Stewart ◽  
Kenneth Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Strong Motion ◽  
Small Strain ◽  
Site Amplification ◽  
Site Response Analysis ◽  
Response Analysis ◽  
One Dimensional

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.

Determination of site period for NZS1170.5:2004

2014 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tam Larkin ◽  
Chris Van Houtte
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Closed Form Solution ◽  
Form Solution ◽  
Site Classification ◽  
Lumped Mass ◽  
Mass System ◽  
Site Classes ◽  
Site Period

The fundamental site period, T, is a key parameter for site classification in NZS 1170.5:2004. Many sites in New Zealand will fall into site classes C and D, where the boundary between the site classes is T = 0.6 seconds. NZS 1170.5 offers several methods of determining site classification. The intent of this paper is to expand on NZS 1170.5 and guide practising engineers towards more accurate and efficient methods for determining site period. We review methods to calculate the shear-wave velocity, then give specific examples for calculating the site period for five types of soil profile (uniform layer, shear-wave velocity increasing as a power of depth, shear modulus increasing linearly with depth, two-layer profile and three-layer profile). We find that NZS 1170.5 clause 3.1.3.7 for calculating site period at layered sites is unconservative and inconsistent with two other well-accepted methods for calculating site period. We consider the most accurate and efficient method of calculating site period for layered sites is to represent the profile as a lumped mass system, then calculate the fundamental frequency from the eigenvalues of the system. The successive application of the two-layer closed form solution is also considered an acceptable method.

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