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.

Seismic Site Classifications and Site Amplifications for the Urban Centres in the Shallow Overburden Deposits

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Anbazhagan ◽  
M. Neaz Sheikh
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Classification System ◽  
Site Response ◽  
The United States ◽  
Site Classification ◽  
Soil Thickness ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
China And India

This paper presents seismic site classification practices for urban centres in Australia, China, and India with special emphasis on their suitability for shallow soil sites. The geotechnical aspects of seismic site classifications play a critical role in the development of site response spectra, which is the basis for the seismic design of new structures and seismic assessment of existing structures. Seismic site classifications have used weighted average shear wave velocity of top 30 m soil layers, following the recommendations of National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) or International Building Code (IBC) site classification system. The site classification system is based on the studies carried out in the United States where soil layer may extend up to several hundred meters before reaching any distinct soil-bedrock interface. Most of the urban centers in Australia, China, and India are located on distinct bedrocks within few meter depth of soil deposits. For such shallow depth soil sites, NEHRP or IBC site classification system is not suitable. A new site classification based on average soil thickness, shear wave velocity up to engineering bedrock is proposed. The study shows that spectral value and amplification ratio estimated from site response study considering top 30 m soil layers are different from those determined considering soil thickness up to engineering bedrock.

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.

scholarly journals A Comparative Study on the VS30 and N30 Based Seismic Site Classification in Kahramanmaras, Turkey

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Dalia Munaff Naji ◽  
Muge K. Akin ◽  
Ali Firat Cabalar
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Dead Sea ◽  
Site Classification ◽  
Earthquake Hazards ◽  
Class D ◽  
Average Shear

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.

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.

Topographically-Derived Near-Surface Shear Wave Velocity Map for Pakistan

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 1650010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Zaman ◽  
Pennung Warnitchai
Keyword(s):  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Site Response ◽  
Response Analysis ◽  
Site Classification ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Topographic Slope

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.

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>

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>

Multiscale Random Field-Based Shear Wave Velocity Mapping and Site Classification

Geo-Risk 2017 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxin Liu ◽  
Chaofeng Wang ◽  
Qiushi Chen ◽  
Guoxing Chen ◽  
C. Hsein Juang
Keyword(s):  
Random Field ◽  
Shear Wave ◽  
Wave Velocity ◽  
Shear Wave Velocity ◽  
Site Classification ◽  
Velocity Mapping
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