Experimental Relationship Between Ambient Vibration H/V Peak Amplitude and Shear-wave Velocity Contrast

2012 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 1038-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. Oubaiche ◽  
J.-L. Chatelain ◽  
A. Bouguern ◽  
R. Bensalem ◽  
D. Machane ◽  
...  
2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 55-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheri Molnar ◽  
John Onwuemeka ◽  
Sujan Raj Adhikari

This paper presents application of microtremor (ambient vibration) and surface wave field techniques for post-earthquake geotechnical reconnaissance purposes in Kathmandu, Nepal. Horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (HVSR) are computed from microtremor recordings at 16 individual measurement locations to obtain an estimate of fundamental frequency (site period) of the subsurface soils. A combination of active- and passive-source surface wave array testing was accomplished at five key sites including Kathmandu's Durbar Square and Airport. Joint inversion of each site's higher frequency dispersion and lower frequency HVSR data sets provides an estimate of subsurface material stiffness [i.e., shear wave velocity ( V S) depth profiles]. Direct comparison of our V S profiling at Kathmandu Durbar Square and that accomplished by downhole V S and/or standard penetration testing (SPT) profiling yield similar results. Classification of the five sites based on average V S, site period, and/or basin depth is presented. There is little differentiation in these site classification designations amongst the five sites, which does not capture significant differences in observed earthquake damage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 11058
Author(s):  
Abdelouahab Issaadi ◽  
Fethi Semmane ◽  
Abdelkrim Yelles-Chaouche ◽  
Juan José Galiana-Merino ◽  
Anis Mazari

In order to better assess the seismic hazard in the northern region of Algeria, the shear-wave velocity structure in the Middle-Chelif Basin is estimated using ambient vibration single-station and array measurements. The Middle-Chelif Basin is located in the central part of the Chelif Basin, the largest of the Neogene sedimentary basins in northern Algeria. This basin hosts the El-Asnam fault, one of the most important active faults in the Mediterranean area. In this seismically active region, most towns and villages are built on large unconsolidated sedimentary covers. Application of the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique at 164 sites, and frequency–wavenumber (F–K) analysis at 7 other sites, allowed for the estimation of the ground resonance frequencies, shear-wave velocity profiles, and sedimentary cover thicknesses. The electrical resistivity tomography method was used at some sites to further constrain the thickness of the superficial sedimentary layers. The soil resonance frequencies range from 0.75 Hz to 12 Hz and the maximum frequency peak amplitude is 6.2. The structure of the estimated shear-wave velocities is presented in some places as 2D profiles to help interpret the existing faults. The ambient vibration data allowed us to estimate the maximum depth in the Middle-Chelif Basin, which is 760 m near the city of El-Abadia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bidhya Subedi ◽  
Junji Kiyono ◽  
Aiko Furukawa ◽  
Yusuke Ono ◽  
Teraphan Ornthammarath ◽  
...  

Multiple earthquakes have been felt in high-rise buildings in Bangkok despite the epicenters being far away. Seismic wave recordings in the Bangkok basin show a low-frequency peak. This study uses horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) analysis and array analysis of ambient vibration data to find the predominant period of the ground and the shear wave velocity profiles at five sites in Bangkok. The accuracy of the accelerometer used for the ambient data recording was verified by comparing results with velocity-meter results. The estimated predominant period was within 0.68–0.86 s. From the array records, dispersion curves of the Rayleigh-wave phase velocity were extracted and inverted for the deep layers. The results show that the shear-wave velocity of the top clay layer is low (82–120 m/s) at depths of 11–14.3 m. The low-frequency peak in the HVSR of the earthquake data, and the sediment layer with low shear-wave velocity implies that Bangkok is at risk of amplification of long-period earthquake waves.


Solid Earth ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaniv Darvasi ◽  
Amotz Agnon

Abstract. Instrumental strong motion data are not common around the Dead Sea region. Therefore, calibrating a new attenuation equation is a considerable challenge. However, the Holy Land has a remarkable historical archive, attesting to numerous regional and local earthquakes. Combining the historical record with new seismic measurements will improve the regional equation. On 11 July 1927, a rupture, in the crust in proximity to the northern Dead Sea, generated a moderate 6.2 ML earthquake. Up to 500 people were killed, and extensive destruction was recorded, even as far as 150 km from the focus. We consider local near-surface properties, in particular, the shear-wave velocity, as an amplification factor. Where the shear-wave velocity is low, the seismic intensity far from the focus would likely be greater than expected from a standard attenuation curve. In this work, we used the multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) method to estimate seismic wave velocity at anomalous sites in Israel in order to calibrate a new attenuation equation for the Dead Sea region. Our new attenuation equation contains a term which quantifies only lithological effects, while factors such as building quality, foundation depth, topography, earthquake directivity, type of fault, etc. remain out of our scope. Nonetheless, about 60 % of the measured anomalous sites fit expectations; therefore, this new ground-motion prediction equation (GMPE) is statistically better than the old ones. From our local point of view, this is the first time that integration of the 1927 historical data and modern shear-wave velocity profile measurements improved the attenuation equation (sometimes referred to as the attenuation relation) for the Dead Sea region. In the wider context, regions of low-to-moderate seismicity should use macroseismic earthquake data, together with modern measurements, in order to better estimate the peak ground acceleration or the seismic intensities to be caused by future earthquakes. This integration will conceivably lead to a better mitigation of damage from future earthquakes and should improve maps of seismic hazard.


2021 ◽  
pp. 875529302110010
Author(s):  
Sameer Ladak ◽  
Sheri Molnar ◽  
Samantha Palmer

Site characterization is a crucial component in assessing seismic hazard, typically involving in situ shear-wave velocity ( VS) depth profiling, and measurement of site amplification including site period. Noninvasive methods are ideal for soil sites and become challenging in terms of field logistics and interpretation in more complex geologic settings including rock sites. Multiple noninvasive active- and passive-seismic techniques are applied at 25 seismograph stations across Eastern Canada. It is typically assumed that these stations are installed on hard rock. We investigate which site characterization methods are suitable at rock sites as well as confirm the hard rock assumption by providing VS profiles. Active-source compression-wave refraction and surface wave array techniques consistently provide velocity measurements at rock sites; passive-source array testing is less consistent but it is our most suitable method in constraining the rock VS. Bayesian inversion of Rayleigh wave dispersion curves provides quantitative uncertainty in the rock VS. We succeed in estimating rock VS at 16 stations, with constrained rock VS estimates at 7 stations that are consistent with previous estimates for Precambrian and Paleozoic rock types. The National Building Code of Canada uses solely the time-averaged shear-wave velocity of the upper 30 m ( VS30) to classify rock sites. We determine a mean VS30 of ∼ 1600 m/s for 16 Eastern Canada stations; the hard rock assumption is correct (>1500 m/s) but not as hard as often assumed (∼2000 m/s). Mean variability in VS30 is ∼400 m/s and can lead to softer rock classifications, in particular, for Paleozoic rock types with lower average rock VS near the hard/soft rock boundary. Microtremor and earthquake horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios are obtained and provide site period classifications as an alternative to VS30.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 2343-2370
Author(s):  
Federico Passeri ◽  
Cesare Comina ◽  
Sebastiano Foti ◽  
Laura Valentina Socco

AbstractThe compilation and maintenance of experimental databases are of crucial importance in all research fields, allowing for researchers to develop and test new methodologies. In this work, we present a flat-file database of experimental dispersion curves and shear wave velocity profiles, mainly from active surface wave testing, but including also data from passive surface wave testing and invasive methods. The Polito Surface Wave flat-file Database (PSWD) is a gathering of experimental measurements collected within the past 25 years at different Italian sites. Discussion on the database content is reported in this paper to evaluate some statistical properties of surface wave test results. Comparisons with other methods for shear wave velocity measurements are also considered. The main novelty of this work is the homogeneity of the PSWD in terms of processing and interpretation methods. A common processing strategy and a new inversion approach were applied to all the data in the PSWD to guarantee consistency. The PSWD can be useful for further correlation studies and is made available as a reference benchmark for the validation and verification of novel interpretation procedures by other researchers.


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