3D simulation of near-fault strong ground motion: comparison between surface rupture fault and buried fault

Abstract

In this paper, near-fault strong ground motions caused by a surface rupture fault (SRF) and a buried fault (BF) are numerically simulated and compared by using a time-space-decoupled, explicit finite element method combined with a multi-transmitting formula (MTF) of an artificial boundary. Prior to the comparison, verification of the explicit element method and the MTF is conducted. The comparison results show that the final dislocation of the SRF is larger than the BF for the same stress drop on the fault plane. The maximum final dislocation occurs on the fault upper line for the SRF; however, for the BF, the maximum final dislocation is located on the fault central part. Meanwhile, the PGA, PGV and PGD of long period ground motions (≤1 Hz) generated by the SRF are much higher than those of the BF in the near-fault region. The peak value of the velocity pulse generated by the SRF is also higher than the BF. Furthermore, it is found that in a very narrow region along the fault trace, ground motions caused by the SRF are much higher than by the BF. These results may explain why SRFs almost always cause heavy damage in near-fault regions compared to buried faults.