Analysis of Ground Motion Parameters from the 2011 Earthquake in Lorca (SE Iberian Peninsula) Based on Seismic Data

Abstract

In the present work we study how the ground motion parameters had a relevant influence on the buildings structural damages due to the 2011 earthquake in Lorca city. We quantified the severity of subsurface motion through the estimation of peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), and Arias Intensity (AI) at bedrock level. Those values were obtained by means of S-wave velocity data from Multichannel Analysis Surface Waves (MASW) method which was conducted along the streets of Lorca city. Remarkably, PGA and PGV maps present high values in those urban areas which reported severe building damages. Besides, the highest PGA, PGV and AI values are located in the easternmost area of the city. In fact, in that area was reported significant building damages by the 2011 earthquake. These ground motion maps add some insights into both the interaction soil-building and the type of structural damages associated to buildings during the occurrence of an earthquake.