Application of microtremor H/V spectral ratio method in determining characteristic parameters of typical laterite sites

Abstract

Microtremor signals contain rich geophysical information, and the application of microtremor measurements in determining site characteristic parameters is increasingly valued because of their advantages of simple operation, environmental friendliness, and low cost. In this study, systematic microtremor measurements were conducted at a typical laterite site. The microtremor measurement data were processed with different combinations of horizontal components using the H/V spectral ratio method(H: Horizontal frequency domain signal of the microtremor; V: Vertical frequency domain signal of the microtremor). to take the HVSR curve. The period corresponding to the peak of the HVSR curve was considered to be the predominant period of the site, the site classifications were determined, and geotechnical types were divided. This study indicates that the microtremor H/V spectral ratio method is highly consistent with the results of borehole exploration for determining site classifications and dividing geotechnical types. Moreover, using the combination of vectors sum of East-West direction and North-South direction as horizontal components in the microtremor H/V spectral ratio method can more easily and accurately determine the site-predominant period.