Earthquake Resilience of High-Rise Buildings: Case Study of the 2011 Tohoku (Japan) Earthquake

Abstract

AbstractAccumulated data and experiences are very important in the reliable seismic design of structures. However, it is also true that theoretical expectations and predictions are also of significance for the design of extremely important structures and facilities which are influential for the society and wide district. This was demonstrated in the past earthquakes which are very rare from the viewpoint of return period in the same area. The most devastating earthquake in Japan after the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake hit eastern Japan in the afternoon of March 11, 2011. The moment magnitude 9.0 earthquake is one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world since modern recordkeeping began in 1900. It was made clear afterwards that the recording system for low-frequency and large-amplitude ground motions was not sufficient in Japan and the first preliminary Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) magnitude was smaller than 8 (7.9 exactly). The JMA magnitude was updated immediately as 8.4. Records of earthquake ground motions outside Japan were then used to determine the exact moment magnitude of 9.0 (intermediate announcement was 8.8). The earthquake resulted from the thrust faulting near the subduction zone plate boundary between the Pacific and North America Plates.KeywordsGround MotionTohoku EarthquakeSimulated Ground MotionFrame ResponseVelocity Response SpectrumThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.