Local site conditions modeling in stochastic simulation of ground motions generated by Vrancea (Romania) intermediate-depth seismic source

Abstract

Analyses of stochastic simulations methods for Vrancea (Romania) intermediate-depth earthquake recorded at seismic station INCERC Bucharest were made. The main research topic highlighted in this paper is the quest for the best model able to simulate the influence of the local site conditions considering to this aim different types of soil behavior. Two types of linear behavior and one type of nonlinear behavior of the soil layers were considered to investigate the site effects. Comparisons between the simulations and the recorded accelerograms and between the simulation methods were made in terms of amplitude parameters, frequency content, duration parameters, and energy release. A better approximation was found when the nonlinear behavior of the soil layers was employed.