Seismic microzonation of Sarpol-e-zahab after Mw 7.3 2017 Iran earthquake: 1D-equivalent linear approach

Abstract

The impacts of Iran’s recent and destructive earthquake of Mw 7.3 November 12 2017, and its important subsequent events are investigated at Sarpol-e-zahab by means of 1D-equivalent linear site response analyses. Local damages at Sarpol-e-zahab highlighted the role of seismic microzonation in seismic risk reduction and damage prevention plans for future events. Hence, the main goals of this study are set to provide maps for amplification factors and shaking levels of the city as well as validating design-basis earthquake loads for buildings and structures of the national code of IRSt2800. This is achieved by deconvolution of the strong motions recorded by ISMN-SPZ as the closest station to the epicenter of Mw 7.3 earthquake and finding the two horizontal bedrock motions and subsequently, convolution of the horizontal bedrock motions to find the ground motions at 38 points across the city. The results of seismic site response analyses have provided very instructive information for rehabilitation of the existing buildings and future constructions as well as seismic vulnerability assessment of buildings during earthquakes. Furthermore, it provides an unprecedented research in Iran of a complete seismic microzonation at urban scale after an earthquake and a successful application of seismic microzonation at urban area with inadequate number of strong motion recording stations.