Site-specific response spectra for seismic motions in half-plane with shallow cavities

Abstract

In this paper deals with the evaluation of 2D site effects due to the presence of subterranean structures specifically underground cavities using time-domain BEM. The medium is assumed to have a linear elastic constitutive behavior subjected to vertically propagating incident SV waves. The first objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive parametric study to assess the seismic amplification functions of the surface ground motion due to shallow subterranean cavity. The second objective is providing quantitative estimates of the seismic ground response spectra above the various types of the underground structures based on the real earthquakes using a simple approach. It is observed that the amplification of the ground surface underlain by a shallow cavity is increased in long periods. The variation of the response spectra versus the buried depth and different shapes of the cavity at the superficial points above a cavity are depicted in comparison to the EC8 spectra as the major results of this study.