Three-Dimensional Linear and Simplified Nonlinear Soil Response Methods Based on an Input Wave Field

Abstract

Authors propose three-dimensional linear and simplified nonlinear soil response methods based on an input seismic wave field. An input wave field is employed to treat seismic surface waves excited by a deep structure in a shallow soil model. First, the linear method is applied to a hard- and a soft-soil site located in Mexico City, and soil responses excited by S-, surface-, and whole-wave fields reproduce the input waves fields well. Then, the linear method is applied to estimate soil responses for three large earthquakes at two soft-soil sites located in the reclaimed zone of Tokyo Bay, and again it works well. Finally, authors attempt to perform nonlinear and liquefaction soil response analyses in the reclaimed zone, on the basis of an input wave field modified according to varied soil properties. The nonlinear method seems to provide reasonable nonlinear and liquefaction soil responses.