Short-period Ground Research Articles

Modeling Path Effects Due to 3D Velocity Structure for Nonergodic Ground-Motion Models: A Case Study Using Turkish Ground-Motion Data

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to assess the performance of different path-effect models for developing nonergodic ground motion models (GMMs) using a Turkish ground-motion database. The cell-specific attenuation approach is widely used to capture path effects in the formulation of nonergodic GMMs. However, this approach can mainly capture anelastic attenuation effects associated with the spatial variation of the quality factor, and it is limited in capturing 3D velocity structure effects, which may be, in particular, relevant for long-period ground motions or short-distance and short-period ground motions. Recent efforts have introduced new models to incorporate 3D velocity structure effects; however, the assessment of these models in the context of instrumentally recorded ground motions is limited. This study assesses the performance of three path-effects models for Türkiye. Specifically, we consider the cell-specific attenuation approach and two additional models based on Gaussian processes but with a different parametrization on how they represent the spatial correlation of path effects. The results indicate that the models based on Gaussian processes outperform the cell-specific approach for long-period spectral accelerations and short-period ground motions at short distances, offering significant aleatory standard deviation reductions. The differences between the Gaussian process-based models are also discussed, highlighting how their parameterization is reflected in prediction patterns. This study contributes to the transition from ergodic to nonergodic approaches in performance-based earthquake engineering.

Double resonance in seismo-lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling

nvestigations into causal mechanisms behind anomalous pre-earthquake phenomena are considered a promising way of earthquake prediction. Numerous promising channels for seismo-lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling have been proposed; however, predicting earthquakes remains a great challenge in the scientific society. Short-period ground vibrations exhibiting frequency characteristics similar to natural frequencies caused by strata failure resonance have recently been detected using tiltmeters embedded in magnetometers prior to earthquakes. These vibrations originate from regions near the epicentres of forthcoming earthquakes and can be simultaneously detected by broadband seismometers and ground-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers. Unlike the total electron contents (TECs) obtained from orbiting satellites, the vibrations and the identifiable TEC perturbations in data from geostationary satellites of the BeiDou Navigation System share frequencies prior to earthquakes. However, the causal relationship between the vibrations and TEC perturbations remains unclear due to a gap in data observations between the lithosphere and ionosphere. To address this issue, an instrumental array was established to monitor vibrations and perturbations in the lithosphere, atmosphere, and ionosphere. Observational data from the array partially fill the gap, and analytical results show that ground vibrations, air pressure, magnetic fields, and TEC data shared a common frequency of approximately 5 × 10–3 Hz (5 mHz) before major earthquakes. This suggests that the resonant ground vibrations trigger atmospheric resonance before earthquakes. Therefore, the double resonance (crustal and atmospheric resonance) model is a new explanation for the observed anomalies in multiple geophysical parameters in the lithosphere, atmosphere, and ionosphere. Retrieving resonant signals from multiple sources of observational data is a significant challenge, but once this issue is overcome, double resonance may contribute to practical earthquake prediction.

High-performance isolation systems with rate-independent linear damping for seismic protection of high-rise buildings

There is currently growing concern within the earthquake engineering community regarding the potential for base-isolated structures to experience significant responses during extreme earthquakes. This concern is primarily driven by the observation that induced ground motions can contain influential long-period components, which may exacerbate the structural response. Supplementing damping using conventional damping devices contributed to a significant reduction in the responses whereas perhaps compromises the effects of base isolation itself when subjected to more frequently occurring short-period ground motions, particularly for base-isolated high-rise building structure. The present study employs rate-independent linear damping (RILD) to control the seismic response of high-rise building structures subjected to both short- and long-period ground motions. RILD is a damping mechanism that exerts a control force that is independent of the vibration frequency under harmonic deformation. This method is implemented in conjunction with isolators to achieve the desired control objectives. For passive realization of RILD, both the Maxwell-negative-stiffness (MNS) and modified tuned Maxwell–Wiechert (MTMW) models were considered. A regression technique is presented in this study to optimally design the properties of the MTMW model, and a recursive formulation is developed to conduct structural response history analyses efficiently. The proposed method for seismic protection of high-rise structures was demonstrated using a 20-story benchmark building structure as the analytical model. This approach serves to illustrate the advantages of the proposed method in a practical context. Both short- and long-period ground motions are used for examining the performance of rate-independent damping models incorporated into base-isolated high-rise structures. The findings suggest that the combined isolation systems, in conjunction with rate-independent linear damping (RILD), offer significantly enhanced protection against conventional short-period ground motions, without sacrificing performance during long-period ground motions. Compared to commonly utilized isolation systems, this approach demonstrates superior performance in safeguarding high-rise structures.

Ground motion prediction equations based on shallow crustal earthquakes in Georgia and the surrounding Caucasus

Strong ground motions caused by earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 3.5 to 6.9 and hypocentral distances of up to 300 km were recorded by local broadband stations and three-component accelerograms within Georgia’s enhanced digital seismic network. Such data mixing is particularly effective in areas where strong ground motion data are lacking. The data were used to produce models based on ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs), one benefit of which is that they take into consideration information from waveforms across a wide range of frequencies. In this study, models were developed to predict ground motions for peak ground acceleration and 5%-damped pseudo-absolute-acceleration spectra for periods between 0.01 and 10 s. Short-period ground motions decayed faster than long-period motions, though decay was still in the order of approximately 1/r. Faulting mechanisms and local soil conditions greatly influence GMPEs. The spectral acceleration (SA) of thrust faults was higher than that for either strike-slip or normal faults but the influence of strike-slip faulting on SA was slightly greater than that for normal faults. Soft soils also caused significantly more amplification than rocky sites.

Characteristics of Strong Ground Motions from Four M S ≥ 5.0 Earthquakes in the 2021 Yangbi, Southwest China, Seismic Sequence

ABSTRACT A seismic sequence has struck the Yangbi county, west part of Yunnan Province in southwest China since May 18, 2021 . This region experienced the strongest ground shakings on the night of 21 May with the successive occurrence of four earthquakes with M S ≥5.0 in a short time and more small earthquakes. Large numbers of strong-motion recordings obtained in the four earthquakes with M S ≥5.0 (i.e. the M S 5.6 foreshock, the M S 6.4 mainshock, the M S 5.0 and M S 5.2 aftershocks) were analyzed in detail to characterize the source effects, distance decay, etc. The velocity pulse-like waveform at near-source station 53YBX and the significant asymmetry of distance decay along the SSE-NNW direction (i.e. much slower toward the SSE) in the M S 6.4 mainshock seem to hint the occurrence of the asymmetrical source rupture. The source rupture directivity for the four events were investigated by fitting the azimuth-dependent residuals of the PGAs. The M S 6.4 mainshock is characterized by the significantly asymmetrical bilateral rupture propagation, predominantly in the SSE direction with a rupture velocity of about 2.24 km/s. The PGA and PSAs from the four earthquakes were further compared with the predicted medians of the ASK14 and CY14 prediction models for global shallow crustal earthquakes. The negative inter-events residuals reflect the weaker source contributions of the Yangbi events to ground motions. The source contributions to short-period ground motions approximately show the dependence on earthquake type, that is, M S 5.6 foreshock > M S 6.4 mainshock > M S 5.2 aftershock, consistent with the dependence of stress drop on earthquake type. We further noted that the inter-events values for the M S 5.0 aftershock are far below those for the M S 5.2 aftershock. This may be attributed to the differences in the spatial and temporal distance to the mainshock, that is, weak source contributions from the close aftershocks to the mainshock. The values of adjustment coefficient Δc 3 are almost positive, indicating the weaker anelastic attenuations in the study region. Finally, we also found that the distance scaling of significant duration can be well described by both empirical models (AS16 model for predicting significant duration and the BT14 model for empirically illustrating the ground-motion path duration).

Real-time hybrid simulation for a base-isolated building with the transmissibility-based semi-active controller

The transmissibility-based semi-active (TSA) controller was developed in the existing study by the authors, which can effectively enhance the performance of base-isolated buildings under both strong long- and short-period earthquake ground motions. Since the performance of the TSA controller was only evaluated with numerical simulation in the existing study, this paper further validates its performance experimentally by conducting real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS). A three-story base isolated building was designed based on a simplified design procedure, where the base isolation system of the building consisted of three different devices, that is, a magneto-rheological (MR) damper, rubber bearing, and linear bearings. The base isolation system was experimentally tested with the MR damper controlled by the TSA controller, and the building superstructure was analytically modeled. It was shown that the TSA controller makes the system damping high under long-period ground motions and low under short-period ground motions, which performed uniquely as intended. As a result, the isolator displacement was effectively reduced under long-period ground motions, while the story drift and acceleration responses were also reduced under short-period ground motions, all of which are difficult to achieve at the same time using passive damping only.

A Far-Field Ground-Motion Model for the North Australian Craton from Plate-Margin Earthquakes

ABSTRACT The Australian territory is just over 400 km from an active convergent plate margin with the collision of the Sunda–Banda Arc with the Precambrian and Palaeozoic Australian continental crust. Seismic energy from earthquakes in the northern Australian plate-margin region are channeled efficiently through the low-attenuation North Australian craton (NAC), with moderate-sized (Mw≥5.0) earthquakes in the Banda Sea commonly felt in northern Australia. A far-field ground-motion model (GMM) has been developed for use in seismic hazard studies for sites located within the NAC. The model is applicable for hypocentral distances of approximately 500–1500 km and magnitudes up to Mw 8.0. The GMM provides coefficients for peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, and 5%-damped pseudospectral acceleration at 20 oscillator periods from 0.1 to 10 s. A strong hypocentral depth dependence is observed in empirical data, with earthquakes occurring at depths of 100–200 km demonstrating larger amplitudes for short-period ground motions than events with shallower hypocenters. The depth dependence of ground motion diminishes with longer spectral periods, suggesting that the relatively larger ground motions for deeper earthquake hypocenters may be due to more compact ruptures producing higher stress drops at depth. Compared with the mean Next Generation Attenuation-East GMM developed for the central and eastern United States (which is applicable for a similar distance range), the NAC GMM demonstrates significantly higher short-period ground motion for Banda Sea events, transitioning to lower relative accelerations for longer period ground motions.

Effects of 2-D random velocity perturbations on 2-DSHshort-period ground motion simulations in the basin of Nice, France

SUMMARYSome geological configurations, like sedimentary basins, are prone to site effects. Basins are often composed of different geological layers whose properties are generally considered as spatially homogeneous or smoothly varying. In this study, we address the influence of small-scale velocity fluctuations on seismic response. For this purpose, we use the spectral element method to model the 2-D SH wave propagation on a basin of 1.1 km long and ≈ 60 m deep, representing a 2-D profile in the city of Nice, France. The velocity fluctuations are modelled statistically as a random process characterized by a Von Karman autocorrelation function and are superimposed to the deterministic model. We assess the influence of the amplitude and correlation length of the random velocities on the surface ground motion. We vary the autocorrelation function’s parameters and compute seismic wavefields in 10 random realizations of the stochastic models. The analyses of our results focus on the envelope and phase differences between the waveforms computed in the random and deterministic models; on the variability of ground motion intensity measures, such as the peak ground velocity, the pseudo-spectral acceleration response; and the 2-D basin response (transfer function). We find that the amplitude of fluctuations has a greater effect on the ground motion variability than the correlation length. Depending on the random medium realization, the ground motion in one stochastic model can be locally amplified or deamplified with respect to the reference model due to the presence of high or low velocity contrasts, respectively. When computing the mean amplification of different random realizations, the results may be smaller than those of the reference media due to the smoothing effect of the average. This study highlights the importance of knowing the site properties at different scales, particularly at small scales, for proper seismic hazard assessment.

Characteristics of strong ground motion attenuation in the 2019 Mw 5.8 Changning earthquake, Sichuan, China

A moderate magnitude earthquake with Mw 5.8 occurred on June 17, 2019, in Changning County, Sichuan Province, China, causing 13 deaths, 226 injuries, and serious engineering damage. This earthquake induced heavier damage than earthquakes of similar magnitude. To explain this phenomenon in terms of ground motion characteristics, based on 58 sets of strong ground motions in this earthquake, the peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), acceleration response spectra (Sa), duration, and Arias intensity are analyzed. The results show that the PGA, PGV, and Sa are larger than the predicted values from some global ground motion models. The between-event residuals reveal that the source effects on the intermediate-period and long-period ground motions are stronger than those on short-period ground motions. Comparison of Arias intensity attenuation with the global models indicates that the energy of ground motions of the Changning earthquake is larger than those of earthquakes with the same magnitude.

Ground motion simulations of Hope fault earthquakes

This paper examines ground motions for a major potential Mw7.51 rupture of the Hope Fault using a physics based simulation methodology and a 3D crustal velocity model of New Zealand. The simulation methodology was validated for use in the region through comparison with observations for a suite of historic small magnitude earthquakes located proximal to the Hope Fault. Simulations are compared with conventionally utilised empirical ground motion models, with simulated peak ground velocities being notably higher in regions with modelled sedimentary basins. A sensitivity analysis was undertaken where the source characteristics of magnitude, stress parameter, hypocentre location and kinematic slip distribution were varied and an analysis of their effect on ground motion intensities is presented. It was found that the magnitude and stress parameter strongly influenced long and short period ground motion amplitudes, respectively. Ground motion intensities for the Hope Fault scenario are compared with the 2016 Kaik¯oura Mw7.8 earthquake, it was found that the Kaikoura earthquake produced stronger motions along the eastern South Island, while the Hope Fault scenario resulted in stronger motions immediately West of the near-fault region and similar levels of ground motion in Canterbury. The simulated ground motions for this scenario complement prior empirically-based estimates and are informative for mitigation and emergency planning purposes.

Dynamic Source Model for the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake in a Wide Period Range Combining Slip Reactivation with the Short-Period Ground Motion Generation Process

This paper describes a validated dynamic rupture model of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake that reproduces both long-period (20–100 s) and short-period (3–20 s) ground motions. In order to reproduce the observed large slip area (slip asperity), we assign a large Dc (slip critical distance) area following kinematic source inversion results. Sufficiently large slip is achieved through rupture reactivation by the double-slip-weakening friction model. In order to reproduce the strong-motion generation areas (SMGAs), we assign short Dc and large stress-drop areas following empirical Green’s function (EGF) simulation results, which indicate that, although more distant from the hypocenter, SMGA1 ruptured earlier than SMGA2 or SMGA3, which are closer to the hypocenter. This observation is confirmed by the backprojection method. In order to reproduce this important feature in dynamic simulation results, we introduce a chain of small high stress-drop patches between the hypocenter and SMGA1. By systematic adjustment of stress drops and Dc, the rupture reproduces the observed sequence and timing of SMGA ruptures and the final slip derived by kinematic models. This model also reproduces the multiseismic wavefront observed from strong ground motion data recorded along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region. We compare the velocity waveforms recorded at rock sites along the coastline with one-dimensional (1D) synthetic seismograms for periods of 20–100 s. The fit is very good at stations in the northern and central areas of Tohoku. We also perform finite-difference method (FDM) simulations for periods of 3–20 s, and confirm that our dynamic model also reproduces wave envelopes. Overall, we are able to validate the rupture process of the Tohoku earthquake.

Observations on Regional Variability in Ground-Motion Amplitude from Six Mw\u2009~\u20096.0 Earthquakes of the North\u2013South Seismic Zone in China

Observed ground-motion intensity for six earthquakes of Mw = 6.0–6.2 that occurred in China’s North–South Seismic Zone (NSSZ) was compared with predicted medians from the BSSA14 model. The resulting between-event (δBe) and within-event (δWes) residuals for peak ground acceleration and pseudo-spectral acceleration up to 5.0 s were used to investigate the impact of source effects and path propagation on the regional variability in observed ground-motion amplitude within the NSSZ. Although the magnitude and fault type were similar among the six earthquakes, the results showed that their source effects were significantly different, which contributed in part to the regional variability in observed ground-motion amplitude. Estimated values for stress drop were found to mirror the trend in variation of the δBe values for short-period ground motions in the six earthquakes. This suggests that stress drop is an important factor for accurate representation of source effects and should be considered in the functional form of ground-motion prediction equations. Anelastic attenuation of ground motion was found to be considerably different in local areas of the NSSZ, which may constitute the primary reason for the regional variability in the observed ground-motion amplitude. The variation in δWes values confirmed that regional adjustment of anelastic attenuation in the BSSA14 model is applicable to some local areas (i.e., around the Longmenshan fault) but not to the NSSZ in its entirety.

Evidence of strong long-period ground motions of engineering importance for Nankai Trough plate boundary earthquakes: comparison of ground motions of two moderate-magnitude earthquakes

We analyzed strong-motion and broadband recordings of two moderate-magnitude earthquakes that occurred in the Nankai Trough. The first event was the 2004 Mw 6.5 southeast off-Kii peninsula earthquake, an aftershock event inside the Philippine Sea Plate near the Nankai Trough axis. The second event was the 2016 Mw 5.8 southeast off-Mie Prefecture earthquake, an independent event in the rupture area of the 1944 Mw ~ 8 Tonankai earthquake. The centroid depths were 11 and 14 km for the 2004 and 2016 events, respectively. Despite a large difference in the moment magnitude between the two events, the JMA magnitude (Mj) was 6.5 for both the events. We found that the short-period ground motions (e.g., response spectra at periods < 1 s) as well as the much longer-period ground motions (> 20 s) for the 2016 event scaled generally well with the moment magnitude of the event. In contrast, the ground motions from the 2016 event were comparable to those for the larger-moment-magnitude 2004 event at equal distances at periods of about 2–20 s in wide areas and the observed acceleration response spectra at those periods were noticeably underestimated for the 2016 event by the ground motion prediction equation (GMPE) that employs Mw. An examination of the existing subsurface velocity model suggested that the difference in the relative location of the two events with respect to the thick accretionary prism of low seismic velocity most probably caused the comparable amplitude of the seismic waves at those periods. As a result, we posit that the values of Mj are equal for the two events because Mj is estimated using the displacement amplitude of ground motions at periods smaller than about 6 s. On the other hand, GMPE employing Mj generally described the observed data well. The results suggested that the plate boundary earthquakes in the Nankai Trough may excite strong long-period ground motions of engineering importance, and these ground motions appear to be better explained by Mj than by Mw in GMPEs for moderate-magnitude earthquakes in the Nankai Trough subduction zone.

Adaptive base isolation system to achieve structural resiliency under both short- and long-period earthquake ground motions

Base isolation system is widely used to protect important and essential buildings from seismic hazards. The use of high damping is effective in reducing the resonance effect under long-period earthquake ground motions. However, high damping increases the acceleration demand under short-period ground motions, leading to a higher risk of damage of nonstructural components. Actually, low damping is beneficial to reduce the acceleration demand under short-period ground motions, suggesting the use of adaptive damping control, that is, high damping under long-period motions and low damping under short-period motions. In order to implement this concept, a semi-actively controlled base isolation system is provided in this article along with a new control law based on the transmissibility theory. Unlike existing studies, the proposed method enables a systematic design procedure for base isolated structures with semi-active dampers, which is called the simplified design procedure in this article. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated with numerical simulations for a base isolated three-story building with magneto-rheological dampers. It was shown that the proposed system achieves a high level of performance under long-period ground motions, while maintaining the exceptional performance of a conventional base isolation system with low damping under short-period ground motions.

Cost Savings of Implementing Site-Specific Ground Motion Response Analysis in the Design of Short-Period Mississippi Embayment Bridges

Deep dynamic site characterization and a site-specific ground motion response analysis (SSGMRA) were conducted for a bridge site in Monette, Arkansas. The SSGMRA indicated the design acceleration response spectrum determined using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) general seismic procedure could be reduced by one third for the short-period range due to attenuation of the short-period ground motions. The steel girder pile-bent bridge, originally designed using the AASHTO general seismic design procedure, was redesigned using the updated seismic demands estimated from SSGMRA. A cost-savings analysis was then conducted to determine the potential savings associated with conducting the SSGMRA. By designing based on the results of the SSGMRA, a potential gross savings of $205,000, or 7% of the original bridge construction cost, could be achieved for the study bridge. Items that contributed most to the cost savings were the pile and embankment construction.

Design response spectra-compliant real and synthetic GMS for seismic analysis of seismically isolated nuclear reactor containment building

Due to the severe impacts of recent earthquakes, the use of seismic isolation is paramount for the safety of nuclear structures. The diversity observed in seismic events demands ongoing research to analyze the devastating attributes involved, and hence to enhance the sustainability of base-isolated nuclear power plants. This study reports the seismic performance of a seismically-isolated nuclear reactor containment building (NRCB) under strong short-period ground motions (SPGMs) and long-period ground motions (LPGMs). The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission-based design response spectrum for the seismic design of nuclear power plants is stipulated as the reference spectrum for ground motion selection. Within the period range(s) of interest, the spectral matching of selected records with the target spectrum is ensured using the spectral-compatibility approach. NRC-compliant SPGMs and LPGMs from the mega-thrust Tohoku earthquake are used to obtain the structural response of the base-isolated NRCB. To account for the lack of earthquakes in low-to-moderate seismicity zones and the gap in the artificial synthesis of long-period records, wavelet-decomposition based autoregressive moving average modeling for artificial generation of real ground motions is performed. Based on analysis results from real and simulated SPGMs versus LPGMs, the performance of NRCBs is discussed with suggestions for future research and seismic provisions.

Analysis of strong ground motions and site effects at Kantipath, Kathmandu, from 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha, Nepal, earthquake and its aftershocks

Strong ground motions from the 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha, Nepal, earthquake and its eight aftershocks recorded by a strong-motion seismograph at Kantipath (KATNP), Kathmandu, were analyzed to assess the ground-motion characteristics and site effects at this location. Remarkably large elastic pseudo-velocity responses exceeding 300 cm/s at 5 % critical damping were calculated for the horizontal components of the mainshock recordings at peak periods of 4–5 s. Conversely, the short-period ground motions of the mainshock were relatively weak despite the proximity of the site to the source fault. The horizontal components of all large-magnitude (Mw ≥ 6.3) aftershock recordings showed peak pseudo-velocity responses at periods of 3–4 s. Ground-motion prediction equations (GMPEs) describing the Nepal Himalaya region have not yet been developed. A comparison of the observational data with GMPEs for Japan showed that with the exception of the peak ground acceleration (PGA) of the mainshock, the observed PGAs and peak ground velocities at the KATNP site are generally well described by the GMPEs for crustal and plate interface events. A comparison of the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) spectral ratios for the S-waves of the mainshock and aftershock recordings suggested that the KATNP site experienced a considerable nonlinear site response, which resulted in the reduced amplitudes of short-period ground motions. The GMPEs were found to underestimate the response values at the peak periods (approximately 4–5 s) of the large-magnitude events. The deep subsurface velocity model of the Kathmandu basin has not been well investigated. Therefore, a one-dimensional velocity model was constructed for the deep sediments beneath the recording station based on an analysis of the H/V spectral ratios for S-wave coda from aftershock recordings, and it was revealed that the basin sediments strongly amplified the long-period components of the ground motions of the mainshock and large-magnitude aftershocks.

Comparison of 1D linear, equivalent-linear, and nonlinear site response models at six KiK-net validation sites

Vertical seismometer arrays represent a unique interaction between observed and predicted ground motions, and they are especially helpful for validating and comparing site response models. In this study, we perform comprehensive linear, equivalent-linear, and nonlinear site response analyses of 191 ground motions recorded at six validation sites in the Kiban–Kyoshin network (KiK-net) of vertical seismometer arrays in Japan. These sites, which span a range of geologic conditions, are selected because they meet the basic assumptions of one-dimensional (1D) wave propagation, and are therefore ideal for validating and calibrating 1D nonlinear soil models. We employ the equivalent-linear site response program SHAKE, the nonlinear site response program DEEPSOIL, and a nonlinear site response overlay model within the general finite element program Abaqus/Explicit. Using the results from this broad range of ground motions, we quantify the uncertainties of the alternative site response models, measure the strain levels at which the models break down, and provide general recommendations for performing site response analyses. Specifically, we find that at peak shear strains from 0.01% to 0.1%, linear site response models fail to accurately predict short-period ground motions; equivalent-linear and nonlinear models offer a significant improvement at strains beyond this level, with nonlinear models exhibiting a slight improvement over equivalent-linear models at strains greater than approximately 0.05%.

Classification of Main Shocks and Aftershocks in the NGA-West2 Database

Previous studies have found a systematic difference between short-period ground motions from aftershocks and main shocks, but have not used a consistent methodology for classifying earthquakes in strong motion data sets. A method for unambiguously classifying earthquakes in strong motion data sets is developed. The classification is based on the Gardner and Knopoff time window, but with a distance window based on a new distance metric, CRJB, defined as the shortest horizontal distance between the centroid of the surface projection of the potential aftershock rupture plane and the surface projection of the main shock rupture plane. Class 2 earthquakes are earthquakes that have a CRJB distance less than a selected limit and within a time window appropriate for aftershocks. All other earthquakes are classified as Class 1. For maximum CRJB of 0 km and 40 km, 11% and 36% of the earthquakes in the NGA-West2 database are Class 2 events, respectively.

Lateral and Base Shear Forces Acting on 20 Stories Building in Bujumbura City during the Seismic Activity

For designing a high-rise building in Bujumbura city, it is very important to know that the city is located in the seismic zone and therefore take adequate conceptual measures. This study was inspired by a tendency to high-rise building in Bujumbura city while the designers of these buildings do not have sufficient data on the impact of seismic activity in the area lying in the extension of the Rift Valley. By referring to the International Building code (Berkeley 2003) and the ASCE7 data, it is easy to draw a response spectrum curve for Bujumbura city based on the short period ground motion range (To), the characteristic period of ground motion (Ts) and the spectral response acceleration Ss and S 1 . By using the Extended Three Dimensional Analysis of Building Systems (ETABS) software for the 20 stories building, the seismic base shear forces (V) can reach -2000KN and the seismic stories lateral forces (Fx) can reach 230 KN.