Response Of Soil Sites Research Articles

Investigation of Seismic Response of Soil Sites in Hong Kong: Part I-Preliminary Dynamic Test Results

Preliminary results of shear wave velocity measurement and dynamic tests on Hong Kong soils are presented. We measured in-situ shear wave velocities in three types of Hong Kong soil sites. Measured results suggested that an overseas correlation model relating shear wave velocity to N-values of the standard penetration test (SPT) can be possibly used for Hong Kong soils. In this paper, we also suggested a similar correlation relationship derived from our limited amount of data and this model could be our preferred model for Hong Kong alluvium deposits, marine deposits and completely decomposed rock. We took a number of soil samples and carried out resonant column tests, bender element tests and cyclic triaxial tests. According to these testing results, we propose to use a number of overseas dynamic soil models for Hong Kong soils of similar nature. We also present an example of soil amplification effects on a site with a soft soil layer (marine deposits with SPT-N value of 1 to 2) below sandy fill. It is f...

Soil site response

The response of stiff quaternary soil sites to strong earthquake shaking is an important factor in the development of seismic siting criteria for nuclear power plants. Analytical methods for estimating this site response are in common use, but there is need for empirical verification of these modeling techniques. There are two dense 3-D strong motion arrays installed and operating in California to directly measure the response of stiff quaternary soil to earthquake shaking. These are the Hollister Earthquake Observatory and the Borrego Valley Downhole Arrays. Site response measurements from these arrays, along with detailed geotechnical and geophysical site investigations, will provide important calibration and confirmation of site response modeling techniques used for seismic siting criteria development. This paper presents an overview of the two arrays and initial results of the measurements.