Seismic Site Specific Study for Seismic Microzonation: A Way Forward for Risk Resiliency of Vital Infrastructure in Sikkim, India

Seismic Microzonation comprising study of site specific seismic Microtremor (H/V ratio) is deployed to generate seismological parameters (Peak Frequency, Peak Amplification, Site Vulnerability Index) that may help estimate requisite factors for sound building design codes that can be used to construct risk resilient infrastructures. In this paper the site of Pakyong, Sikkim, India has been investigated by dividing it into three differed zones (Zone 1, Zone II, Zone III). The study area is associated with site amplification factor varying from 1.47 to 11.49 with corresponding frequency variations from 0.5 Hz - 12.5 Hz in which site vulnerability index found varied from 0.2 to 220.6. The anomalous subsurface formation with its high amplification corresponds to the centre of the Pakyong sites having conspicuous trend in NW-SE direction suggesting the existence of geological formations of Chlorite, Phyllite with intercalations of Quartzite beneath the centre of Pakyong site. The risk associated with vulnerability index for different zones maintains its variability as Zone I > Zone II > Zone III, indicating the low vulnerability index values are attributed to compact parts of the sub-surface materials with less amplifications whilst high vulnerability index of the site corresponds to relatively lower strength of the sub-surface materials and soft sediments underlying the Pakyong site which can be used for constructing risk resilient structure by enhancing the stiffness coefficient of the sub-surface by providing plausible engineering solutions for the purpose.

Double-Frequency Microseisms on the Thick Unconsolidated Sediments in Eastern and Southeastern Coasts of United States: Sources and Applications on Seismic Site Effect Evaluation

This study presents a systematic analysis of double-frequency(DF) microseisms recorded on the unconsolidated sediments in the eastern and southeastern coasts of United States. For all recordings, the site effect parameters(predominant frequency(f_(0)), amplification factor and unconsolidated sediment thickness(UST)) are obtained by Nakamura method and the DF spectra are classified into five groups in terms of the DF peak patterns and the recording locations relative to the coastline. The frequencies and energy levels of the DF peaks in horizontal direction and the amplification factors are associated with the UST which is resulted from seismic site effect. By polarization analysis, the primary vibration directions of the DF peaks are identified and presented as great circles passing through the recording stations intersecting mainly along the continental slope. Correlation analyses of time histories of the DF energy and the ocean wave climate observed at buoys show that the low(<0.2 Hz) and high(>0.2 Hz) frequency DF microseisms are generated in the deep ocean and the continental shelf respectively. It is concluded that the continental slope plays a significant role in the generation of DF microseisms as it causes reflection of waves from the open ocean, initiating standing waves.

China Seismic Experimental Site(CSES):A systems engineering perspective

China Seismic Experimental Site(CSES)deals with a long-term process of development of a multidisciplinary technical system.In the construction,maintenance,and upgrading of CSES,ideas of systems engineering play an important role.This article discusses several concepts which might be useful for CSES,including system metaphor,system performance evaluation,and system design.

Dark Touristic Perception: Motivation, Experience and Benefits Interpreted from the Visit to Seismic Memorial Sites in Sichuan Province

This study investigates the motivations of Chinese domestic tourists visiting seismic memorial sites after the great Wenchuan earthquake of 2008, and examines their interpretation of experiences and benefits of the visits. Recent research on dark tourism has raised the possibility that people are attracted to death and memorial sites in ways different from other tourist attractions. The study used an empirical research design employing questionnaires to collect data from 255 Chinese domestic visitors at seismic memorial sites in west Sichuan. Analysis revealed that the obligation of commemoration mixed with curiosity represents a different set of travel motivation in dark tourism settings than in other kinds of tourism. In addition, the empirical evidence also suggests an interrelated pattern between motivations, experiences and benefits. This study implies that Chinese domestic tourists were attracted in ways different from other tourist attractions both because they tended to fulfill their obligation of commemoration and were interested in destruction; and visitor experiences played an important mediating role between travel motivations and benefits gained.

China Seismic Experimental Site(CSES): Challenges of Deep Earth Exploration and Practice(DEEP)

Since May 2018,the planning,construction and functioning of China Seismic Experimental Site(CSES)has attracted much attention in earthquake science(CSES,2020 a,b,c;Wu,2020;Li et al.,2021).Different from traditional earthquake prediction experiment projects,such as the Parkfield earthquake prediction experiment(Roeloffs,2000).

The plurality effect of topographical irregularities on site seismic response

Topography can have signifi cant eff ects on seismic ground response during an earthquake because topographic irregularities cause considerable diff erences between the seismic waves emitted by the source and the waves reaching the ground surface. When a seismic motion happens in a topographically irregular area, seismic waves are trapped and refl ected between the topographic features. Therefore, the interaction between topographies can amplify seismic ground response. In order to reveal how interaction between topographies infl uences seismic response, several numerical fi nite element studies have been performed by using the ABAQUS program. The results show that topographic features a greater distance between the seismic source and the site would cause greater seismic motion amplifi cation and is perceptible for the hills far away from the source and the ridges. Also, site acceleration response is impacted by surrounding topography further than site velocity and displacement response.

Effect of site amplification on inelastic seismic response

The available models for eff ective periods of site and structure are reviewed in context of frequency tuning in the inelastic seismic response of soil-structure system. The eff ect of seismic intensity and ductility demand, on the eff ective periods, is investigated, and inelastic site amplifi cation is shown to be strongly correlated to the normalized eff ective period. Two non-dimensional parameters, analogous to the conventional site amplifi cation factors in codes, are defi ned to quantify the inelastic site amplifi cation. It is shown that the inelastic site amplifi cation factor (i.e. ratio of constant ductility spectral ordinates at soil site to those at rock outcrop) is able to represent the site eff ects more clearly, as compared to the inelastic site amplifi cation ratio (i.e. ratio of inelastic spectral ordinates at soil site to the corresponding elastic spectral ordinates at rock outcrop). Further, the peak in the amplifi cation factor corresponding to the eff ective site period diminishes rapidly with increasing ductility demand.

Spatial-temporal characterization of the San Andreas Fault by fault-zone trapped waves at seismic experiment site,Parkfield,California

In this article,we review our previous research for spatial and temporal characterizations of the San Andreas Fault(SAF)at Parkfield,using the fault-zone trapped wave(FZTW)since the middle 1980s.Parkfield,California has been taken as a scientific seismic experimental site in the USA since the 1970s,and the SAF is the target fault to investigate earthquake physics and forecasting.More than ten types of field experiments(including seismic,geophysical,geochemical,geodetic and so on)have been carried out at this experimental site since then.In the fall of 2003,a pair of scientific wells were drilled at the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth(SAFOD)site;the main-hole(MH)passed a~200-m-wide low-velocity zone(LVZ)with highly fractured rocks of the SAF at a depth of~3.2 km below the wellhead on the ground level(Hickman et al.,2005;Zoback,2007;Lockner et al.,2011).Borehole seismographs were installed in the SAFOD MH in 2004,which were located within the LVZ of the fault at~3-km depth to probe the internal structure and physical properties of the SAF.On September 282004,a M6 earthquake occurred~15 km southeast of the town of Parkfield.The data recorded in the field experiments before and after the 2004 M6 earthquake provided a unique opportunity to monitor the co-mainshock damage and post-seismic heal of the SAF associated with this strong earthquake.This retrospective review of the results from a sequence of our previous experiments at the Parkfield SAF,California,will be valuable for other researchers who are carrying out seismic experiments at the active faults to develop the community seismic wave velocity models,the fault models and the earthquake forecasting models in global seismogenic regions.

Effects of site conditions on earthquake ground motion and their applications in seismic design in loess region

The Loess Plateau is an earthquake prone region of China, where the effects of loess deposit on ground motion were discovered during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake(Ms8.0) and the 2013 Minxian-Zhangxian earthquake(Ms6.6). The field investigations, observations, and analyses indicated that large number of casualties and tremendous economic losses were caused not only by collapse and damage of houses with poor seismic performance, landslides, but also amplification effects of site conditions, topography and thickness of loess deposit, on ground motion. In this paper, we chose Dazhai Village and Majiagou Village as the typical loess site affected by the two earthquakes for intensity evaluation, borehole exploration, temporary strong motion array, micro tremor survey, and numerical analysis. The aim is to explore the relations between amplification factors and site conditions in terms of topography and thickness of loess deposit. We also developed site amplification factors of ground motion for engineering design consideration at loess sites. The results showed that the amplification effects are more predominant with increase in thickness of loess deposit and slope height. The amplification mayincrease seismic intensity by 1 degree, PGA and predominant period by 2 times, respectively.

Site-Specific Zonation of Seismic Site Effects by Optimization of the Expert GIS-Based Geotechnical Information System for Western Coastal Urban Areas in South Korea

Earthquake-induced disasters are often more severe over soft soils than over firm soils or rocks owing to the seismic site effects related to the amplification of ground motion. On a regional scale, such differences can be estimated by spatially predicting the subsurface soil thickness over the entire target area. Generally, soil deposits are deeper in coastal or riverside areas than in inland regions. In this study, the seismic site effects in the coastal metropolitan areas of Incheon and Bucheon, South Korea, were assessed to provide information on seismic hazards. Spatial prediction of geotechnical layers was performed for the entire study area within an advanced GIS framework. Approximately 7500 existing borehole records in the Incheon and Bucheon areas were gathered and archived into a GIS database. Surface geotechnical data were acquired from a walk-over survey. Based on the optimized geo-data, spatial zoning maps of site-specific seismic response parameters, based on multiscale geospatial modeling, were created and presented for use in a regional seismic mitigation strategy. Seismic zonation was also performed to determine site coefficients for seismic design over the entire target area and to compare them with each other. We verified that the geotechnical data based spatial zonation would be useful for seismic hazard mitigation.

Seismic vulnerability estimation of the building considering seismic environment and local site condition

A procedure is developed to incorporate seismic environment and site condition into the framework of seismic vulnerability estimation of building to consider the effects of the severity and/or frequency content of ground motion due to seismic environment and site condition. Localized damage distribution can be strongly influenced by seismic environment and surficial soil conditions and any attempt to quantify seismic vulnerability of building should consider the impact of these effects. The seismic environment, site and structure are coupled to estimate damage probability distribution among different damage states for the building. Response spectra at rock site are estimated by probabilistic seismic hazard assessment approach. Based upon engineering representations of soil and amplifying spectral coordinates, frequency content and severity of ground motion are considered. Furthermore the impacts of severity and/or frequency of ground motion effects are considered to estimate the seismic response of reinforced concrete building and damage probability distribution for the building. In addition, a new method for presenting the distribution of damage is developed to express damage probability distribution for the building for different seismic hazard levels.

Calculation and analysis of correlation curves between Lanzhou Seismic Array sites and assessment of primary array

By using the waveform data recorded during the site survey of Lanzhou Seismic Array, the author calculated and analyzed the correlation of the signal and noise between the site pairs and found that the ideal radii of the two concentric rings for Lanzhou Seismic Array were 380 m and 1500 m, respectively. According to the radius limit and other requirements, nine sites were chosen to make a seismic array, and then the detection and location ability of the array were estimated.

Overview of the seismic input at dam sites in China

The current Chinese national standard,the Standard for Seismic Design of Hydraulic Structures(GB51247),released in 2018,is strictly based on China’s national conditions and dam engineering features.A comprehensive and systematic overview of the basis of the seismic fortification requirements,the framework of the fortification criteria,and the mechanisms of seismic input related to the seismic design of dams are presented herein.We first analyzed and clarified several conceptual aspects in traditional seismic design of dams.Then,for the seismic input at the dam site described in the first national standard for hydraulic structures,we expounded innovative concepts,ideas,and methods to make relevant provisions more realistic and practical and discussed whether reservoir earthquakes must be included in the seismic fortification framework of dams.This study seeks to incorporate seismic input at the dam site into traditional seismic design practice to promote its improvement from the quasi-static method to the dynamic method and from the closed vibration system to an open wave propagation system,to ensure that the seismic design of dams becomes more reasonable,reliable,scientific,and economic.

Preliminary Analysis of the Relationship between the Magnitude Deviation of the Station and Site Response in the Fujian Digital Seismic Network

Using the records of 3,069 regional earthquake events from the Fujian Digital Seismic Network from October 2008 to December 2015,in which the magnitude of each of the events was measured by at least six stations,statistics are taken on the deviation between the magnitude of a single station and the average magnitude of the network. It is found that the magnitudes average deviation of each station is-0. 31-0. 68. Statistics are also taken for the period corresponding to the maximum amplitude of the record measured in each station for calculating the magnitude,and the dominant period gained is 0. 06s-0. 38s; site response of each seismic station is inverted using the Moya method,and it is found that the site response of 98 stations is in the bands of 1-20 Hz,suggesting that the site has an amplifying or suppressing effect on the signals in certain frequency bands;Considering the site response corresponding to the inherent 0. 8s period of the WoodAnderson pendulum seismograph,and comparing the magnitude deviation caused by the site response corresponding to the dominant period time of each station with the average magnitude deviation, we obtain that there is a good linear relationship between the magnitude deviation from the dominant period site response and the average deviation of the magnitude of each station,indicating that the magnitude deviation of a single station has a close relationship with the site response of the period corresponding to the maximum amplitude measured for calculating the magnitude.

2023年甘肃积石山Ms6.2级地震震害异常的启示

2023年12月18日,甘肃省临夏回族自治州积石山县发生Ms6.2(Mw5.9)级地震,震源深度10 km。此次地震造成大量的人员伤亡、房屋倒塌和地质灾害。为了对该次地震的震害有初步认识,基于已有文献资料、高精度遥感数据和野外调查数据,本文尝试对该次地震的灾害特征展开分析。结果表明:该次地震为逆冲型事件,发震断裂为拉脊山北缘断裂东段;震源浅叠加松散覆盖层产生了明显的地震波放大效应,使得极震区的地面运动峰值加速度(PGA)异常高,强震动使得房屋大量倒塌;而位于断裂上盘的积石山崩塌及滑坡地质灾害相对不发育,仅在黄土覆盖的官亭盆地产生了数百处小型滑坡和中川乡一处较大规模的地震液化滑坡泥流。

中国地震科学实验场三维断层模型Web展示原型系统

活动断层的三维结构和模型是地震危险性研究的基础参数和重要数据。随着对接近真实形态的活动断层三维模型的应用需求不断增加,对这类模型数据的共享及研究的需求也日益增加。数据共享课题的一个重要议题是如何构建基于Web的三维断层模型展示平台,提高数据共享水平和用户体验。中国地震科学实验场(川滇地区)三维断层模型Web展示原型系统①是基于Arc GIS 10.6企业版的Web App Builder工具构建的一个实验性系统。该系统实现了基于Web GIS的三维展示系统的基本功能,并成功测试了更适用于地震行业标准的用户交互方式、基本功能、场景数据迁移方案和三维场景设计方案。场景数据从三维断层建模平台到GIS平台的迁移,是实现基于Web GIS三维展示系统的基础。场景中展示的三维数据采用与二维数据标准一致且视觉上融合度高的可视化方案。实践结果表明,三维数据从建模平台迁出后,应结合数据可视化方案,在属性层面上与二维数据相融合,以保证二维和三维数据在视觉上较好地融合。

不同场地条件下埋地腐蚀钢管地震易损性评价

为评估不同场地中埋地腐蚀管道的抗震性能,建立管-土非线性相互作用分析模型,基于增量动力时程分析方法,以埋地钢管结构应变为性能参数,对不同场地中埋地腐蚀管道的地震易损性进行了分析。结果表明:同一场地条件和服役龄期下,随地震动强度的增大,管道处于基本完好状态的概率逐渐降低,处于严重破坏状态的概率逐渐增加;同一场地条件下,随管道服役龄期的延长,中等损坏极限的曲线斜率增长明显大于基本完好极限的曲线斜率,但管道失效的速率在逐渐变小,软弱场地中服役龄期50a管道在抗震设防烈度8度时已发生中等损坏;同一地震动强度和服役龄期下,随场地等效剪切波速的减小,管道达到基本完好极限、中等损坏极限的失效概率逐渐增大,软弱场地中失效概率最大;同一服役龄期下,随场地等效剪切波速的减小,管道达到中等损坏、严重破坏的地震动峰值加速度明显降低,较低地震烈度下的软弱场地管道震害甚至高于较高地震烈度下的坚硬场地。本研究可为不同场地中埋地腐蚀管道的震害预测及灾后损失评估提供参考。

液化场地大直径变截面单桩动力响应研究

为研究不同地震动强度下液化场地大直径变截面单桩的动力响应规律,基于振动台试验,选取5010波,在地震动强度0.10g~0.45g作用下,研究液化场地砂土孔压比和大直径变截面单桩桩顶水平位移、桩身弯矩、桩身加速度时程响应及桩基损伤等变化规律.试验结果表明:饱和砂土孔压比随着地震动强度的增大上升明显,地震动强度≥0.30g时,饱和砂土孔压比稳定值在0.9附近,此时砂土完全液化;在0.45g地震动强度作用下,桩身加速度、桩顶水平位移及桩身弯矩均达到最大;桩身不同位置处加速度峰值出现时刻均滞后于输入地震波加速度峰值出现时刻,且桩顶及变截面的加速度响应比桩端的响应更弱;不同地震动强度作用下,桩身弯矩最大值均出现在液化土层和非液化土层分界处,且变截面处弯矩小于土层分界面处;地震动强度达到0.30g时,大直径变截面单桩桩身发生损伤.因此,液化场地下大直径变截面桥梁单桩基础抗震设计时,应该重点考虑饱和砂土层分界处、变截面处的抗弯能力,以确保单桩桩身强度满足抗震要求.

甘肃积石山6.2级地震村镇建筑震害调查与分析

积石山地震对甘肃和青海部分地区房屋建筑造成了严重破坏。调查了地震烈度7度和8度地区的11个调查点的村镇建筑震害。震害调查表明:地震灾区主要为乡镇和农村地区,房屋结构类型主要为土木、砖木和未设防砖混结构;在烈度8度地区,土木结构房屋主要表现为严重破坏或倒塌破坏,砖木结构和未设防砖混结构房屋主要表现为中等破坏和严重破坏,设防砖混和钢筋混凝土框架结构房屋主要表现为轻微破坏和中等破坏;在烈度7度地区,土木结构房屋以中等破坏为主,砖木结构和未设防砖混结构房屋以轻微破坏和中等破坏为主,设防砖混和钢筋混凝土框架结构房屋以轻微破坏和基本完好为主。此次地震震害较同级别地震偏重,与震区复杂地形、地震动峰值放大效应、建筑砌筑质量差和结构受力不合理等因素相关。建议进一步开展复杂地形场地放大效应及频谱影响研究,重视建筑非结构构件抗震宣传与实用技术研发。

中国地震科学实验场BDS-3定位精度和地壳运动初步分析

我国BDS-3卫星导航系统于2020年7月建成,并为全球用户提供服务,自此开始,中国地震科学实验场(简称“实验场”)的GNSS测站相继接收BDS-3卫星数据,目前已经积累了2年多的观测数据,为BDS-3应用于川滇地区地壳运动监测提供了重要平台和数据保障。为评估实验场BDS-3观测数据的精度及其应用于地壳监测的可行性,本文首先根据各测站所记录的BDS-3的B1I和B3I两个频点的多路径效应和信噪比与卫星高度角之间的关系,对BDS-3的数据质量进行评价。然后,基于高精度数据处理软件GAMIT/GLOBK (10.7版)对各测站同期记录的BDS-3和GPS数据分别进行处理,得到BDS-3和GPS坐标时间序列。基于包括线性项、年周期项和半年周期项等分量的函数模型,利用极大似然法分别对BDS-3和GPS时间序列进行拟合估计,得到各测站的线性速度、年周期和半年周期信号,并对拟合结果对比分析,评定BDS-3和GPS的定位精度。最后,讨论BDS-3定位精度的影响因素和BDS-3水平速度场的区域性特征。研究表明:实验场BDS-3与GPS原始数据质量相当,BDS-3坐标时间序列的均方根残差(RMS)的平均值在N、E、U方向上分别为4.42、4.25和8.34 mm,稍大于GPS的结果。BDS-3与GPS速度场在E方向存在约2.0 mm/a系统性差异。在区域分布特征方面,BDS-3和GPS的速度场、周年期和半年信号没有明显差别。认为目前影响BDS-3定位精度的因素主要为卫星轨道产品不够完善,经验型太阳光压模型和卫星天线相位中心改正模型等欠缺。造成BDS-3和GPS速度场差异的原因主要为两者的定位基准不一致。随着实验场BDS-3观测数据的积累和数据解算模型的改进,BDS-3可望达到GPS的定位精度,并形成独立于GPS的监测系统,为该区地壳运动监测和地震预测提供优质的大地测量产品。