Effects of vertical seismic acceleration on 3D slope stability

The conventional pseudo-static approach often neglects the effect of the vertical＇ seismic acceleration on the stability of a slope, but some analyses under plane-strain （2D） conditions show a significant effect on the slope stability. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the vertical acceleration on the safety of three-dimensional （3D） slopes. In the strict framework of limit analysis, a 3D kinematically admissible rotational failure mechanism is adopted here for 3D homogeneous slopes in frictional/cohesive soils. A set of stability charts is presented in a wide range of parameters for 3D slopes under combined horizontal and vertical seismic loading conditions. Accounting for the effects of the vertical seismic acceleration, the difference in safety factors for 3D slopes can exceed 10%, which will significantly overestimate the safety of the 3D slopes.

Seismic response analysis of road vehicle-bridge system for continuous rigid frame bridges with high piers

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of earthquakes on road vehicle-bridge coupling vibration systems. A two-axle highway freight vehicle is treated as a 13 degree-of-freedom system composed of several rigid bodies, which are connected by a series of springs and dampers. The framework of the earthquake-vehicle-bridge dynamic analysis system is then established using an earthquake as the extemal excitation. The equivalent lateral contact force serves as the judgment criteria for sideslip accidents according to reliability theory. The entire process of the vehicle crossing the bridge is considered for a very high pier continuous rigid frame bridge. The response characteristics of the vehicle and the bridge are discussed in terms of various parameters such as earthquake ground motion, PGA value of the earthquake, incident angle, pier height, vehicle speed and mass. It is found that seismic excitation is the most influential factor in the responses of the vehicle-bridge system and that the safety of vehicles crossing the bridge is seriously impacted by the dual excitations of earthquake and bridge vibration.

Application of passive source surface-wave method in site engineering seismic survey

Site engineering seismic survey provides basic data for seismic effect analysis. As an important parameter of soil, shear-wave velocity is usually obtained through wave velocity testing in borehole. In this paper, the passive source surface-wave method is introduced into the site engineering seismic survey and practically applied in an engineering site of Shijingshan District. By recording the ubiquitous weak vibration on the earth surface, extract the dispersion curve from the surface-wave components using the SPAC method and obtain the shear-wave velocity structure from inversion. Over the depth of 42 m under- ground, it totally consists of five layers with interface depth of 3.31, 4.50, 7.23, 17.41, and 42.00 m; and shear-wave velocity of 144.0, 198.3, 339.4, 744.2, and 903.7 m/s, respectively. The inversion result is used to evaluate site classification, determine the maximum shear modulus of soil, provide basis for further seismic hazard analysis and site assessment or site zoning, etc. The result shows that the passive source surface-wave method is feasible in the site engineering seismic survey and can replace boreholes,shorten survey period, and reduce engineering cost to some extent.

Effects of torpedo blasting on rockburst prevention during deep coal seam mining in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin

In the Upper Silesian Coal Basin(USCB),coal seams are exploited under progressively more difficult geological and mining conditions(greater depth,higher horizontal stress,more frequent occurrence of competent rock layers,etc.).Mining depth,dislocations and mining remnants in coal seams are the most important factors responsible for the occurrence of rockburst hazards.Longwall mining next to the mining edges of neighbouring coal seams is particularly disadvantageous.The levels of rockburst hazards are minimised via the use of rockburst prevention methods.One active prevention method is torpedo blasting in roof rocks.Torpedo blastings are performed in order to decrease local stress concentrations in rock masses and to fracture the roof rocks to prevent or minimise the impact of high-energy tremors on excavations.The estimation of the effectiveness of torpedo blasting is particularly important when mining is under difficult geological and mining conditions.Torpedo blasting is the main form of active rockburst prevention in the assigned colliery in the Polish part of the USCB.The effectiveness of blasting can be estimated using the seismic effect method,in which the seismic monitoring data and the mass of explosives are taken into consideration.The seismic effect method was developed in the Czech Republic and is always being used in collieries in the Czech part of the coal basin.Now,this method has been widely adopted for our selected colliery in the Polish part of the coal basin.The effectiveness of torpedo blastings in the faces and galleries of the assigned longwall in coal seam 506 has been estimated.The results show that the effectiveness of torpedo blastings for this longwall was significant in light of the seismic effect method,which corresponds to the in situ observations.The seismic effect method is regularly applied to estimating the blasting effectiveness in the selected colliery.

Seismic performances of dyke on liquefiable soils

Various field investigations of earthquake disaster cases have confirmed that earthquake-induced liquefaction is a main factor causing significant damage to dyke,research on seismic performances of dyke is thus of great importance.In this paper,seismic responses of dyke on liquefiable soils were investigated by means of dynamic centrifuge model tests and three-dimensional（3D） effective stress analysis method which is based on a multiple shear mechanism model and a liquefaction front.For the prototype scale centrifuge tests,sine wave input motions with peak accelerations 0.806 m/s2,1.790 m/s2 and 3.133 m/s2 of varied amplitudes were adopted to study the seismic performances of dyke on the saturated soil layer foundation with relative density of approximately 30%.Then,corresponding numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the distribution and variations of deformation,acceleration,excess pore-water pressure（EPWP）,and behaviors of shear dilatancy in the dyke and the liquefiable soil foundation.Moreover,detailed discussions and comparisons between numerical simulations and centrifuge tests were also presented.It is concluded that the computed results have a good agreement with the measured results by centrifuge tests.The physical and numerical models both indicate that the dyke hosted on liquefiable soils subjected to earthquake motions has exhibited larger settlement and lateral spread：the stronger the motion is,the larger the dyke deformation is.Compared to soils in the deep ground under the dyke and the free field,the EPWP ratio is much smaller in the shallow liquefiable soil beneath the dyke in spite of large deformation produced.For the same overburden depth soil from free site and the liquefiable foundation beneath dyke,the characteristics of effective stress path and stress-strain relations are different.All these results may be of theoretical and practical significance for seismic design of the dyke on liquefiable soils.

Analysis of the role of diffraction in topographic site effects using boundary element techniques

The role played by the diffraction field on the problem of seismic site effects is studied. For that purpose we solve and analyze simple scattering problems under P and SV in-plane wave assumptions, using two well known direct boundary-element-based numerical methods. After establishing the difference between scattered and diffracted motions, and introducing the concept of artificious and physically based incoming fields, we obtain the amplitude of the Fourier spectra for the diffracted part of the response： this is achieved after establishing the connection between the spatial distribution of the transfer function over the studied simple topographies and the diffracted field. From the numerical simulations it is observed that this diffracted part of the response is responsible for the amplification of the surface ground motions due to the geometric effect. Furthermore, it is also found that the diffraction field sets in a fingerprint of the topographic effect in the total ground motions. These conclusions are further supported by observations in the time-domain in terms of snapshots of the propagation patterns over the complete computational model. In this sense the geometric singularities are clearly identified as sources of diffraction and for the considered range of dimensionless frequencies it is evident that larger amplifications are obtained for the geometries containing a larger number of diffraction sources thus resulting in a stronger topographic effect. The need for closed-form solutions of canonical problems to construct a robust analysis method based on the diffraction field is identified.

Seismic performance of two-story subway station structures with different isolating systems

When the sliding bearing is fixed only at the top of the middle column of the underground structure,the cracks at the side end of the middle plate should be aggravated while the seismic damage of the mid-column should be alleviated.To enhance the seismic performance of the mid-plate,a new isolation design method has been mentioned while the elastic sliding bearings are set at the top of the mid-columns and between the side end of the mid-plate and the side wall at the same time.By establishing a nonlinear finite element analysis model for the static-dynamic coupling interaction system,the seismic response characteristics of the cast-in-place station structure without a sliding bearing have been analyzed and compared with those of the station structure with the sliding bearing fixed only at the top of the middle columns,and those of the station structure with sliding bearing be fixed between the mid-plate and the sidewall at the same time.The results show that the new isolation station structures suffer fewer earthquake damages at the mid-plate and mid-columns at the same time,which can improve the overall seismic performance of the subway station structure.

Structural features of crust-mantle assemblage in the lithosphere along the Longitudinal Seismic Belt of China and their tectonic effect

The 1°×1° distribution map of crustmantle structural ratio R for the lithosphere along the Longitudinal Seismic Belt of China has been compiled using computer based on the results of geophysical prospecting by previous researchers, and the latest results by the present authors. Based on this map, an insight into the structural features of the crustmantle assemblage along the Longitudinal Seismic Belt has been gained, while their relation to seismic activity and the distributions of geothermal flux and intracrustal high conductivitylow velocity layers, as well as their tectonic effect to seismicity have been discussed.

Shaking table test and cumulative deformation evaluation analysis of a tunnel across the hauling sliding surface

To explore the cumulative deformation effect of the dynamic response of a tunnel crossing the hauling sliding surface under earthquakes,the shaking table test was conducted in this study.Combined with the numerical calculations,this study proposed magnification of the Arias intensity(MIa)to characterize the overall local deformation damage of the tunnel lining in terms of the deformation characteristics,frequency domain,and energy.Using the time‐domain analysis method,the plastic effect coefficient(PEC)was proposed to characterize the degree of plastic deformation,and the applicability of the seismic cumulative failure effect(SCFE)was discussed.The results show that the low‐frequency component(f1 and f2≤10 Hz)and the high‐frequency component(f3 and f4>10 Hz)acceleration mainly cause global and local deformation of the tunnel lining.The local deformation caused by the high‐frequency wave has an important effect on the seismic damage of the lining.The physical meaning of PEC is more clearly defined than that of the residual strain,and the SCFE of the tunnel lining can also be defined.The SCFE of the tunnel lining includes the elastic deformation effect stage(<0.15g),the elastic–plastic deformation effect stage(0.15g–0.30g),and the plastic deformation effect stage(0.30g–0.40g).This study can provide valuable theoretical and technical support for the construction of traffic tunnels in high‐intensity earthquake areas.

Response analysis of a submarine cable under fault movement

Based on the performance of submarine cables in past earthquakes, an analytical method to determine cable performance under seabed fault movement is proposed in this paper. First, common types of earthquake damage to submarine cables are summarized, which include seabed displacement induced by fault movement, submarine landslides and seabed soil liquefaction, etc. The damage is similar to damage observed to buried pipelines following land earthquakes. The Hengchun earthquake of Dec. 26, 2006 is used as a case study. The M7.2 earthquake occurred in the South China Sea at 20：26 Beijing Time, and caused 14 international submarine cables to sever and break. The results show that the proposed method predicts damage similar to that observed in the Hengchun earthquake. Based on parametric studies of the influence of the water depth and the magnitude of the submarine earthquake, countermeasures to prevent damage to submarine cables are proposed.

Multitaper spectral method to estimate the elastic thickness of South China: Implications for intracontinental deformation

The effective elastic thickness （Te） represents the thickness of the elastic layer or the flexural rigidity of the lithosphere, the equivalent of which can be calculated from the spectral analysis of gravity and topographic data. Studies of Te have profound influence on intracontinental deformation, and coupling of the tectonic blocks. In this paper, we use the multitaper spectral estimation method to calculate the coherence between Bouguer gravity and topography data, and to obtain the Te map of South China. Through the process of correction, we discuss the relationships of Te versus heat flow, and Te versus seismicity. The results show that Te distribution of South China is affected by three factors：the original age, which controls the basic feature;the Mesozoic evolution, which affects the Te distribution;and the neotectonic movement, which shaped the final distribution. The crust age has a positive correlation with the first-order Te distribution;thus the Yangtze Craton has a relatively higher Te （about 50 km） whereas the Te in Cathaysia block is only 10e20 km. By analysis and comparison among the tectonic models of South China, the Te distribution can be well explained using the flat-subduction model. As is typical with neotectonics, the region with a higher heat flow is related with a lower Te. The seismicity does not have a clear relationship with Te, but the strong seismicity could cause a low Te. Seismogenic layer （Ts） has a similar trend as Te in the craton, whereas in other areas the relationship is complex.

Possible dynamics of normal－fault earthquakes in the upper crust of the south part of the Qinghai－Xizang Plateau

A numerical model for generating normal fault earthquakes in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau′S upper crust is constructed with 3-D elasto-viscous finite element method. Based on the numerical simulation calculation,some conclusions were got:If the effective viscosity of the upper crust material is less than that of lower strata of the crust in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, even under the strong push of India continent,the stress state of the upper crust can still be extensional in south part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.Numerical simulations show that the stress state changes with the depth of the lithosphere,from extensional stress state in upper crust to compressive in the lower part.Extensional stress state may exist mainly in the upper crust of the south part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Application of BCP-2007 and UBC-97 in seismic vulnerability assessment of gravity designed RC buildings in Pakistan

Recent earthquakes in Pakistan （Kashmir 2005, Balochistan 2008, and Balochistan 2013） revealed the vulnerability of existing building stock and the deficiencies in the then prevalent Pakistan Seismic Code （PSC-86 （1986））. This study investigates, through an analytical framework, the seismic vulnerability of these and other such buildings, in accordance with the newly developed Building Code of Pakistan - Seismic Provisions 2007 （BCP-SP 07）. Detailed failure mode is presented for buildings designed as per the new code. Collapse of structures is predicted for only 8% increase in PGA after moderate damage. A previously developed method, based on Eurocode-8 （2004）, is used as baseline. A deficient reinforced concrete frame, typical to local building practices, is analyzed and assessed for vulnerability using the BCP- SP 07 （2007） framework. A comparison is drawn for the same building, based on Eurocode- 8 （2004）. Derived vulnerability curves show that the previous framework overestimated the damage and hence the vulnerability. Comparison of vulnerability parameters with previous studies show slight difference in performance of buildings.

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.

Locating the Source Regions of the Single and Double-Frequency Microseisms to Investigate the Source Effects on HVSR in Site Effect Analysis

Evaluating the seismic site effect by the ambient noise based horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio(HVSR)method is strongly affected by the spatial and temporal variations of the ambient noise sources.Therefore,it is necessary to locate the source regions of ambient noise and investigate the relationships between the source energy and HVSR values at the predominant frequency(HVSRf_(0))of the site.The generation mechanisms of the single-and double-frequency microseisms(SFMs,0.05-0.085 Hz and DFMs,0.1-0.5 Hz)in ambient noise are better understood than the noise in other frequency bands and they are dominantly composed of fundamental Rayleigh(Rg)waves.With this advantage,the recordings of SFMs and DFMs at 30 stations in the east coast region of the United States are used to demonstrate a study on locating their source regions with reasonable certainty and constructing the functional relationship between the HVSRf_(0) and the source energy of SFMs and DFMs.The recordings are processed in four sub-frequency bands(Fs)of SF and DF bands and a polarization analysis is carried out to select the ellipsoids approximating the particle motions of Rg waves.Then the probability density functions of the back azimuths of the ellipsoids’semi-major axes are computed for each F and station,and are projected on the ocean to determine their possible source regions.These regions are further constrained by(1)the correlation coefficients between the SFMs and the WAVEWATCHⅢ(WWⅢ)hindcasts of ocean wave spectra in the SF band,or between the DFMs and the modeled DF energy on ocean surface in the selected time windows in the DF band,(2)the energy contribution defined by(i)the average WWⅢocean wave energy and the ocean bottom topographical gradient in the SF band,or(ii)the average modeled DF energy on ocean surface and a frequency and water depth dependent coefficient measuring the conversion efficiency of DF energy from water to solid earth in the DF band,and(3)the percentile retained energy of Rg waves in both the SF and DF bands.Results of source regions reveal that(1)the SFMs recorded in eastern US result from the interactions of low frequency(0.05-0.085 Hz)ocean waves with the continental slope and shelf of western North Atlantic Ocean;(2)the source regions for long-(0.1-0.2 Hz)period DFMs are located in the deep ocean close to the continental slope;and(3)the short-(0.2–0.5 Hz)period DFMs are generated in the continental shelf.Finally,the correlation analyses between the simulated source energy and the HVSRf_(0) values at the stations whose f_(0) s fall in DF band are carried out revealing significant source effect on thick sediments at low frequencies.