Improvements of corner frequency and scaling factor for stochastic finite-fault modeling

In this paper, three existing source spectral models for stochastic finite-fault modeling of ground motion were reviewed. These three models were used to calculate the far-field received energy at a site from a vertical fault and the mean spectral ratio over 15 stations of the Northridge earthquake, and then compared. From the comparison, a necessary measure was observed to maintain the far-field received energy independent of subfault size and avoid overestimation of the long- period spectra/level. Two improvements were made to one of the three models （i.e., the model based on dynamic comer frequency） as follows： （i） a new method to compute the subfault comer frequency was proposed, where the subfault comer frequency is determined based on a basic value calculated from the total seismic moment of the entire fault and an increment depending on the seismic moment assigned to the subfault; and （ii） the difference of the radiation energy from each suhfault was considered into the scaling factor. The improved model was also compared with the unimproved model through the far-field received energy and the mean spectral ratio. The comparison proves that the improved model allows the received energy to be more independent of subfault size than the unimproved model, and decreases the overestimation degree of the long-period spectral amplitude.

Dynamic corner frequency in source spectral model for stochastic synthesis of ground motion

The static comer frequency and dynamic comer frequency in stochastic synthesis of ground motion from fi- nite-fault modeling are introduced, and conceptual disadvantages of the two are discussed in this paper. Furthermore, the non-uniform radiation of seismic wave on the fault plane, as well as the trend of the larger rupture area, the lower comer frequency, can be described by the source spectral model developed by the authors. A new dynamic comer frequency can be developed directly from the model. The dependence of ground motion on the size of subfault can be eliminated if this source spectral model is adopted in the synthesis. Finally, the approach presented is validated from the comparison between the synthesized and observed ground motions at six rock stations during the Northridge earthquake in 1994.

A modified stochastic finite-fault method for estimating strong ground motion:Validation and application

We developed a modified stochastic finite-fault method for estimating strong ground motions.An adjustment to the dynamic corner frequency was introduced,which accounted for the effect of the location of the subfault relative to the hypocenter and rupture propagation direction,to account for the influence of the rupture propagation direction on the subfault dynamic corner frequency.By comparing the peak ground acceleration(PGA),pseudo-absolute response spectra acceleration(PSA,damping ratio of 5%),and duration,the results of the modified and existing methods were compared,demonstrating that our proposed adjustment to the dynamic corner frequency can accurately reflect the rupture directivity effect.We applied our modified method to simulate near-field strong motions within 150 km of the 2008 MW7.9 Wenchuan earthquake rupture.Our modified method performed well over a broad period range,particularly at 0.04-4 s.The total deviations of the stochastic finite-fault method(EXSIM)and the modified EXSIM were 0.1676 and 0.1494,respectively.The modified method can effectively account for the influence of the rupture propagation direction and provide more realistic ground motion estimations for earthquake disaster mitigation.

Doppler effect of the rupture process of the great M_W7.9 Wenchuan earthquake

In this study we performed a classical spectrum analysis of seismic waveforms recorded at far field stations of the great MW7.9 Wenchuan earthquake to observe the shifts of the corner frequency with azimuth due to the Doppler effect.Our results show that this damaging great earthquake had a dominating rupture propagation direction of 64.0°.The equivalent radius of the fault rupture surface was estimated to be 33 km,yielding the rupture area of about 3 500 km2.Thus the length of the rupture fault surface is about 230 km if the depth（or width） extent is 15 km.The computer program developed in this study can quickly provide the information about the source of a future large（damaging） earthquake,which could be very useful for predicting aftershocks and planning the rescue operations.

Fracture characteristics of the 1997 Jiashi,Xinjiang, China, earthquake swarm inferred from source spectra

Broadband P and S waves source spectra of 12 M_s≥5.0 earthquakes of the 1997 Jiashi, Xinjiang, China. earthquake swarm recorded at 13 GDSN stations have been analyzed. Rupture size and static stress drop of these earthquakes have been estimated through measuring the corner frequency of the source spectra. Direction of rupture propaga- tion of the earthquake faulting has also been inferred from the azimuthal variation of the comer frequency. The main results are as follows: ① The rupture size of M_s≥6.0 strong earthquakes is in the range of 10~20 km, while that of Ms_=5.0~5.5 earthquakes is 6~10 km. ② The static stress drop of the swarm earthquakes is rather low, being of the order of 0.1 MPa. This implies that the deformation release rate in the source region may be low. ③ Stress drop of the earthquakes appears to be proportional to their seismic moment, and also to be dependent on their focal mechanism. The stress drop of normal faulting earthquakes is usually lower than that of strike-slip type earth quakes. ④ For each M_s≥6.0 earthquake there exists an apparent azimuthal variation of the comer frequencies. Azimuthally variation pattern of comer frequencies of different earthquakes shows that the source rupture pattern of the Jiashi earthquake swarm is complex and no uniform rupture expanding direction exists.

Analysis of the Badong Ms5. 1 earthquake source characteristics

The mainshock location of the Badong MsS. 1 earthquake is determined using four location methods ： the simplex method, HYP2000, hyposat, and locSAT; the 350 aftershocks over 3 months are relocated using the double difference location method. The results indicate that aftershocks are distributed as bands along the NEE direction and that the aftershocks 1 month after the mainshock, which are mainly distributed in the west of the mainshock and near the Gaoqiao fault, arc shallow earthquakes within 5 km; the depth of each after- shock after one month is deeper, and two distinct fault planes, for which the geological occurrence is similar to the Gaoqiao and Zhoujiashan-Niukou fault, are shaped. The frequency-spectrum analysis of the recorded wave- form in 12 seismic events indicates that the corner frequency of the mainshock is significantly lower than that of its aftershock and is also lower than a tectonic earthquake of the same magnitude. We considered that this result is related to the constraint of the parameter calibration relationship in the focal spectrum and the lithology change due to water erosion. Combined with the focal mechanism and geological tectonic setting, we conclude that the occurrence of the earthquake is related to the activity of the Daping and Gaoqiao fault and is a reser- voir-induced tectonic seismicity.