A simulation-based nonlinear site amplification model for ground-motion prediction equations in Japan

In this manuscript we present a nonlinear site amplification model for ground-motion prediction equations(GMPEs)in Japan,using a site period-based site class and a site impedance ratio as site parameters.We used a large number of shear-wave velocity profiles from the Kiban-Kyoshin network(KiK-net)and the Kyoshin network(K-NET)to construct the one-dimensional(1D)numerical models.The strong-motion records from rock-sites in Japan with different earthquake categories and taken from the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center dataset were used in this study.We fit a set of 1D site amplification models using the spectral amplification ratios derived from 1D equivalent linear analyses.Parameters of site impedance ratios for both linear and nonlinear site response were included in the 1D model.The 1D model could be implemented into GMPEs using a new proposed adjustment method.The adjusted site amplification ratios retain the nonlinear characteristics of the 1D model for strong motions and match the linear amplification ratio in GMPE for weak motions.The nonlinearity of the present site model is reasonably similar to that of the historical models,and the present site model could satisfactorily capture the nonlinear site response in empirical data.

Simulating the strong ground motion of the 2022 MS6.8 Luding,Sichuan,China Earthquake

Stochastic finite-fault simulations are effective for simulating ground motions and are widely used in engineering to determine the impacts of ground motion and develop relevant predictive equations.In this study,the source,path,and site amplification coefficient of western Sichuan Province,China,and stochastic finite-fault simulations were used to simulate the acceleration time series,Fourier amplitude spectra,and 5%damped response spectra of 28 strong-motion stations with rupture distances within 300 km of the 2022 MS6.8 Luding earthquake.The simulation results of 14 stations at rupture distances of 45-185 km match the observation.However,the simulation results of 3 near-and 6 far-field stations at rupture distances of 12-36 km and 222-286 km,respectively,were obviously deviated from the observations.Simulation results of the near-field stations are larger than the observations at high frequencies(>6 Hz).The discrepancy likely comes from the nonlinear site effect of near-field stations,which reduced the site amplification at high frequencies.Simulation result of the far-field stations is smaller than the observation at frequencies above 1 Hz.As these stations are located close to the Longmenshan Fault Zone(LFZ),thus,we obtained a new quality factor(Q)from data of historical events and stations located around LFZ.Using the new Q value,the discrepancies of the high-frequency simulation results of the far-field stations were corrected.This result indicated that the laterally varying Q values can be used to address the impact of strong crustal lateral heterogeneity on simulation.