Abstract
Seismic microzoning at a local scale of a given site or at a global scale of an urban center requires a fairly detailed knowledge of the lateral variations of the site effects, such as the amplification level, the fundamental soil frequency, and the site classification according to a given design seismic code. Over the last decade, the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio of background noise has become a widely used tool. However, it still has some shortcomings related to the windows selection as the microtremor contains many unknown and random sources other than the one related to the site effect. In this contribution, one proposes a new approach based on the frequency content to discriminate between the different sources. Site classification scheme recently proposed for seismic accelerations, which define target numerical and analytical horizontal over vertical spectral ratios for the 4 standard soil classes (Rock, soft rock, stiff soil and soft soil) defined in Eurocode-8, is adapted to background noise. In order to test the reliability of the proposed approach, microtremor measurements were performed on 67 sites with available shear-wave velocities down to a depth of at least 30 m. Free-field microtremor measurements are converted to accelerations instead to velocities, and split into 5 s non-overlapping windows. Automatic computation based statistical approach using a classification index which measures the similarity between the measured and target horizontal over vertical spectral ratios is performed for the 67 sites. The obtained results reveal a similar site classification, using the time-averaged shear-wave velocity to 30 m depth (Vs30) and the new approach, which can reach a success rate of about 84%. The automatic calculation provides the 67 sites with two fundamental parameters required for the preparation of a first-order microzonation map, the fundamental soil frequency, and the classification of the site according to Eurocode-8 guidelines. The proposed approach can be very useful for large-scale seismic micro-zoning of urban centers that may involve hundreds of measurement points, or supplement other geophysical measurements for a site specific seismic analysis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albarello D, Lunedei E (2013) Combining horizontal ambient vibration components for H/V spectral ratio estimates. Geophys J Int 194:936–951. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggt130
Beneldjouzi M, Laouami N (2015) A Stochastic Based approach for a new site classification Method: application to the algerian seismic Code. Earthq Eng Eng Vib 14:663–681
Bindi D, Parolai S, Cara F, Di Giulio G, Ferretti G, Luzi L, Monachesi G, Pacor F, Rovelli A (2009) Site amplification observed in the Gubbio basin, central Italy: hints for lateral propagation effects. Bull Seismol Soc Am 99(2A):741–760
D’Alessandro A, Luzio D, Martorana R, Capizzi P (2016) Selection of time windows in the horizontal-to-vertical noise spectral ratio by means of cluster analysis. Bull Seismol Soc Am. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120150017
Di Alessandro C, Bonilla LF, Boore DM, Rovelli A, Scotti O (2012) Predominant-period site classification for response spectra prediction equations in Italy. Bull Seismol Soc Am 102(2):680–695. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120110084
Di Capua G, Lanzo G, Pessina V, Peppoloni S, Scasserra G (2011) The recording stations of the Italian strong motion network: geological information and site classification. Bull Earthq Eng 9:1779–1796
Eurocode 8 (2004) Design of structures for earthquake resistance—part 1: general rules, seismic actions and rules for buildings. EN 1998-1: 2004. Comite Europeen de Normalisation, Brussels
Fukushima Y, Bonilla LB, Scotti O, Douglas J (2007) Site classification using horizontal-to-vertical response spectral ratios and its impact when deriving empirical ground-motion prediction equations. J Earthq Eng 11:712–724
Ghasemi H, Zare M, Fukushima Y, Sinaeian F (2009) Applying empirical method in site classification, using response spectral ratio (H/V). A case study on Iranian strong motion network (ISMN). Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 29:121–132
Horike M, Zhao B, Kawase H (2001) Comparison of site response characteristics inferred from microtremors and earthquake shear waves. Bull Seismol Soc Am 81:1526–1536
Japan Road Association (1980) Specifications for highway bridges part V, Seismic Design. Maruzen Co. Ltd, Tokyo
Japan Road Association (1990) Specifications for Highway Bridges Part V. Seismic Design. Maruzen Co., Ltd
Koller MG, Chatelain J, Gullier B, Duval A, Atakan K, Lacave C, Bard P, Sesame Participants (2004) Practical user guidelines and software for the implementation of the H/V ratio technique: measuring conditions, processing method and results interpretation. In: 13th world conference on earthquake engineering, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, 1–6 August 2004, 10 pp., Paper Number 3132
Konno K, Ohmachi T (1998) Ground-motion characteristics estimated from spectral ratio between horizontal and vertical components of microtremor. Bull Seismol Soc Am 88(1):228–241
Laouami N (2019) Vertical ground motion prediction equations and vertical-to-horizontal (V/H) ratios of PGA and PSA for Algeria and surrounding region. Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-019-00635-y
Laouami N, Slimani A, Larbes S (2018a) Ground motion prediction equations for Algeria and surrounding region using site classification based H/V spectral ratio. Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-018-0310-3
Laouami N, Hadid M, Mezouar N (2018b) Proposal of an empirical site classification method based on target simulated horizontal over vertical spectral ratio. Bull Earthq Eng 16:5843–5874. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-018-0420-y
Luzi L, Puglia R, Pacor F, Gallipoli MR, Bindi D, Mucciarelli M (2011) Proposal for a soil classification based on parameters alternative or complementary to Vs, 30. Bull Earthq Eng 9:1877–1898
Molnar S, Cassidy JF, Castellaro S et al (2018) Application of microtremor horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (MHVSR) analysis for site characterization: state of the Art. Surv Geophys 39(2):613–631. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-018-9464-4
Mucciarelli M (1998) Reliability and applicability of Nakamura’s technique using microtremors: an experimental approach. J Earthq Eng 2:625–638
Mucciarelli M, Gallipoli MR (2004) The HVSR technique from microtremor to strong motion: empirical and statistical considerations. In: 13th world conference on earthquake engineering, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, 1–6 August 2004, Paper Number 45
Parolai S, Galiana-Merino JJ (2006) Effect of Transient seismic noise on estimates of H/V spectral ratios. Bull Seismol Soc Am 96(1):228–236. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120050084
Parolai S, Picozzi M, Strollo A, Pilz M, Di Giacomo D, Liss B, Bindi (2009) Are transients carrying useful information for estimating H/V spectral ratios? In: Mucciarelli M (ed) Increasing seismic safety by combining engineering technologies and seismological data. Proceedings of the NATO advanced research workshop, NATO science for peace and security series: C: environmental security, Springer, pp 17–31
RPA (2003) Règlement Parasismique Algérien. CGS, Centre National de Recherche Appliquée en Génie Parasismique, Rue Kaddour Rahim, BP 252, Hussein Dey, Algiers, Algeria
Sesame (2004) Guidelines for the implementation of H/V spectral ratio technique on ambient vibration measurements, processing and interpretation. http://sesame-fp5.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/Delivrables/Del-D23-HV_User_Guidelines.pdf. Accessed July 2011
Yamazaki F, Ansary MA (1997) Horizontal-to-vertical spectrum ratio of earthquake ground motion for site characterization. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 26:671–689
Zhao JX, Irikura K, Zhang J, Fukushima Y, Somerville PG, Saiki T, Okada Takahashi HT (2004) Site classification for strong motion stations in Japan using H/V response spectral ration. In: 13th world conference of earthquake engineering, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, 1–6 August 2004, Paper No. 1278
Zhao JX, Irikura K, Zhang J, Fukushima Y, Somerville PG, Asano A et al (2006) An empirical site-classification method for strong strong-motion stations in Japan using H/V response spectral ratio. Bull Seismol Soc Am 96:914–925
Acknowledgements
The author thanks the associate editor and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions that helped improve the quality of the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Laouami, N. Proposal for a new site classification tool using microtremor data. Bull Earthquake Eng 18, 4681–4704 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-020-00882-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-020-00882-4