Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/213387

Title

Seismic hazard determination for the coastal region of South China II: regional crustal modelling

Author(s)

Lam, Nelson;  Chandler, Adrian;  Wilson, John;  Hutchinson, Graham

Abstract

This paper extends a rational seismological modeling approach for earthquake response spectra in a moderate seismicity region, using the Coastal Region of South China as the example, by incorporating into the model the regional crustal effects on bedrock earthquake ground motions. Such crustal effects cause significant modifications to peak ground motion predictions and hence have an important influence on the amplitudes of spectral responses (accelerations, velocities and displacements) developed in the form of design response spectra associated with a range of return periods from 500 to 2,500 years. The concept of the Characteristic Response Spectrum (CRS) is introduced. The CRS, which is solely a function of the crustal properties and the assumed Maximum Credible Earthquake (MCE) magnitude, has been found to dictate the seismic hazard of the subject region. The adopted approach emphasizes the importance of studying the composition and the structure of the earth's crust in modelling the seismic hazard in regions of moderate seismicity. It is found that the predictions made by the seismological model based on characteristic agnitude-Distance (M-R) combinations are very consistent with current code provisions in the velocity-controlled period range. However, significant discrepancies have been identified in other period ranges. In addition, the empirical modelling methodology based on adapting the properties of western United States (primarily Californian) seismic data, as used by some previous researchers to predict peak ground motions (for engineering purposes) for the South China region, appears to give overly conservative results when extrapolated to large magnitude chatacteristic events.

Publication type

Journal article

Source

Journal of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, Vol. 2, no. 2 (Spring 2000), pp. 1-15

Publication year

2000

FOR Code(s)

0404 Geophysics;  0905 Civil Engineering

Keyword(s)

Acceleration;  Displacement;  Earthquake ground motion;  Hong Kong;  Response spectrum model;  Seismic hazard;  Seismological model;  South China;  Velocity

Publisher

International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology

ISSN

1735-1669

Publisher URL

http://www.iiees.ac.ir/jsee/index.php/JSEE/article/view/10

Copyright

Copyright © 2000 IIEES.

Peer reviewed