International Journal of Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, 4(1), 83-101, January-June 2013 83
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ABSTRACT
In this study, one dimensional equivalent–linear ground response analyses were performed for some typical
sites in the Guwahati city, India. Six bore locations covering about 250 km
2
area of the city were considered
for the analyses. As the strong motion signifcantly infuences the ground response, seven different recorded
ground motions, varying in magnitude (6.1 to 8.1) and other ground motion parameters, were adopted. Seismic
site analyses were carried out for all layers of borelogs using all the seven earthquakes. Results are presented
in terms of surface acceleration histories, strain and shear stress ratio variation, response spectrum, Fourier
amplitude ratio versus frequency. The results indicate that accelerations were amplifed the most at the surface
level. The range of peak ground acceleration (PGA) values obtained at the ground surface is about 0.2 g to
0.79 for a range of PGA considered at bedrock level (rigid half space at bottom of borelog) of 0.1 g to 0.34 g.
The Fourier amplifcations of ground motion at surface are in the range of 4.14 – 8.99 for a frequency band
of 1.75 Hz to 3.13 Hz. The maximum spectral acceleration at six locations varies in the range of 1.0 g – 4.71
g for all the seven earthquakes. The study clearly demonstrated the role for site effect and the type of ground
motion on the ground response. For a given earthquake motion, amplifcation factors at surface level change
by almost about 20% to 70% depending on local site conditions.
Seismic Ground Response
Analysis of Some Typical
Sites of Guwahati City
Shiv Shankar Kumar, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology
Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
A. Murali Krishna, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology
Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India
Keywords: Amplifcation Factor, Deepsoil, Equivalent Linear Method, Ground Response Analysis, Spectral
Acceleration
INTRODUCTION
An earthquake causes rupture along a fault
plane and the generated seismic waves
propagate through underlying bedrock and
reach the earth’s surface. The amplification
and de-amplification of ground motion from
the bedrock to the surface depend on various
stratification or geological parameters. For
design of any earthquake resistant structure,
selection of design ground motion play an
important role. The design ground motion at
bedrock level depends on various parameters
like: faulting mechanism and its seismicity,
local geology, surface topography, type of bed
rock and dynamic properties of the soil medium
DOI: 10.4018/jgee.2013010106