State-of-the-Art for Assessing Earthquake Hazards in the United States. Report 17. Interpretation of Strong Ground Motion Records.
Abstract
In attempts to extend the usual seismological analyses of seismograms to strong-motion records. A description is given of the main patterns of motions recorded on accelerograms near to the causative fault in terms of P and S waves and Love and Rayleigh waves. In order to achieve this, the effects of source dimensions and the physical and kinematic properties of the fault zone are included in the analysis. The two main aims of the work were, first, to make an initial step toward the routine interpretation of the recorded strong ground motions and, as a consequence, to provide a basis which would allow ground motions in future large earthquakes to be predicted. Both aspects of strong -motion seismology are of interest to the engineering profession for the design of critical structures in earthquake country. The research has been based on the detailed study of near-field records obtained in moderate to large earthquakes in the last few decades. In particular, analysis is made of strong-motion records of 10 important earthquakes that includes: the 1952 Kern County, CA, earthquake; the 1971 San Fernando, CA, earthquake; the 1972 Managua, Nicaragua, earthquake; the 1977 Romania earthquake; the 1979 Imperial Valley, CA, earthquake; and the 1980 Livermore Valley, CA, earthquake. The analysis works from first physical principles and, so far as possible, uses elementary ray theory and kinematic arguments. Nevertheless, elements of the more sophisticated theory of earthquake mechanisms and seismic wave propagation in the near field were taken into account in the interpretative work.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA108615
Entities
People
- Bruce A. Bolt
Organizations
- University of California, Berkeley