Earthquake, Ground Motion, and Tsunamis

Abstract

This chapter explains the roles of seismology and earthquake engineering for earthquake-resistant design of nuclear facilities. It also describes the various sources of earthquakes and the types of active faults. The propagation characteristics of S-waves among four kinds of seismic waves, and the reflection and transmission of S-waves at soil layer boundaries with different soil properties are explained. The amplification of S-waves through surface ground propagation, and the methods used to estimate the dominant ground motion periods are discussed. Tsunami sources and their propagation on the sea surface as well as on land, the external force on structures from tsunamis, and examples of tsunami-damaged structures are introduced.