Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microtremor-based analysis of the dynamic response characteristics of earth-fissured sites in the Datong basin, China

  • Published:
Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study conducted microtremor testing along six survey lines that cross three typical earth fissures in the Datong basin to determine the dynamic response characteristics of earth fissure sites with regard to the Fourier amplitude spectrum, response spectrum, and Arias intensity. The results show the following. (1) The predominant frequency of an earth fissure site is mainly affected by the thickness and the shear wave velocity of the soil layer and is minimally effected by the presence of an earth fissure. (2) Earth fissures have a pronounced amplification effect on dynamic response. Fourier amplitude, response acceleration, and Arias intensity are high near an earth fissure and decrease with an increase in distance from the earth fissure, tending toward stability at a distance of 20 m. (3) The area that is seriously affected by this amplification is within 6–8 m of an earth fissure, and the general affected area is farther out than this, to a distance of 25 m. (4) New construction should be avoided in an area affected by the amplification, and existing buildings in general and seriously affected areas need to be reinforced to increase their seismic fortification intensity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akkaya S (2020), “Availability of Seismic Vulnerability Index (kg) in the Assessment of Building Damage in Van, Eastern Turkey,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 19(1): 189–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asfaw LM (1998), “Environmental Hazard from Fissures in the Main Ethiopian Rift,” Journal of African Earth Sciences, 27(27): 481–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bard PY and SESAME-Team (2005), “Guidelines for the Implementation of the H/V Spectral Ratio Technique on Ambient Vibrations-Measurements, Processing and Interpretations,” SESAME European Research Project.

  • Baruni SSE (1994), “Earth Fissures Caused by Groundwater Withdrawal in Sarir South Agricultural Project Area, Libya,” Applied Hydrogeology, 2(1): 45–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Budhu and Muniram (2011), “Earth Fissure Formation from the Mechanics of Groundwater Pumping,” International Journal of Geomechanics, 11(1): 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burbey TJ (2002), “The Influence of Faults in Basin-Fill Deposits on Land Subsidence, Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, USA,” Hydrogeology Journal, 10(5): 525–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang J, Deng Y, Xuan Y, Yan Z, Wu W and He J (2020), “The Dynamic Response of Sites with Earth Fissures as Revealed by Microtremor Analysis——A Case Study in the Linfen Basin, China,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 132: 106076.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen L, Yuan XM, Cao Z, Hou L, Sun R, Dong L and Chen H (2009), “Liquefaction Macrophenomena in the Great Wenchuan Earthquake,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 8(2): 219–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen ZX, Liu YH, Ni WK, Zhao FS (1994), “Zonation of Damages Strength and Determination of Safe Distance of Buildings at Geofracture Site in Datong City,” The Chinese Journal of Geological Hazard and Control (S1): 339–344. (in Chinese)

  • Da Yu G and Li ZS (2000), “Ground Fissure Hazards in USA and China,” Acta Seismologica Sinica, 13(4): 466–476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DBJ 61-6-2006 (2006), Specification for Site Investigation and Engineering Design on Xi’an Ground Fractures, Shaanxi Province, China.

  • Deng QD, Wang KL, Wang YP, Tang HJ, Wu YW, Ding ML (1973), “Overview of Seismic Geological Conditions and Seismic Development Trend of Fault Depression Seismic Belt in Uplift Area of Shanxi Province,” Chinese Journal of Geology, 8(1): 37–47. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng YH, Peng JB, Mu HD, et al. (2013), “Ground Fissures Germination Mechanism of Deep Structure Activities in Weihe Basin,” Journal of Jilin University, 43(2): 521–527. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeze RA and Cherry JA (1979), Groundwater, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 604.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambolati G, Gatto P and Freeze RA (1974), “Mathematical Simulation of the Subsidence of Venice: 2. Results,” Water Resources Research, 10(3): 563–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo X, Wong YL and Yuan YF (2002), “Estimation of Damping Ratio of Soil Sites Using Microtremor,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 1(1): 45–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Z, Aydin A and Kuszmaul JS (2014), “Microtremor Recordings in Northern Mississippi,” Engineering Geology, 179(Complete): 146–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helm DC (1994), “Hydraulic Forces That Play a Role in Generating Fissures at Depth,” Bull. Assoc. Eng. Geol., 31: 293–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holzer TL and Pampeyan EH (1981), “Earth Fissures and Localized Differential Subsidence,” Water Resources Research, 17(1).

  • Jachens RC and Holzer TL (1979), “Geophysical Investigations of Ground Failure Related to Ground-Water Withdrawal-Picacho Basin, Arizona,” Ground Water, 17: 574–585.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang WL, Xie XS, Wang HZ, Feng XY, Zhang KF (2003), “Holocene Palaeoseismic Activities Along the Northern Piedmont Fault of Hengshan Mountain, Datong Basin, Shanxi Province,” Earthquake Research in China, 19(1): 8–19. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanai K and Tanaka T (1954), “Measurement of the Microtremor,” Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst., 32: 199–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanbur MZ, Silahtar A and Aktan G (2020), Local Site Effects Evaluation by Surface Wave and H/V Survey Methods in Senirkent (Isparta) Region, Southwestern Turkey,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 19(2): 321–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer SL (1996), Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Pearson Education India.

  • Lermo J and Chávez-García F (1994), “Are Microtremors Useful in Site Response Evaluation?” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 84(5): 1350–1364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li SD and Yuan RM (2002), “The Formation Mechanism of Ground Fissure in Datong City,” Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis, 38: 104–108. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu YH, Cheng ZX and Niu FJ (1999), “Characteristics of Land Subsidence and Environmental Geology Effects Induced by Groundwater Exploration in Datong City,” Chinese Journal of Geological Hazard and Control, 9: 155–160. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lombardo G and Rigano R (2006), “Amplification of Ground Motion in Fault and Fracture Zones: Observations from the Tremestieri Fault, mt. etna (Italy),” Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 153(3–4): 167–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed MA, Abudeif AM, Omar KA and Attia M M (2018), “Estimation of Site Effect Using Microtremor Technique at 15th May City, Helwan, Egypt,” Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 11(2): 16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura Y (1989), “A Method for Dynamic Characteristics Estimation of Subsurface Using Microtremor on the Ground Surface,” Railway Technical Research Institute, Quarterly Reports, 30(1): 25–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pacheco-Martínez J, Hernandez-Marín M, Burbey TJ, et al. (2013), “Land Subsidence and Ground Failure Associated to Groundwater Exploitation in the Aguascalientes Valley,” México, Engineering Geology. 164(18): 172–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pamuk E, Ozdag OC, Ozyalin S and Mustafa Akgün (2017), “Soil Characterization of Tınaztepe Region (İzmir/Turkey) Using Surface Wave Methods and Nakamura (HVSR) Technique,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 16(2): 447–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paudyal YR, Yatabe R, Bhandary NP and Dahal RK (2012), “A Study of Local Amplification Effect of Soil Layers on Ground Motion in the Kathmandu Valley Using Microtremor Analysis,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 11(2): 257–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng JB, Chen LW, Huang QB, Men YM, Fan W and Yan JK (2013), “Physical Simulation of Ground Fissures Triggered by Underground Fault Activity,” Engineering Geology, 155: 19–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng JB, Meng LC, Lu QZ, et al. (2018a), “Development Characteristics and Mechanisms of the Taigu-Qixian Earth Fissure Group in the Taiyuan Basin, China,” Environmental Earth Sciences, 77(11): 407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng JB, Lu QZ and H Qb (2017), Earth Fissures in Fen-Wei Basin, Beijing: Science Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng JB, Wang FY, Cheng YX and Lu QZ (2018b), “Characteristics and Mechanism of Sanyuan Ground Fissures in the Weihe Basin, China,” Engineering Geology, 247: 48–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phien-Wej N, Giao PH and Nutalaya P (2006), “Land Subsidence in Bangkok, Thailand,” Engineering Geology, 82(4): 187–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiao J, Peng J, Deng Y, Leng Y and Meng Z (2018), “Earth Fissures in Qinglong Graben in Yuncheng Basin, China,” Journal of Earth System Science, 127(1): 10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiao JW, Peng JB, Deng YH, Wen HG, Zang MD (2015), “The Study on Basic Characteristic of Earth Fissure in Linfen Basin,” Journal of Engineering Geology, (5): 856–865. (in Chinese)

  • Ren JG, Gong WG and Jiao XJ (2004), “Distribution Characteristics of Ground Fissure in Datong and Its Development Trend,” Earthquake Research in Shanxi 13: 39–42. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rojas E, Arzate J and Arroyo M (2002), “A Method to Predict the Group Fissuring and Faulting Caused by Regional Groundwater Decline,” Engineering Geology, 65(4): 245–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheng ZP, Helm DC and Li J (2003), “Mechanisms of Earth Fissuring Caused by Groundwater Withdraw,” Environ. Eng. Geosci., 9(4): 351–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun P, Peng JB, Chen LW, Yin YP and Wu SR (2009), “Weak Tensile Characteristics of Loess in China — an Important Reason for Ground Fissures,” Engineering Geology, 108(1–2): 153–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang F, Peng J, Meng Z, Qiao and Zhao J (2019), “The Origin and Impact of the Shizhuang Ground Fissure, Yingxian Area, Datong Basin, China, Engineering Geology, 261: 105283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang GY, You G, Shi B, Qiu ZL, Li HY and Tuck M (2010), “Earth Fissures in Jiangsu Province, China and Geological Investigation of Hetang Earth Fissure,” Environmental Earth Sciences, 60(1): 35–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang NL, Yang JC, Xia ZK, Mo DW, Li YL and Pan M (1996), Cenozoic Sedimentary and Tectonic Geomorphology of Shanxi Graben System, Beijing Science Press, Beijing, China, 219–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams FM, Williams MAJ and Aumento F (2004), “Tensional Fissures and Crustal Extension Rates in the Northern Part of the Main Ethiopian Rift,” Journal of African Earth Sciences, 38(2): 183–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Q, Ye S, Wu X and Chen P (2004), “Risk Assessment of Earth Fractures by Constructing an Intrinsic Vulnerability Map, a Specific Vulnerability Map, and a Hazard Map, Using Yuci City, Shanxi, China as an Example,” Environmental Geology, 46(1): 104–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie XS, Jiang WL, Wang R, Wang HZ and Feng XY (2003), “Holocene Paleo-Seismic Activities on the Kouquan Fault Zone, Datong Basin, Shanxi Province,” Seismology and Geology, 25(3). (in Chinese)

  • Xiong ZM, Zhang C, Huo XP, Chen X and Ochoa JJ (2020), “Distributing Disciplinarian of Ground Motion Parameters on an Earth Fissure Site During Strong Earthquakes,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 19(3): 597–610.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu JS, Peng JB, Yahong, Deng YH et al. (2018), “Development Characteristics and Formation Analysis of Baixiang Earth Fissure on North China Plain,” Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 78(5): 3085–3094.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youssef AM, Sabtan AA, Maerz NH and Zabramawi Y A (2014), “Earth Fissures in Wadi Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Natural Hazards, 71(3): 2013–2027.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zang MD, Xu JW, Deng YH, He J, Qiao JW and Liu Y (2014), “Basement Stretch and Ground Fissures Formation in Linfen Basin,” Applied Mechanics and Materials, 711: 562–565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zang M, Peng J and Qi S (2019), “Earth Fissures Developed Within Collapsible Loess Area Caused by Groundwater Uplift in Weihe Watershed, Northwestern China,” Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 173: 364–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Xue YQ, Wu JC, Shi XQ and Yu J (2010), “Excessive Groundwater Withdrawal and Resultant Land Subsidence in the Su-Xi-Chang Area, China,” Environmental Earth Sciences, 61(6): 1135–1143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41772275), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 300102268203). All supports are gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064, China

    Xuan You, Deng Yahong, He Jia, Chang Jiang, Yan Zuofei & Wu Wei

  2. Key Laboratory of Mine Geological Hazards Mechanism and Control, Xi’an, 710064, China

    Deng Yahong

Authors
  1. Xuan You
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Deng Yahong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. He Jia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chang Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yan Zuofei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Wu Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deng Yahong.

Additional information

Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 41772275, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No. 300102268203

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

You, X., Yahong, D., Jia, H. et al. Microtremor-based analysis of the dynamic response characteristics of earth-fissured sites in the Datong basin, China. Earthq. Eng. Eng. Vib. 20, 567–582 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-021-2039-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-021-2039-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation