pure and applied geophysics

, Volume 137, Issue 1–2, pp 63–84 | Cite as

Predicting ground-motion variations at the Turkey-flat test site, California

  • J. Zahradník
  • J. Jech
  • V. Barták
Article
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Abstract

Results of a single group participating in an international experiment are analyzed. The experiment served to verify computational predictions of the ground-motion variations due to near-surface geological effects at a site established for that purpose by the California Department of Conservation. Based on an acceleration record at a rock location, and geotechnical model of medium, records at the other locations of a nearby sedimentary deposit were predicted. A 2-D finite-difference sensitivity analysis suggested that the lateral wave-propagation effects are negligibly small, and locally 1-D computations are sufficient for the present site. Those computations are compared with observations not available to the authors during the “blind” prediction. Peak accelerations, peak velocities and RMS accelerations were predicted with errors less than 159%, 114% and 62%, respectively. Maxima of the response spectra were fitted within a factor of 2. The predicted and observed Husid's plots (i.e., the normalized cumulative plots of the acceleration squared) have the correlation coefficients ≥0.98. The detected misfits do not show any simple relation to the instrument location, component, frequency, or time.

Key words

Seismic ground motions local site effects test sites predictions and observations finite-difference method time histories response spectra 
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Copyright information

© Birkhäuser Verlag 1991

Authors and Affiliations

  • J. Zahradník
    • 1
  • J. Jech
    • 2
  • V. Barták
    • 3
  1. 1.Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Mathematics and PhysicsCharles UniversityPraha 8Czechoslovakia
  2. 2.Geophysical InstituteCzechoslovak Academy of SciencesPraha 4Czechoslovakia
  3. 3.EnergoprojectPraha 7Czechoslovakia

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