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Determination of NEHRP Site Class of Seismic Recording Stations in the Northwest Himalayas and Its Adjoining Area Using HVSR Method

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Abstract

Local site characteristics play an important role in controlling the damage pattern during earthquakes (EQs). These site characteristics may vary from simple to complex and can be estimated by various field tests. In addition, extended Nakamura’s method, which uses horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) based on available EQ records also available for site class (SC) determination. In this study, SCs for 90 recording stations which are maintained by Program for Excellence in Strong Motion Studies (PESMOS), located in the northwestern Himalayas and the adjoining areas are determined using extended Nakamura’s technique. Average HVSR curves obtained at majority of the recording stations are found matching with the existing literature. Predominant frequency (f peak) from average HVSR curve at each recording station is then used for the determination of SC. Original SC given by PESMOS is purely based on geology and not based on comprehensive soil investigation exercise. In this study, the SC, which is based on the average HVSR curves is found matching with SC given by PESMOS for a majority of recording stations. However, for considerable number of recording stations, a mismatch is also found which is consistent with the existing literature. In addition, SC based on National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP) scheme is proposed based on f peak for all the 90 recording stations.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the INSPIRE Faculty program by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India for the funding project ‘‘Propagation path characterization and determination of in situ slips along different active faults in the Shillong Plateau’’ Ref. No. DST/INSPIRE/04/2014/002617 [IFA14-ENG-104] for providing necessary motivation for the present study. Further, authors are thankful to PESMOS and department of earthquake engineering, IIT Roorkee for providing necessary ground motion records in the absence of which, carrying out present work would be impossible.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India

    N. H. Harinarayan & Abhishek Kumar

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Harinarayan, N.H., Kumar, A. Determination of NEHRP Site Class of Seismic Recording Stations in the Northwest Himalayas and Its Adjoining Area Using HVSR Method. Pure Appl. Geophys. 175, 89–107 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-017-1696-6

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