Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dynamic properties of low velocity alluvial deposits influencing seismically-induced shear strains: the Grottaperfetta valley test-site (Rome, Italy)

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The presence of peats and high compressibility inorganic clays within alluvial fills on the left-side tributaries of the Tiber River, close to Rome’s historic center in Italy, is well documented in literature. Nevertheless, few literature data exist until now on the dynamic properties of these deposits by undisturbed bore-hole samples. The Galba test-site was set up to characterise dynamic properties of the alluvial deposits by using lab-tests as well as to derive velocity profiles by seismic noise measurements. These were performed in the Giustiniano Imperatore area located in the Grottaperfetta valley, about 2 km south of Rome’s historic centre. The alluvial deposits filled a paleovalley excavated in the bedrock during the Würm glacial (18–20 ky). The stratigraphic setting of the alluvial body was reconstructed along three geological cross-sections by means of the available logs; seven lithotecnical horizons can be distinguished within the alluvial body, some tens of meters thick, based on both log-stratigraphic data and in-site geotechnical tests. These horizons include peaty layers (T) and high compressibility inorganic clays (AGI), which characterise the alluvial deposits in the Grottaperfetta valley. They do not have direct correlation with the alluvial horizons which constitute the alluvial body of the main Tiber valley in Rome’s historical centre. These alluvial horizons which are distinguished and characterised at the Galba test-site can be regarded as typical of other lateral valleys of the Tiber River in Southern Rome. They are characterised by the presence of similar high compressibility clayey deposits as well as peaty layers up to some meters thick. Undisturbed samples were also obtained at the Galba test-site for dynamic testing via resonant column and cyclic torsional shear tests. In order to attribute dynamic properties to the alluvial body at the Grottaperfetta valley, an extrapolation process was performed based on a detailed engineering-geology model of the alluvial body which was reconstructed along three transversal geological sections of the valley using bore-hole data. Three subsoil profiles, considered representative of the geological setting along the three reconstructed transversal cross sections, were analysed by seismic noise measurements performed specifically to derive S-waves velocity profiles. The results obtained show a very low velocity (<180 m/s) for the layers T and AGI. 1D modelling of seismic shaking was performed by the code Shake91, in order to evaluate the influence of the low-velocity strata on maximum shear strains induced within the alluvial deposits under the maximum expected seismic action. The results of the numerical modelling indicate that the AGI and the T layers play a key role in: (i) concentrating the maximum shear strain along the subsoil profiles, even though the volumetric threshold is never exceeded; (ii) increasing the maximum shear strain along the subsoil profiles; (iii) causing the resonance frequency of the alluvial fill to assume an almost constant value (about 1Hz) which is quite similar to that measured in the main Tiber River valley, despite a significant change in thickness of the alluvial body along the Grottaperfetta valley.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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

  • Amato A, Chiarabba C, Cocco M, Di Bona M, Selvaggi G (1994) The 1989–1990 seismic swarm in the Alban Hills volcanic area, central Italy. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 61: 225–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambrosini S, Castenetto S, Cevolan F, Di Loreto E, Funiciello R, Liperi L, Molin D. (1986) Risposta sismica dell’area urbana di Roma in occasione del terremoto del Fucino del 13-1-1915. Mem Soc Geol Italy 35: 445–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Amorosi A, Lembo Fazio A, Scarpelli G (2002) Interazione tra una struttura esistente e lo sviluppo urbano circostante: l’esempio dell’ex Vasca Navale di Roma. In: Proceedings of the XXI Convegno Nazionale di Geotecnica–Opere Geotecniche in ambiente urbano. L’Aquila 11–14 Settembre 2002, pp 323–330

  • Anderson JG, Hough SE (1984) A model for the shape of the Fourier amplitude spectrum of acceleration at high frequencies. Bull Seismol Soc Am 74: 1969–1994

    Google Scholar 

  • Ansal A, Kurtulus A, Tonuk G (2010) Seismic microzonation and earthquake damage scenarios for urban areas. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 30: 1319–1328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ascani F, Bozzano F, Buccellato A, Del Monte M, Matteucci R, Vergari F (2008) Evoluzione del paesaggio e antiche vie di drenaggio nell’area de “Il Castellaccio” (Roma) da indagini geologiche, geomorfologiche e archeologiche. Geologica Romana 41: 93–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Asten MW, Henstridge JD (1984) Array estimators and use of microseisms for reconnaissance of sedimentary basins. Geophysics 49: 1828–1837

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baligh, MM (1975) Theory of deep site static cone penetration resistance. Research report R75-56, Department of Civil Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA (USA)

  • Bard PY, Bouchon M (1980) The seismic response of sediment-filled valleys. Part 2. The case of P and SV waves. Bull Seismol Soc Am 70: 1921–1941

    Google Scholar 

  • Bard E, Mahelin B, Arnold M, Montaggioni L, Cabioch G, Faure G, Rougerie F (1996) Deglacial sea-level record from Tahiti corals and the timing of global meltwater discharge. Nature 382: 241–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basili R, Valensise G, Vannoli P, Burrato P, Fracassi U, Mariano S, Tiberti MM, Boschi E (2008) The database of individual seismogenic sources (DISS), version 3: summarizing 20 years of research on Italy’s earthquake geology. Tectonophysics. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2007.04.014

  • Boore DM (2000) SMSIM-FORTRAN programs for simulation ground motions from earthquakes: version 2.0—a revision of OFR 96-80A, U.S. geological survey open-file report 00-509. Available at http://geo-pubs.we.usgs.gov//open-file/of00-509/

  • Boschi E, Caserta A, Conti C, Di Bona M, Funiciello R, Malagnini L, Marra F, Martines G, Rovelli A, Salvi S (1995) Resonance of subsurface sediments: an unforeseen complication for designers of roman columns. Bull Seismol Soc Am 85: 320–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulanger RW, Arulnathan R, Harder LF, Torres RA, Driller MW (1998) Dynamic properties of Sherman Island peat. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 1998: 12–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boulanger RW, Harder LF, Driller MW, Wehling TM (2001) Confinement and disturbance effects on dynamic properties of fibrous organic soil. In: Proceedings of XV ICSMGE satellite conference on “lessons learned from recent strong earthquakes”. 25 Aug 2001, Istanbul, Turkey, pp 211–217

  • Bozzano F, Andreucci A, Gaeta M, Salucci R (2000) A geological model of the buried Tiber River valley beneath the historical centre of Rome. Bull Eng Geol Env 59: 1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozzano F, Gaeta M, Marcoccia S (2006a) Weathering of Valle Ricca stiff and jointed clay. Eng Geol 84(3–4): 161–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozzano F, Martino S, Priori M (2006b) Natural and man-induced stress evolution o slopes: the Monte Mario hill in Rome. Environ Geol 50: 505–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozzano F, Bretschneider A, Martino S (2008a) Stress–strain history from the geological evolution of the Orvieto and Radicofani cliff slopes (Italy). Landslides 5(4): 351–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozzano F, Caserta A, Govoni A, Marra F, Martino S (2008b) Static and dynamic characterization of alluvial deposits in the Tiber River Valley: new data for assessing potential ground motion in the city of Rome. J Geophys Res 113: B01303. doi:10.1029/2006JB004873

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comando Provinciale dei Vigili del Fuoco di Roma: (2011) Damage scenario induced in the city of Rome by the l’Aquila seismic sequence of April 2009 (Italy). Ital J Eng Geol Environ 2(2011): 5–22. doi:10.4408/IJEGE.2011-02.O-01

    Google Scholar 

  • Calderoni G, Rovelli A, Cultrera G, Azzara RM, Di Giulio G (2005) Assessement of ground motion in Palermo, Italy, during the 6 September 2002 MW 5.9 earthquake using source scaling law. Bull Seismol Soc Am 95: 2342–2363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campanella, RG, Robertson PK, Gillespie DG, Grieg J (1985) Recent developments in in-situ testing of soils. In: Proceedings of the 11th international conference on soil mechanics and foundation engineering, vol 2, pp 849–854

  • Campolunghi MP, Capelli G, Funiciello R, Lanzini M (2007) Geotechnical studies for foundation settlement in Holocenic alluvial deposits in the city of Rome (Italy). Eng Geol 89: 9–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capon J (1969) High-resolution frequency-wavenumber spectrum analysis. In the Proc. IEEE 57(8): 1408–1418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrubba P, Maugeri M (1988) Determinazione delle proprietà dinamiche di un’argilla mediante prove di colonna risonante. Rivista Italiana di Geotecnica 22(2): 101–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Caserta A, Rovelli A, Marra F, Govoni A, Dellamonica G (2009) Lo scuotimento registrato nella città di Roma durante i più forti terremoti della sequenza aquilana. GNGTS 2009, abstract volume (2.1), pp 274–275

  • Cifelli F, Donati S, Funiciello F, Tertulliani A (2000) High-density macroseismic survey in urban areas. Part 2: results for the city of Rome, Italy. Bull Seismol Soc Am 90(2): 298–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cinti FR, Marra F, Bozzano F, Cara F, Di Giulio G, Boschi E (2008) Chronostratigraphic study of the Grottaperfetta alluvial valley in the city of Rome (Italy): investigating possible interaction between sedimentary and tectonic processes. Ann Geophys 51(5–6): 849–868

    Google Scholar 

  • Corazza A, Lanzini M, Rosa C, Salucci R (1999) Caratteri stratigrafici, idrogeologici e geotecnici delle alluvioni tiberine nel settore del centro storico di Roma. Il Quaternario 12: 215–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Crespellani T, Madiai C, Simoni G, Vannucchi G (2001) Dynamic geotechnical testing and seismic response analyses in two sites of the Commune of Nocera Umbra, Italy. Rivista Italiana di Geotecnica 35(4): 39–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Giulio G, Cornou C, Ohrnberger M, Wathelet M, Rovelli A (2006) Deriving wavefield characteristics and shear-velocity profiles from two-dimensional small-aperture arrays analysis of ambient vibrations in a small-size alluvial basin, Colfiorito, Italy. Bull Seismol Soc Am 96(5): 1915–1933

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DISS Working Group (2009) Database of individual seismogenic sources (DISS), version 3.1.0: a compilation of potential sources for earthquakes larger than M 5.5 in Italy and surrounding areas. http://diss.rm.ingv.it/diss/. ©INGV 2009—Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia—all rights reserved

  • Faccioli E (1999) The Catania project: studies for an earthquake damage scenario. J Seismol (special issue)

  • Fäh D, Iodice C, Suhadolc P, Panza GF (1993) A new method for the realistic estimation of seismic ground motion in megacities: the case of Rome. Earthq Spectra 9: 643–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fäh D, Ruttener E, Noack T, Kruspan P (1997) Microzonation of the city of Basel. J Seismol 1: 87–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Funiciello R, Lombardi L, Marra F, Parotto M (1995) Seismic damage and geological heterogeneity in Rome’s Colosseum area: are they related?. Annali di Geofisica 38(3): 267–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardin BO, Drnevich VP (1972a) Shear modulus and damping in soil: measurement and parameter effects. J Soil Mech Found Eng Div ASCE 98(6): 603–624

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardin BO, Drnevich VP (1972b) Shear modulus and damping in soil: design equations and curves. J Soil Mech Found Eng Div ASCE 98(7): 667–692

    Google Scholar 

  • Idriss IM, Sun JI (1992) Shake91, a computer program for conducting equivalent linear seismic response analysis of horizontally layered soil deposits modified based on the original SHAKE program published in December 1972 by Schnabel, Lysmer and Seed

  • Ishibashi I, Zhang X (1993) Unified dynamic shear moduli and damping ratios of sand and clay. Soils Found 33(1): 182–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • INGV (2006) Mappa di pericolosita‘ sismica del territorio nazionale. Available at http://zonesismiche.mi.ingv.it/mappa_ps_apr04/italia.html

  • INGV (2009) Mappa sul risentimento macrosismico del terremoto del 6 Aprile 2009. http://terremoto.rm.ingv.it

  • Jimenez MJ, Garcia-Fernandez M, Zonno G, Cella F (2000) Mapping soil effects in Barcelona, Spain, through an integrated GIS environment. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 19: 289–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kishida T, Wehling R, Boulanger MD, Stokoe KJ (2009) Dynamic properties of highly organic soils from Montezuma Slough and Clifton Court. Geotech Geoenviron Eng 135: 525–533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lermo J, Chavez-Garcia FJ (1993) Site evaluation using spectral ratios with only one station. Bull Seismol Soc Am 83: 1574–1594

    Google Scholar 

  • Lo Presti D, Jamiolkowski M, Pepe M (2002) Geotechnical characterisation of the subsoil of Pisa Tower. In: Characterization and engineering properties of natural soils Balkema, Rotterdam, vol 2, pp 909–946

  • Marra F, Rosa C (1995) Stratigrafia e assetto geologico dell’area romana, in “La Geologia di Roma Il Centro Storico”. Memorie Descrittive della Carta Geologica d’Italia (special issue) 50: 49–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Moczo P, Rovelli A, Labak P, Malagnini L (1995) Seismic response of the geologic structure underlying the Roman Colosseum and a 2-D resonance of a sediment valley. Annali di Geofisica 38(5–6): 939–956

    Google Scholar 

  • Molin D, Guidoboni E (1989) Effetto fonti, effetto monumenti a Roma: i terremoti dell’antichità a oggi. In: Guidoboni E (ed) I Terremoti prima del Mille in Italia e nell’Area Mediterranea, pp 194–223. S.G.A., Bologna

  • Molin D, Ambrosini S, Castenetto S, Di Loreto E, Liperi L, Paciello A (1986) Aspetti della sismicità storica di Roma. Mem Soc Geol Italy 35: 439–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura Y (1989) A method for dynamic characteristics estimation of subsurface using microtremor on the ground surface. Q Rep Railw Tech Res Inst 30(1): 25–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura Y (2000) Clear identification of fundamental idea of Nakamura’s technique and its applications. In: Proceedings of 12th world conference on the earthquake engineering, Auckland, New Zealand

  • Nogoshi M, Igarashi I (1971) On the amplitude characteristics of microtremor (Part 2). J Selsmol Soc Japan 24: 26–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen KB, Akinci A, Rovelli A, Marra F, Malagnini L (2006) 3D ground-motion estimation in Rome. Italy Bull Seismol Soc Am 96(1): 133–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohrnberger M (2004a) User manual for software package CAP—a continuous array processing toolkit for ambient vibration array analysis, SESAME report D18.06. http://sesame-fp5.obs.ujfgrenoble.fr

  • Ohrnberger M, Schissele E, Cornou C, Bonnefoy-Claudet S, Wathelet M, Savvaidis A, Scherbaum F, Jongmans D (2004b) Frequency wavenumber and spatial autocorrelation methods for dispersion curve determination from ambient vibration recordings. In: Proceedings of 13th world conference on earthquake engineering, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, pp 1–6. Aug 2004, paper no. 0946

  • Panza GF, Alvarez L, Aoudia A, Ayadi A, Benhallou H, Benouar D, Bus Z, Chen Y, Cioflan C, Ding Z, El-Sayed A, Garcia J, Garofalo B, Gorshkov A, Gribovszki K, Harbi A, Hatzidimitriou P, Herak M, Kouteva M, Kuzntzov I, Lokmer I, Maouche S, Marmureanu G, Matova M, Natale M, Nunziata C, Parvez I, Pasckaleva I, Pico R, Radulian M, Romanelli F, Soloviev A, Suhadolc P, Szeidovitz G, Triantafyllidis P, Vaccari F (2004) Realistic modeling of seismic input for megacities and large urban areas. J Tecch Environ Geol 1: 6–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Raptakis D, Makra K, Anastasiadis A, Pitilakis K (2004) Complex site effects in Thessaloniki (Greece): i. soil structure and comparison of observations with 1D analysis. Bull Earthquake Eng 2: 271–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riguzzi F, Tertulliani A (1993) Re-evaluation of minor events: the examples of the 1895 and 1909 Rome earthquakes. Nat Hazards 7: 219–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK, Campanella RG, Gillespie D, Greig J (1986) Use of piezometer cone data. In: Proceedings of international symposium IN SITU ’86, Blacksburg, USA

  • Robertson PK, Fear CE (1995) Liquefaction of sands and its evaluation. In: IS TOKYO 95, first international conference on earthquake geotechnical engineering, keynote lecture, Nov 1995

  • Romeo R, Paciello A, Rinaldis D (2000) Seismic hazard maps of Italy including site effects. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 20: 85–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rovelli A, Caserta A, Malagnini L, Marra F (1994) Assessment of potential strong motions in the city of Rome. Annali di Geofisica 37: 1745–1769

    Google Scholar 

  • Rovelli A, Malagnini L, Caserta A, Marra F (1995) Using 1-D and 2-D modelling of ground motion for seismic zonation criteria: results for the city of Rome. Annali di Geofisica 38(5–6): 591–605

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherbaum F, Hinzen KG, Ohrnberger M (2003) Determination of shallow shear wave velocity profiles in the Cologne, Germany area using ambient vibrations. Geophys J Int 152(3): 597–612

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stokoe KH, Bay JA, Rosenbald BL, Hwang SK, Twede MR (1996) In situ seismic and dynamic measurements of geotechnical materials at Queensboro Brisge and Roosevelt Island. Geotechnical engineering report, GR94-5, Civil Engineering Department, University of texas at Austin, June

  • Stramondo S, Bozzano F, Marra F, Wegmuller U, Cinti FR, Moro M, Saroli M (2008) Subsidence induced by urbanisation in the city of Rome detected by advanced InSAR technique and geotechnical investigations. Remote Sens Environ 112: 3160–3172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun JI, Golesorkhi R, Seed HB (1988) Dynamic moduli and damping ratios for cohesive soils. Report no. EERC-88/15, Earthquake Engineering Research Centre, University of California, Berkeley

  • Tertulliani A, Tosi P, De Rubeis V (1996) Local seismicity in Rome (Italy): recent results from macroseismic evidences. Annali di Geofisica 39(6): 1235–1240

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson EM, Baise LG, Kayen RE, Guzina BB (2009) Impediments to predicting site response: seismic property estimation and modeling simplifications. Bull Seismol Soc Am 99: 2927–2949

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tommasi P, Ribacchi R, Sciotti M (1996) Geotechnical aspects in the preservation of the historical town of Orvieto. In: Viggiani C (ed) Proceedings of the Arrigo Croce memorial symposium on geotechnical engineering for the preservation of monuments and historic sites, Napoli, Italy, 3–4 Oct 1996, pp 849–858. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

  • Tokimatsu K (1995) Geotechnical site characterization using surface waves. In: Ishihara K (ed) Proceedings of the 1st international conference on earthquake geotechnical engineering. Balkema, Leiden, pp 1333–1368

    Google Scholar 

  • Vucetic M, Dobry R (1991) Effect of soil plasticity on cyclic response. J Geotech Engineering ASCE 117(1): 89–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wathelet M, Jongmans D, Ohrnberger M (2004) Surface-wave inversion using a direct search algorithm and its application to ambient vibration measurements. Near Surf Geophys 2004: 211–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods JW, Lintz PL (1973) Plane waves at small arrays. Geophysics 38: 1023–1041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Andrus RD, Juang CH (2005) Normalized shear modulus and material damping ratio relationships. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng ASCE 131(4): 453–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INGV, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143, Rome, Italy

    A. Caserta, A. Govoni & F. Marra

  2. Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic

    A. Caserta

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Roma “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy

    S. Martino & F. Bozzano

Authors
  1. A. Caserta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Martino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Bozzano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Govoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. F. Marra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Martino.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Caserta, A., Martino, S., Bozzano, F. et al. Dynamic properties of low velocity alluvial deposits influencing seismically-induced shear strains: the Grottaperfetta valley test-site (Rome, Italy). Bull Earthquake Eng 10, 1133–1162 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-012-9349-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-012-9349-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation