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New code site classification, amplification factors and normalized response spectra based on a worldwide ground-motion database

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An Erratum to this article was published on 22 March 2013

Abstract

A global dataset of more than 3,000 ground motion records from 536 sites from Greece, Italy, Turkey, USA and Japan is compiled and used to propose code-oriented elastic acceleration response spectra and soil amplification factors for a new site classification system, which, besides the classical geotechnical parameters \(N_{SPT}, S_{u}\) and PI, uses also the fundamental period of the site, the thickness of soil deposits and the average shear wave velocity to the seismic bedrock, instead of \(V_{s,30}\). We propose a new classification system with the associated amplification factors and normalized response spectra for two seismicity levels, i.e. \(M_{s}\le 5.5\) and \(M_{s}>5.5\). Uncertainties in the estimation of soil amplification factors are captured using a logic-tree approach, which allows the efficient use of alternative models and methods. The aim of this work is to improve the present EC8 soil classification. The effectiveness of the proposed classification system is compared to that of EC8 classification system using an error term, which represents the average dispersion of data within all categories of a given classification scheme. Error terms for the new classification system are lower than the error terms for EC8 classification system at all periods.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been mainly funded by the European Community’s FP7 Program [FP7/2007-2013] under grant agreement no. 226967 (Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe, http://www.share-eu.org/). We thank Ezio Faccioli for his constructive comments during the progress of this work, Sinan Akkar, Abdullah Sandikkaya and their coworkers for providing the SHARE strong-motion database, Dimitrios Raptakis for helping conduct the HVSR calculations on the K-net records, John Douglas for his advice on seismological issues, Roberto Paolucci, Chiara Smerzini and Francesca Pacor for checking the SHARE-AUTH data on the Italian strong motion stations, and everyone who helped with the development of the SHARE-AUTH database. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments, effort and time allocated to improve the paper.

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  1. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O.B. 424, 54124 , Thessaloniki, Greece

    Kyriazis Pitilakis, Evi Riga & Anastasios Anastasiadis

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  1. Kyriazis Pitilakis
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Correspondence to Kyriazis Pitilakis.

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Table 10 Classification of stations included in SHARE-AUTH database
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Pitilakis, K., Riga, E. & Anastasiadis, A. New code site classification, amplification factors and normalized response spectra based on a worldwide ground-motion database. Bull Earthquake Eng 11, 925–966 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-013-9429-4

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