Abstract
Subsurface cavities or stiff inclusions represent mechanical discontinuities for seismic waves propagating in soils. They modify the propagation pattern of seismic waves and alter soil response in correspondence to the ground level or building foundations. In the literature, different analytical and numerical solutions have been proposed to account for the effect of underground cavities or inclusions on the motion generated by P, S or R waves. In these former studies, the subsoil was assimilated to a homogeneous, isotropic and linear elastic halfspace containing one or more cavities. In the present study, the effect of subsurface cavities on ground motion amplification has been analysed accounting for soil stiffness degradation and associated damping increase with increasing levels of shear strains, a fundamental aspect of soil behaviour under earthquakes. The analysed model was inspired to a real case represented by the village of Castelnuovo (Italy), which during the 2009 Abruzzo earthquake suffered huge damage. The main shock (6 April 2009) caused the collapse of 50 % of the whole built environment. The historical centre of Castelnuovo rises on a hill. In its subsoil, there are many cavities with roofs 2–3 m below the ground level. The longitudinal NW–SE section of the hill has been investigated by 2D nonlinear site response analyses. A preliminary site response analysis was performed without modelling cavities, to identify ground motion amplification due to mere stratigraphic and topographic factors. The numerical model was later refined inserting: (1) a single cavity below the hilltop, (2) multiple cavities placed below the ground surface of the hill and (3) multiple cavities filled with concrete (inclusions). The performed study highlights the important role exerted by underground cavities on the ground motion computed at the hill surface. This effect should be properly considered for both microzonation studies and the correct determination of the seismic actions on specific buildings.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Borghini A, Del Monte E, Ortolani B, Vignoli A (2011) Studio degli effetti del sisma del 6/04/2009 sulla frazione di Castelnuovo, Comune di San Pio delle Camere (AQ). In: Proceedings of XIV Convegno Nazionale ANIDIS, Bari (Italy) (in Italian)
d’Onofrio A, Lanzo G, Pagliaroli A, Silvestri F (2010) Indagini geotecniche—Macroarea 4. In: Microzonazione sismica per la ricostruzione dell’area aquilana. 3° vol+dvd. Dipartimento della Protezione Civile—Regione Abruzzo (in Italian)
Di Giacomo D, Gallipoli MR, Mucciarelli M, Picozzi M, Pilz M (2010) Misure strumentali—Macroarea 4. In: Microzonazione sismica per la ricostruzione dell’area aquilana. 3° vol. + dvd. Dipartimento della Protezione Civile—Regione Abruzzo (in Italian)
Dravinski M (1983) Ground motion amplification due to elastic inclusions in a halfspace. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 11:313–335
Grünthal G (1998) European Macroseismic Scale 1998 (EMS-98). Cahiers du Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie, 15, Luxembourg
Hudson M, Idriss IM, Beikae M (1994) Quad4 M-A computer program to evaluate the seismic response of soil structures using finite element procedures and incorporating a compliant base. University of California, Davis
Kuhlemeyer L, Lysmer J (1973) Finite element method accuracy for wave propagation problems. J Soil Mech Found Div 99:421–427
Lanzo G, Silvestri F, Costanzo A, d’Onofrio A, Martelli L, Pagliaroli A, Sica S, Simonelli A (2011) Site response studies and seismic microzoning in the Middle Aterno valley (L’Aquila, Central Italy). Bull Earthq Eng 9(5):1417–1442. doi:10.1007/s10518-011-9278-y
Lee VW (1988) Three dimensional diffraction of elastic waves by a spherical cavity in an elastic halfspace: closed form solutions. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 7(3):149–161
Liang J, Ba Z, Lee VW (2007a) Scattering of plane P waves around a cavity in poroelastic half-space (I): analytical solution. J Earthq Eng Eng Vib 27(1):1–6
Liang J, Ba Z, Lee VW (2007b) Scattering of plane P waves around a cavity in poroelastic half-space (II): numerical results. J Earthq Eng Eng Vib 27(2):1–11
Liang J, Zhang J, Ba Z (2012) The effect of underground cavities on design seismic ground motion. In: Proceedings of 15 world conference earthquake engineering, Lisbon, Paper ID 4926
Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti (2008) Le Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni. D.M. 14 gennaio 2008. Gazzetta Ufficiale 29 (supplemento Ordinario 30). http://www.infrastrutture.gov.it/consuplp/
Ortolani B, Borghini A, Boschi S, Del Monte E, Vignoli A (2012) Study of vulnerability and damage: the case study of Castelnuovo after L’Aquila earthquake (Italy) In: Proceedings of 15 world conference earthquake engineering, Lisbon, Paper ID 4439
Pace B, Albarello D, Boncio P, Dolce M, Galli P, Messina P, Peruzza L, Sabetta F, Sanò T, Visini F (2011) Predicted ground motion after the L’Aquila 2009 earthquake (Italy, Mw6.3): input spectra for Seismic Microzoning. Bull Earthq Eng 9:199–230
Pao HY, Mow CC (1973) The diffraction of elastic waves and dynamic stress concentrations. Ccrane-Russak, New York
Rotili F (2010) Risposta sismica locale nel territorio di Castelnuovo (AQ). Università del Sannio, Benevento (In Italian), Tesi di Laurea
Sabetta F, Pugliese A (1996) Estimation of response spectra and simulation of nonstationary earthquake ground motion. Bull Seismol Soc Am 86(2):337–352
Smerzini C, Aviles J, Paolucci R, Sanchez-Sesma FJ (2009) Effect of underground cavities on surface ground motion under SH wave propagation. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 38:1441–1460
Wong KC, Shah AH, Datta SK (1985) Diffraction of elastic waves in a halfspace. II. Analytical and numerical solutions. Bull Seismol Soc Am 75(1):69–92
Working Group MS-AQ (2010). Microzonazione sismica per la ricostruzione dell’area aquilana. Dipartimento della Protezione Civile—Regione Abruzzo (in Italian)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sica, S., Dello Russo, A., Rotili, F. et al. Ground motion amplification due to shallow cavities in nonlinear soils. Nat Hazards 71, 1913–1935 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0989-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0989-z