Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Efficiency of horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) in defining the fundamental frequency in Muscat Region, Sultanate of Oman: a comparative study

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Muscat region is the most important political, economic, and densely populated region in the Sultanate of Oman. The proximity of Muscat region to the Oman Mountains and Makran subduction zones controls the earthquake hazard for Muscat. Evidences indicate the occurrence of a nearby historical earthquake with moderate magnitude M S = 5.5 in 1883. This event led to the damage of some villages near Nizwa City. The main objective of the current study is to compare the site characteristics of the region of interest in terms of the fundamental frequency using microtremors measurements with the numerical analysis results using one-dimensional (1-D) shear wave profiles. The microtremor measurements were performed at 99 sites distributed over the study region in order to calculate the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR). The numerical modeling of horizontal shear (SH) waves in soil at the selected 99 sites are assessed by carrying out 1-D ground response analysis using the program SHAKE91. The required shear wave velocity profiles for the numerical modeling of SH-waves were derived using multichannel analysis of surface waves profiles. The amplification spectra have been evaluated for the soil column at each site location and the fundamental frequency obtained using SHAKE91 and HVSR are compared. Results were found to be compatible with the general surface geology of the region of interest and in most cases the HVSR is proved to be suitable for calculating the fundamental frequency in Muscat region.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al Atik L, Abrahamson NA (2010) An improved method for non-stationary spectral matching. Earthquake Spectra 26:601–617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambraseys NN, Melville CP, Adams RD (1994) The seismicity of Egypt, Arabia and Red Sea. Cambridge Univ Press

  • Anbazhagan P, Sitharam T (2008) Site characterization and site response studies using shear wave velocity. J Seismol Earthq Eng 10:53–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Bard PY (1998) Microtremor measurements: a tool for site effect estimation. Proc 2nd Int Symp on the Effects of Surface Geology on Seismic Motion (Yokohama Japan) 1251–1279

  • Bonnefoy Claudet S, Kohler A, Cornou C, Wathelet M, Bard PY (2008) Effects of Love waves on microtremor H/V ratio. Bull Seismol Soc Am 98:288–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornou C (1998) Etudes theoriques et numerique sur la methode de Nakamura-Nagoshi Memoire de Diplome d’Ingeenieur (Grenoble: LGIT) 132 pp (in French)

  • Coutel F, Mora P (1998) Simulation based comparison of four site-response estimation techniques. Bull Seismol Soc Am 88:30–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Cramer CH, Gomberg JS, Schweig ES, Waldron BA, Tucker K (2004) The Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, seismic hazard maps, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 04-1294

  • Cramer CH, Gomberg JS, Schweig ES, Waldron BA, Tucker K (2006) First USGS urban seismic hazard maps predict the effects of soils. Seismol Res Lett 77:23–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dravinski M, Ding G, Wen KL (1996) Analysis of spectral ratios for estimating ground motion in deep basins. Bull Seismol Soc Am 86:646–654

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunand F, Bard PY, Chatelin JL, Guéguen Ph, Vassail T, Farsi MN (2002) Damping and frequency from random method applied to in-situ measurements of ambient vibrations: Evidence for effective soil structure interaction, 12th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering, London. Paper# 869

  • El-Hussain I, Deif A, Al-Jabry K, Toksoz N, El-Hady S, Al-Hashmi S, Al-Toubi K, Al-Shijby Y, Al-Saify M, Kuleli S (2012) Probabilistic seismic hazard maps for the Sultanate of Oman. Nat Hazard 64:173–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EZ-Frisk 7.62 (2012) Software for earthquake ground motion estimation by Fugro’s Risk Engineering Inc

  • Fäh D, Kind F, Giardini D (2001) A theoretical investigation of average H/V ratios. Geophys J Int 145:535–549

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field EH, Jacob KH (1993) The theoretical response of sedimentary layers to ambient seismic noise. Geophys Res Lett 20:2925–2928

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horike M (1985) Inversion of phase velocity of long-period microtremors to the S-wave velocity structure down to the basement in urbanized areas. J Phys Earth 38:59–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Idriss IM, Sun JI (1992) User’s manual for SHAKE91, Computer program for conducting equivalent linear seismic response analyses of horizontally layered soil deposits. University of California, Davis

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanlı A, Tildy P, Pronay Z, Pinar A, Hermann L (2006) VS30 mapping and soil classification for seismic site effect evaluation in Dinar region, SW Turkey. Geophys J Int 165:223–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koller MG, Chatelain JL, Guillier B, Duval AM, Atakan K, Lacave C, Bard PY, SESAME participants (2004) Practical user guideline and software for the implementation of the H/V ratio technique on ambient vibrations: measuring conditions, processing method and results interpretation. 13th World Conf. Earthquake Engineering (Vancouver, BC, Canada, 1–6 Aug.) Paper No. 3132

  • Konno K, Ohmachi T (1998) Ground motion characteristics estimated from spectral ratio between horizontal and vertical components of microtremor. Bull Seismol Soc Am 88:228–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer SL (1996) Geotechnical earthquake engineering. Pearson, Delhi, Reprinted 2003

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachet C, Bard PY (1994) Numerical and theoretical investigations on the possibilities and limitations of the Nakamura’s technique. J Phys Earth 42:377–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lachet C, Hatzfeld D, Bard PY, Theodulidis N, Papaloannou C, Savvaidis A (1996) Site effects and microzonation in the city of Thessaloniki (Greece). Comparison of different approaches. Bull Seismol Soc Am 86:1692–1703

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebrun B (1997) Les effets de site: etude experimentale et simulation de trois configurations. These de Doctorat de l’Universite Joseph Fourier, 208 pp

  • Lermo J (1992) Observaciones de microtremores en Mexico y su aplicacion en la ingenieria sismica. MS Thesis UNAM, 75 pp

  • Mahajan AK, Siefko S, Rajiv R, Rob S, Champati Ray PK, Cees J (2007) Seismic microzonation of Dehradun City using geophysical and geotechnical characteristics in the upper 30 m of soil column. J Seismol 11:355–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milana G, Barba S, Del Pezzo E, Zambonelli E (1996) Site response from ambient noise measurements: new perspective from an array study in Central Italy. Bull Seismol Soc Am 86:320–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller RD, Xia J, Park CB, Ivanov J (1999) Multichannel analysis of surface waves to map bedrock. Lead Edge 18:1392–1396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed AME, Deif A, El-Hadidy S, Moustafa SR, El-Werr A (2008) Definition of soil characteristics and ground response at the northwestern part of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. J Geophys Eng 5:420–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MPM (1986) Geological maps 1:100,000 scale, sheets Seeb and Muscat

  • Nakamura Y (1989) A method for dynamic characteristics estimation of subsurface using microtremors of the ground surface QR of RTRI, 30, No. 1, 89, Feb

  • Nakamura Y (1996) Real-time information systems for hazards mitigation, Proceedings of the 11th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Acapulco, Mexico

  • Ohmachi T, Nakamura Y, Toshinawa T, (1991) Ground motion characteristics of the San Francisco bay area detected by microtremor measurements, 2nd Int. Conf. Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics (St Louis, MO) 1643–1648

  • Park CB, Miller RD, Xia J (1999) Multi-channel analysis of surface waves. Geophys 64:800–808

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parolai S, Bindi D, Baumbach M, Grosser H, Milkereit C, Karakisa S, Zunbul S (2004) Comparison of different site response estimation techniques using aftershocks of the 1999 Izmit earthquake. Bull Seismol Soc Am 94:1096–1108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PDO (1990) Oman’s geological heritage

  • Riepl J, Bard PY, Hatzfeld D, Papaioannou C, Nechtschein S (1998) Detailed evaluation of site response estimation methods across and along the sedimentary valley of Volvi (EURO-SEISTEST). Bull Seismol Soc Am 88:488–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnabel PB, Lysmer J, Seed HB (1972) SHAKE: a computer program for earthquake response analysis of horizontally layered sites report no. UCB/EERC-72/12. Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Seed HB, Idriss IM (1970) Soil moduli and damping factors for dynamic response analyses. Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, Rep. No. EERC-70/10

    Google Scholar 

  • Seed HB, Wong RT, Idriss IM, Tokimatsu K (1986) Moduli and damping factors for dynamic analyses of cohesionless soils. J Geotech Eng 112:1016–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seekins LC, Wennerberg L, Margheriti L, Liu H-P (1996) Site amplification at five locations in San Francisco, California: a comparison of S waves, codas and microtremors. Bull Seismol Soc Am 86:627–635

    Google Scholar 

  • SeisRefa (1991) Refraction analysis program, version 1.30, USA. Copyright, Oyo Corporation

  • SESAME (2004) Site effects assessment using ambient excitations European research project http://sesamefp5.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr

  • Seshunarayana T, Sundararajan N (2004) Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) for mapping shallow subsurface layers—a case study, Jabalpur, India. 5th International Conference on Petroleum Geophysics, Hyderabad, India 642-646

  • Seshunarayana T, Prabhakara Prasad P, Prasada Rao SVV, Kousalya M, (2003) Seismic survey for determination of Vp and Vs of shallow subsoil & bedrock depth in Jabalpur area. Tech report No. NGRI-2003-Exp-384

  • Street R, Woolery E, Wang Z, Harik IE (1997) Soil classifications for estimating site-dependent response spectra and seismic coefficients for building code provisions in western Kentucky. Eng Geol 46:331–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Street R, Wooley EW, Wang Z, Harris JB (2001) NEHRP soil classification for estimating site dependant seismic coefficients in the Upper Mississippi Embayment. Eng Geol 62:123–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Surve G, Mohan G (2010) Site response studies in Mumbai using (H/V) Nakamura technique. Nat Hazard 54:783–795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian G, Steeples DW, Xia J, Miller RD (2003) Multichannel analysis of surface wave method with the auto juggie. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 23:243–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tokeshi JC, Sugimura Y, (1998) A comparison of the Fourier phase spectral method with the Nakamura technique for a horizontally layered structure. Proceeding of 11th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering (Paris, 6–11 Sep.) ed Bisch, Labbe and Pecker (Balkema)

  • Volant P, Cotton F, Gariel JC (1998) Estimation of site response using the H/V technique applicability and limits on Garner Valley down-hole array dataset (California). Proceeding of 11th European. Conference on Earthquake Engineering (Paris, 6–11 Sep.) ed Bisch, Labbe and Pecker (Balkema)

  • Wakamatsu K, Yasui Y (1996) Possibility of estimation for amplification characteristics of soil deposits based on ratio of horizontal to vertical spectra of microtremors, Proceeding of 11th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (Acapulco, Mexico)

  • Xia J, Miller RD, Park CB (1999) Estimation of near-surface shear-wave velocity by inversion of Rayleigh wave. Geophys 64:691–700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia J, Miller RD, Park CB, Ivanov J (2000) Construction of 2-D vertical shear wave velocity field by the multichannel analysis of surface wave technique. Proceedings of the symposium on the application of geophysics to engineering and environmental problems, Arlington, 20–24 February 2000

  • Xia J, Miller RD, Park CB, Hunter JA, Harris JB, Ivanov J (2002) Comparing shear-wave velocity profiles inverted from multichannel surface wave with borehole measurements. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 22:181–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Oman Ministerial Cabinet for funding this project under project under # 22409017. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Seismic Hazard committee members and the Earthquake Monitoring Center staff for their continuous interest and its assistance to complete this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earthquake Monitoring Center, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    I. El-Hussain, A. Deif, A. M. E. Mohamed & Z. Al-Habsi

  2. Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    K. Al-Jabri

  3. National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt

    A. Deif, A. M. E. Mohamed & S. El-Hady

  4. Faculty of Earth Science-Geophysics Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    S. El-Hady

Authors
  1. I. El-Hussain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Deif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Al-Jabri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. M. E. Mohamed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. El-Hady
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Z. Al-Habsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. El-Hussain.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

El-Hussain, I., Deif, A., Al-Jabri, K. et al. Efficiency of horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) in defining the fundamental frequency in Muscat Region, Sultanate of Oman: a comparative study. Arab J Geosci 7, 2423–2436 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-0948-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-0948-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation