Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of ground motion and site-specific response spectrum for different parts of India by the method of semi-empirical Green’s function

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

Abstract

A synthesis of ground motion and corresponding design response spectrum is presented here. A semi-empirical Green’s function approach based on envelope summation technique is used to model ground motion for evaluation of expected peak ground acceleration (PGA) from future large earthquake in Garhwal Himalaya, northeast (NE) and south India. The synthetic site-specific response spectra for the single degree of freedom (SDOF) structures corresponding to the synthetic ground motion records are obtained for both rock and soil conditions for engineering design of reservoir and nuclear power plant in different parts of India. The predicted PGA for NE India is found to be ~ 3.5 m/s2 at 60 km, decaying to ~ 0.1 m/s2 at 500 km distance, while it is ~ 3.0 m/s2 at 15 km, decaying to ~ 1.4 m/s2 at 80 km distance for Garhwal Himalaya. These PGA estimates are in good agreement with those obtained from the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program (GSHAP) exercise. The response spectrum attains its maximum relatively earlier for rock site than for soil site. The response spectra decay gradually at periods later than 0.5 s and approach asymptotically constant values at longer periods. The synthetic ground motions are used to perform seismic response analysis of engineering structures. For such analysis, a PGA of 0.027 g is estimated for the Tail pond reservoir in south India for a target earthquake of M 6.5 at 50 km distance, while a PGA of 0.015 g is found for the Gorakhpur nuclear power plant in north India for similar magnitude and distance. The difference in the PGA estimates between the two is mostly attributed to regional difference in attenuation and site response. The findings of this study are expected to facilitate the seismic design of engineered structures, safe from seismic hazard, in regions where strong motion data are sparse.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrahamson NA, Litehiser JJ (1989) Attenuation of vertical peak acceleration. Bull Seismol Soc Am 79:549–580

    Google Scholar 

  • Antolik M, Dreger DS (2003) Rupture process of the 26 January 2001 Mw 7.6 Bhuj, India, earthquake from teleseismic broadband data. Bull Seismol Soc Am 93:1235–1248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson G, Boore D (1995) New ground motion relations for eastern north America. Bull Seismol Soc Am 85:17–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatia SC, Ravi Kumar M, Gupta HK (1999) A probabilistic hazard map of India and adjoining regions. Ann Geofis 42:1153–1164

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaser KLF, Ohrnberger M, Scherbaum F (2010) Scaling relations of earthquake source parameter estimates with special focus on subduction environment. Bull Seismol Soc Am 100(6):2914–2926

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boatwright J (1978) Detailed spectral analysis of two small New York State earthquakes. Bull Seismol Soc Am 68:1117–1131

    Google Scholar 

  • Boore DM (1983) Stochastic simulation of high frequency ground motion based on seismological models of radiated spectra. Bull Seismol Soc Am 73:1865–1894

    Google Scholar 

  • Boore DM, Atkinson CM (1987) Stochastic prediction of ground motion and spectral response parameters at hard rock sites in eastern North America. Bull Seismol Soc Am 77:440–467

    Google Scholar 

  • Boore DM, Joyner WB (1991) Estimation of ground motion at deep soil sites in eastern North America. Bull Seismol Soc Am 81:2167–2185

    Google Scholar 

  • Boore DM, Joyner WB (1997) Site amplifications for generic rock sites. Bull Seismol Soc Am 87:327–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Brune JN (1970) Tectonic stress and spectra of seismic shear waves from earthquakes. J Geophys Res 75:4997–5009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell KW (1985) Strong motion attenuation relations: a ten-year perspective. Earthquake Spectra 1:759–803

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher JB (1980) Spectra from high-dynamic range digital recordings of Oroville, California, aftershocks and their source parameters. Bull Seismol Soc Am 70:735–755

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia D, Singh SK, Herraiz M, Ordaz M, Pacheco JF (2005) Inslab earthquakes of Central Mexico: peak ground-motion parameters and response spectra. Bull Seismol Soc Am 95(6):2272–2282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta SC, Kumar A (2002) Seismic wave attenuation characteristics of three Indian regions: a comparative study. Curr Sci 82(4):407–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchings L, Ioannidou E, Foxall W, Voulgaris N, Savy J, Kalogeras I, Scognamiglio L, Stavrakakis G (2007) A physically based strong ground-motion prediction methodology; application to PSHA and the 1999 Mw = 6.0 Athens earthquake. Geophy J Int 168:659–680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irikura K (1986) Prediction of strong acceleration motions using empirical Green’s function. Proc 7th Japan Earthquake Engineering Symp 151–156

  • Irikura K, Kamae K (1994) Estimation of strong ground motion in broad frequency band based on a seismic source scaling model and an empirical Green’s function technique. Annali di GeoFisicaXXXVII 1721–1743

  • Irikura K, Kagawa T, Sekiguchi H (1997) Revision of the empirical Green’s function methods by Irikura (1986), Programme and Abstracts. Seismol Soc Jpn 1997(2):B25

    Google Scholar 

  • Irikura K, Muramatu I (1982) Synthesis of strong ground motion from large earthquake using observed seismograms of small events. Proceedings of the 3rd International Microzonation Conference, Seattle, pp. 447–458

  • Iyengar RN, Raghukanth STG (2004) Attenuation of strong ground motion in Peninsular India. Seismol Res Lett 75(4):530–540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi A (2001) Strong motion envelope modelling of the source of the Chamoli earthquake of March 28, 1999 in the Garhwal Himalaya, India. J Seismol 5(4):499–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi A, Kumar B, Sinvhal A, Sinvhal H (1999) Generation of synthetic accelerograms by modelling of rupture plane. ISET J Earthq Technol, paper 390 36(1):43–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshi A, Singh S, Giroti K (2001) The simulation of ground motions using envelope summations. Pure Appl Geophys 158:877–901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi A, Midorikawa S (2004) A simplified method for simulation of strong ground motion using finite rupture model of the earthquake source. J Seismol 8:467–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi A, Patel RC (1997) Modelling of active lineaments for predicting possible earthquake scenario around Dehradun, Garheal Himalaya, India. Tectonophysics 283:289–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joyner WB, Boore DM (1981) Peak horizontal acceleration and velocity from strong motion records including records from the 1979 Imperial Valley, California, earthquake. Bull Seismol Soc Am 71(6):2011–2038

    Google Scholar 

  • Kameda H, Sugito M (1978) Prediction of strong earthquake motions by evolutionary process model. Proceed 6th Japan Earthq Eng Symp: 41–48

  • Kumar D, Khattri KN, Teotia SS, Rai SS (1999) Modeling of accelerograms for two Himalayan earthquakes using a novel semi-empirical method and estimation of accelerogram for a hypothetical great earthquake in the Himalaya. Curr Sci 76:819–830

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar D, Teotia SS, Sriram V (2010) Modelling of strong ground motions from 1991 Uttarkashi, India, earthquake using a hybrid technique. Pure Appl Geophys 168(10):1621–1643

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malhotra PK (2001) Response spectrum of incompatible acceleration, velocity and displacement histories. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 30(2):279–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Midorikawa S (1993) Semi-empirical estimation of peak ground acceleration from large earthquakes. Tectonophysics 218:287–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyake H, Iwata T, Irikura K (1999) Strong ground motion simulation and source modeling of the Kagoshima-ken Hokuseibu earthquakes of March 26 (MJMA 6.5) and May 13 (MJMA 6.3), 1997 using empirical Green’s function method. J Seismol Soc Japan 51:431–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohammadioun B, Serva L (2001) Stress drop, slip type, earthquake magnitude, and seismic hazard. Bull Seismol Soc Am 91:694–707

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty WK, Prakash R, Suresh G, Shukla AK, Walling MY, Srivastava JP (2009) Estimation of coda wave attenuation for the national capital region, Delhi, India using local earthquakes. Pure Appl Geophys 166(3):429–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molnar P (1988) A review of geophysical constraints on the deep structure of the Tibetan plateau, the Himalaya, and the Karakorum, and their tectonic implications. Phil Trans R Soc Lond A 326:33–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motazedian D, Atkinson GM (2005) Stochastic finite fault modeling based on a dynamic corner frequency. Bull Seismol Soc Am 95:995–1010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nath SK, Thingbaijam KKS, Maiti SK, Nayak A (2012) Ground-motion predictions in Shillong region, Northeast India. J Seismol 16:475–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ni J, Barazangi M (1984) Seismo-tectonics of the Himalayan collision zone: geometry of the underthrusting Indian plate beneath the Himalaya. J Geophy Res 89:1147–1163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oldham RD (1899) Report of the great earthquake of 12th June, 1897. Mem.Geological Society of India, 1–379

  • Ordaz M, Singh SK (1992) Source spectra and spatial attenuation of seismic waves from Mexican earthquakes, and evidence of amplification in the hill zone of Mexico City. Bull Seismol Soc Am 82:24–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Padhy S (2009) Inversion of seismogram envelopes using a multiple isotropic scattering model in Garhwal Himalaya. Bull Seismol Soc Am 99:726–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padhy S, Subhadra N (2010) Frequency dependant attenuation of P- and S waves in the Northeast India. Geophys J Int 183:1052–1060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padhy S, Subhadra N (2016) Spectral scaling and seismic efficiency for earthquakes in Northeast India. Bull Seismol Soc Am 106(4):1613–1627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parvez IA, Gusev AA, Giuliano FP, Petukhin AG (2001) Preliminary determination of the interdependence among strong-motion amplitude, earthquake magnitude and hypocentral distance for the Himalayan region. Geophys J Int 144:577–596

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peishan C, Haitong C (1989) Scaling law and its applications to earthquake statistical relations. Tectonophysics 166:53–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poddar MC (1950) The Assam earthquake of 15th August 1950. Indian Minerals 4:167–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Raghu Kanth STG, Sreelatha S, Dash SK (2008) Ground motion estimation at Guwahati city for an Mw 8.1 earthquake in the Shillong plateau. Tectonophysics 448:98–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raghu Kanth STG, Dash SK (2010) Deterministic seismic scenarios for Northeast India. J Seismol 14:143–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richter CF (1958) Elementary seismology. W.H. Freeman and Co, San Francisco, USA, p 768

    Google Scholar 

  • Satyabala SP (1998) Subduction in the Indo-Burman region: is it still active? Geophys Res Let 25:3189–3192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seeber L, Ambruster JG, Quittmeyer RC (1981) Seismicity and continental subduction in the Himalayan arc. In, Zagros, Hindu-Kush, Himalaya Geodynamic Evolution, (eds.) Gupta, HK, Delany FM, Geodynamic Series (AGU, Washington), 3: 215–242

  • Sharma ML (1998) Attenuation relationship for estimation of peak ground horizontal acceleration using data from strong-motion arrays in India. Bull Seismol Soc Am 88:1063–1069

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RP, Aman A, Prasad YJJ (1996) Attenuation relations for strong seismic ground motion in the Himalayan region. Pure Appl Geophys 147:161–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh SK, Mohanty W, Bansal BK, Roonwal (2002) Ground motion in Delhi form future large/great earthquakes in the central seismic gaps of the Himalayan arc. Bull Seismol Soc Am 92:555–569

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh C, Basha SK, Shekar M, Chadha RK (2012) Spatial variation of coda wave attenuation in the southern Indian shield and its implications. Geol Acta 10:309–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Subhadra N, Padhy S, Seshunarayana T, Vijayaraghavan R (2008) Synthesis of expected ground motion using semi-empirical Green’s function approach and its comparison with observed accelerations in Garhwal Himalaya. Indian Minerals 61(3–4):201–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Subhadra N, Padhy S, Prasad PP, Seshunarayana T (2015) Site-specific ground motion simulation and seismic response analysis for micro-zonation of Nanded City, India. Nat Hazards 78:915–938

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutar AK, Verma M, Pandey AP, Bansal BK, Prasad PR, Rao PR, Sharma B (2017) Assessment of maximum earthquake potential of the Kopili fault zone in Northeast India and strong ground motion simulation. J Asian Earth Sci 147:439–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toro GR, Mcguire RK (1987) An investigation into earthquake ground motion characteristics in eastern north America. Bull Seismol Soc Am 77:468–489

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Huang RX (2004) Wind energy input to the Ekman layer 1268. J Phys Oceanography 34:1267–1275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells DL, Coppersmith KJ (1994) New empirical relationships among magnitude, rupture length, rupture width, rupture area, and surface displacement. Bull Seismol Soc Am 84(4):974–1002

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu G (1994) Some aspects of earthquake seismology: slip partitioning along major convergent plate boundaries, composite source model for estimation of strong motion and nonlinear soil response modelling, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Nevada, Reno

  • Yu G, Khattri KN, Anderson JG, Brune JN, Zeng Y (1995) Strong ground motion from the Uttarkashi earthquake, Himalaya, India earthquake: comparison of observation with synthetics using the composite source model. Bull Seismol Soc Am 85:31–50

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank Prof. Abdullah M. Al-Amri, Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Narasimman Sundararajan, Associate Editor, and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive review comments that improved the quality of the paper. We acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for the financial support. Subhadra Nampally acknowledges CSIR for providing the Research Associate Fellowship to conduct this work at CSIR-NGRI. Padhy thanks Prof. A. Joshi for valuable discussions on the subject. We thank the Director, CSIR-NGRI, for his kind permission to publish this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007, India

    Subhadra Nampally, Simanchal Padhy, Davulura Srinagesh & Tangirala Seshunarayana

Authors
  1. Subhadra Nampally
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Simanchal Padhy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Davulura Srinagesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tangirala Seshunarayana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simanchal Padhy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nampally, S., Padhy, S., Srinagesh, D. et al. Evaluation of ground motion and site-specific response spectrum for different parts of India by the method of semi-empirical Green’s function. Arab J Geosci 11, 255 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3600-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3600-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation