Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of site conditions on ground motion at far field loess sites during strong earthquake

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Loess is widely distributed in China and the Loess Plateau is one of the major areas where strong earthquakes often take place. The seismic amplification effects were discovered in the Plateau during the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake and some other strong events. Based on earth tremor observation, borehole exploration and site seismic response analysis, the site effects of topography of Loess Yuan on ground motion were investigated in details. The earth tremor investigation shows that predominant frequencies at the bottom sites of Loess Yuan are greater than those at the top obviously. The sites seismic response analysis shows that the Loess Yuan may amplify peak ground acceleration (PGA) by 1.44–2.0 times. Therefore, site effects of mountains and loess topography on ground motion should be taken account into in seismic design in loess regions.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. YIN Yao-ping, PAN Gui-tang, LIU Yu-ping. Great Wenchuan earthquake: Seism ogeology and lands lide hazards [M]. Beijing: Geological Press, 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  2. CUI Peng, WEI Fang-qiang, HE Si-ming, YOU Yong, CHEN Xiao-qing, LI Zhan-lu, DANG Chao, YANG Cheng-lin. Mountain disasters induced by th earthquake of May 12 in Wenchuan and the disasters mitigation [J]. Journal of Mountain Scince, 2008, 27(3): 280–282.

    Google Scholar 

  3. HUANG R Q, LI W L. Development and distribution of geohazards triggered by 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake in China [J]. Science in China (Series E)-Technological Sciences, 2009, 52(4): 810–819.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. WU Zhi-jian, CHE Ai-lan, WANG Lan-min, CHEN Long-zhu, XIAO Ai-guo. Application of microtremor observation on disaster investigation of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake for building structures in the quake-hit areas of Gansu Province [J]. Northwestern Seismological Journal, 2009, 31(4): 86–90.

    Google Scholar 

  5. YAO Wen-bo, LIU Wen-zhao, HOU Yong-jian. Investigation and analysis of collapses and landslides on the Loess Plateau of East Gansu Province after the 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake [J]. Acta Ecological Sinica, 2008, 28(12): 5917–5926.

    Google Scholar 

  6. SHI Yu-cheng, LU Yu-xia. The damage features of Wenchuan 8.0 Earthquake in Gansu disaster area and countermeasures of reconstruction [J]. Northwestern Seismological Journal, 2008, 31(1): 1–7.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. WANG Lan-min, WU Zhi-jian. Influence of site condition on seismic amplification effects during the Wenchuan earthquake [J]. Journal of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering, 2010, 32(Supp2): 175–178.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  8. PENG Yuan-qian, LU Zheng, LI Xue-ying, GAO Deng-ping. The application for the pulsant predominant period of the subsoil in engineering seismics [J]. North China Earthquake Sciences, 2000, 18(4): 61–68.

    Google Scholar 

  9. CHE Ai-lan, IWATATE T, GE Xiu-run. Dynamic behaviors of subway structure subjected to strong earthquake motions using shaking table tests and dynamic analyses [J]. Rock and Soil Mechanics, 2006, 27(8): 1293–1298.

    Google Scholar 

  10. MEI Guo-xiong, CHEN Qi-ming, SONG Lin-hui. A model for predicting displacement-dependent lateral earth pressure [J]. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2009, 46(8): 969–975.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. MEI Guo-xiong, CHEN Qi-ming, JIANG Peng-ming. Study on stress-strain relationship of unsaturated cohesive soil [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2010, 17(6): 653–657.

    Google Scholar 

  12. WANG Zhao-yu, MEI Guo-xiong. Numerical analysis of seismic performance of embankment supported by micropiles [J]. Marine Geotechnology and Georesources, 2012 (1): 52–62.

    Google Scholar 

  13. LUO Ya-sheng, XIE Ding-yi, LI Yong-hong. Research and explore on undisturbed loess dynamic triaxial test [J]. Collapsible loess research and engineering, Beijing: China Building Industry Press, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  14. WANG Jun, WANG Qiang, WANG Jie-min. Experimental study on the dynamic characteristics of post-earthquake loess [J]. Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, 2010, 37(4): 63–67.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lanzhou Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Zhi-jian Wu  (吴志坚), Lan-min Wang  (王兰民), Ping Wang  (王平), Hang Shi  (石航) & Xiao-peng Yang  (杨晓鹏)

  2. Key Laboratory of Loess Earthquake Engineering, China Earthquake Administration, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Zhi-jian Wu  (吴志坚), Lan-min Wang  (王兰民), Ping Wang  (王平) & Hang Shi  (石航)

  3. Geotechnical Disaster Prevention Engineering Technology Research Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Zhi-jian Wu  (吴志坚), Lan-min Wang  (王兰民), Ping Wang  (王平) & Hang Shi  (石航)

  4. State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering (Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Tuo Chen  (陈拓)

Authors
  1. Zhi-jian Wu  (吴志坚)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lan-min Wang  (王兰民)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ping Wang  (王平)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tuo Chen  (陈拓)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hang Shi  (石航)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xiao-peng Yang  (杨晓鹏)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhi-jian Wu  (吴志坚).

Additional information

Foundation item: Projects(40902094,50978239) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Project(2012IESLZ01) supported by the Fund of the Institute of Earthquake Prediction, CEA, China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wu, Zj., Wang, Lm., Wang, P. et al. Influence of site conditions on ground motion at far field loess sites during strong earthquake. J. Cent. South Univ. 20, 2333–2341 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1741-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-013-1741-2

Key words

Search

Navigation