Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Site effects by generalized inversion technique using strong motion recordings of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

  • Special Section: Lessons Learned from the Wenchuan Earthquake
  • Published:
Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The generalized inversion of S-wave amplitude spectra from the free-field strong motion recordings of the China National Strong Motion Observation Network System (NSMONS) are used to evaluate the site effects in the Wenchuan area. In this regard, a total of 602 recordings from 96 aftershocks of the Wenchuan earthquake with magnitudes of M3.7-M6.5 were selected as a dataset. These recordings were obtained from 28 stations at a hypocenter distance ranging from 30 km to 150 km. The inversion results have been verified as reliable by comparing the site response at station 62WUD using the Generalized Inversion Technique (GIT) and the Standard Spectral Ratio method (SSR). For all 28 stations, the site predominant frequency F p and the average site amplification in different frequency bands of 1.0–5.0 Hz, 5.0–10.0 Hz and 1.0–10.0 Hz have been calculated based on the inversion results. Compared with the results from the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) method, it shows that the HVSR method can reasonably estimate the site predominant frequency but underestimates the site amplification. The linear fitting between the average site amplification for each frequency band and the V s20 (the average uppermost-20 m shear wave velocity) shows good correlation. A distance measurement called the asperity distance D Aspt is proposed to reasonably characterize the source-to-site distance for large earthquakes. Finally, the inversed site response is used to identify the soil nonlinearity in the main shock and aftershocks of Wenchuan earthquake. In ten of the 28 stations analyzed in the main shock, the soil behaved nonlinearly, where the ground motion level is apparently beyond a threshold of PGA > 300 cm/s2 or PGV > 20 cm/s, and only one station coded 51SFB has evidence of soil nonlinear behavior in the aftershocks.

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

  • Andrews DJ (1986), “Objective Determination of Source Parameters and Similarity of Earthquakes of Different Size,” Geophysical Monographs Series, 37: 259–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beresnev IA, Atkinson GM, Johnson PA and Field EH (1998), “Stochastic Finite-fault Modeling of Ground Motions from the 1994 Northridge, California, Earthquake. II. Widespread Nonlinear Response at Soil Sites,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 88(6): 1402–1410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beresnev IA and Wen KL (1996), “Nonlinear Soil Response-a Reality,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 86(6): 1964–1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bo JS, Qi WH, Liu HS, Liu B, Liu DD and Sun YW (2009), “Abnormality of Seismic Intensity in Hanyuan during Wenchuan Earthquake,” Journal of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 29(6): 53–63. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boatwright J, Fletcher JB and Fumal TE (1991), “A General Inversion Scheme for Source, Site, and Propagation Characteristics Using Multiply Recorded Sets of Moderate-sized Earthquakes,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 81(5): 1754–1782.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boore DM (2001), “Effect of Baseline Corrections on Displacements and Response Spectra for Several Recordings of the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 91(5): 1199–1211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boore DM and Joyner WB (1997), “Site Amplifications for Generic Rock Sites,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 87(2): 327–341.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borcherdt RD (1970), “Effects of Local Geology on Ground Motion Near San Francisco Bay,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 60(1): 29–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brune JN (1970), “Tectonic Stress and the Spectra of Seismic Shear Waves from Earthquakes,” Journal of Geophysical Research, 75(26): 4997–5009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brune JN (1971), “Correction (to Brune, 1970),” Journal of Geophysical Research, 76(20): 5002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castro RR, Pacor F, Bindi D, Franceschina G and Luzi L (2004), “Site Response of Strong Motion Stations in the Umbria, Central Italy, Region,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 94(2): 576–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drouet S, Chevrot S, Cotton F and Souriau A (2008), “Simultaneous Inversion of Source Spectra, Attenuation Parameters, and Site Responses: Application to the Data of the French Accelerometric Network,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 98(1): 198–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dutta U, Biswas N, Martirosyan A, Papageorgiou A and Kinoshita S (2003), “Estimation of Earthquake Source Parameters and Site Response in Anchorage, Alaska from Strong-motion Network Data Using Generalized Inversion Method,” Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 137(1–4): 13–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dutta U, Martirosyan A, Biswas N, Papageorgiou A and Combellick R (2001), “Estimation of S-wave Site Response in Anchorage, Alaska, from Weak-motion Data Using Generalized Inversion Method,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 91(2): 335–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field EH and Jacob KH (1995), “A Comparison and Test of Various Site-response Estimation Techniques, Including Three That Are Not Reference-site Dependent,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 85(4): 1127–1143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Field EH, Johnson PA, Beresnev IA and Zeng YH (1997), “Nonlinear Ground-motion Amplification by Sediments during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake,” Nature, 390: 599–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field EH, Zeng YH, Johnson PA and Beresnev IA (1998), “Nonlinear Sediment Response during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake: Observations and Finite Source Simulations,” Journal of Geophysical Research, 103(B11): 26869–26883.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher JB and Boatwright J (1991), “Source Parameters of Loma Prieta Aftershocks and Wave Propagation Characteristics along the San Francisco Peninsula from a Joint Inversion of Digital Seismograms,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 81(5): 1783–1812.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francisco JCG, Rodriguez M, Field EH and Hatzfeld D (1997), “Topographic Site Effects. A Comparison of Two Nonreference Methods,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 87(6): 1667–1673.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harmsen SC (1997), “Bulletin of Determination of Site Amplification in the Los Angeles Urban Area from Inversion of Strong-motion Records,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 87(4): 866–887.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartzell S (1992), “Site Response Estimation from Earthquake Data,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 82(6): 2308–2327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartzell S (1998), “Variability in Nonlinear Sediment Response during the 1994 Northridge, California, Earthquake,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 88(6): 1426–1437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasemi A, Matsuzawa T, Hasegawa A, Umino N, Kono T, Hori S, Ito A, Suzuki S and Ishikawa H (1997), “Q and Site Amplification Factors of Hard-rock Region in the Kitakami Massif, Northeastern Japan,” Journal of Physics of the Earth, 45(6): 417–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hassani HZ, Farjoodi J and Ansari A (2011), “Estimation of Site Amplification, Attenuation and Source Spectra of S-waves in the East-Central Iran,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 31(10): 1397–1413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoshiba M (2003), “Fluctuation of Wave Amplitude Even When Assuming Convolution of Source, Path and Site Factors-Effect of Rupture Directivity,” Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 137(1-4): 45–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Husid P (1967), “Gravity Effects on the Earthquake Response of Yielding Structures,” PhD. thesis, California Institute of Technology, 1–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inoue T and Miyatake T (1998), “3D Simulation of Near-field Strong Ground Motion Based on Dynamic Modeling,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 88(6): 1445–1456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwata T and Irikura K (1986), “Separation of Source, Propagation and Site Effects from Observed S-wave,” Zisin (Journal of the Seismological Society of Japan), 39: 579–593. (in Japanese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwata T and Irikura K (1988), “Source Parameters of the 1983 Earthquake Sequence,” Journal of Physics of the Earth, 36(4): 155–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kato K, Takemura M, Ikeura T, Urao K, and Uetake T (1992), “Preliminary Analysis for Evaluation of Local Site Effect from Strong Motion Spectra by an Inversion Method,” Journal of Physics of the Earth, 40(1): 175–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawson CL and Hanson RJ (1974), Solving Least Squares Problem, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, 1–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li XJ (2009), Uncorrected Acceleration Records from Fixed Observation for Wenchuan Ms8.0 Aftershocks, Beijing: Seismological Publishing House, 1–600. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li XJ, Zhou ZH, Yu HY, Wen RZ, Lu DW, Huang M, Zhou YN and Cu JW (2008), “Strong Motion Observations and Recordings from The Great Wenchuan Earthquake,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 7(3): 235–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsunami K, Zhang WB, Irikura K and Xie LL (2003), “Estimation of Seismic Site Response in the Tangshan Area, China, Using Deep Underground Records,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 93(3): 1065–1078.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCann MWJ and Shah HC (1979), “Determining Strong Motion Duration of Earthquakes,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 69(4): 1253–1265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moya A, Aguirre J and Irikura K (2000), “Inversion of Source Parameters and Site Effects from Strong Ground Motion Records Using Genetic Algorithms,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 90(4): 977–992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moya A and Irikura K (2003), “Estimation of Site Effects and Q Factor Using a Reference Event,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 93(4): 1730–1745.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parolai S, Bindi D, Baumbach M, Grosser H, Mikereit C, Karakisa S and Zunbul S (2004), “Comparison of Different Site Response Estimation Techniques Using Aftershocks of the 1999 Izmit Earthquake,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 94(3): 1096–1108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roumelioti Z and Beresnev IA (2003), “Stochastic Finite-fault Modeling of Ground Motions from the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan, Earthquake: Application to Rock and Soil Sites with Implications for Nonlinear Site Response,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 93(4): 1691–1702.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salazar W, Sardina V and Cortina JDA (2007), “Hybrid Inversion Technique for the Evaluation of Source, Path, and Site Effects Employing S-wave Spectra for Subduction and Upper-crustal Earthquakes in El Salvador,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 97(1B): 208–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seed HB, Romo MP, Sun JI, Jaime A and Lysmer J (1988), “The Mexico Earthquake of September 19, 1985-Relationships between Soil Conditions and Earthquake Ground Motions,” Earthquake Spectra, 4(4): 687–729.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shoji Y and Kamiyama M (2002), “Estimation of Local Site Effects by a Generalized Inversion Scheme Using Observed Records of ‘Small-Titan’,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 22(9–12): 855–864.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somerville PG, Irikura K, Graves RW, Wald D, Abrahamson NA, Iwasaki Y, Kagawa T, Smith N and Kowada A (1999), “Characterizing Crustal Earthquake Slip Models for the Prediction of Strong Ground Motion,” Seismological Research Letters, 70(1): 59–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steidl JH, Tumarkin AG and Archuleta RJ (1996), “What is a Reference Site?” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 86(6): 1733–1748.

    Google Scholar 

  • Somerville PG, Smith NF, Graves RW and Abrahamson NA (1997), “Modification of Empirical Strong Ground Motion Attenuation Relations to Include the Amplitude and Duration Effects of Rupture Directivity,” Seismological Research Letters, 68(1): 199–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su F, Anderson JG. and Zeng YH (1998), “Study of Weak and Strong Ground Motion Including Nonlinearity from the Northridge, California, Earthquake Sequence,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 88(6): 1411–1425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takemura M, Kato K, Ikeura T and Shima E (1991), “Site Amplification of S-waves from Strong Motion Records in Special Relation to Surface Geology,” Journal of Physics of the Earth, 39(3): 537–552.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuda K, Koketsu K, Hisada Y and Hayakawa T (2010), “Inversion Analysis of Site Responses in the Kanto Basin Using Data from a Dense Strong Motion Seismograph Array,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 100(3): 1276–1287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang D and Xie LL (2010), “Study on Response Spectral Acceleration from the Great Wenchuan, China Earthquake of May 12, 2008,” Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 14(6): 934–952.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen RZ, Ren YF and Shi DC (2011), “Improved HVSR Site Classification Method for Free-field Strong Motion Stations Validated with Wenchuan Aftershock Recordings,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 10(3): 325–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen RZ, Ren YF, Zhou ZH and Shi DC (2010a), “Preliminary Site Classification of Free-field Strong Motion Stations Based on Wenchuan Earthquake Records,” Earthquake Science, 23(1):101–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wen ZP, Xie JJ, Gao MT, Hu YX and Chau KT (2010b), “Near-source Strong Ground Motion Characteristics of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake,” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 100(5B): 2425–2439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamanaka H, Nakamura A, Kurita K and Seo K (1998), “Evaluation of Site Effects by an Inversion of S-wave Spectra with a Constraint Condition Considering Effects of Shallow Weathered Layers,” Zisin (Journal of the Seismological Society of Japan), 51: 193–202. (in Japanese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamanaka H, Ohtawara K, Grutas R, Tiglao RB, Lasala M, Narag IC and Bautista BC (2011), “Estimation of Site Amplification and S-wave Velocity Profiles in Metropolitan Manila, the Philippines, from Earthquake Ground Motion Records,” Exploration Geophysics, 42(1): 69–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshimoto K, Sato H, Kinoshita S and Ohtake M (1993), “High-frequency Site Effect of Hard Rocks at Ashio, Central Japan,” Journal of Physics of the Earth, 41(5): 327–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, Institute of Engineering Mechanics, China Earthquake Administration, Harbin, 150080, China

    Yefei Ren & Ruizhi Wen

  2. Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 226-8502, Japan

    Hiroaki Yamanaka

  3. Building Research Institute, Tsukuba, 305-0802, Japan

    Toshihide Kashima

  4. Institute of Engineering Mechanics, China Earthquake Administration, Harbin, 150080, China

    Ruizhi Wen

Authors
  1. Yefei Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ruizhi Wen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hiroaki Yamanaka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Toshihide Kashima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruizhi Wen.

Additional information

Supported by: Nonprofit Industry Research Project of CEA under Grant No. 201208014; National Natural Science Fund No. 51278473; Environmental Protection Research Fund for Public Interest No. 201209040

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ren, Y., Wen, R., Yamanaka, H. et al. Site effects by generalized inversion technique using strong motion recordings of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Earthq. Eng. Eng. Vib. 12, 165–184 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-013-0160-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-013-0160-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation