HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (10) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hartzell, S. Articles by Williams, R. A. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Prediction of Nonlinear Soil Effects

U.S. Geological Survey
Denver Federal Center
Box 25046 MS 966
Denver, Colorado 80225
(S.H., R.A.W.)
Institute de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire
IRSN/DEI/SARG/BERSSIN
BP 17-92262 Fontenay-aux-Roses
Cedex, France
(L.F.B.)

Manuscript received 18 June 2004.

Mathematical models of soil nonlinearity in common use and recently developed nonlinear codes are compared to investigate the range of their predictions. We consider equivalent linear formulations with and without frequency-dependent moduli and damping ratios and nonlinear formulations for total and effective stress. Average velocity profiles to 150 m depth with midrange National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program site classifications (B, BC, C, D, and E) in the top 30 m are used to compare the response of a wide range of site conditions from rock to soft soil. Nonlinear soil models are compared using the amplification spectrum, calculated as the ratio of surface ground motion to the input motion at the base of the velocity profile. Peak input motions from 0.1g to 0.9g are considered. For site class B, no significant differences exist between the models considered in this article. For site classes BC and C, differences are small at low input motions (0.1g to 0.2g), but become significant at higher input levels. For site classes D and E the overdamping of frequencies above about 4 Hz by the equivalent linear solution with frequency-independent parameters is apparent for the entire range of input motions considered. The equivalent linear formulation with frequency-dependent moduli and damping ratios under damps relative to the nonlinear models considered for site class C with larger input motions and most input levels for site classes D and E. At larger input motions the underdamping for site classes D and E is not as severe as the overdamping with the frequency-independent formulation, but there are still significant differences in the time domain. A nonlinear formulation is recommended for site classes D and E and for site classes BC and C with input motions greater than a few tenths of the acceleration of gravity. The type of nonlinear formulation to use is driven by considerations of the importance of water content and the availability of laboratory soils data. Our average amplification curves from a nonlinear effective stress formulation compare favorably with observed spectral amplification at class D and E sites in the Seattle area for the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. H. Cramer Quantifying the Uncertainty in Site Amplification Modeling and Its Effects on Site-Specific Seismic-Hazard Estimation in the Upper Mississippi Embayment and Adjacent Areas Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2006; 96(6): 2008 - 2020. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Liu, R. J. Archuleta, and S. H. Hartzell Prediction of Broadband Ground-Motion Time Histories: Hybrid Low/High- Frequency Method with Correlated Random Source Parameters Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2006; 96(6): 2118 - 2130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Chapman, J. R. Martin, C. G. Olgun, and J. N. Beale Site-Response Models for Charleston, South Carolina, and Vicinity Developed from Shallow Geotechnical Investigations Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 2006; 96(2): 467 - 489. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. F. Bonilla, R. J. Archuleta, and D. Lavallee Hysteretic and Dilatant Behavior of Cohesionless Soils and Their Effects on Nonlinear Site Response: Field Data Observations and Modeling Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2005; 95(6): 2373 - 2395. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Hartzell, M. Guatteri, P. M. Mai, P.-C. Liu, and M. Fisk Calculation of Broadband Time Histories of Ground Motion, Part II: Kinematic and Dynamic Modeling Using Theoretical Green's Functions and Comparison with the 1994 Northridge Earthquake Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 2005; 95(2): 614 - 645. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]