Site-Dependent Effects at Strong-Motion Accelerograph Stations

摘要

This study consists of an assessment of a six-step procedure that comprises site-dependent and site-independent methods for developing seismic input criteria at sites of nuclear plants and other major structures. The assessment was based on an application of the procedure at three accelerograph sites in California; Fernadale, El Centro, and Taft, where strong earthquake motions have been recorded and where subsurface soil properties have been measured by the SW-AA joint venture. At each of these sites, reference earthquake events were identified which correspond to magnitudes and distances identical to those for which strong ground motions had been recorded. The various site-dependent and site-independent techniques were then used to predict ground motions corresponding to these events. Comparisons between the recorded and predicted earthquake motions served as a basis for assessing the adequacy of the procedure. These comparisons showed that the six-step procedure provided reasonable estimates of the recorded motions, although no single site-dependent or site-independent method comprised by the procedure was superior in all cases.