Characterization of Site Amplification by a Parametric Study

ABSTRACT

The reliability of V_s30 and the performance of alternative time averaged shear wave velocities (V_sz) and shear wave travel times (T_tz) at various depths, z, were investigated for the estimation of site amplification and fundamental frequency (f₀) characterization by considering the linear and nonlinear soil behavior. The study revealed that alternative parameters performed better than V_s30 and the best performing z parameters changed by switching from convex to concave theoretical profiles and by increasing ground motions. For a practical usage in site investigations, guidelines to estimate nonlinear soil amplification factor and fundamental frequency from the linear ones were presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Site amplification
• fundamental soil frequency
• nonlinear soil behavior
• time averaged shear wave velocity
• shear wave travel time
• impedance ratio

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability Statement

All constructed soil profiles, soil models, V_sz and T_tz parameters used and generated during this study and the correlations of these parameters appear in the submitted article. All the data related to the evaluation method of soil characterization can be reached from the corresponding author upon request.