Engineers require accurate estimates of strong ground motion in order to design structures to resist earthquake loads and reduce loss of life and property from damaging earthquakes. In addition, engineers need recordings of structural response to validate their design methodologies. In order to improve seismic hazard assessments, we need to advance our understanding of the physical processes that govern ground shaking and impacts, from the earthquake source that generates the ground shaking, along the path within the earth that distorts the motions, the surface effects of linear and non-linear attenuation and amplification of the waves, and secondary effects of landslides and liquefaction, to the end effect on the built environment.
The spatial and temporal evolution of slip during earthquake rupture controls the character of seismic waves as they radiate from the fault. As the waves propagate they are affected by the earth structure, such as changes in elastic properties resulting in effects such as constructive and destructive interference and basin amplification. Near the ground surface, strong shaking can result in nonlinear soil behavior or raise pore fluid pressure causing liquefaction and ground failure. Likewise, the geometry of a man-made structure, the construction materials, the type of ground, and its anchorage in the ground affect its vulnerability to damage during the shaking.
This project aims to understand each of these processes, as it applies to Northern California, the U.S. and worldwide, and to work with the seismic engineering community to bring the best estimates of strong ground shaking to engineering practice. The project focuses on quantifying how various physical processes affect strong ground motion and its impact on the built environment. Refining models of the rupture dynamics and wave propagation for particular tectonic and stress environments is a critical element of this work. Emphasis is also placed on developing a consistent model or set of models to predict strong ground motion, landslides, liquefaction, and damage caused by these earthquakes.
All of the tasks within the Shaking, Damage, and Failure project provide results that describe how the earth works throughout California, the greater U.S. and worldwide, whether it is understanding the genesis of strong-ground motion, modeling velocities at both deep and shallow depths that affect ground motions, considering surface effects of liquefaction and subduction zone generated landslides, or analyzing building response, all to be better prepared for the next earthquake.
Engineers require accurate estimates of strong ground motion in order to design structures to resist earthquake loads and reduce loss of life and property from damaging earthquakes. In addition, engineers need recordings of structural response to validate their design methodologies. In order to improve seismic hazard assessments, we need to advance our understanding of the physical processes that govern ground shaking and impacts, from the earthquake source that generates the ground shaking, along the path within the earth that distorts the motions, the surface effects of linear and non-linear attenuation and amplification of the waves, and secondary effects of landslides and liquefaction, to the end effect on the built environment.
The spatial and temporal evolution of slip during earthquake rupture controls the character of seismic waves as they radiate from the fault. As the waves propagate they are affected by the earth structure, such as changes in elastic properties resulting in effects such as constructive and destructive interference and basin amplification. Near the ground surface, strong shaking can result in nonlinear soil behavior or raise pore fluid pressure causing liquefaction and ground failure. Likewise, the geometry of a man-made structure, the construction materials, the type of ground, and its anchorage in the ground affect its vulnerability to damage during the shaking.
This project aims to understand each of these processes, as it applies to Northern California, the U.S. and worldwide, and to work with the seismic engineering community to bring the best estimates of strong ground shaking to engineering practice. The project focuses on quantifying how various physical processes affect strong ground motion and its impact on the built environment. Refining models of the rupture dynamics and wave propagation for particular tectonic and stress environments is a critical element of this work. Emphasis is also placed on developing a consistent model or set of models to predict strong ground motion, landslides, liquefaction, and damage caused by these earthquakes.
All of the tasks within the Shaking, Damage, and Failure project provide results that describe how the earth works throughout California, the greater U.S. and worldwide, whether it is understanding the genesis of strong-ground motion, modeling velocities at both deep and shallow depths that affect ground motions, considering surface effects of liquefaction and subduction zone generated landslides, or analyzing building response, all to be better prepared for the next earthquake.