Publication Date:
2004
Description:
A better real-time assessment of earthquake effects (i.e. seismic intensity
estimation) is crucial for hazard mitigation. Especially during the aftermath of a
disastrous event, significant reduction of loss can usually be realized through timely
execution of emergency response measures. These effects include strong-ground shaking,
ground failure, and their impact on man-made structures. The descriptive Modified
Mercalli intensity scale, though still in common use in many poorly instrumented areas
of the world, is out of date in areas of extensive strong-motion instrumentation. It is
desirable to place the earthquake intensity scale on a more quantitative basis based on
the actual recorded ground-motion shaking and carefully compiled damage records. In this
paper, we investigated the relationships between earthquake loss, intensity and strong
motion peak values, mainly based on the Chi-Chi earthquake. Both the strong-motion peak
values and the earthquake loss are related. From the results, we found that peak ground
acceleration (Peak ground acceleration) and peak acceleration response spectra at 1 s
period (1 s Sa) values are two parameters that give slightly higher correlation
coefficients than other parameters for earthquake loss analysis. For intensity
estimations, the peak ground velocity (Peak ground velocity) values and 1 s Sa values
are better parameters in the high range and Peak ground acceleration is not stable for
smaller earthquakes. Although Peak ground velocity values give a slightly lower
correlation coefficient and larger standard deviation in seismic loss analysis during
the Chi-Chi earthquake, it nevertheless gives more reliable instrumental intensity over
a broad magnitude range. 1 s Sa is a good parameter for both seismic losses and
intensity evaluation. We thus conclude that Peak ground velocity and 1 s Sa are
relatively more stable in damage assessment and, at least in the high end, in intensity
estimation. We shall incorporate these findings in our real-time earthquake rapid
reporting and early warning systems.
Keywords:
Earthquake hazard
;
Strong motions
;
Peak ground acceleration
;
Earthquake
;
China
;
Earthquake risk
;
Earthquake engineering, engineering seismology
;
seismic
;
hazard
;
mitigation
;
seismic
;
damage
;
assessment,
;
peak
;
ground
;
motion,
;
earthquake
;
rapid
;
reporting
;
system
;
NATHAZ
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