CaltechTHESIS
  A Caltech Library Service

Investigation of Earthquake and Microtremor Ground Motions

Citation

Udwadia, Firdaus Erach (1972) Investigation of Earthquake and Microtremor Ground Motions. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/4cv1-wy73. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechThesis:08262021-203716987

Abstract

The nature of strong earthquake ground shaking has been investigated based on a study of 15 accelerograms recorded at El Centro in southern California. It is concluded that the characteristics of the source mechanism and the transmission path play a dominant role in determining the details of strong ground shaking at the site. No local site periodicities could be clearly identified, which suggests that source and transmission path effects overshadow the influence of local site conditions.

The method of using microtremor measurements to determine local site characteristics has been tested by direct comparison with strong motion measurements. Microtremor ground motions were recorded at five sites in the El Centro area and measurements were repeated at three of these sites after a period of 24 hours. These low amplitude ground motions have been found to be widely different from the motions caused by strong earthquake ground shaking. Their nonstationary nature over a period of a day or so makes the interpretation of such data from a single microtremor measurement very unreliable. It has been concluded that these microtremor ground motions are forced oscillations of the ground caused by nearby sources of excitation. The microtremor acceleration spectra do not indicate prominent peaks that could be correlated with local site conditions. At this site the use of microtremor measurements to define local subsoil conditions would evidently not be feasible.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:(Civil Engineering)
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Civil Engineering
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Hudson, Donald E.
Group:Earthquake Engineering Research Laboratory
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:24 May 1972
Other Numbering System:
Other Numbering System NameOther Numbering System ID
EERL Report72-02
Record Number:CaltechThesis:08262021-203716987
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechThesis:08262021-203716987
DOI:10.7907/4cv1-wy73
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechEERL:1972.EERL-72-02Related ItemTechnical Report EERL 72-02 in CaltechAUTHORS
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:14343
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Kathy Johnson
Deposited On:26 Aug 2021 20:41
Last Modified:26 Aug 2021 20:47

Thesis Files

[img] PDF - Final Version
See Usage Policy.

9MB

Repository Staff Only: item control page