Empirical Models for Site- and Region-Dependent Ground-Motion Parameters in the Taipei Area: A Unified Approach

Abstract

We calculated peak ground accelerations and response spectra for the Taipei area using stochastic simulation technique on the basis of recently obtained empirical models. The source, path and site effects were characterized separately on the basis of the analysis of a large collection of ground-motion recordings obtained since 1991 in the Taiwan area. The simple ω-squared Brune's point-source model combined with regional anelastic attenuation (Q) and duration (τ_0.9) models provide a satisfactory estimation of ground-motion parameters for rock sites. Effects of local site response are considered by means of empirical soil/bedrock spectral ratios calculated as ratios between spectra of actual earthquake records and those modeled for hypothetical “hard rock” site. The results of the simulation demonstrate that this combination of source, path and site response models provides an accurate prediction of “site- and region-dependent” ground-motion parameters for the Taipei basin for the broad range of earthquake magnitudes, distances and site conditions. The model, with a set of generic soil profiles, can be considered as an efficient tool for estimating of design input ground motion parameters in the Taipei basin both in deterministic (scenario earthquakes) and probabilistic (“site- and region-dependent” Uniform Hazard response spectra) seismic hazard assessment.