Evaluation of site response characteristic using nonlinear method (Case study: Babol, Iran)

Abstract

In this the present study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the seismic hazard considering local site effects by carrying out detailed geotechnical site characterization in Babol, Iran. Use of geotechnical data and synthesis of drilling data extracted from the Babol’s subsurface database have enabled authors to determine the geotechnical properties of each site. These data are consisted of twenty five boreholes up to depth of 40 m. Based on the obtained data from geotechnical investigation the study area is divided to five zones. Dynamic analysis was performed in time domain, using fully nonlinear model by PLAXIS. A series of analysis in the study area showed the site period, ranging from 0.4 to 0.8 s. Finally the obtained response spectra from fully nonlinear method were compared with site response spectra of Iran’s 2800 (earthquake) code.

Keywords

fully nonlinear method / site effect / dynamic analysis / response spectra

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