Scaling PSV from Earthquake Magnitude, Local Soil, and Geologic Depth of Sediments

Abstract

An empirical scaling equation is presented for pseudorelative velocity (PSV) spectral amplitudes in terms of earthquake magnitude, source‐to‐station representative distance, component direction, and local site. Each local site is characterized by both the local soil classification at the recording station (rock, stiff soil, or deep soil) and local geologic condition (depth of sediments). It is shown that both the depth of sediments and the local soil classification have significant different characteristics in different period ranges of the response spectra. Thus, both the local soil classification and the geologic depth of sediments should be used simultaneously in the evaluation of site‐specific response. Using only local soil classification to characterize the local site and ignoring the local geologic conditions may lead to exaggerated estimated PSV amplitudes. The analysis presented will offer to the practicing engineer a useful method of obtaining a more detailed site‐specific PSV response spectra.