Investigation of soil dynamic characteristics at seismic stations using H/V spectral ratio method in Marmara Region, Turkey

The North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) between the Arabian, Eurasian and African plates is one of the world's most dangerous tectonic units. After the 1939 Erzincan earthquake with Ms = 7.9, which was the largest in the Anatolian Block, many more destructive earthquakes occurred, causing displacement and loss of life and property. The most important earthquakes were those on 17 August 1999 in Golcuk (Mw 7.6) and on 12 November 1999 in Duzce (Mw 7.1) due to their impact on Istanbul, one of Turkey's most important cities in terms of industry and population. Istanbul is projected to suffer major damage following the next catastrophic earthquake in the NAFZ. In this study, with the help of engineering seismology analysis, the soil dynamic characteristics of the region bordering the Marmara Sea were examined using earthquake and seismic noise data obtained from 129 seismic stations. The soil predominant period, soil amplification factor, vulnerability index (Kg), bedrock depth, Vs30 and soil dynamic features were examined. According to Kg values, the damage after a major earthquake in the study area may be high. Plastic deformation may occur at most seismic stations. Landslide, soil compaction and liquefaction can be observed in the 0.25 g, 0.50 g and 0.75 g earthquake scenarios. These anomalies emphasize the importance of investigating the soil dynamic properties before construction in these regions to minimize the destructive impact of an Istanbul earthquake. The findings of this study are regional but suggest that geotechnical, geological and geophysical studies should be increased in high-risk areas.

Dergi

NATURAL HAZARDS

Yıl

2022

Cilt

110

Sayı

1

Sayfa

587-606

ISSN

0921-030X

eISSN

1573-0840

DOI

10.1007/s11069-021-04959-4

WoS UID

WOS:000690370100002