Site-specific seismic studies for optimal structural design: A case study

Prof. Dr. Llambro DUNI

Polytechnic University of Tirana
Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment
Departament of Seismology

Dr. Faruk KABA

InfraTransProject Ltd., Albania

Prof. Dr.Neki KUKA

Polytechnic University of Tirana
Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment
Departament of Seismology

Site-specific seismic studies for optimal structural design: A case study

1. Introduction

Seismicity and seismic hazard of Albania

2. Code requirements for bridge design

Seismic action into the KTP-N.2-89 code

Seismic action requirements according to the EC8 standard

3. Application to the bridge design. A case study

Assessment of the horizontal and vertical UHRS

Deaggregation of seismic hazard at the Viaduct site construction

Development of ground motion time histories

Introduction: Seismicity and seismic hazard of Albania

Distribution of the earthquake epicenters in

Albanian and surrounding area (510 B.C.31/12/2010,
MW4.0),

Introduction: Seismicity and seismic hazard of Albania

Intense microseismic activity (1.0 < M 3.0)
Many small earthquakes (3.0 < M 5.0)
Seldom by moderate size earthquakes (5.0 < M 7)
Very seldom by strong earthquakes (M > 7.0)
From the evidences we
possess today, it results that
Since the period of IIIII
century B.C. up to now,
Albania was striken by:
55 strong earthquakes with
intensity Io VIII degree
15 of them have had intensity
of Io IX degree
From these 55 earthquakes of a period of more than
2000 years, 36 belongs to the 19-th century

Introduction: Seismicity and seismic hazard of Albania

Introduction: Seismicity and seismic hazard of Albania

Introduction: Seismicity and seismic hazard of Albania

Seismic zonation map

Probabilistic Seismic

of Albania
(Sulstarova et al., 1980)

hazard map of Albania

(Duni & Kuka 2010)

Code requirements for bridge design:Seismic action into the KTP-N.2-89 code
The seismic action in the KTP-N.2-89 design code is expressed by an elastic ground
3
acceleration response spectrum:
Category I
2.5
Category II
Sa(T) = kE (T) g
Category III
2
kE is the so-called seismic coefficient,
1.5
1
(T) is the dynamic coefficient ,
0.5
g is the acceleration gravity
0
0
1 T(sec) 2
3
Both kE and (T) are dependent on local soil conditions
Introducing the coefficients kr (building importance coefficient) and (ductility and
damping structures coefficient), the design acceleration values are obtained.
Values of various parameters defining the spectral shape of (T) curves
Dynamic coefficient

Soil category
I
II
III

TC(sek)
0.30
0.40
0.65

TD(sek)
1.08
1.23
1.69

( 0TTC )

(TCTTD)

(TDT)

2.3
2.0
1.7

0.7/T
0.8/T
1.1/T

0.65
0.65
0.65

Code requirements for bridge design:Seismic action into the KTP-N.2-89 code
The structure design is performed following two methods:
(i) the response spectrum method;

(ii) acceleration time-history method

Acceleration time history selection is recommended to be based on site-specific

seismic studies.
The amplitude of the chosen accelerograms should not be lower than the value kEg.
For lifeline systems (railways, roads, bridges, etc.) some specifications are introduced:
The value of the vertical component of acceleration should be specfied in the case of
bridge design
Specific engineering-seismological studies for the definition of kE and parameters for
the tunnels with large length, etc. are recommended

Code requirements for bridge design:

Seismic action requirements according to the EC8 standard
The seismic hazard is described in terms of reference peak ground acceleration on
type A ground, agR, with reference return period (RP) 475 years of the seismic action
for the no-collapse requirement.
The effect of soil conditions on the seismic action is accounted for through seven
ground types A, B, C, D, E, S1 and S2

The earthquake motion at a given point on the surface is represented by:

(i) an elastic ground acceleration response spectrum, called elastic response spectrum
o Two types of spectra are recommended: Type 1 and Type 2. If the earthquakes, that
contribute most to the site seismic hazard, have a surface-wave magnitude Ms not
greater than 5.5, it is recommended that the Type 2 spectrum is adopted.
o Recommendations are given in EC8 for the five ground types A, B, C, D and E and
values of the parameters S, TB, TC and TD, as well.

Code requirements for bridge design:

Seismic action requirements according to the EC8 standard

The earthquake motion at a given point on the surface is represented by:

(ii) time-history of the earthquake motion.
For this kind of presentation, artificial, recorded or simulated accelerograms of the
earthquake motion can be used.
The general rules for their use are as follows:
1. Artificial accelerograms shall be generated so as to match the elastic response
spectra for 5% viscous damping ( = 5%).
2. Duration of the accelerograms shall be consistent with the magnitude and the other
relevant features of the seismic event underlying establishment of ag.
3. When site-specific data are not available, the minimum duration Ts of the stationary
part of the accelerograms should be equal to 10 sec.

Code requirements for bridge design:

Seismic action requirements according to the EC8 standard
4.

The suite of artificial accelerograms should observe the following rules:

4.1 a minimum of three accelerograms should be used;
4.2 the mean of the zero period spectral response acceleration values (calculated
from the individual time histories) should not be smaller than the value of agS for
the site in question;
4.3 in the range of periods between 0.2T1 and 2T1, where T1 is the fundamental
period of the structure in the direction where the accelerogram will be applied; no
value of the mean 5% damping elastic spectrum, calculated from all time histories,
should be less than 90% of the corresponding value of the 5% damping elastic
response spectrum.

Code requirements for bridge design:

Seismic action requirements according to the EC8 standard

Bridge design has some specific requirements

A site-dependent, horizontal and vertical elastic response spectrum should be specified
for the design.
The horizontal component depends on the ground type and should be applied at the
foundation of the supports of the bridge.
Near source effects, describing the directivity phenomenon of the earthquakes when
the site is located within 10 km horizontally of a known active seismogenic fault that
may produce an event of moment magnitude higher than 6.5, should be assessed.
At least three pairs of horizontal ground motion time-history components shall be
used.
The ensemble spectrum shall be scaled so that it is not lower than 1.3 times the 5% damped
elastic response spectrum of the design seismic action, in the period range between 0.2T1
and 1.5 T1, where T1 is the natural period of the fundamental mode of the structure in the
case of a ductile bridge, or the effective period (Teff.) of the isolation system in the case of
a bridge with seismic isolation.

Code requirements for bridge design:

Seismic action requirements according to the EC8 standard
Near source effects, describing the directivity phenomenon of the earthquakes when the site is located within 10 km horizontally
of a known active seismogenic fault that may produce an event of moment magnitude higher than 6.5, should be assessed
Nxitimi (cm/s/s)

Nxitimi (cm/s/s)

40

TIR-04-1 E-W komp (TIR3)

20
0
-20

70

TIR-04-1 E-W komp (TIR2)

35
0
-35
-70

-40

0.5

1.5

2.5

0.5

1.5

2.5

Koha (sek)

Koha (sek)

10

PSRV (cm/sec)

PSRV (cm/sec)

10

0.1
TIR-04-1(TIR3)

0.01
0.01

0.1

0.1
TIR-04-1 (TIR2)

0.01
0.01

0.1
Perioda (sek)

Perioda (sek)

Earthquake
Code

Station
Code

Acceleration(cm/s/s)
Z

E-W

N-S

Velocity (cm/s)
Z

E-W

Displacement (cm)
N-S

E-W

N-S

TIR-04-1

TIR2

27.88

-46.87

-3.99

-0.358

0.639

-0.081

-0.009

-0.011

-0.003

TIR-04-1

TIR3

4.05

35.47

7.33

-0.101

1.121

-0.248

-0.004

-0.043

-0.010

Code requirements for bridge design:

Seismic action requirements according to the EC8 standard
Acceleration (g)

0,6

E - W comp

0,3
0
-0,3
-0,6
0

10

12

Time (sec)

N - S comp
0,1
0
-0,1
-0,2
0

10

Time (sec)

PSRV (cm/sec)

Acceleration (g)

0,2

0.76
0.51
0.26
0.01
0.1

0.35

0.6

0.85

Period (sec)

12

Map of active faults of

Albania (Aliaj et al, 2000)
Blue: Middle PleistoceneHolocene; Green: PlioceneLower Pleistocene; Red:PrePliocene, active also during
Pliocene-Quaternary

Application to the bridge design: A case study

Assessment of the horizontal and vertical UHRS
48 m high and 160 m long viaduct at Bulqiza-Ura e Vashes road section.
Probabilistic evaluation of seismic hazard for rock
conditions expressed in the form of:
(i) horizontal peak ground acceleration (PGA),
(ii) vertical PGA,
(iii) 5% damped, uniform hazard response spectra (UHRS)
1
Legjenda
PGA
SA 0.1s
SA 0.2s
SA 0.3s
SA 0.5s
SA 1.0s
SA 2.0s

Spectral acceleration, g
RP=95
years

RP=145
years

RP=475
years

RP=975
years

RP=247
5 years

0.179

0.202

0.270

0.316

0.383

0.8

PP 95 vjet

0.01

0.6

PP 145 vjet

0.10

0.259

0.299

0.432

0.527

0.677

PP 475 vjet
PP 975 vjet

0.001

PP 2475 vjet

0.0001

1E-005
0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

Nxitimi spektral, g

0.7

0.8

0.9

0.5

0.20

0.344

0.395

0.560

0.682

0.860

0.30

0.304

0.348

0.499

0.613

0.781

0.50

0.196

0.227

0.334

0.415

0.543

0.2

1.00

0.082

0.096

0.146

0.185

0.248

0.1

2.00

0.044

0.052

0.079

0.100

0.133

PP 5000 vjet

Spektri elastik horizontal i reagimit i Tipit te I

sipas EC8 per truallin e tipit A; Ag=0.270 g;
Shuarja 5%
Spektri elastik horizontal i reagimit me rrezik
uniform (RP=475 vjet)

0.7

PGA

Nxitimi spektral (g)

Frekuenca vjetore e tejkalimit

0.1

Perio
d
(sec)

0.4
0.3

0
0

Perioda (sek)

Application to the bridge design: A case study

Deaggregation of seismic hazard at the Viaduct site

Identification of the earthquake scenarios (distance-magnitude pairs) through the procedure

known as seismic hazard deaggregation.
This analysis was performed for two periods of vibrations: SA=1.0 sec and SA=2.0 sec, vibration
periods of the viaduct: T1=1.815 sec on the transversal direction and T2=1.428 sec on the
longitudinal one.
Modal event
Mean event
SA

Magnitude

Distance

Epsilon

Magnitude

Distance

Epsilon

SA 1.0 s

6.8

4.6

1.03

6.62

5.2

1.41

SA 2.0 s

5.8

5.8

0.93

6.26

21.5

1.15

Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Deaggregation

c)

Rruga e Arberit - Viadukti (9+850)

(Lat=41.4648N, Lon=20.1373E)
SA period 1.0sec. Acceleration 0.146 g
Mean Return Period: 475 years
Mean (R,M,e 0) = 5.2 km, 6.62, 1.41
d)
Modal (R,M,e 0) = 4.6 km, 6.80, 1.03 from peak R,M bin
Mean (R,M,e*) = 4.6 km, 6.80, eps interval: 1 to 2 sigma %c=9.1
Binning: DeltaR=10km, deltaM=0.2, deltae=1.0

Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Deaggregation

Rruga e Arberit - Viadukti (9+850)
(Lat=41.4648N, Lon=20.1373E)
SA period 2.0 sec. Acceleration 0.079 g
Mean Return Period: 475 years
Mean (R,M,e 0) = 21.5 km, 6.26, 1.15
Modal (R,M,e 0) = 5.8 km, 5.80, 0.93 from peak R,M bin
Mean (R,M,e*) = 6.1 km, 5.80, eps interval: 1 to 2 sigma %c=3.3
Binning: DeltaR=10km, deltaM=0.2, deltae=1.0

Application to the bridge design: A case study

Development of ground motion time histories

Site-specific seismic studies for optimal structural design: A case study

CONCLUSIONS

Generally, for important projects, input not covered by Code guidelines is required.
The structural engineer may perform time domain analysis that requires acceleration
time histories instead of the spectral acceleration input.
When soil-structure interaction is accounted for, typically a profile of ground
accelerations and displacements versus depth is required.
The same holds for evaluation of slope stability risk and calculation of dynamic earth
pressures.
In cases of liquefiable soils, analyses would be performed to study the effects of this
phenomenon on a proposed structure.
In all this examples, a site-specific study would be necessary to provide the required
input.

Site-specific seismic studies for optimal structural design: A case study

CONCLUSIONS

A site-specific seismic hazard analysis using the probabilistic approach is

performed for a viaduct site construction at the Bulqiza-Ura e Vashes road section.
Besides calculation the uniform hazard response spectra for different safety levels,
the earthquake scenarios that have high likelihood of occurrence at this site are
also identified.
Then, the earthquake ground motion time histories are developed using the
stochastic point-source method.
The obtained results can be used to derive structural design parameters for each
usage and performance of the structure.

Site-specific seismic studies for optimal structural design: A case study

Thank You !