Module 3: Ground Response Analysis

Objective: This module helps the students to understand how to analyze the
response of the ground to a given earthquake. Kinematics of earthquake wave
propagation from source to site through different layers of ground is understood and
the properties of ground which influence the seismic wave intensity are discussed.
Various properties of ground that influence earthquake wave propagation and their
determination through laboratory and field experiments are discussed exhaustively.
Starting from the basics of wave mechanics, the propagation of seismic waves and
associated equations are derived from simple principles. The amplification of
earthquake waves while they pass through the ground in terms of the acceleration
response is explained and equations are derived for the amplification factors for
different scenarios of ground layers with and without considering damping effects.
Influence of local geology and soil parameters on ground motion amplification is
explained with many case studies and codal provisions for the site effects are
discussed. At the end of this module, students would gain knowledge on principles
of different laboratory and field tests to determine the dynamic soil properties and
would be able to understand and analyze how earthquake waves get modified while
they travel through the ground layers.
Keywords: seismic wave propagation, wave equations, dynamic soil properties,
laboratory tests, field tests, ground response analysis, amplification factor, waves in
elastic medium, local soil effects
Lectures: (9)
19.Wave Propagation Theories
20.Seismic Wave Propagation
21.Dynamic Soil Properties Part I
22.Dynamic Soil Properties Part II
23.Dynamic Soil Properties Part III
24.Dynamic Soil Properties Part IV
25.Ground Response Analysis Part I
26.Ground Response Analysis Part II
27.Local Soil Effects
Recommended Reading:

Kramer, S.L. (1996) Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Prentice Hall.

Robert W. Day (2002) Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Handbook
McGraw-Hill.
Braja M. Das, Ramana G.V. (2010) Principles of soil dynamics, C L
Engineering.
Prakash, S. (1981) Soil Dynamics, McGraw-Hill.
Kearey P., Brooks, M. Hill I. (2002) An Introduction to Geophysical Exploration,
Wiley-Blackwell.

Burger H.R, Sheehan A.F., Jones, C.H. (2006)Introduction to Applied

Geophysics: Exploring the Shallow Subsurface, W. W. Norton & Company.
Villaverde, R. (2009) Fundamental Concepts of Earthquake Engineering , CRC
Press.
Towhata, T. (2008) Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Springer.
Chapman, C.H. (2004) Fundamentals of Seismic Propagation, Cambridge
University Press.
IS 1893:2002 . Indian Standard. Criteria For Earthquake Resistant Design of
Structures