Microtremor Measurement at Some Sites in Mandalay City, Myanmar,

for Earthquake Disaster Mitigation

Yu Nandar Hlaing1, Ichii Koji1

1
Myanmar Earthquake Committee
Myanmar Engineering Society,Yangon , Myanmar
2
Faculty of Social Science
Kansai University, Osaka, Japan

*yunandar.tgyi@gmail.com, ichiik@kansai-u.ac.jp

Abstract — Estimation of earthquake motion is
important for the sustainability of a city. It is well
known that the characteristics of earthquake motion
relate to the geological condition of the site.
Microtremor is quite a small vibration can be
measured anywhere, and the measurement of
microtremor gives some amount of geological
information.
In this study, microtremor measurement was done
for 10 points with the different geological conditions
in Mandalay, Myanmar. The observed microtremor
was analyzed by H/V spectrum. The H/V spectrum
was categorized into 4 groups. The first group is FID
0 and FID 3. There is no clear peak in the spectrum.
The second group is FID 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7. The peak
value of the H/V spectrum is about 1.5 to 2.0. And the
corresponding frequency is 0.5 to 0.7 Hz. The location
of the sites in the second group is the center of
Mandalay city. The third group is FID 5 and 10. The
peak value of the H/V spectrum is larger than that of
group 2, in the rage of 2.2 to 2.8. The corresponding
frequency is about 0.5 Hz, and it is the same as that of
group 2. The fourth group is FID 8 having the peak
frequency in H/V spectrum is about 5 Hz. The results
show that the microtremor observations are an
acceptable method for assessing dynamic
characteristics of soil and site effect in Mandalay City
with ease of measurement and analysis.
Keywords: microtremor, H/V spectra, Mandalay,
Earthquake.
I. INTRODUCTION
The ground response may be used for the prediction of
ground motion and development of the design response
spectrum to determine the dynamic stress and strain
assessment. The study of the distribution of damages
caused by various earthquakes indicates the significant
site effects on earthquake characteristics (Idriss and
Seed,1970)[3]. Local site conditions can influence all of
the important characteristics such as amplitude, frequency
content, and duration of strong ground motion. As an
earthquake-prone area such as Mandalay in Myanmar,
several studies on-site response analysis were carried out.
Myo Thant et.al [1] proceeded 43 microtremor
measurements to analyze seismic hazard maps by using
PSHA, and Pyi Soe Thein et.al [4] conducted seismic
microzonation mapping through 50 soil columns by using
multiple reflection analysis and Yu Nandar Hlaing and
Ichii [2] conducted one-dimensional site response
analysis at several sites in Mandalay. However, these
studies have mostly focused on seismic vulnerability and
micro-zonation of Mandalay city, the comparison of
characteristics of observed microtremor and the results
from the geological condition will be helpful for the
complete study for Mandalay city where the earthquake-
prone area with dense population.
II. MICROTREMOR MEASUREMENT
Microtremor is a very convenient tool to estimate
the effect of surface geology on seismic motion without
other geological information. The dynamic
characteristics of soil can be stated by microtremor
measurement. Microtremors are ground vibrations with
displacement amplitude about 1-10 micron, and velocity
amplitude is 0.001-0.01cm/s that can be detected by
seismograph with high magnification (Rezaei and
Choobasti 2014) [5]. One of the most popular techniques
for estimation of site effects in the region with low
seismicity is microtremor measurements by Nakamura
method [6] (H/V). Regarding the H/V spectral ratio
method, peak frequency and amplification factors were
calculated for all microtremor sites. Geonet 2-2S3D,
three-component velocity sensor unit; two in two
orthogonal horizontal directions and one invertical
direction , GPS, laptop and 12V battery are used. Fig 1.
Figure 1. Geonet 2-2S3D
The arrangement of measurement is shown in Fig 2.
Micro tremor measurement was carried out from Feb 26th
to Feb 30th in 2018, in Mandalay City. 12 locations were
proposed for the 6 soil classifications, alluvial, clay with
minor sand layer, clayey silt, dark clay, silt with gravel
and clay and slope wash deposit according to the
geological map of Mandalay. For each site, measurements
were carried out three times in three days. Each time, the
data was collected 3 or more times. Fig 3 shows the
locations of measured sites on six soil classifications.
Figure 2. The arrangement of measurement
III. MEASUREMENT
The measured sites were determined by soil site
location. The time of measuring (morning or evening)
was determined by the passing of cars and distance from
downtown. FID 1, 7, 8, and 10 were firstly measured
because they are far away from the downtown and cannot
be measured at night time. For example, FID 7 and FID
8 are on the way of Yangon -Mandalay Highway. FID 10
is on the river bank. FID 1 is in downtown. Note: FID 9
is not measured. As an example, FID 1 measured on 26th
January is presented in this report. The soil class belongs
to the slope wash deposit. When conducting
measurement, the weather was fine and sunny. The
measurement was from 15:35:00 to 16:00:00. the Geo net
is set up 50HZ A/D converter frequency and measured
for 1200 sec (20min) with digitized with equal-interval
of 0.02s. Since the environment of the site was in the
center of Mandalay city, there were passing motor
vehicles during the measuring. The output data set of
measurement was given in three directions, East-West,
North-South, and Up-down directions. Fig 4 shows the
microtremor measurement in sites.
FID 0
FID 2 FID 1
FID 10
FID 3
FID 4
FID 6
FID 7
FID 5
FID 8
FID 9
Figure 3. Location of measurement, FID
FID 5 FID 7
Figure 4. Showing the microtremor measurment in site
IV. ANALYSIS
The FFT calculation was done in excel. Since the
sample was collected 0.02-sec interval for 20 min
measuring, the sample size becomes 60,000. Sometimes
measurements were interrupted by some disturbance, and
the data was less than 60000. The following example is
sample size 52000. FFT calculation was done in EXCEL,
but the maximum sample size in EXCEL FFT is 2n =
4096. Thus the data sample has to be subdivided into 13
windows with 8sec interval. The tremor measured in N-
S and E-W are shown in Fig 5 (a) and (b). By Fig 5(b),
the data set in portions 4 and 6 cannot be chosen because
of the noise of motor vehicle passing in these data set.
The respective spectral for FID 0~12 are summarized in
Fig 6 (a) and Fig 6 (b).

V. ON H/V SPECTRUM
Figure 5(b) Showing noise in portion 4 and 6 (240-320
To evaluate site amplification characteristics during sec and 400-480 sec)
earthquakes, Nakamura [6] proposed a method to The confirmed of H/V ratio is applicable for the
estimate the horizontal -to - vertical (H/V) Fourier practical disaster prevention with easily handling
spectrum ratio of microtremor. This is one of the most measurement. Moreover, it can estimate the predominant
popular techniques for the estimation of site effects in the frequency f(peak). H/V components for X-direction and
region with low seismicity. In the method, a predominant Y-direction are illustrated and then the average spectral
period is given by a peak period in the H/V ratio, while ratio of H/V components at each frequency can be
an amplification factor at the periods is roughly assessed expressed as
by the ratio itself. 𝐻 +𝐻
𝐻𝑎𝑣𝑔 √ 𝑥 𝑦
2
= (1)
𝑉 𝑉

Where H and V are the spectra of horizontal (north-south

and east-west direction) and vertical components
respectively. After obtaining the H/V spectra, the average
of the spectra was obtained as the H/V spectrum for a
particular site. The peak frequency of H/V spectrum plots
shows the resonance frequency and amplification factor
Figure 5(a) Measured motion in North-south direction of the site. The H/V spectra for each FID is shown in the
On the H/V spectrum, the horizontal motion is larger than following Fig 7.
vertical motion on the soft ground while the horizontal
and vertical motions are similar on the hard ground.
FID-0 N-S E-W U-D
800 1500 0.219Hz 4000 6.35Hz
6.18Hz
Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum

600 3000
1000
400 2000
500
200 1000

0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
N-S E-W U-D
FID 1
600 600 1.44Hz 1200
1.477Hz 8.78Hz
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

1000
400 400 800
600
200 200 400
200
0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (HZ) Frequency (HZ) Frequency (HZ)
FID 2
N-S E-W U-D
500 1.514Hz 500 800
1.416Hz 1.44Hz
Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum

400 400 600

300 300 400
200 200
200
100 100
0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
FID 3 N-S E-W U-D
1400 0.219Hz 0.2319Hz 1200
800 7.532Hz
Fourier Spectrum

1200
Fourier Spectrum

1000
Fourier Spectrum

1000 600 800

800 600
400
600
400
400 200
200 200
0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
Figure 6 (a) Respective fourier spectra for FID 0-3
 FID 4 N-S U-D
E-W
600 600 600
1.611Hz
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum
1.65Hz 1.64Hz
400 400 400

200 200 200

0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)

FID 5 N-S E-W U-D

600 600 1.23Hz
1.29Hz 800
1.37Hz
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum
400 Fourier Spectrum 600 400
400
200 200
200
0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
FID 6 Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
N-S E-W U-D
400 400 400
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum

1.245Hz 1.733Hz
300 300 300 2.124Hz

200 200 200

100 100 100
0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
FID 7 N-S E-W
800 U-D
600 2.76Hz 600
3.42Hz
3Hz
Fourier Spectrum

600
Fourier Spectrum

400
Fourier Spectrum

400
400
200 200
200

0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
FID 8
N-S E-W U-D
600 1.54Hz 800 600
1.82Hz
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum

400 600
400 1.55Hz
400
200 200
200
0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
FID 9 E-W U-D
N-S
600 1.54Hz 800 1.82Hz 600
Fourier Spectrum

Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum

Figure
600 6 (b) Respective fourier spectra for FID 4-10
400 1.55Hz
400
VI. DISCUSSION 400
The third200group is FID 5 and 10. The peak value of
200
200
H/V spectrum is larger than that of group 2, in the rage
H/V0 Spectrums in Fig.7 can be categorized 0 into 4 of 2.2 to 2.8. 0The corresponding frequency is about 0.5
0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25
groups. The first group is FID 0 and FID 3. There is no Hz, and it is the same as that of group 2. The location of
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
clear peak FIDin
10 the spectrum. Their geological condition is
E-W
these sites is far east and farU-D west of the Mandalay city.
N-S
different:
1200
the slope was deposit and clay with 1200minor sand. 6.85Hz These sites are1500 not nearby, and their geological condition
6.19Hz
But these sites1.45Hzlocated in the northern part900 of Mandalay is also quite 1200
different (west bank/silt with gravel and
Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum

900
as shown in Fig. 8. Thus, the observation of the similarity clay). The fourth 900 group is FID 8. It locates in the south of
600 close sites is reasonable. The second 600
in these group is Mandalay. The 600 frequency of the peak in the H/V
FID 300
1, 2, 4, 6, and 7. The peak value of the H/V 300 spectrum spectrum is about 300 5 Hz. This peak may be corresponding
is about
0 1.5 to 2.0. And the corresponding frequency 0 is to the second peak 0 of the H/V spectrum in FID 5 and 7,
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
0.5 to 0.7
0 Hz. 5The location
10 of the sites
15 20 in the second which located to the south of the Mandalay city. Thus,
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
group is the center of Mandalay city, as shown in Fig. 8. the observed results relate to their location, and it is quite
Again, itFIDis11 reasonable
N-S
to see the sites nearby show E-W reasonable. However, these U-D results also imply that the
similar
1200 results. 1200 6.85Hz geological condition
1500 shown in Fig.3 is not good
1.45Hz 6.19Hz
Fourier Spectrum
Fourier Spectrum

information for 1200 the evaluation of site response

Fourier Spectrum

900 900

600
characteristics.900
600
600
300 300 300

0 0 0
0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20 0 5 10 15 20
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
 FID0 FID 1 FID 2
5.67 FID 2 3
73 3
62.5 2.5 2.07 2.5 1.5
1.5
5 2 2
2

H/V
H/V
4
H/V

1.5
H/V

1.5
31.5 1
1
21
0.5 0.5
10.5
0 0
00
0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
8 10 00 22 44 66 88 1010
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
Frequency (Hz)

FID 3 FID 4 FID 5

6.66 FID 5 2.83
8 3 2.83 3 3
2.5 1.9 2.5
62.5 2 2
2

H/V
H/V
H/V

1.5
H/V

41.5 1.5
1 1
1
2 0.5 0.5
0.5
0 0
0 0 0 2 4 6 8 10
0 0 2 2 4 4 66 88 1010 0 2 4 6 8 10
8 10 Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
Frequency (Hz)
Frequency (Hz)

FID 6 FID 7
FID 8
3 FID 8 3 3
3 2.78
2.5 2.78 2.5 2.5
2.5
2 2 2
2 1.79 1.83
H/V

H/V

H/V
1.5 1.5 1.5
H/V

1.5
1 1 1
1
0.5 0.5 0.5
0.5
0 0 0
00 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
8 10 0 2 Frequency
4 6
(Hz) 8 10 Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
) Frequency (Hz)

FID 9 FID 10 done to confirm the observed natural

FID 10 frequency at the site
3 FID 10 3 3
3 2.78
2.5 2.25 2.5 2.25 in H/V spectrum. 2.5 2.25
2.5
2 2 2
2
H/V
H/V

H/V

1.5 1.5 1.5

H/V

1.5
1 1 1
1
0.5 0.5 0.5
0.5
0 0 0
00 2 4 6 8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
8 10 0 2 4 6 8 10
0 2 4 6 (Hz) 8
Frequency 10
Frequency (Hz) Frequency (Hz)
z) Frequency (Hz)

Figure 7 H/V spectra for FID (FID 9 is not exist)

VII. CONCLUSION
In this study, the microtremor measurement was
conducted 10 places in Earthquake-prone area,
Mandalay, Myanmar. The observed microtremor were
analyzed by the H/V spectrum. The H/V spectrum were
categorized into 4 groups. Basically, sites nearby showed
similar results, and it was confirmed that the observation
is reasonable. However, existing information of the
geological condition did not much to the grouping. Thus,
these results implied that the geological condition is not
good enough for the evaluation of site response
characteristics, and observation of microtremor at the
sites will give more reasonable information. As the next
step, computation of site response analysis using the
Figure 8 Grouping of FID by H/V spectra
geological condition (boring logs) at each site should be
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This research was financially supported by JICA (JDA
program) and Japanese people.
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Conference on Myanmar Engineering Society,
Annual General Meeting, Jan 19-20,2018.
Journal Papers
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