UNIVERSITY OF THE

CORDILLERAS
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE 332 EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

(7:30-8:55 MWF)

SUBMITTED BY:

MONTES,CLAVER G.

SUBMITTED TO:

ENGR. NELSON NOTARTE

MAGNITUDE VS INTESITY
There are two ways of describing an earthquake by intensity and
by magnitude

Earthquake magnitude
–is a single value (it should be the same no matter where
it is measured) and is based on the amount of seismic energy
produced by an earthquake. It can be estimated from the amplitude
of seismic waves recorded by a seismometer (and requires scaling
to account for the distance of the recording station from the
earthquakes epicenter) or directly based on the cross sectional
area of the fault which moved, the average displacement and the
shear modulus of the rock mass. In the past the Richter magnitude
scale was commonly used however seismologists now use the Moment
magnitude scale.

Earthquake intensity

-in the other hand when we talk of intensity, we are

referring to the effects and damage produced by the earthquake.
It is determined by going to all the areas affected by the
earthquake and observing the damage, as well as recording the
experiences of the people there. The first intensity scale was
developed by Giuseppe Mercalli in 1902.

Magnitude and Intensity measure different characteristics

of earthquakes. Magnitude measures the energy released at the
source of the earthquake. Magnitude is determined from
measurements on seismographs. Intensity measures the strength of
shaking produced by the earthquake at a certain location.
Intensity is determined from effects on people, human structures,
and the natural environment.
DIFFERENT SCALES USED IN MEASURING EARTHQUAKES

Richter scale
The Richter scale was invented in the 1930s by Dr. Charles
Richter, a seismologist at the California Institute of Technology. A
Richter magnitude is calculated based on the amplitude of the largest
seismic wave recorded for the earthquake. The Richter scale is a base-
10 logarithmic scale, meaning that there is no limit to how small or
large the earthquake must be to be measured by the scale. The Richter
scale runs from 1 to 10, with 1 being the smallest and 10 being the
largest. Since the Richter scale is logarithmic, a 5.0 earthquake
measures 10 times the shaking amplitude than one that measures 4.0,
for example.

Frequency of
Magnitude Description Earthquake effects
occurrence
Less than
Micro Micro earthquakes, not felt. Continual
2.0
1,300,000 per year
2.0–2.9 Generally not felt, but recorded.
(est.)
Minor
Often felt, but rarely causes 130,000 per year
3.0–3.9
damage. (est.)
Noticeable shaking of indoor
13,000 per year
4.0–4.9 Light items, rattling noises.
(est.)
Significant damage unlikely.
Can cause major damage to poorly
constructed buildings over small
5.0–5.9 Moderate 1,319 per year
regions. At most slight damage to
well-designed buildings.
Can be destructive in areas up to
6.0–6.9 Strong about 160 kilometers (99 mi) 134 per year
across in populated areas.
Can cause serious damage over
7.0–7.9 Major 15 per year
larger areas.
Can cause serious damage in areas
8.0–8.9 several hundred kilometers 1 per year
Great across.
Devastating in areas several 1 per 10 years
9.0–9.9
thousand kilometers across. (est.)
Never recorded, widespread
Extremely rare
devastation across very large
10.0+ Massive (Unknown/May not
areas; see below for equivalent
be possible)
seismic energy yield.

(Based on U.S. Geological Survey documents.)

Mercalli Scale
 The Mercalli scale measures the intensity of an earthquake by
quantifying the effects of an earthquake on the Earth's surface. Based
on human reactions, natural objects, and man-made structures, the
Mercalli scale rates earthquakes on a scale of 1 to 12, with1 denoting
that nothing was felt and 12 denoting total destruction.

The Mercalli scale, invented in 1902 by Giuseppe Mercalli, isn't

considered as scientific as the Richter scale. This is because the
Mercalli scale relies on witnesses to report about the earthquake, and
is not defined in rigorous and objective standards like the Richter
scale.

Abbreviated Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale

I. Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable

conditions.
II. Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors
of buildings.
III. Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on upper
floors of buildings. Many people do not recognize it as an
earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations
similar to the passing of a truck. Duration estimated.
IV. Felt indoors by many, outdoors by few during the day. At
night, some awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls
make cracking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking
building. Standing motor cars rocked noticeably.
V. Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes, windows
broken. Unstable objects overturned. Pendulum clocks may stop.
VI. Felt by all, many frightened. Some heavy furniture moved; a
few instances of fallen plaster. Damage slight.
VII. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and
construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary
structures; considerable damage in poorly built or badly
designed structures; some chimneys broken.
VIII. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable
damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial
collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of
chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy
furniture overturned.
IX. Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-
designed frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage great in
substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings
shifted off foundations.
X. Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and
frame structures destroyed with foundations. Rails bent.
XI. Few, if any (masonry) structures remain standing. Bridges
destroyed. Rails bent greatly.
XII. Damage total. Lines of sight and level are distorted. Objects
thrown into the air.
Moment Magnitude Scale
The moment magnitude scale was introduced in 1979 as a successor
to the Richter scale. The moment magnitude scale compares energy
released by earthquakes and is based on the moment of the earthquake,
which is equal to the rigidity of the earth multiplied by the average
amount of slip on the fault and the size of the area that slipped. The
moment magnitude scale is more accurate in measuring large earthquakes
than the Richter scale and is used to estimate magnitudes for all
modern large earthquakes by the United States Geological Survey.