ESTIMATION OF DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUND AND

STRUCTURES WITH MICROTREMOR MEASUREMENTS- A SUPPORTIVE

TOOL FOR STRONG GROUND MOTION INSTRUMENTATION

YUTAKA NAKAMURA , DILEK E.GURLER

System and Data Research Co. Ltd.
SDR Bldg. 3-15-3 Fujimi-dai
Kunitachi-shi, 186-0003, Tokyo, Japan
e-mail:gurler(aJsdr. co)p

Abstract

Degree of damage during earthquakes strongly depends on dynamic characteristics of

build ings as well as amplific ation of seismic waves . Determining these characteristics in
advance and increas ing durabili ty of ground and structures beyond the presumed seismic
force becom e a fundamental of earthquake disaster prevention.

One way of investigating dynamic characteristics is to install strong motion seismometers

and monitor structure continuously. For the effectiveness of this installation, vibration
mode characteristic of the structures should be clearly understand in advance . In this paper,
usage of microtremor method as a supporti ve tool for strong ground motion instrum entation
is presented. Since there is a growing interest to protect historical monuments, appli cation
of this method was made to the microtremor measurements perform ed at Suleyman iye
Mosque located in Istanbul. In a short period of time present method provided several
information including natural frequency, ampl ification factor and vibration mode
characteristics of the mosque as well as its ground . Data showed that movement in
longitudinaltblS) direction is larger than transversal(EW) direction . Vulnerability index, K
values(Naka mura, 1997) is also calculated and several weak points of the mosque could be
investigated. This approach help to understand the behaviors of old monuments as well as
new buildings and can serve for retrofitting purposes .

1. Introduction

Since historical monuments are not suitable for sophist icated analysis, strategy for
determining the characteristics of tile structures should be selected carefull y. One way of
investigating dynamic characteristic is installing strong motion seismometers to tile
structures. Information coming from this method is valuable, but results are difficult to
obtain in most cases, since decision of critical weak points and direction s for tile
installation is extremely important. And also, getting results may take quite a long time,
303
M. Erdik et ai. (eds.), Strong Motion Instrumentation for Civil Engineering Structures, 303-311.
© 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.
304

because there may not be enough amount of earthquake record in the observation period or
occurred earthquakes may not be strong enough to show the structural characteristics. An
alternative method for analyzing dynamic characteristics of ground and structure using
microtremor is introduced in this paper. Application is made at Suleymaniye mosque
which was built by architect Sinan. Microtremor measurements were performed at several
points on its ground and upper floor levels. With the analysis of this data, vibration
characteristics of the structure are investigated. Formulation for the method for calculating
vulnerability indexes, called K values (Nakamura; 1996, 1997) is also given in the present
paper. K values basically derived from strains of ground and structures in the time of
earthquakes, and can easily be calculated with natural frequency and amplification factor
from ratio of transfer spectrums at higher and lower level of structures. This information
allow one to determine weak points of structures as well as weak areas in the cities. Then
important spots can be listed from most vulnerable one to the least and monitoring spots for
the strong ground motion instruments can be decided.

2. Outline Of Measurement And Analysis

Measurement: An instrument named Portable Intelligent Collector (pIC) was used for
microtremor measurements. PIC includes two sensors, connection cables, main body
installed in a metal case that contains AID converter, portable computer and amplifiers.
Three components (two horizontal and one vertical) of microtremor are recorded at every
measurement points. Sampling interval is 1/100 sec and the length of each record is 40.96
sec. Measurement was repeated three times at each observation point.

AnaLysis: After measurements, Fourier spectrum for each components are calculated and
smoothed eighty times with Hanning spectral window. With this operation band width
approximately become 0.5Hz. One frequency spectrum of one component was estimated
by averaging the three Fourier spectra. Vibration mode characteristics are also investigated
from spectral ratio of higher floors with ground floor.

Deformation of Structures During Earthquakes and Vulnerability Index (K vaLues) for

Structures:

It is important to know the present durability condition of the ground and structure
correctly. Earthquake damage depends on strength, period and duration of seismic motions.
And these parameters strongly reflect seismic response of surface ground and structure.
Considering this, vulnerable weak points can be found by examining seismic motion
characteristics. Deformation of structures are related with seismic motion of the basement,
dynamic characteristics of surface layer and dynamic characteristics of the structures.
Figure (I) simply shows the mode shape and deformation characteristics of nth floor
structure.
 305

asn Wn n

hn
_O~------f-

1
'/ It I

as j W, j o
__ l
I
I

hj
V /- I
I
I
asl W, 1 I

hl

1/1/

Figure 1. Derivation of mode shapes of nth floor structures. 0, is the horizontal

displacement and W is the weight of the jthfloor and h, is the height of jth column, <Y.b , <Y..
, (X.,j are the horizontal acceleration of the basement, ground surface and r
floor of the
structure, respectively.

Then, horizontal displacement 8j can be written as in equation (I),

0= as} (1)
J (lJrF:Y
F, is a predominant frequency of structure. Story drift angle for l' story Yj is expressed as
follows ,

(2)

a Sj=ASj ,ag
= A'ii ' A g , a b (3)
=A,gi -cc,

Here , Ag and Asj are an amplification factor for ground and yb floor of the structure,
respectively. Asj is derived from Sjb and Sgh which are horizontal spectrum of jth floor and
ground floor respectively. And Asgj is derived from the ratio of Sj and vertical spectrum of
ground floor and represents combined amplification factor of surface ground and structure.
ab and a g are hori zontal acceleration of basement and ground surface, respectively.

If unit of drift angle Y! is 10'6, h, is meter and seismic acceleration is measured in unit Gal
306

(em/sec'), than with the unit adjustment, e)uation (2) can be written in following form,
(A . - A . I
y=104. sgJ sgJ- ·a (4)
J 41C2F2.h b
J

From equation (4) K Tgj value (representing vulnerability index for ground and building) is
defined as,
(5)

unit of K values given above become l/Gal. From this, vulnerability index for buildings
can be written as,

(6)

Maximum allowable acceleration from l' column <:X.baj ( in Gal) derived from equation (4)
is,

(7)

3. Information On Suleymaniye Mosque, Location Of Measurement Points And

Conditions

Turkey has been the home of many civilizations since the beginning of history and with its
rich past it stands as a resource for history. After the Ottoman took over Istanbul,
contributed architect Mimar Sinan built Suleymaniye mosque between the year 1550-1557.
This is one of the prime examples of the Islamic architecture and considered as the most
beautiful of all imperial mosques in Istanbul. Figure 2, shows the bird eye view of the
mosque. To ensure the absolute stability of the foundations, upon the bedrock of the site,
three years of preparations were made, and three more years passed in the construction of
these foundations . Figure 3, shows the location and side and front cross sections of the
mosque, as well as position of the measurement points on the ground surface and inside the
mosque. The mosque itself is almost square in plan, measuring 63x68 m. The height of
dome is 53m. The central dome rests on four arches springing from four great piers; while
a semi-dome is placed over the entrance portal. On either side of the main dome are five
cupolas, supported on pillars set between the main piers, and resting on the arches from
these piers. Mosque is illuminated by 138 windows which lighten the interior. The
material used in the building of the mosque were brought around the site of Istanbul area,
and even from the farthest part of the empire. Two of the piers originated from the city of
Istanbul, one from Egypt and one from the ruins of Baalbeek.
 307

Figure 2. Bird eye view of Suleyman iye mosque

"
ii

• 2 nd fluor 0;1" floor

Figure3 Location and Cross sect ion of the mosque in Longitudinal and Transversal directions.

• , . , 0 shows measurements at ground, 1S\ 2nd floors, respectively.

Measurements were performed at ground level outside the mosque close to the minarets,
308

and also inside of the mosque, at the columns on semi-dome and big dome levels. Figure 4.
shows some of the measurement conditions inside and outside the mosque.

Figure 4. Measurement conditions inside and outside the mosque

4. Results

Spectral ratios of second floor(dome level) and first floor levels with ground level are given
in Figure 5. This ratio provided the predominant frequency and amplification factor of
entire structure. There are peaks of different amplification levels showing different modes
of structure in longitudinal and transversal components. Spectral ratio of second floor to
ground floor shows three clear peaks at 0.8Hz, 305Hzand 4.0Hz, respectively. On tile other
hand in the ratio of first floor to ground floor amplification of peak at 0.8 and 4 Hz become
very small but peak at 3.5Hz appears strongly. This can be interpreted as peaks at 0.8Hz
and 4.0Hz is the effect of dome and 305Hz is the natural frequency of whole structure.

Figure 6. and Figure 7. also shows the vibration characteristics of structure at 0.8 and 3.5
Hz for both transversal and longitudinal directions. In these figures, it is easier to follow
that vibration of first floor at 0.8Hz frequency is very small comparing with the second
floor. On the other hand vibration at 3.5 Hz is high for both first and second floor levels,
which shows that 305Hz is the natural vibration frequency of whole structure. In general
amplification is higher in longitudinal direction than in transversal direction . Vulnerability
index, KTgj values, are also directly calculated from the frequency and amplification
information . Nakamura( 1996, 1997) has already proved that K value is high where the
damage risk is high. Calculated KTgj values are given in Table I. Looking at these values.
points where KTgj values are high such as H2L and H4R on the second floor(under the
dome) can be interpreted as weak points of the structure. Maximum acceptable
acceleration level for these points are also calculated from equation (7). And it is found
that. maximum allowable accelerations at H2L point on dome level are l7Gai in
 309

longitudinal and 105Gal in transversal directions, for 0.8 Hz vibration frequency.

Maximum acceleration limit of longitudinal direction is about six times smaller than the
transversal direction. Again at dome level(second floor), another example can be given as
point H4R, which is 18Gals in longitudinal and 23Gal in transversal directions which is
very weak. Showing the weak points before a real earthquake damage occurs, present study
showed that microtremor is a valuable tool to grasp the vulnerability of surface ground and
structures.

HL HT HL HT

Figure 5 . Spectral ratios of second floor(left side) and first floor (right side) levels with ground level.

Table 1. Calculated KT. ; valuesfor I" and 2nd floor levels

nd
KT value for . '. floor
1 KT~l value for 2 floor
Fs=O.8Hz Fs=3.5Hz Fs=O.8Hz Fs=3.5Hz
HL HT HL HT HL HT HL HT
H IL 37 44 4.9 6 293 48 19 21
H2 L 33 33 7.0 9 362 45 22 23
H3R 51 44 8.9 9 40 53 15 23
H4R 31 40 7.9 9 282 222 17 13
310

/~-""'''''--+----'~ '-'--/i

/
/ I
./"'
~S .2
/
./

Transversal (HT) Longi tudi na1(HL) .

di recti on f=0.8 HZ di recti on

Figure 6. Vibration characteri stics of structure at a.8Hz.

...... ..... ····· ···--· ··I:!~

~+------\------:::""R24 )
./'/1LHT /~---"" C+------"-~ - - · - - · - - · - -- · · · · · ·.:·f
/~/
....... . .

, HL ,.,.ti/ .'
,·.r'.

..--.t
o 10

Transversal(HT) Longitudinal(HL)
direction f=l.5 Hz direction

Figure 7. Vibration characteristics of structure at 3.5Hz.

5. Concluding Remarks

A method for investigating the vulnerability of structures is introduced . Using microtremor

data, in a short period of time, present method is able to give valuable information about the
natural frequency, amplification factor, vibration mode characteristics as well as week
 311

points of every type of ground and structures. With the present approach by defining weak
points, it is possible to obtain real earthquake damage before earthquake occurs. This allow
one to determine weak areas in the cities, and list important points from most vulnerable
one to the least one. Then it is possible to decide the monitoring spots for the strong
ground motion instruinents . Making quick and precise damage estimation possible, giving
early alarm for vulnerable areas if necessary and deciding monitoring points for setting
strong motion, this type of preparatory study in highly seismic areas is very promising for
the future disaster prevention activities.

6. References

I. Nakamura, Y., (1989) A Method for Dynamic Characteristics Estimation of Subsurface using Microtremor
on the Ground Surface, Quarterly Report of RTRI, Railway Technical Research Institute(RTRI), Vol. 30.
No.1.
2. Nakamura, Y., (1996) Real Time Information Systems for Seismic Hazards Mitigation UrEDAS, HERAS,
PIC, Quarterly Report ofRTRl, Vol. 37, No.3.
3. Nakamura., Y., (1997) Seism ic Vulnerability Indices For Ground and Structures Using Microtremor, World
Congress on Railway Research in Florence, Italy, November 1997.