SIMULATION OF SEISMIC WAVE PROPAGATION, AND AMPLITUDE AND PERIOD CHARACTERISTICS FOR THE SEISMIC MICROZONING OF GUARENAS AND GUATIRE CITIES

Abstract

We present the results of the simulation of seismic wave propagation in complex geological media through numerical calculation, estimating the 2D/1D seismic soil response by generating synthetic seismograms. This simulation corresponds to the propagation along 2D sections of the basin prepared by using local and regional geological and geophysical information. The hybrid methods technique was applied, that uses analytical (modal summation of surface waves) and numerical (finite differences) methods to obtain synthetic seismograms up to a frequency of 10 Hz, along 8 north-south and south-north profiles, and 3 east-west profiles crossing the sedimentary basin of Guarenas-Guatire. Three scenario earthquake were chosen, located along: San Sebastian, Pichao (system La Victoria) and Tacagua Faults, with magnitudes of 7, 6 and 5 Mw, respectively. The following ground motion parameters were obtained : 2D/1D spectral ratio of the horizontal and vertical components H/V, and 2D/1D acceleration response spectrum ratio for the transverse, radial and vertical components. Response spectra of horizontal acceleration for the ground surface were developed from averages relations of response spectra (considered as transfer functions) and response spectrum at bedrock obtained from a regional seismic hazard study.