Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

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Soft Soil Mapping using Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) for Seismic Hazard Assessment of Chandigarh City in Himalayan Foothills, North India


Affiliations
1 Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33, G.M.S. Road, Dehradun - 248 001, India
2 NORSAR, P. O. Box 53, NO-2027 Kjeller, Norway
3 Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee - 247 667, India
     

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The populated and expanding city of Chandigarh is located in the foothills of Himalaya, near the potentially active Main Frontal Thrust (MFT). A hazard assessment for this city is consequently of major importance. Thick sediments underlies the city and that can potentially amplify the earthquake shaking and contribute to an earthquake disaster in the city. The present study applies the Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) ambient noise methodology to estimate the resonance frequency of the soft sediments and to obtain a first order estimate of sediment thickness.

The study indicates that the soil thickness range from 30 to 270 m and that the resonance frequencies vary from 0.236 to 1.479 Hz. A smooth correlation function between soil thickness and resonance frequency is found, indicating relatively homogeneous soil.


Keywords

Site Response, H/V Ratio, Seismic Microzonation, Chandigarh, Himalaya.
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  • Soft Soil Mapping using Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) for Seismic Hazard Assessment of Chandigarh City in Himalayan Foothills, North India

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Authors

A. K. Mundepi
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33, G.M.S. Road, Dehradun - 248 001, India
Conrad Lindholm
NORSAR, P. O. Box 53, NO-2027 Kjeller, Norway
Kamal
Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee - 247 667, India

Abstract


The populated and expanding city of Chandigarh is located in the foothills of Himalaya, near the potentially active Main Frontal Thrust (MFT). A hazard assessment for this city is consequently of major importance. Thick sediments underlies the city and that can potentially amplify the earthquake shaking and contribute to an earthquake disaster in the city. The present study applies the Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) ambient noise methodology to estimate the resonance frequency of the soft sediments and to obtain a first order estimate of sediment thickness.

The study indicates that the soil thickness range from 30 to 270 m and that the resonance frequencies vary from 0.236 to 1.479 Hz. A smooth correlation function between soil thickness and resonance frequency is found, indicating relatively homogeneous soil.


Keywords


Site Response, H/V Ratio, Seismic Microzonation, Chandigarh, Himalaya.

References