Kinematic Earthquake Ground-Motion Simulations on Listric Normal Faults
Type
ArticleAuthors
Passone, Luca
Mai, Paul Martin

KAUST Department
Computational Earthquake Seismology (CES) Research GroupEarth Science and Engineering Program
Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division
KAUST Grant Number
BAS/1/1339-01-01URF/1/2160-01-01
Date
2017-10-10Online Publication Date
2017-10-10Print Publication Date
2017-12Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/626414
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Complex finite-faulting source processes have important consequences for near-source ground motions, but empirical ground-motion prediction equations still lack near-source data and hence cannot fully capture near-fault shaking effects. Using a simulation-based approach, we study the effects of specific source parameterizations on near-field ground motions where empirical data are limited. Here, we investigate the effects of fault listricity through near-field kinematic ground-motion simulations. Listric faults are defined as curved faults in which dip decreases with depth, resulting in a concave upward profile. The listric profiles used in this article are built by applying a specific shape function and varying the initial dip and the degree of listricity. Furthermore, we consider variable rupture speed and slip distribution to generate ensembles of kinematic source models. These ensembles are then used in a generalized 3D finite-difference method to compute synthetic seismograms; the corresponding shaking levels are then compared in terms of peak ground velocities (PGVs) to quantify the effects of breaking fault planarity. Our results show two general features: (1) as listricity increases, the PGVs decrease on the footwall and increase on the hanging wall, and (2) constructive interference of seismic waves emanated from the listric fault causes PGVs over two times higher than those observed for the planar fault. Our results are relevant for seismic hazard assessment for near-fault areas for which observations are scarce, such as in the listric Campotosto fault (Italy) located in an active seismic area under a dam.Citation
Passone L, Mai PM (2017) Kinematic Earthquake Ground-Motion Simulations on Listric Normal Faults. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 107: 2980–2993. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1785/0120170111.Sponsors
The authors thank Jagdish Vyas for the support in getting Support Operator Rupture Dynamics (SORD) running and help in preparing the simulations and the team at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Super Computing Laboratory for their technical support. The authors would also like to thank Arthur Rodgers and two anonymous reviewers who contributed to the clarity and quality of this article. The research presented in this article is supported by KAUST in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, through Grants BAS/1/1339-01-01 and URF/1/2160-01-01.Publisher
Seismological Society of America (SSA)ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1785/0120170111