Earthquake Research Advances最新文献

Soils with spatial variability are the product of natural history. The mechanical properties tested by soil samples from boreholes in the same soil layer may be different. Underground structure service in surrounding soils, their seismic response is controlled by the deformation of the surrounding soils. The variability of soil mechanical parameters was not considered in the current research on the seismic response of underground structures. Therefore, a random field model was established to describe the spatial variability of surrounding soils based on the random field theory. Then the seismic response of underground structures in the random field was simulated based on the time-domain explicit global FEM analysis, and the soil mechanical parameters and earthquake intensity influencing the seismic response of surrounding soils and underground structures were studied. Numerical results presented that, the randomness of soil parameters does not change the plastic deformation mode of surrounding soils significantly. The variation coefficients of inter-story deformation of structures and lateral deformation of columns are much smaller than that of mechanical parameters, and the randomness of soil parameters has no obvious effect on the structural deformation response.

A typical single-layer raw soil structure in villages and towns in China is taken as the research object. In the probabilistic seismic demand analysis, the seismic demand model is obtained by the incremental dynamic time history analysis method. The seismic vulnerability analysis is carried out for the raw soil structure of non-foundation, strip foundation, and spiral anchor composite foundation, respectively. The spiral anchor composite foundation can reduce the seismic response and failure state of raw soil structure, and the performance level of the structure is significantly improved. Structural requirements sample data with the same ground motion intensity are analyzed by linear regression statistics. Compared with the probabilistic seismic demand model under various working conditions, the seismic demand increases gradually with the increase of intensity. The seismic vulnerability curve is summarized for comparative analysis. With the gradual deepening of the limit state, the reduction effect of spiral anchor composite foundation on the exceedance probability becomes more and more obvious, which can reduce the probability of structural failure to a certain extent.

The pushover method for underground structures is a seismic analysis method featured by high calculation accuracy and a simple implementation process. The method has been widely used in seismic design and other related scientific research; however, the influence of different soil-structure flexibility ratios on the accuracy of this method is still not well understood. In this study, we select the cross-section structures beneath the Daikai subway station as the research object and establish 12 finite element analysis models with different soil-structure flexibility ratios using ABAQUS. All models are computed by the dynamic time-history method or the pushover method. Furthermore, the dynamic time-history solution result is taken as the standard solution, and the precision and application of the pushover analysis method are discussed based on the parameters of peak interlayer displacement and peak internal force of the middle column section. The results show that the soil-structure flexibility ratio has a significant influence on the calculation accuracy of the pushover method, and the calculation accuracy of this method is the most ideal when the soil-structure flexibility is equal to 1. The research results can provide significant references for the seismic design of underground structures or the improvement of simplified seismic analysis methods.

Based on the the large shaking table test results on irregular section subway station structure in soft soil, an overall time-history numerical simulation is conducted to study the nonlinear dynamic interaction of the soil-irregular underground structure. Typical test results, including the acceleration of the soil, acceleration, and deformation of the structure, were analyzed. Satisfactory consistency between the simulation and test results is verified, and the difference between these results was discussed in detail. The maximum inter-story drift ratio was approximately 1/472 under input PGA ​= ​0.54 g. The strain responses of columns were significantly larger than those of the side walls and slabs. The components in the lower layers of the irregular subway station structure, particularly in the central columns, underwent cumulative damage. The research results could provide a simplified analysis method to quantitatively evaluate the damage of irregular underground structures in soft soil.

The key problem of the energy dissipation scheme of the arch dam body flood discharge and plunge pool below the dam is the stability problem of the plunge pool slab. As the protection structure of the underwater bed, the plunge pool slab bears the continuous impact of high-speed water flow. The hourly average dynamic water pressure on the slab is one of the main loads directly affecting the stability of the slab and is the main factor causing its erosion destruction. After the impoundment of the Xiluodu Hydropower Station, the measuring line of valley width in the plunge pool area has been continuously shrinking. By 2020, the cumulative shrinking value is about 80 ​mm. In light of the general background condition of valley shrinkage, daily inspection, annual detailed inspection, underwater inspection and drainage inspection of the plunge pool found that the plunge pool has experienced different degrees of damage, which greatly influences the long-term safety stability of the plunge pool. In this paper, the prototype observation data of flood discharge is used as the input load of pulsating-pressure, and the stress and displacement distribution of the plunge pool structure under the vibration load of flood discharge is analyzed under the condition that the stress and strain state of the plunge pool is changed under the influence of valley displacement. The results show that the stress, strain, and displacement distribution of the plunge pool are mainly caused by valley deformation, the vibration caused by flood discharge is little in influence, and the impact effect of deep hole flood discharge tongue on the plunge pool slab is weak.

We present a narrative of the eruptive events culminating in the cataclysmic January 15, 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Volcano by synthesizing diverse preliminary seismic, volcanological, sound wave, and lightning data available within the first few weeks after the eruption occurred. The first hour of eruptive activity produced fast-propagating tsunami waves, long-period seismic waves, loud audible sound waves, infrasonic waves, exceptionally intense volcanic lightning and an unsteady volcanic plume that transiently reached—at 58 ​km—the Earth's mesosphere. Energetic seismic signals were recorded worldwide and the globally stacked seismogram showed episodic seismic events within the most intense periods of phreatoplinian activity, and they correlated well with the infrasound pressure waveform recorded in Fiji. Gravity wave signals were strong enough to be observed over the entire planet in just the first few hours, with some circling the Earth multiple times subsequently. These large-amplitude, long-wavelength atmospheric disturbances come from the Earth's atmosphere being forced by the magmatic mixture of tephra, melt and gasses emitted by the unsteady but quasi-continuous eruption from 0402±1–1800 UTC on January 15, 2022. Atmospheric forcing lasted much longer than rupturing from large earthquakes recorded on modern instruments, producing a type of shock wave that originated from the interaction between compressed air and ambient (wavy) sea surface. This scenario differs from conventional ideas of earthquake slip, landslides, or caldera collapse-generated tsunami waves because of the enormous (∼1000x) volumetric change due to the supercritical nature of volatiles associated with the hot, volatile-rich phreatoplinian plume. The time series of plume altitude can be translated to volumetric discharge and mass flow rate. For an eruption duration of ∼12 ​h, the eruptive volume and mass are estimated at 1.9 ​km³ and ∼2 900 ​Tg, respectively, corresponding to a VEI of 5–6 for this event. The high frequency and intensity of lightning was enhanced by the production of fine ash due to magma—seawater interaction with concomitant high charge per unit mass and the high pre-eruptive concentration of dissolved volatiles. Analysis of lightning flash frequencies provides a rapid metric for plume activity and eruption magnitude. Many aspects of this eruption await further investigation by multidisciplinary teams. It represents a unique opportunity for fundamental research regarding the complex, non-linear behavior of high energetic volcanic eruptions and attendant phenomena, with critical implications for hazard mitigation, volcano forecasting, and first-response efforts in future disasters.

In this article, we review the general characteristics of seismicity in and around China and the overall statistics of earthquake damage in 2021, focusing on several significant events and related scientific topics. Among them, the largest event is the M_S 7.4 Madoi earthquake in Qinghai Province, northwest China. The event marks another M_S ​≥ ​7 earthquake occurring near the boundary of the Bayan Har Block that has ended a remarkable quiescence of the M_S ​≥ ​7 earthquakes within the Chinese mainland. In addition, the M_S 6.4 Yangbi earthquake in Yunnan Province, southwest China draws the most attention because of its abundant foreshocks, which are well recorded by the densely distributed seismic stations in the surrounding regions. Regarding this event, we review several recent publications focusing on the Gutenberg-Richter b-value change and the physical mechanism of foreshocks associated with this sequence. The M_S 6.0 Luxian earthquake in Sichuan Province, southwest China has caused serious damage with a relatively low magnitude, partly because the focal depth of the mainshock is relatively shallow (3.5 ​km). It is another strong earthquake occurring within the southeast Sichuan basin with low historical seismicity yet has increased significantly since 2015, probably due to shale gas development and associated hydraulic fracturing.

A series of housing collapses and other serious damage was caused by the 2008 Wenchuan M_S 8.0 earthquake in the seismic intensity Ⅵ areas of the Loess Plateau, which is hundreds of kilometers away from the epicenter, and which showed a remarkable seismic intensity anomaly. The seismic disasters are closely related to the seismic response characteristics of the site, therefore, the systematic study of the far-field seismic response law of the Wenchuan earthquake in the Loess Plateau is of great significance to prevent the far-field disaster of great earthquake. In this paper, the seismic acceleration records of several bedrock stations and loess stations from the seismogenic fault of the Wenchuan earthquake to the Loess Plateau were collected, and the attenuation law of ground motion along the propagation path and the characteristics of seismic response on the loess site are studied, and the mechanism of amplification effect of ground motion is analyzed based on the dynamic feature parameters of the loess site obtained through the HVSR method. Taking a typical loess site of thick deposit as the prototype, a series of shaking table tests of dynamic response of loess site models with different thicknesses were carried out. Amplification effect, spectral characteristics of acceleration in model sites were analyzed under the action of a far-field seismic wave of the Wenchuan earthquake. The results show that seismic attenuation on the propagation path along the NE strike of the seismogenic fault to the Loess Plateau is slower than that in other directions, and the predominant period range of ground motion on bedrock site of the Loess Plateau presents broadband characteristics. Because the natural periods of loess sites with thick deposits are within the predominant period range of bedrock input wave, loess sites appear significant amplification effect of ground motion, the horizontal acceleration of ground motion exceeds 0.1 ​g, the seismic intensity reaches 7°. The thicker the loess deposit is, the more significant the change of spectral characteristics of ground motion on loess sites, and the narrower the predominant period range of ground motion becomes, and the closer it is to the natural period of loess sites. Therefore, for some old houses on thick loess sites, the poor seismic performance and strong seismic response eventually led to their collapses and damages because their natural periods are very close to the predominant period of ground motion of the Wenchuan earthquake on thick loess sites; For these damaged high-rise buildings, the resonance effect might be the main reason for their damages because their natural periods are included in the predominant period range of ground motion of the Wenchuan earthquake on thick loess sites.These research results would provide a basis for seismic disasters prediction and evaluation and seismic design of construction engineering in the Loess Plateau.

Using hypocenter relocation, moment tensor inversion, stress field inversion, and fault slip tendency analysis, this study systematically investigated three M5.5–5.8 earthquake sequences that occurred after 2000 in the Yongning-Luguhu faulted basin in the middle of the Lijiang-Xiaojinhe fault zone within the Sichuan-Yunnan block, Southwest China. Our results show that since the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, the tectonic stress pattern in this area may have changed and that b-values estimated for the earthquake sequences show evidence of an increasing trend in stress in the study area. Seismicity in the small-scale faulted basin adjacent to the large-scale fault zone is a possible indicator of regional stress. We also note that the aftershocks of the M5.7 earthquake sequence in 2012 and the M5.5 earthquake sequence in 2022 show relatively clear fluid diffusion-triggering characteristics. Overpressure of deep fluids is still the main factor driving seismic activity in the region, and we propose that the background tectonic stresses have not yet reached critical levels.

The Xinfengjiang reservoir in Guangdong Province, is one of the large reservoirs that have triggered earthquakes of magnitude greater than 6. Numerous earthquakes have occurred since the impoundment of the reservoir, making it one of the most active seismic zones in south China. In 2015, a set of deep-hole resistivity anomalies was observed in the Heping geoelectric station in Dongyuan county, located near the Xinfengjiang reservoir. After a field investigation, we found that a planned well drilling construction of new measuring channels was being carried out during that corresponding period of time. After careful comparison and analysis on the basis of the collected raw data, we had a reason to believe that drilling construction, rather than the inducement of the Xinfengjiang reservoir, was the main culprit for those unusual georesistivity values. So as to verify the above conjecture, we constructed a series of 3D finite element models based on the geological and hydrological information around Heping station and analyzed the drilling disturbances, respectively. Some significant conclusions were finally drawn according to the precise numerical simulation. This study gives a good example by combining numerical simulation with engineering practice as a way to understand the root cause of georesistivity anomalies in reality.