Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by HARMSEN, S. Articles by HARDING, S. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Surface motion over a sedimentary valley for incident plane P and SV waves

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, BOX 25046, STOP 966DENVER FEDERAL CENTER, DENVER, COLORADO 80225

Abstract

Finite difference techniques are applied to study the response of a sedimentary basin in an isotropic elastic half-space to vertically incident compressional and shear sources. The sedimentary rock of the basin is modeled as a transversely isotropic material. Improved finite difference approximations to the boundary conditions are developed.

Of primary interest is the formation of Rayleigh waves over the flank of the basin. Displacement time series at points on the free surface and Rayleigh orbits are plotted. Three-dimensional spectral amplitude graphs of the entire time series up to a period of temporary quiescence are presented. The Rayleigh wave is the dominant scattered phase for the basin geometry considered, having 20 to 30 per cent of the source displacement amplitude at the free surface in a basin with 26° flanks, 0.7-km depth, 6-km width, over a half-space whose acoustic impedance contrast with the basin was two. The effect of varying the degree of compressional anisotropy in the basin on the amplitudes of refracted and scattered phases of engineering interest was minimal.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Wave Propagation and Site Response in the Santa Clara Valley Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 2003; 93(1): 480 - 500.

				M. Bouchon and O. Coutant Calculation of synthetic seismograms in a laterally varying medium by the boundary element-discrete wavenumber method Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 1994; 84(6): 1869 - 1881. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. FRANKEL Three-dimensional simulations of ground motions in the San Bernardino Valley, California, for hypothetical earthquakes on the San Andreas fault Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, August 1, 1993; 83(4): 1020 - 1041. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. FRANKEL and J. VIDALE A three-dimensional simulation of seismic waves in the Santa Clara Valley, California, from a Loma Prieta aftershock Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, October 1, 1992; 82(5): 2045 - 2074. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. A. BRAVO, F. J. SANCHEZ-SESMA, and F. J. CHAVEZ-GARCIA Ground motion on stratified alluvial deposits for incident SH waves Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 1988; 78(2): 436 - 450. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P.-Y. BARD and M. BOUCHON The two-dimensional resonance of sediment-filled valleys Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 1985; 75(2): 519 - 541. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. J. SANCHEZ-SESMA, M. A. BRAVO, and I. HERRERA Surface motion of topographical irregularities for incident P, SV, and Rayleigh waves Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 1985; 75(1): 263 - 269. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. H. EMERMAN and R. A. STEPHEN Comment on "absorbing boundary conditions for acoustic and elastic wave equations," by R. Clayton and B. Engquist Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 1983; 73(2): 661 - 665. [PDF]