Site Response for Seismic Hazard Assessment

Abstract

This entry begins with a short overview of available methods for site characterization and evaluation of soil dynamic properties (section “Soil Dynamic Properties and Measurement Techniques”), factors that are essential for the assessment of site response effects. Ground response analyses are then discussed in the section “Ground Response Analysis,” describing linear and nonlinear approaches for the study of one-dimensional wave propagation problems in free-field conditions. Soil–structure interaction and earthquake-induced ground failure problems, such as soil liquefaction, landslides, and retaining structure instability, are outside the scope of the entry and, therefore, are not discussed here. A review is given in Kramer (1996), Kramer and Stewart (2004), and Semblat and Pecker (2009). Finally, the section “Future Challenges” provides an overview of future challenges in the field of geotechnical earthquake engineering.