Empirical linear seismic site amplification in central and eastern North America

Abstract

We present empirical linear site amplification models conditioned on time-averaged shear wave velocity in the upper 30 m (VS30) for central and eastern North America. The models are derived from ground motion data and site condition information from the NGA-East project and are intended for use with reference rock ground motion models. Site amplification is found to scale with VS30 for intermediate to stiff site conditions (VS30 > 300 m∕s) in a weaker manner than for active tectonic regions such as the western United States. For stiff sites (>800 m∕s), we find differences in site amplification for previously glaciated and nonglaciated regions, with nonglaciated sites having lower amplification. The models were developed using a combination of least-squares, mixed effects, and Bayesian techniques; the latter show that accounting for predictor uncertainty does not appreciably affect the median model but decreases model dispersion. Our VS30-scaling models are modular and additive to simulation-based models for the nonlinear components of site response. A limitation of the present models is that they do not account for site-specific resonance effects.