Analyses of the seismic actions recorded during the 2016 central Italy seismic sequence: Observed vs code provision values

Abstract

On August 24, 2016 at 03.36 a.m. (Italian time), a Mw 6.0 earthquake struck an extensive portion of the Central Italy. The epicentre was located among the municipalities of Accumoli (province of Rieti), Amatrice (province of Rieti) and Arquata del Tronto (province of Ascoli Piceno). After this first seismic event, from the academic point of view, several technical and scientific activities started with the aim to carry out preliminary evaluations on the characteristics of the seismic sequence, in order to interpret the possible effects of soil amplification in the areas affected by the earthquake and the damages observed on structures. The activities are continuing after the Mw 5.9 earthquake on October 26, 2016 and the Mw 6.5 earthquake on October 30, 2016. The strong motion recorded signals have been analysed in terms of peaks (PGA, PGV and PGD) and integral seismic parameters starting from data recorded by the closest stations to the epicentres. Several comparisons between the elastic response spectra retrieved from accelerometric recordings and the elastic demand spectra provided by the Italian seismic code (NTC 2008) have also been performed.