JOURNAL OF APPLIED GEOPHYSICS, cilt.208, ss.1-14, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
The site
effect plays a very important role in determining the structural damage that
may occur in a possible major earthquake. In this study, seventy-nine strong
ground-motion records (M > 4.5) from past earthquake events in the Lake Van
region, recorded by 14 accelerometer stations located on dissimilar geological
units, were analyzed for local soil properties using horizontal-to-vertical
spectral ratio (EHVSR) method. In addition, EHVSR results were compared with Standard
Spectral Ratio (SSR) results, which is another method used to determine soil
amplification. The obtained predominant period, amplification factor, seismic
vulnerability index (Kg) and bedrock depth values were examined. The EHVSR
results show that the predominant frequencies of the sites and the
amplification factor values were estimated as 0.58–5.77 Hz and 1.84–7.5,
respectively. The seismic vulnerability index (Kg) values, which are crucial
parameter in hazard assessment, change from 1.6 to 30. The bedrock depths range between 11 and 186 m
for the study area. From the results
of this study it is found that the damage may be high after a possible
destructive earthquake in the study area where the predominant period,
amplification, Kg values and bedrock depth are high.