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CHARACTERISTICS OF FOREIGN EARTHQUAKES IMPACT RECORDED ON SOUTHWESTERN BULGARIAN TERRITORY

С. Симеонов

Abstract

It is well-known that earthquakes do not consider boundaries and Bulgaria is also subjected to seismic impacts from earthquake sources located in the neighbouring countries, i.e. outside its territory. Without doubt the actual impact from these sources on our built environment is to be taken into account by our engineers and planners. This could be done properly if only based on instrumental records of real events and after assessment of their characteristics. The effect of Vrancea quakes on our territory is rather well studied, recognized and included in our seismic codes, too. But there isn?t enough accumulated information of similar kind for southern Bulgaria. The subject in this study are earthquake records on our territory caused by foreign seismic sources near our boundaries that strike mainly southwestern part of Bulgaria. In the last decade foreign quakes? impact on our territory have also been thoroughly recorded by the digital stations of the National Strong Ground Motion Network of Bulgaria. Thus a collection of accelerograms is accumulated. Its analysis and assessment of the local impact is essential for earthquake research/engineering and prevention purposes of the building sites in SW Bulgaria. Thus indicative records of the last 10 years are selected for this study. Processed data, relevant to the aseismic design of structures, for representative recording spots in southwestren Bulgaria is extracted and discussed. Evaluation, comparison and assessment of the real dynamic impact on our territory of a number of latest foregn seismic sources? quakes with M = (4.9 ? 5.3) is submitted, accounting for the difference in earthquake inputs: source mechanism, amount of energy released, seismic waves? travel path, distance to hypocentre, local geology etc. The results obtained here give an opportunity for researchers and earthquake engineers to work in an adequate, updated environment, i.e. considering the latest actual seismic action of foreign earthquakes on sites in SW Bulgaria and thus contribute to seismic risk reduction in our country.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2018/5.1/s20.022

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