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CORRELATION OF HVSR TESTS WITH THE GEOTECHNICAL MAP OF PORTO (NORTH PORTUGAL)

Liliana Teixeira, Carlos Bateira, Rui Moura, Ana Almeida, Catarina Caldeira

Abstract

Located in the northern part of continental Portugal, the city of Porto is characterized by low-to-moderate levels of seismicity, thus one of reasons for the lack of studies regarding the influence of site effects in this area. In this study, the HVSR technique (horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio) was used in order to obtain information about the fundamental frequencies of the ground in several parts of the city which was later compared to the geotechnical information presented in the Geotechnical Map of Porto, with the aim of establishing a possible correlation between frequency values and sub-soil geotechnical characteristics. This type of research plays an important role in understanding how local geological characteristics may influence the amplification of seismic waves. For this purpose, two types of studies were conducted in the city of Porto пїЅ two linear test campaigns along two major streets in the city, Boavista Avenue and ConstituiпїЅпїЅo Street; and one dispersed test campaign within the hydrographic basin of Frio River, an underground river flowing in the areas of Carregal Garden, Santo AntпїЅnio Hospital, Cordoaria Garden and Virtudes Garden. The three campaigns represented a total of 53 recordings of ambient ground noise using a broad band seismometer and the resulted data was used to produce HVSR graphics. From these graphics it was possible to determine the fundamental frequencies (f0) of several points within the city. Resorting to the geotechnical map of the city and having identified the geotechnical units existing in each test place as well as the parameters used to their classification, it was possible to establish a connection between frequency values and substrate competence. The results suggest a strong relation between these parameters, low frequencies relate to softer grounds and as an opposite high frequencies to harder bedrock.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2017/14/s05.009

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