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Seismic Zoning Map of India


Ramesh P. Singh [Saturday, January 26, 2002 8:56 AM]

S. P. Badami [Saturday, January 26, 2002 5:42 PM]

Ramesh P. Singh [Saturday, January 26, 2002 8:20 PM]

Arzhang Alimoradi [Sunday, January 27, 2002 1:09 AM]

Jitendra K. Bothara [Sunday, January 27, 2002 9:18 AM]

S.P. Badami [Sunday, January 27, 2002 11:46 AM]

Ramesh P. Singh [Sunday, January 27, 2002 12:33 PM]

M. Hariharan [Sunday, January 27, 2002 21:52 PM]

Shashikant N Sarada [Sunday, January 27, 2002 23:45 PM]  

Arzhang Alimoradi [Monday, January 28, 2002 1:17 AM]

Arzhang Alimoradi [Monday, January 28, 2002 2:01 AM]

Jitendra K. Bothara [Monday, January 28, 2002 3:04 AM]

C. V. R. Murty [Wednesday, January 30, 2002 2:00 PM]

Durgesh Rai [Wednesday, January 30, 2002 6:26 PM]

Ramesh P. Singh [Thursday, January 31, 2002 2:23 AM]

Ramesh P. Singh [Thursday, January 31, 2002 2:46 AM]

Kishor Jaiswal [Saturday, February 02, 2002 12:00 PM]

Prachee Dhavlikar [Thursday, January 31, 2002 7:16 PM]

Ramesh P. Singh [Sunday, February 03, 2002 11:10 AM]

S.P. Srinivasan [Sunday, February 03, 2002 9:01 PM]

Debabrata Bhadra [Monday, February 04, 2002 2:39 PM]

M. Hariharan [Tuesday, February 05, 2002 8:40 PM]


Ramesh P. Singh [Saturday, January 26, 2002 8:56 AM]

 

hello,

What I believe that for seismic codes of any country, the most crucial input is the seismic zoning map. The way we have prepared the seismic zoning map of India is NOT AT ALL correct and whatever the seismic codes exist or developed are not correct. The important contributions of the scientists and engineers of India, is to make coordinated efforts to make a reliable seismic zoning map of India before we discuss Sesismic codes, I am afraid that unless we do this all other efforts are in vain. I  would like to know the thinking of my colleagues and friends.

 

Ramesh P. Singh

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S.P. Badami [Saturday, January 26, 2002 5:42 PM]

 

 Reply to Prof. Ramesh P Singh, IITK:
"........ before we discuss Seismic codes, I am afraid that unless we do this all other efforts are in vain....."
Knowledge and understanding of earthquakes and behavior of structures keeps improving over a period of time. The main objective is providing safe economic structures. We know that higher the self weight of a structure, greater is the stability against wind. We also know that it is quite opposite where earthquake is concerned. It is also folly not to remember that the stiffness and mass govern the behavior of the structure to earthquakes. It may be of academic interest to first have the Seismic Zone Map of India corrected and then discuss seismic codes. Then it might as well be that we do not construct buildings because we still need to do the basics! There were certain anomalies in the IS:1893-1984 which not only are needed to be discussed by us but addressed to in the Draft Code. The geologists and concerned seismologists/engineers might work on correcting the Zoning Map of India. If we keep waiting for this then the draft seismic code we will perhaps see the light of day in 2010? Actually the system should be such that these important codes should get revised every three years, with the process commencing from the day the draft code comes into being. We have a strong track record of stability:
IS:456-2000 was revised after 22 years
IS:800-1984 yet to be revised after 18 years
IS:1893-1984 the draft code is due to come out any time - 18 Years later
IS:4326-1976 revised to IS:13920-1993 took 17 years and now already 9 years old.
IS:875-1987 was revised after 23 years and is already 15 years old
Is there anything more to say on this?

Sudhir Badami

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Ramesh P. Singh [Saturday, January 26, 2002 8:20 PM]

 

 hello Mr. Sudhir Badami,
Thanks for your response. I am surprised to read
"It may be of academic interest to first have the Seismic Zone Map of  India corrected and then discuss seismic codes. Then it might as well be  that we do not construct buildings because we still need to do the  basics!     
This is the problem with us. We do not think anything in totality. We always try to think within the domain in which we are interested, taking other things granted. We should also think seriously the main basis for the change of codes or upgradation of codes. Saying that Seismic zoning map and its upgradation is of academic interest, has really surprised me. In such case, I can also say that upgradation of seismic codes is also of academic interest when we know that what type of buildings are being made in most vulnerable seismic prone regions/countries like Japan and in California.  What I see that Seismologists, Geologists, Geophysicists  and Engineers are trying to work in their individual domain, and this leads us to think that  draft seismic code will perhaps see the light of  day in 2010? If we make coordinated efforts, I have no doubts that we can see the draft within no time. Otherwise, we will delay any project like the good example of Tehri is before all of us. 

R.P. Singh

 

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Arzhang Alimoradi [Sunday, January 27, 2002 1:09 AM]

 

Response to Mr. Sudhir Badami

I have to say that I agree with Professor Singh. As you might be aware,  this field of science/practice is already a multidisciplinary one. There is not much difference between our academic issues (in different fields) and those we face in real life or in industry. Input from different fields is necessary. Lack of precise Seismic Hazard Maps shall not prevent us or distract our attention form considering the basics (and I do really mean basics) of the seismic design, in which the structure would behave relatively acceptable during a seismic event which in turn will save lots of lives. I would like also to add one more thing: Seems to me that most of the discussions here are focused on Building Codes, which are naturally important. But,  isn't that important too, to be concerned about the art of seismic design which is independent of any specific code? The rules of the  nature do not obey any national code!  A successful designer is one who understands/feels/pictures these rules and so his artwork behaves in a way the designer had wanted to. It's obvious though it's where we are heading now. "Performance Based Seismic Engineering". Prescriptive Design Codes have shown enough their capabilities. "Consequence Based Engineering" proposed recently at MAE center is another approach that might be of interest too. Overall, very interesting discussions. Thanks to the organizers and participants.

Arzhang Alimoradi

 

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Jitendra K. Bothara [Sunday, January 27, 2002 9:18 AM]

 

Hi Colleagues,
It is interesting to join you all on this issues. I have few remarks (?) on lapping of bars, seismic zoning map and other issues. These are:

….

2. Seismic Zoning map
I agree with prof. Singh that we must see every thing in totality but I think issue of seismic zoning map should not hinder up coming process. I think, from procedural aspect, seismic code can be divided in two major parts: a) seismic zoning map which is more multidisciplinary in nature and of course discussion should be on it as well. And next is b) design loads/ design approach which is more engineering in nature. Regarding, seismic zoning map, it do not match  in boundary region of US and Canada even though both are prepared very rationally. Even seismic zoning map of Nepal (NBC105-1994, draft) very much differs with IS1893-1985 (sorry I donot have IS1893-2001). Nepal seismic zoning map considers higher seismicity in central-west Nepal and gradually reducing in north and south. It considers a seismic gap roughly between west of Kathmandu and Dehradun alomg middle mountains. There are people who do not ready to reconize any such seismic gap. Similarly, a lot of conflict exists in intraplate earthquakes, its strength etc. Any seismic zoning map prepared considering or omitting seismic gap or taking consideration of other conflicts would be quite different. Again, it is not only seismic force that affects the damagability of a building, it is more a building itself. A well designed, detailed and well constructed building should be ideally insensitive to force level as it would go in inelastic regime in severe earthquake.

…..

It is all for now. See you later.

Jitendra K. Bothara

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S.P. Badami [Sunday, January 27, 2002 11:46 AM]

 

Response to Dr R P Singh and Arzhang Alimoradi,

I mean that Seismologists and Geologists may find it of academic interest to upgrade the Seismic Zoning Map of India, hence may proceed with speed lower than needed as their resources may not be adequate to carryout the needed research. But the buildings have to be built with the state of the knowledge of earthquakes and structure's responses to them. The normal professional engineer cannot be expected to do this task of correcting Seismic Zoning Map, hence it is left to the Code's Committee to upgrade the codes keeping in view the quality of information available and needed and the speed with which it is needed.

Until more precise data is available, we have to make do with what is available and do so intelligently. Which some lacunae existing in the seismic codes, or wrong understanding of some clauses, it is necessary to get a better understanding and that is easily possible through an e-conference like this.

When I say 'of academic interest', I mean that the time frame is of little consequence and hence resources deployed are also meager, which results in getting things progressing at slow pace. If catastrophes set the pace for development of the correct Seismic Zoning Map then we have had Latur and Bhuj to remind us. Discussions on seismic codes itself may put pressure on appropriate authority to take initiative in making that happen. Lot of things have to go on simultaneously unless there is a danger of gross contradiction.

Upgrading Seismic Codes is not an exercise of academic interest alone. The lacunae and anomalies in the existing codes have to be addressed with the additional knowledge and understanding of the subject since their last publication in 1984. It is a document to be used extensively by Structural Engineers.

More on the lacunae and anomalies separately.

 

Sudhir P Badami

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Ramesh P. Singh [Sunday, January 27, 2002 12:33 PM]

 

Dear Mr. Sudhir Badami,
Discussions on seismic codes itself may
> put pressure on appropriate authority to take initiative in making that  happen. Lot of things have to go on simultaneously  >unless there is a danger of gross contradiction.    
My main contention is that one should not talk about the seismic codes  without accounting sesimic zoning maps. The Earthquake Engineers of this country have never bothered about the seismic zoning map, they are only bothering about the seismic codes. If they start bothering, they can force the Government/agencies to upgrade sesmic zoning map which is one of the crucial input to the Sesimic codes.

R.P. Singh

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M. Hariharan [Sunday, January 27, 2002 21:52 PM]

 

Arzhang Alimoradi wrote:

> ..... "Consequence Based Engineering" 
> proposed recently at MAE center is another approach that might be of   interest too. 
> Overall, very interesting discussions. Thanks to the organizers and   participants. 

Arzhang,

The idea of consequence based engineering, from the title, looks appealing. Could you elaborate the concept please?

 

Hariharan

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Shashikant N Sarada [Sunday, January 27, 2002 23:45 PM]

 

> Arzhang,
> The idea of consequence based engineering, from the title, looks appealing. Could you  elaborate the concept please?
> Hariharan

Targeting new loss reduction measures through a unified approach is known as Consequence-Based Engineering (CBE), this term has been coined by Mid-America Earthquke (MEA) Center. The process of Consequence-Based Engineering is cyclical, with consequence assessment followed by an intervention method for consequence minimization, then re-assessment after intervention, leading to the achievement of an acceptable set of consequences on the economic and social levels.

Following are the objectives of MAE Center Education Program and are relevant to this e-conference.

1 Promote student involvement in research through symposia, student groups, field missions, internships, and relevant research experiences.
2 Advance undergraduate and graduate engineering curricula with new cross- disciplinary programs in earthquake engineering.
3 Develop tools to enhance learning of earthquake engineering at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
4 Outreach to pre-college students.
5 Enhance public awareness and transfer advanced earthquake engineering knowledge and technology to engineering practitioners.
For more information on CBE visit mae.ce.uiuc.edu/Research/BodyNV.htm

Regards,

 

-Shashikant

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Arzhang Alimoradi [Monday, January 28, 2002 1:17 AM]

 

Thanks for your comments.
All I say is that:  It's generally possible for an earthquake engineer to design a building to survive an earthquake having little or even not accurate information about the level of seismic hazard in the region.  I want even to go one more step further: It's also doable without having access to the sophisticated computational tools!  We have plenty of examples around.
Policy making, refining the maps, advanced analysis techniques such as Time history analysis, Push-over, yield point spectra, advanced technologies such as base isolation, active/passive/hybrid methods are all interesting and promising. Though what we ignore most of the times is basics of earthquake resistant design: soft story problems, irregularities in height and plan, uniform distribution of mass and lateral load bearing elements throughout the structure, ductility, torsion, ... Otherwise static method (seismic coefficient) is generally more than enough for most of the simple structures. No need even for more refined analyses.
Thanks again.

Arzhang Alimoradi

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Arzhang Alimoradi [Monday, January 28, 2002 2:01 AM]

 

Dear All and Dear Hariharan;

First I appreciate Shashikant 's quick answer to Hariharan 's question, though a big part of that reply was basically related to the MAE center education program and not very much related to CBE as one of the major projects of the center. I would invite you to please refer to the descriptions of projects FD-1 to FD-3 on MAE center web site at: http://mae.ce.uiuc.edu/Research/EP.htm 

To put it in simple words: we have now three major approaches under development (some already in implementation phase): 1. Performance Based Design: as the new generation of seismic codes vs.  traditional prescriptive codes: How to design the structures in order to perform in a way we (designers/owners) want, during a seismic event.
2. Consequence Based Engineering: It's mostly a system based approach: How to design a system of infrastructures (or to retrofit) to minimize the consequences of a disaster. It's especially attractive for such regions like Mid Amercia where intraplate earthquakes happen not too frequently but strong enough to affect a big region (because of the attenuation characteristics of the central and eastern United States, they can be really damaging) Again: System Based: So it's an study over a system of, for an example, infrastructures, networks,...
3. New technologies: active structural control, passive energy dissipation, hybrid control, based isolation techniques, structural health monitoring,... Question: Is anybody aware of any applications of base isolation techniques in India? There  are a few simple/effective/and cheap methods that can be implemented easily. One was proposed in Iran a few years ago where you can put One/Two story residential buildings over a thin layer of sand spread over a raft foundation, as a friction type isolation system. I appreciate any inputs in this matter. I hope this could help. You can also find plenty of information on these topics on Internet.

Best Regards;

 

Arzhang Alimoradi

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Jitendra K. Bothara [Monday, January 28, 2002 3:04 AM]

 

It is intresting to participate the discussion on seismic zoning map. I fully agree with Mr. Alimoradi's comment on seismic zoning. Of course seismic zoning map is first step of earthquake resistant design but more important is basics of earthquake resistant design and construction whcich are lagging most of the time. With a good undersatanding of building behavior, a earthquake resistant building can be designed even without very accurate seismic map or sophisticated computational tools. Of course, a blunder in seismic zoning map could be fatal. I am not trying to undermine worth of seismic zoning map.Its improveement with development in earth science is important as well. I understand, one hospital is under construction with base-isolation in Bhuj with NZ technical assistance.

Jitendra K bOthara

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C.V.R. Murty [Wednesday, January 30, 2002 2:00 PM]

 

Seismic Zone Maps
============
A lot has been said on the seismic zone maps so far. I am particularly thankful to Dr. Ramesh P.Singh, Professor of Geophysics at IIT Kanpur, for kicking off the discussion on such a vital topic. I realise that the topic is too vast and complex. To demonstrate the same, I am penning a few basic remarks on the complexities involved in the efforts of seismic zoning. The following is not a description of the process of evolving a seismic zone map, but it just gives a rough idea of areas where we need to concentrate. The seismic zones maps can be of different levels of precision.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage (a)
DATA :: Use isoseismals from past EQs.
PROCESS:: On a map of India, for each place, obtain the maximum intensity sustained during past EQs. Identify all areas with equal seismic shaking intensity (on MSK Scale).
Make seismic zones as below
:: Places with Intensity V and less - Zone I
:: Places with Intensity VI - Zone II
:: Places with Intensity VII - Zone III
:: Places with Intensity VIII - Zone IV
:: Places with Intensity IX and more - Zone V
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage (b)
DATA :: As in (a) above plus and existing known ACTIVE faults (with magnitude M_max of projected size of largest EQ in future on each).
PROCESS 1 :: Relate the M_max on the fault to the intensity at different distances from it using attenuation relations (M versus Intensity) applicable for the region. (We need enough data from different parts of India to have reliable attenuation relations for the different regions of the country.) Do this with all known active faults. Now continue the seismic zoning as in stage (a) above.
OR
PROCESS 2 :: Relate the M_max on the fault to the peak ground accelerations at different distances from it using attenuation relations  M versus accelerations) applicable for the region. (Again, we need  enough data from different parts of India to have reliable attenuation relations for the different regions of the country.) Do this will all known active faults.
Make seismic zones as below
:: Places with accelerations 0.0-0.1g - Zone I
:: Places with accelerations 0.1-0.2g - Zone II
:: Places with accelerations 0.2-0.3g - Zone III
:: Places with accelerations 0.3-0.4g - Zone IV
:: Places with accelerations 0.4g and more - Zone V
(The acceleration ranges indicated here are just for discussion purposes.)
PROCESS 2 may be preferred over PROCESS 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, we need to add the data from other complexities::
1. Paleoseismic Studies on Active and Passive Faults - Paleoseimologists trench across faults and study all past slips and associate a size (Magnitude) with each of them. That gives a better idea of the largest size of the EQ that has already taken place along those faults.....
2. Strong ground motion instrumentation data from the neighbourhood of faults - Strong motion instruments (accelerometers) are placed on ground along the neighbourhood of faults. And, one may be lucky to have instruments in the neighbourhood of faults when earthquakes take place on them. The actual levels of accelerations generated there are captured on them.
3. Near-field (or near-fault) effects in the ground motions - If the instruments placed are in the near-neighbourhood of the faults, the special spikes in the strong ground motions very close to faults can be captured.
4. Identifying new faults through detailed geological studies.
5. Probability of occurrences of earthquakes and the magnitudes associated with them.
6. Many more ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stage (z)
DATA::
Earthquake source, seismicity and geometry = Fault lines, fault planes, probability density function for the magnitude of the projected maximum earthquakes on all points on those faults. 

Attenuation curves for peak ground accelerations with distance = the probability distributions for different magnitudes of earthquakes
PROCESS::
For each value of annual probability of exceedance, obtain the associated peak ground acceleration value for each location due to the projected maximum earthquake occurring at each point on the fault line or fault plane. Make seismic zones with places of acceleration contours with same annual probability of exceedance. Thus, there will be many maps with different annual probabilities of exceedance. The above procedure may be repeated with spectral accelerations instead of peak ground accelerations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clearly, the involvement of structural and geotechnical engineers,  eologists, geophysicist, seismologists, paleoseismologists, seismotectonicists,.... keeps increasing with each Stage. Also, the extent of probabilistic concepts also increase with each Stage. We need a critical mass of professionals with diverse backgrounds mentioned above to be dedicated towards making the seismic zone map in India, before we can see monumental progress in the seismic zone maps of the country....
The seismic zone map in the current Indian seismic code (IS1893:1984)is at Stage (a), and that in the draft code is an attempt  towards Stage (b). In India, seismic zone map making process needs to evolve a long way to reach the State-of-the-art Seismic Zone Map in Stage (z) or thereabouts that some countries with advanced seismic provisions are already actively pursuing.....

c.v.r.murty

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Durgesh Rai [Wednesday, January 30, 2002 6:26 PM]

 

More on zoning maps:
Zoning maps has been the second most discussed topics so far. They are also the second most item (after the magnitude) to be discussed in the media after the occurrence of a destructive earthquake! They are very important as a statement on relative seismic hazard for a given region not only for general awareness about earthquakes but also for engineering purposes. The hazard parameter enters into the seismic force calculation for design of structures, and therefore, they are integral part of the seismic codes. There have been concerns regarding the philosophy and techniques that have been used to derive the seismic zone map in IS 1893. Some of the difficulties arise due to sparse database of past earthquakes (seismicity), especially in the Deccan area and their effects, known mostly in qualitative terms from intensity observations. The recent trend worldwide is that these maps are not only probability based (to go with probabilistics based design approach) but also expressed in terms of spectral accelerations and velocities which are closely related to response  quantities of structure (unlike peak ground acceleration or intensity), which are of interest to engineers. These can be directly used to derive design spectra for a given site. Further, site soils effects and near source effects can be included in the design  spectrum with relative ease.
Damage based intensity scales such as MSK are based on damage to 'small' buildings and do not really reflect the behaviour of major engineered structures such as multi-storeyed buildings (damage to high-rise buildings in Ahmedabad is a case in point). Our present zoning map draws heavily from these intensity observations. In this context, I agree with CVR Murty that a lot more has to be done in the country by way of collecting instrumented data, improving the quality of available historical data, understanding various probable sources of earthquakes in a given area, etc. before a rational zone map along the current thoughts can be developed. It is a difficult problem indeed, but certainly doable. I would like to hear from those who are more familiar with the process of developing zone maps for IS 1893 and what do they think about the probable roadmap  for developing state-of-art of zone maps suggested by CVR Murty.  Fortunately, as past experience has shown (and rightly pointed out by previous discussers) that a well detailed earthquake-resistant structure is most likely to survive a collapse even in an earthquake which may cause forces much larger than those estimated by using current zone maps. I believe this  force-insensitivity of properly detailed structure (adequate deformability with stability) convinces engineers to pay far greater attention to detailing aspects than to worry about accurately estimating the earthquake forces! Nonetheless, it is not to suggest that engineers have ignored or underestimated the utility of these maps. Better and rational zoning maps are always helpful in realizing safe and economical structures. 

Durgesh Rai

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Ramesh P. Singh [Thursday, January 31, 2002 2:23 AM]

 dear Dr. Murty,
I read your basic remarks on Seismic zoning with great interest.
Let me start with your concluding comments:
The seismic zone map in the current Indian seismic code (IS1893:1984)
> is at Stage (a), and that in the draft code is an attempt towards
> Stage (b). In India, seismic zone map making process needs to evolve
> a long way to reach the State-of-the-art Seismic Zone Map in Stage (z)
> or thereabouts that some countries with advanced seismic provisions
> are already actively pursuing.....         
I do not know the Stages of Seismic Zone map listed by you, are your
thoughts or you have read somewhere. If it is listed somewhere I would
like to know the reference.
You wrote that the Current Zone map is at stage (b) and we will take long
way to achieve Stage (z) whereas other countries are quite advanced.
Let me go the gross root, why it has happened!! or happening!!
We are all responsible, specially the young scientists/engineers in
general. I do not want to elaborate but you can think!
 You will agree with me that seismic zoning map requires a
coordinated effort but what we are doing in this country. Ever since
Koyna the scientists/engineers are competing with each other and as
a result nothing is moving neither the Seismic zoning map nor the Tehri
dam!! The story is still continuing, is there any coordination among
scientists/engineers!!!!! I think all of us should think seriously if we
have to achieve something is this country.
Let me give my specific comments (read below):
On Wed, 30 Jan 2002, C. V. R. Murty wrote:
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Stage (a)
> DATA :: Use isoseismals from past EQs.
> PROCESS:: On a map of India, for each place,
> obtain the maximum intensity sustained during past EQs.
> Identify all areas with equal seismic shaking intensity (on MSK Scale).
> Make seismic zones as below
> :: Places with Intensity V and less - Zone I
> :: Places with Intensity VI - Zone II
> :: Places with Intensity VII - Zone III
> :: Places with Intensity VIII - Zone IV
> :: Places with Intensity IX and more - Zone V
RP's --
Well, earthquakes have recurrence cycle of 50 - 100 years. I do not think
that we have very good records of Intensity and moreover not many major
earthquakes have occurred in shield areas. In the Himalayn region, we have
better record and I can say that in this region, our seismic zoning map is
around Stage (z) and one can achieve in complete sense if we do
coordinated efforts.
In the shield region, for the intraplate earthquakes, I do not think
one can classify the seismic zones based on isoseismals. For the
intraplate earthquakes (apart from Bhuj) isoseismals are quite different
and their characteristics are also different.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Stage (b)
> DATA :: As in (a) above plus
> and existing known ACTIVE faults
> (with magnitude M_max of projected size of largest EQ in future on each).
>
> PROCESS 1 :: Relate the M_max on the fault to the intensity at
> different distances from it using attenuation relations (M versus Intensity)
>
> applicable for the region. (We need enough data from different parts of
> India to have reliable attenuation relations for the different regions of
> the country.)
> Do this with all known active faults.
> Now continue the seismic zoning as in stage (a) above.

RP's Comment : Let me leave Himalayn region since we are close to Stage
(z). For shield region, we do not have much knowledge and also it is
difficult to know about the faults and more about active faults except
few. In this region, the characteristics of intraplate earthquakes
are entirely different so I do not think most of the time faults are
the source of earthquakes. so the above approach is not feasible.
> OR
>
> PROCESS 2 :: Relate the M_max on the fault to the peak ground
> accelerations at different distances from it using attenuation relations
> (M versus accelerations) applicable for the region. (Again, we need
> enough data from different parts of India to have reliable attenuation
> relations for the different regions of the country.)
> Do this will all known active faults.
> Make seismic zones as below
> :: Places with accelerations 0.0-0.1g - Zone I
> :: Places with accelerations 0.1-0.2g - Zone II
> :: Places with accelerations 0.2-0.3g - Zone III
> :: Places with accelerations 0.3-0.4g - Zone IV
> :: Places with accelerations 0.4g and more - Zone V
> (The acceleration ranges indicated here are just for discussion purposes.)
RP'S comments:
Again, I am ignoring Himalayan region. Since we do not have knowledge of
faults and so far no guess of attenuation relation, again this approach is
not feasible.
>
> PROCESS 2 may be preferred over PROCESS 1.
RP's Comments: No question of preference based on above commnets.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Now, we need to add the data from other complexities::
>
> 1. Paleoseismic Studies on Active and Passive Faults -
> Paleoseimologists trench across faults and study all past slips and
> associate a size (Magnitude) with each of them. That gives a better idea of
> the largest size of the EQ that has already taken place along those
> faults.....
RP--
?????
In shield region - it is almost impossible.??????????????????????
> 2. Strong ground motion instrumentation data from the neighbourhood
> of faults -
> Strong motion instruments (accelerometers) are placed on ground along
> the neighbourhood of faults. And, one may be lucky to have instruments
> in the neighbourhood of faults when earthquakes take place on them.
> The actual levels of accelerations generated there are captured on them.
>
RP--
This way one has to wait may be million years???
> 3. Near-field (or near-fault) effects in the ground motions -
> If the instruments placed are in the near-neighbourhood of the faults,
> the special spikes in the strong ground motions very close to faults
> can be captured.
The intraplate earthquakes are not related to faults, I do not think we
can get enough and sufficient data, again we have to wait million years.
> 4. Identifying new faults through detailed geological studies.
RP----
Impossible to know about new faults using geological studies, one can get
information from geophysical studies but it is also impossible, most of
the faults are subsurface faults. Some are mapped which are subsurface.
Moreover,. there is not much use by identifying the faults in shield
region.
> 5. Probability of occurrences of earthquakes and the magnitudes
> associated with them.
>
RP-- One can not get anything
6. Many more ...
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Stage (z)
> DATA::
> Earthquake source, seismicity and geometry =
> Fault lines, fault planes, probability density function for the magnitude
> of the projected maximum earthquakes on all points on those faults.
>
> Attenuation curves for peak ground accelerations with distance =
> the probability distributions for different magnitudes of earthquakes
RP's
One of the important parameters which control the attenuation relation is
the surface and subsurface geology which is quite variable in Indian
shield.
> PROCESS::
> For each value of annual probability of exceedance,
> obtain the associated peak ground acceleration value for each location
> due to the projected maximum earthquake occurring at each point
> on the fault line or fault plane.
> Make seismic zones with places of acceleration contours
> with same annual probability of exceedance.
> Thus, there will be many maps with different annual probabilities of
> exceedance.
>
> The above procedure may be repeated with spectral accelerations instead of
> peak ground accelerations.
RP's ------------
Not feasible at all.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Clearly, the involvement of structural and geotechnical engineers,
> geologists, geophysicist, seismologists, paleoseismologists,
> seismotectonicists,.... keeps increasing with each Stage.
> Also, the extent of probabilistic concepts also increase with each Stage.
> We need a critical mass of professionals with diverse backgrounds
> mentioned above to be dedicated towards making the seismic zone map
> in India, before we can see monumental progress in the seismic zone maps
> of the country....
RP's
I am of the opinion that you divide whole Indian region into three zones.
For the shield region one should see carefully the geology and attenuation
of the seismic waves. For the shield region, one may consider significant
amount of earthquake loads while designing the building rather than
designing on the basis of five zones.
What is important in our country is that we should take a reasonable
earthquake load and design the building honestly. The 75 buildings in
Ahmedabad are the example of our honesty.

Ramesh P. Singh

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Ramesh P. Singh [Thursday, January 31, 2002 2:46 AM]  

Dear Dr. Murty,
One thing I forgot to add, in shield region, one should make efforts
to map the lineaments (fractures/faults) using remote sensing data and
also computes the orientaion of stresses. The deatils of mapping these
fractures/faults and calculations of stresses are given in my papers
(current science and International J. Remote sensing and also reports
submitted to DST). While selecting sites for small or mega projects
specially in shield region, one should try to avoid high lineament density
regions. Unfortunately, we do not have lineament maps of Indian region.
When Koyna earthquake occurred, the Americans did generate  lineaments map
of the region. The generation of lineaments map at smaller scale should be
used in the microzonation of the shield region which can be used for
guiding the earthquake loads specially in the shield region in the absence
of so many parameters in the shield region. The lineaments are good
representaive of the subsurface or tectonic activities of the shield
region.
Best regards,

Ramesh P. Singh

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Kishor Jaiswal [Saturday, February 02, 2002 12:00 PM]

 

Dear Sirs,
As you might be knowing that Probabilistic Seismic hazard
estimation has been a well established tool now for hazard estimation
of the region. It can be further used to develop probabilistic maps.
Such maps are already in use in US and many countries now.
These maps are prepared for Design basis and Maximum credible events ( 10
% and 2 % prob. in 50 yr)
Such maps are already developed for Indian region by Prof. Harsh Gupta
(GSHAP program) However,
1. They have used the attenuation relation given by Boore
and Joyner (1981) applicable for Western North Africa. for entire Indian
region.
2. Background seismicity is not included in the hazard estimation.
( ie. Hazard values are available for regions where past
seismicity is known and no estimation for region of unknown seismicity
...remember Latur event???)
3. No uncertainty analysis for beta and nu values. For most of the
peninsular India region, underestimation of b-value which heavily
contributes to the final estimates.
4. Uncertainty in attenuation characteristics for regions with
different tectonics are not included.
5. Local Soil amplification factors are not established which are
important in near source events and thus underestimates the hazard for the
region.
But importantly, this map provides a reasonable picture of hazard
in the region.
Following are the problems we face, when look in to the hazard
estimation of the shield areas.
1. Scarcity of Data to avail at seismicity parameters in case of no
historical events.
2. Unavailability of Established Attenuation relation for region
3. Uncertainty in Mmax or slip rate prediction.
Problem 1 can be solved when we look into the area of similar
tectonics such as worldwide SCRs. The CEUS has the similar problem but the
they have developed models based on SCR worldwide and uncertainty analysis
for evaluation of seismicity parameters has been carried out based on
different models. (Taking 3+, 4+, and 5+ events and applying the
completeness test and evaluating the a and b values using Weichert method.
Problem 2 can be again solved using the attenuation relation
developed for shield regions of other SCRs. Such relations are aleady been
develped in US by Toro (1997) and Frankel (1996) can be used with
including the epistemic uncertainty. Other relation is given by Free et
al. (1998) etc. can be used for SCR. Ofcourse we don't have established
relation for near source region ie. < 50 km region but there are models
developed for nearsource groundmotion based on Strong motion records in
WUSA.
Exact identification and location of active faults may take
million years but as you mentioned- the lineamants maps can be used in
this regard. The Mmax and or slip rate can be used to evaluate the
possible activity in the region. Use of different scenario for considered
zone based on rupture area or rupture length can be developed and the
corresp. prob. evaluation can be done.
All in all, we need to have efforts from geologists, seismologist and
earthquake engineers to develop "probabilistic hazard map of India".
One of the other solution is-
One can look in to the development of Seismic Microzonation studies and
prepare city-wise hazard maps with established soil amplification factors
based on shear wave velocity models and with due consideration of near
source events for known faults. Preparation of deterministic as well as
probabilistic map for large metropolitan areas can serve the purpose to
both the designers as well as the policy makers.
We should have seismic hazard map for atleast large metros so that people
can know what is the overall risk they can have....
(when they don't want to trust on Engineers ??)
The main problem what I see is,
There is a huge gap between geologists, seismologists and engineers when
information sharing is concerned.
Coordinated efforts has not been attempted by these people for common goal
and this may be the reason for the current "stage a" zoning map of India.
With Warm Regards

kishor

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Prachee Dhavlikar [Thursday, January 31, 2002 7:16 PM]

 

Dear organizers and colleagues,
 
I would like to make a suggestion:

The recent earthquake at gujrat made me ponder over many points.

Malpractices and igorance of earthquake detailing were among the main factors responsible for the disaster. Which could have been avoided. But an important point which I want to mention is that of soil structure. I live in Pune city,which comes under the zone III as well as Ahemdebad. Though the zoning has been done with respect to the earthquake intensity, it does not at any time consider the soil characteristics. To elaborate it further, Pune lies on the Deccan Plateau which has Basalt underlying. Whereas Ahemedebad sandy soil underlying it. If we consider liquefaction of soil, the effect of similar magnitude earthquake in Pune and Ahemedebad will have different implications on the behaviour of superstructure. Zoning therefore  needs to be based also on the soil characteristics. Or while doing analysis, ie IS1893 or IS 13920 should mention an additional check to account for this effect. I have mentioned this points in one of my papers published in an journal in Pune. Unfortunately I have never had the time to investigate or study this matter in detail. It would be interesting if someone does this study, so as to quantify or rather qualify the suggestion I have done. Information would be most welcome 

Regards
Prachee Dhavlikar

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Response to Mr. Dhavliker's mail

"Though the zoning has been done with respect to the earthquake intensity, it does not at any time consider the soil characteristics. To elaborate it further, Pune lies on the Deccan Plateau which has Basalt underlying. Whereas Ahemedebad sandy soil underlying it. If we consider liquefaction of soil, the effect of similar magnitude earthquake in Pune and Ahemedebad will have different implications on the behaviour of superstructure. Zoning therefore needs to be based also on the soil characteristics".      

My views:

If we have sufficent intensity observations at very small grid size, one may classify the seismic zones based on intensity. Unfortunately, in India not much data of intensity is available. The soil characteristics and soil thickness are the important information and one MUST use in classification of seismic zones together with other several parameters. Now the question is how one can get information about the soil? These days, one may easily get information about the area covered by the soil and rock and further one can classify the rocks/soils present on the earth surface using remote sensing data. For soil thickness, one should use seismic refraction and resistivity soundings.  In Bhuj earthquake, excessive liquefaction was seen which affected structures. The liquefaction was occurred in areas where water table was very shallow,  revealed by resitivity soundings after Bhuj earthquake. 


Ramesh P. Singh

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S.P. Srinivasan [Sunday, February 03, 2002 9:01 PM]

 

Hello everybody,

In the field of seismic zone map, I am a layman.

I saw the seismic zone map issued in the 1962 code, the 1966 code, the 1970  code, the 1975 code, the 1984 code and in the proposed 2001 code. Seismic zones 0 and I of the 1962 code, which occupied nearly 75% of the area of the country have now been moved into upper zones. In all other zones also, most of the area has been shifted to upper zones. As we gain more and more data and more and more knowledge, the seismic analysis for a particular building in a particular location is resulting in larger and larger forces. 


The correct Engineering methodology is to adopt a larger safety factor at times of ignorance and go on reducing the safety factor as we gain more knowledge.

Hence the correct solution appears to be: (1) group zones IV and V into a high seismic zone and design for Zone V parameters and (2) group zones II and III into a low seismic zone and design for Zone III parameters. When further investigations, measurements, and research clearly proves the safety of adopting lower seismic parameters in certain locations, the necessary changes can be made to permit more economical designs.

Regards,

S.P.Srinivasan

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Debabrata Bhadra [Monday, February 04, 2002 2:39 PM]

 

Reference may pl also be made to the vulnerability atlas of India.

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M. Hariharan [Tuesday, February 05, 2002 8:40 PM]

 

Dr. R. P. Singh, Dr. Murty,

A Seismo Tectonic Maps of different regions of India has been compiled and published  by Geological Survey of India. I have seen a copy of it. It gives a very detailed plot of all geological features, faults, epicentres and magnitudes of all earthquakes documented in the past century.  This has been a massive effort - one has to see it to appreciate it. GSI undertake to furnish greater details for any specific location, if an agency or organisation requires it. Probably this is what you may be looking for.  
This is used in my company (Engineers India Limited), along with other studies,  to derive site specific response spectra for  major industrial projects. We do not generally go by the IS 1893 zoning for major projects.

M. Hariharan

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