An analysis of ground motions during the 1957 San Francisco earthquake

Abstract

ABSTRACT The seismic responses of soil deposits are calculated at four sites where recordings were obtained during the 1957 San Francisco earthquake. The analyses are made utilizing an equivalent linear lumped-mass method of analysis incorporating the soil characteristics at the four sites and estimates of the rock motions at each site based on the record obtained on rock during this earthquake. Comparisons of the maximum amplitudes of ground motions, the time history of ground accelerations, velocity and acceleration spectra and spectral intensities for both computed and recorded ground accelerations indicate a reasonably high degree of agreement. The influence of the amplitude of base rock accelerations on the response of a soil deposit is also discussed and illustrated.