Potential for Damage To Brittle Structures in Induced Earthquakes

Abstract eng:
In this study, damage to built infrastructure from induced earthquakes is investigated through nonlinear dynamic structural response simulations. These simulations are based on a typical brick residential chimney. We focus on brick chimneys because they are ubiquitous and representative of brittle construction more generally. This study uses a finite element model of the chimney to develop a simpler macro model, which is subjected to ground motion recordings from induced events, including those in Arkansas, Kansas and Texas, as well as the Geysers geothermal field in California. The dynamic response of the models under induced motions is compared to the dynamic response from recordings of tectonic earthquakes with similar magnitudes and depths. Results are used to quantify differences in structural response through collapse and damage fragility curves, when the chimney is subjected to ground motions from tectonic versus induced events. The findings indicate the induced ground motions are less damaging than natural motions for a given intensity of shaking. This difference in response has been modestly correlated with the difference of significant durations in the ground motions and depth of rupture, and reflects differences in frequency content between induced and tectonic motions.

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