New Seismic Hazard Study for the Spanish Building Code

Abstract eng:
A new estimation of seismic hazard has been developed for the Spanish territory aimed at the revision of the Spanish Building Code. The study includes geologic, seismic and strong motion data gathered in the last years, being remarkable the use of: 1) the Data Base of Quaternary Active Faults of Iberia (QAFI,v2), 2) an updated seismic catalogue homogenized to Mw, 3) a new area-source model compiling different geophysical data and 4) a ground motion prediction equation derived from local data, recommended for use in the magnitude Mw range [4 -5.5]. Its worthy to note the use of the information and lessons derived from the Lorca 2011 earthquake, which has been the most destructive event in the last 120 years in Spain. The study has been carried out in a frame of the OPPEL project, a collaboration project between the IGN and the Technical University of Madrid (UPM, Earthquake Engineering Research Group). A probabilistic seismic hazard approach (PSHA) has been followed joining the consensus of the main specialists of the country, who have participated in the decisions around the critical aspects, such as: source model and GMPEs to be used for different magnitude ranges, values of maximum magnitude M max for each zone, logic tree and weighs for uncertainty quantification, etc. As result, hazard maps in terms of PGA and spectral accelerations SA (T) have been obtained for different return periods: 475, 975 and 2475 years. In addition a map for return period of 9975 years has been derived, which may be oriented to critical facilities. Although the study over such long exposure times requires alternative methodologies and more exhaustive analysis about active faults, recurrence periods, paleoseismic data, etc, this map may be a starting point for specific assessments addressed to nuclear safety. The new hazard maps count with the agreement of the Spanish seismological community and are presented in this communication.

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