Preparing for Quiz 2 – Lectures 7 onward

Below is a list of all potential questions that will appear on Quiz 2. I will draw from this list of questions
to generate Quiz 2 (maybe two versions?). These questions were drafted but are not finalized – the
wording may change to clarify the question based on the expected or intended answer(s).

In general, what is produced by a seismic hazard analysis or assessment? (1 mark)

What is the major difference between PSHA and DSHA? (2 marks)

Identify and briefly describe the 4 major components or steps in a PSHA. (8 marks; 2 marks each)

Which step is often the most important component in terms of impact on results? (1 mark)

The three most common products (deliverables) of a PSHA analysis are hazard curves, uniform hazard
spectrum and deaggregation. Describe/Explain what each of these products is (sketch representative
plots, as needed). (6 marks)

Choose either Eastern or Western Canada, and describe what you can about its earthquake seismicity
and resulting seismotectonic model (i.e., source zones in PSHA). (3 marks)

What is the maximum magnitude of an earthquake source zone?

Briefly describe what goes into a magnitude recurrence model and potential sources of error
(uncertainty). (3 marks)

What is N0 and β? How are they used in PSHA? (4 marks)

Sketch a M-R relation which demonstrates: (1) earthquake catalogue incompleteness, (2) Gutenberg-
Richter recurrence, and (3) characteristic earthquake statistics. (3 marks)

For an active fault, is its magnitude recurrence rate over- or under-predicted by historical seismicity
data? Why? (2 marks)

What is required to define a seismic source zone? (3-5 marks)

Not all PSHA software is the same. Describe an unique or ‘cool’ feature of EqHaz. (Remember what
Karen was excited to tell you about, and you stopped listening because it wasn’t important for
accomplishing your assignment? Those details. Tell me one of those.) (2 marks)

GMPE is an acronymn for what? (1 mark) Provide the basic (a general) equation for a GMPE. (4 marks)

How are GMPEs generally developed? (Describe the overall methodology, not the details or steps.) Is
there any difference in GMPE development for regions with high seismicity compared to low seismicity
regions?

Summarize the steps in developing an empirical GMPE. (3 marks)

No need to study or explain the detailed BA08 GMPE development example; slides 16-22

GMPEs include an error term which is comprised of epistemic and aleatory uncertainties. Describe these
two types of uncertainty. How do we account for or include these errors in seismic hazard analysis? (4
marks)

List 3 soil parameters that influence shear-wave velocity (Vs) and how they would cause Vs to increase.

Contrast and compare a couple of advantages and disadvantages of invasive and non-invasive Vs depth
profiling methods.

“Earthquake site characterization” largely involves determining the subsurface Vs structure (depth
profile or cross-section) at a site. Why?

Select an invasive Vs depth profiling method and explain the steps involved to provide Vs measurements
or estimates.

CPT and SPT methods are useful to provide Vs estimates, but they do not measure Vs directly. What do
these two methods measure and how is it converted to Vs estimates?

Outline the advantages and disadvantages of the MHVSR technique for subsurface Vs depth profiling,
i.e., earthquake site characterization.

What is a dispersion curve and how is it useful to obtain Vs estimates?

Seismic arrays have resolution and aliasing limits. Why? What controls these limits? Which limits the low
frequencies or high frequencies?

Many non-invasive seismic array methods have been developed to measure surface wave dispersion.
Choose two and explain the differences in the field data acquistion or collection.

Explain major differences between active-source and passive-source array methods to measure surface
wave dispersion which leads to why the depth of investigation is shallower by active-source methods
compared to passive-source.

Why is it recommended in practice to combine active-source and passive-source dispersion methods for
site characterization?

Two major methods are used to produce dispersion estimates from passive-source surface wave
dispersion: (HR)FK and (M)SPAC. Why it is generally useful to analyze the array recordings using both
methods?, What are the fundamental differences (assumptions) between these methods?

Explain (HR)FK or (M)SPAC dispersion analysis as fully as you can (choose one). How are dispersion
estimates obtained from array recordings via (HR)FK or (M)SPAC?

The recommened approach in practice is to combine Vs or shear-modulus (G) methods for earthquake
site characterization. A hospital is interested to construct a new wing. They hire you to perform a site
classification (Vs30) and 1D ground response analysis. Explain your preferred combination of invasive,
non-invasive, and laboratory method(s) to perform and why. What does each method provide and how
will they complement each other?

Agreement in Vs between invasive and non-invasive methods is generally very good. What could lead to
large ‘error’ or differences in Vs between these methods? At soft sediment sites? At stiff sites? At rock
sites? {See InterPacific project examples in Lecture 10}

As Vs30 increases, or as sites get stiffer, the uncertainty in Vs30 increases or decreases?

What’s the degree of error or variability in Vs30 measurements at soft sediment sites (Vs30 ~200 m/s)
compared to stiffer rock sites (Vs30 ~1000 m/s)?

Stress-strain relationships of soils are nonlinear and hysteretic. Explain what these two terms mean.

What does a hysteresis loop represent? Explain how cyclic loading of soils leads to hysteresis loops in
the stress-strain response of soils. Why is there a loop?

Soil hysteresis on shear stress-strain space or plots appears as a loop. Explain why a hysteresis loop
occurs and what it is a measure of.

Draw a single hysteretic cycle of soil behaviour on the shear stress and shear strain graph provided. How
is Gmax, Gsec, and the damping ratio (dissipated energy/stored energy) determined? Label or draw these.

The curve that results from tracking the maximum of each hysteresis loop over various cyclic strain
amplitudes is called a:

a. Backbone curve

b. Damping ratio curve

c. Shear modulus reduction curve

As cyclic shear strain increases, what happens to shear modulus and damping? Draw the typical shear
modulus and damping curves that result as cyclic shear strain increases. What do these two curves
represent or capture?

What is included in an equivalent linear ground response analysis (e.g., ProShake) compared to a linear
ground response analysis (e.g., Rattle)? What is not included in an equivalent linear analysis compared
to a nonlinear analysis?

Examples of potential thinking questions:

The 6th International Conference on Geotechnial and Geophysical Site Characterization occurs in
September 2020. The conference (isc6.org) is advertised as follows: “Site characterisation is unarguably
the most important, but also most “difficult”, component of geo-engineering.” Explain why site
characterization is (1) the most imporant component, and (2) most difficult component, of seismic
hazard analysis.

Outline a field and/or laboratory testing campaign for…