Dynamic site response evaluation of the Port City of Aqaba (Jordan) employing the equivalent linear method

• Published in: Canadian geotechnical journal Vol. 35; no. 6; pp. 961 - 975
• Main Authors: Fahmi, Khalid J, Malkawi, Abdallah I. Husein
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, Canada NRC Research Press 01.12.1998; National Research Council of Canada; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Earthquakes and building; Earthquakes, seismology; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Engineering geology; Exact sciences and technology; Internal geophysics; Natural hazards: prediction, damages, etc; Soils; Testing; Middle East; Jordan; Gulf of Aqaba; Jordan (country); engineering geology; Asia; harbors; Red Sea; construction; strong motion; accelerograms; ground motion; soils; earthquakes; seismic risk; seismicity
• ISSN: 0008-3674; 1208-6010
• DOI: 10.1139/t98-064

As part of an ongoing research program to develop local seismic engineering ground motion parameters for implementation in the Jordanian Seismic Building Code, a practical contribution is made to determine the local site coefficient (S) for the Port City of Aqaba, southern Jordan. Employing probabilistic peak ground acceleration estimates using FRISK, the overall dynamic site response design spectrum is obtained through the calculated response spectrum based on selected soil-rock column profiles applying SHAKE91. The parabolic shape of the S coefficient design spectrum is given by the following relationships:S = 1.06 for T b / T s <= 0.56S = -0.81 + 4.68(T b / T s ) -2.38(T b / T s ) 2 for 0.56 < (T b / T s )<=1.43S = 1.00 for T b / T s >1.43where T b and T s are the structural and site response design periods (in seconds), respectively.Key words: dynamic, site, response, Aqaba, spectrum, design.