Site classification using horizontal-to-vertical response spectral ratios and its impact when deriving empirical ground- motion prediction equations

We classify sites based on their predominant period computed using average horizontal-tovertical (H/V) response spectral ratios and examine the impact of this classification scheme on empirical ground-motion models. One advantage of this classification is that deep geological profiles and high shear-wave velocities are mapped to the resonance frequency of the site. We apply this classification scheme to the database of Fukushima et al. (2003), for which stations were originally classified as simply rock or soil. The calculation of average H/V response spectral ratios permits the majority of sites in the database to be ha l-0 07 02 82 3, v er si on 1 31 M ay 2 01 2 Author manuscript, published in "Journal of Earthquake Engineering 11, 5 (2007) 712-724" DOI : 10.1080/13632460701457116