1:30 PM - 1:45 PM
[S07-9-01] Influence of vertical acceleration in seismic hazard. Observations of earthquakes in Ecuador
The effect of vertical component is usually neglected in the design process of new structures. Some building codes, such as the Ecuadorian Standard (NEC-15), suggest a value of 2/3 of the horizontal component when the structure is located near an active fault; however, the definition of “near" remains under discussion.
Using the data recorded by the local strong motion network since 2009, a comparison with ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) for the vertical component is performed. Data show that low-magnitude crustal events can generate vertical accelerations comparable to the ones observed on the horizontal counterparts. In this article, the city of Quito- Ecuador is chosen as a case study to demonstrate the effect of vertical acceleration in existing buildings. For this city, several earthquakes between 4.5 and 5.1 magnitudes, generated by a local fault system, have produced high accelerations. On the other hand, records of subduction earthquakes, including the 2016 megathrust Muisne event, are used to define appropriate distance metrics.
Using the data recorded by the local strong motion network since 2009, a comparison with ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) for the vertical component is performed. Data show that low-magnitude crustal events can generate vertical accelerations comparable to the ones observed on the horizontal counterparts. In this article, the city of Quito- Ecuador is chosen as a case study to demonstrate the effect of vertical acceleration in existing buildings. For this city, several earthquakes between 4.5 and 5.1 magnitudes, generated by a local fault system, have produced high accelerations. On the other hand, records of subduction earthquakes, including the 2016 megathrust Muisne event, are used to define appropriate distance metrics.