Correlation between local site effects and structural damage distributions of Kobe earthquake

This study aims to investigate the local concentration characteristics of ground responses due to nonlinear wave propagation in the Kobe earthquake (1995 Hyogoken nanbu earthquake) and the correlation between analytical distributions of maximum responses and actual responses of structural damage. Eight cross sections of Kobe ground are chosen as the surface layer models and the 2D-FE effective stress analysis program which is available for unbounded grounds and also applicable to liquefaction is used. To investigate the nonlinear effects of acceleration and strain responses of surface layers, waves with variable maximum acceleration amplitudes are input at the base rock surface. Results show that actual damage distributions of buildings and buried pipelines along the selected cross sections mostly agree well with those of response accelerations and strains near the ground surface, respectively.