Recorded displacements in a landslide slope due to regional and teleseismic earthquakes

Regional and teleseismic earthquakes can induce displacements along joints in a landslideinvolved rocky slope in Central Italy. The rarity of these effects is due to specific physical properties of the seismic signals associated with: (i) the energy content, (ii) the distribution of relative energy and peak of ground acceleration related to the ground motion components and (iii) the spectral amplitude distribution in the frequency domain; these properties allow the triggering earthquakes to be distinguished from the others. The observed effects are relevant when compared to the direction of the landslide movement and the dimensions of the involved rock mass volume. The landslide movement is less constrained in the direction parallel to the dip of the slope and the landslide dimensions are associated with characteristic periods that control the landslide deformational response in relation to the spectral content of the ground motion. The earthquake-induced displacements are significant because they have the same order of magnitude as the average annual cumulative displacement based on a decade of strain measurements within the slope

Seismic response of the geologically complex alluvial valley at the "Europarco Business Park" (Rome - Italy) through instrumental records and numerical modelling

The analysis of the local seismic response in the “Europarco Business Park”, a recently urbanized district of Rome (Italy) developed over the alluvial valley of the “Fosso di Vallerano” stream, is here presented. A high-resolution geological model, reconstructed over 250 borehole log-stratigraphies, shows a complex and heterogeneous setting of both the local Plio- Pleistocene substratum and the Holocene alluvia. The local seismo-stratigraphy is derived by a calibration process performed through 1D numerical modelling, accounting for: i) 55 noise measurements, ii) 10 weak motion records obtained through a temporary velocimetric array during the August 2009 L’Aquila- Gran Sasso seismic sequence and iii) one cross-hole test available from technical report. Based on the reconstructed seismo- stratigraphy, the local seismic bedrock is placed at the top of a gravel layer that is part of the Pleistocene deposits and it does not correspond to the local geological bedrock represented by Plio-Pleistocene marine deposits. 1D amplification functions were derived via numerical modelling along three representative sections that show how in the Fosso di Vallerano area two valleys converge into a single one moving from SE toward NW. The obtained results reveal a main resonance at low frequency (about 0.8 Hz) and several higher resonance modes, related to the local geological setting. Nonlinear effects are also modelled by using strong motion inputs from the official regional dataset and pointed out a general down-shift (up to 0.5 Hz) of the principal modes of resonance as well as an amplitude reduction of the amplification function at frequencies higher than 7 Hz

Application of a characteristic periods-based (CPB) approach to estimate earthquake-induced displacements of landslides through dynamic numerical modelling

The interaction between seismic waves and slopes is an important topic to provide reliable scenarios for earthquake-(re)triggered landslides. The physical properties of seismic waves as well as slope topography and geology can significantly modify the local seismic response, influencing landslide triggering. A novel approach is here applied to two case studies in Andalusia (southern Spain) for computing the expected earthquake-induced displacements of existing landslide masses. Towards this aim, dynamic stress–strain numerical modelling was carried out using a selection of seismic signals characterized by different spectral content and energy. In situ geophysical measurements, consisting of noise records and temporary seismometric arrays, were carried out to control the numerical outputs in terms of local seismic response. The results consist of relationships between the characteristic period, Tm, of the seismic signals and the characteristic periods of the landslide masses, related to the thickness (Ts) and length (Tl), respectively. These relationships show that the larger the horizontal dimension (i.e. length of landslide) of a landslide is, the more effective the contribution (to the resulting coseismic displacement) of the long-period seismic waves is, as the maximum displacements are expected for a low Tm at each energy level of the input. On the other hand, when the local seismic response mainly depends on stratigraphy (i.e. landslide thickness), the maximum expected displacements occur close to the resonance period of the landslide, except for high-energy seismic inputs.The authors would like to thank the European Union ERDF for financial support via the “Monitorización sísmica de deslizamientos. Criterios de reactivación y alerta temprana” project of the “Programa Operativo FEDER de Andalucia 2007-2013”

The short-term supplementation of monacolin K improves the lipid and metabolic patterns of hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic subjects at low cardiovascular risk

A nutraceutical compound containing 10 mg of MK appeared to be safe, well tolerated and effective at improving lipid and glucose patterns

Unconventional pseudostatic stability analysis of the Diezma landslide (Granada, Spain) based on a high-resolution engineering-geological model

A novel unconventional pseudostatic analysis is proposed here to infer on the sensitivity of a landslide to earthquakes characterized by different physical properties. Several sine waves with different amplitudes, frequencies and phases were applied to the landslide mass assuming limit equilibrium conditions. The unconventional approach was used for the Diezma landslide case study. The landslide is located 25 km from the city of Granada (Spain). Although the slope had repeatedly suffered small-scale stability problems since the construction of the A-92 highway, a larger failure occurred on 18 March 2001 and damaged the highway between kilometers 272.6 and 272.8. The landslide had an estimated volume of 1.2 Mm3 and involved a disordered deposit of silt and clay with heterometric blocks within the Numidoide Formation, which outcrops along the contact between the Maláguide and Dorsal domains of the Betic Cordillera mountain range. Despite the 18 million Euros spent since 1999 on geotechnical investigations and stabilization solutions, the numerous reactivations that occurred through 2010 and 2013 demonstrate the persistent activity of the landslide. The geometry of the large slope failure corresponding to the first activation of the Diezma landslide was used to back-analyze the stability of the slope based on a high-resolution engineering-geological model. The model was developed from the analysis of numerous borehole logs as well as from geophysical investigations consisting of seismic noise measurements. The results demonstrate that the safety factor (SF) of the Diezma landslide varies significantly for frequencies less than 1 Hz; moreover, unstable conditions are reached at frequency values between 0.5 and 1 Hz for water pressure distributions corresponding to Bishop factors (ru) between 0 and 0.36. To estimate the co-seismic displacements, the geometrical and mechanical properties of the landslide mass were used to derive its characteristic periods for thickness (Ts) and length (Tl), which were compared with the characteristic period of the earthquake (Tm). The results indicate that the maximum expected co-seismic displacements are up to 2 m for an earthquake with a Tm value close to 1 s and an Arias Intensity on the order of 1 m/s

Engineering-geology model of the seismically-induced Cerda landslide

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Nonlinear Site Effects: Interest of one Directional - Three Component (1D - 3C) Formulation

Strong ground motions generally lead to both a stiffness reduction and a larger energy dissipation in the soil layers. Thus, in order to study such phenomena, several nonlinear rheologies have been developed in the past. However, one of the main difficulties of using a given rheology is the number of parameters needed to describe the model. In this sense, the multi-surface cyclic plasticity approach, developed by Iwan in 1967 is an interesting choice since the only data needed is the modulus reduction curve. Past studies have implemented this method in one-directional SH wave-propagation (1D-1C). This work, however, aims to study the local site effects by considering one-directional (1D) seismic wave propagation accounting for their three-dimensional nonlinear behavior. The three components (3C) of the outcrop motion are simultaneously propagated into a horizontal multilayer soil for which a three-dimensional constitutive relation is used. The rheological model is implemented using the Finite Element Method. The alluvial site considered in this study corresponds to the Tiber River Valley, close to the historical centre of Rome (Italy). The computations are performed considering the waveforms referred as the 14th October 1997 Umbria-Marche earthquake, recorded on outcropping bedrock. Time histories and stress-strain hysteretic loops are calculated all along the soil column. The octahedral stress and strain profiles with depth and the modulus of acceleration transfer function (surface/outcrop spectral ratios) are estimated in the cases of combining three 1D-1C nonlinear analyses and of 1D-3C conditions, evidencing the influence of threedimensional loading path

STRONG SEISMIC MOTIONS ESTIMATED FROM A ONE DIRECTION-THREE COMPONENTS ("1D-3C") APPROACH, APPLICATION TO THE CITY OF ROME, ITALY

International audienceStrong seismic motions in soils generally lead to both a stiffness reduction and an increase of the energy dissipation in the surficial layers. In order to study such phenomena, several nonlinear constitutive models were proposed and were generally implemented for 1D soil columns. However, one of the main difficulties of complex rheologies is the large number of parameters needed to describe the model. In this sense, the multi-surface cyclic plasticity approach, developed by Iwan in 1967 but linked to Prandtl or Preisach theoretical work, is an interesting choice: the only data needed is the modulus reduction curve. Past studies have generally implemented such models for one-directional shear wave propagation in a "1D" soil column considering one motion component only ("1C"). Conversely, this work aims at studying strong motion amplification by considering seismic wave propagation in a "1D" soil column accounting for the influence of the 3D loading path on the nonlinear behavior of each soil layer. In the "1D-3C" approach, the three components (3C) of the outcrop motion are simultaneously propagated into a horizontally layered soil for which a three-dimensional constitutive relation is used (Finite Element Method). The alluvial site considered in this study corresponds to the Tiber River Valley, close to the historical centre of Rome (Italy). The computations are performed considering the waveforms referred as the 14th October 1997 Umbria-Marche earthquake, recorded on outcropping bedrock. Time histories and stress-strain hysteretic loops are computed all along the soil column. The octahedral stress, the strain-depth profiles and the transfer functions in acceleration (surface/outcrop spectral ratios) are estimated for the 1D-1C and the 1D-3C approaches, evidencing the influence of the three-dimensional loading path

Multidisciplinary Study of Seismic Wave Amplification in the Historical Center of Rome, Italy

Assessment of potential strong ground motion within the city of Rome is crucial to preserve its millenary monumental heritage and protect its large urban settlements. Rome is located at a distance of some tens of kilometers from the central Apennines seismogenic zone, where earthquakes of tectonic origin and of a magnitude of up to 7.0 are expected. The geological bedrock is mainly represented by high - consistency fine grained marine sedimentary deposits Pliocene to lower Pleistocene aged and named Monte Vaticano Unit. An upper Pleistocene – Holocene succession of fluvial deposits partially fill the paleo-valley of the Tiber river and of its tributaries formed during the last glacial period (22-18 kyr) carving the seismic bedrock. This alluvial body is composed by an heterogeneous fining-upward succession up to 60m thick. To better quantify the expected ground shaking within the city of Rome, a multidisciplinary research activity has being carried out and: i) a detailed 3D engineering-geology model of the Tiber River alluvia was obtained based on new data from the metro lines under construction; ii) 1D and 2D numerical modeling were performed; iii) effects due to the nonlinear behavior of soil have also been taken into account. The preliminary results show that the heterogeneity of the alluvial fill mainly controls the local seismic response. In addition, an interesting result is the fact that 1D amplification estimates are pervasively higher than the 2D ones