Evaluation of seismic ground motion induced by topographic irregularity

Results of an extensive numerical study on the 2D scattering of seismic waves by local topography are presented. The investigation has been conducted using the direct boundary element method. Several types of topography (slopes, canyons and ridges) are considered. The influences of some key parameters, such as exciting frequency and geometry of the irregular feature, on surface ground motion are studied in detail. It is found that local topographic conditions play an important role in the modification of seismic ground motion at the irregular feature itself and its neighbourhood. The present results can be considered to be useful from the viewpoint of earthquake engineering and seismology.