A multi-scale seismic response of two-dimensional sedimentary valleys due to the combined effects of topography and geology

It is well known that the response of a site to seismic excitation depends on the local topographical and geological conditions. The current building codes already take into account unidimensional site effects but ignore complex site effects due to two-dimensional irregular configurations. The aim of this work is to contribute to the establishment of a simple predictive method to estimate site effects. The horizontal ground movements at the surface of sedimentary valleys subjected to SV waves with vertical incidence are calculated by using the HYBRID program, combining finite elements in the near field and boundary elements in the far field (FEM/BEM). A parametric study is conducted to examine the combined effects of topography and geology on the amplification of the response spectrum at various points across the valley. The influence of different parameters is considered, such as filling ratios (from empty to full valleys), impedance contrasts between bedrock and sediments, and dimensions.