Unit Iii

MAHALAKSHMI
ENGINEERING COLLEGE
TIRUCHIRAPALLI 621213
DEPARTMENT: CIVIL
SEMESTER: VII
SUB.CODE/ NAME: CE2403/ BASICS OF DYNAMICS

AND ASEISMIC DESIGN
UNIT III
ELEMENTS OF SEISMOLOGY
Causes of Earthquake Geological faults Tectonic plate theory
Elastic rebound Epicentre Hypocentre Primary, shear and Raleigh waves
Seismogram Magnitude and intensity of earthquakes Magnitude and Intensity
scales Spectral Acceleration - Information on some disastrous earthquakes
Two Marks Questions and Answers
1. Define Seismology. And Earthquake
Seismology is the study of the generation, propagation generation and recording
of elastic waves in the earth and the sources that produce them.
An Earthquake is a sudden tremor or movement of the earths crust, which
originates naturally at or below the surface. About 90% of all earthquakes results from
tectonic events, primarily movements on the faults.
2. What are the causes of Earthquake?

Earthquake originates due to various reasons, which may be classified into three
categories. Decking waves of seashores, running water descending down waterfalls and
movement of heavy vehicles and locomotives, causes feeble tremors these earthquakes
are feeble tremors, which dont have disastrous effects.
Contrary to the volcanic earthquake and those due to superficial causes, which
can be severe, only locally, the more disastrous earthquakes affecting extensive
region are associated with movements of layers or masses of rocks forming the crust
of the earth. Such seismic shocks, which originate due to crustal movements, are termed as
tectonic earthquakes.
3. What is mean by Epicenter and focus?

The point at which the rupture begins and the first seismic wave originates is called
focus or hypocenter. The point on the ground directly above the focus is called epicenter.
4. Write a short note on Plate Tectonic Theory
Tectonic is the study of deformations of earth materials that result from
deformation. Plate tectonics refers to deformation on a global scale. The basic hypothesis
of plate tectonics is that the surface of the earth consists of a number of large plates.
These plates move relative to one another. The present six important plates are namely
1. African plate
2. American plate
3. Antarctic plate
4. Australian Indian plate
5. Eurasian plate
6. Pacific plate
5. Write a short note on Seismic waves.
Large strain energy released during an earthquake travel as seismic waves in all
directions through the earths layers, reflecting at each interface. These waves area of
two types, body waves and surface waves
6. Write a short note on Magnitude.
The magnitude of an earthquake is a measure of the amount of energy
released. The earthquake scale is devised by Charles F. Richter, an American seismologist
be based on the t o t a l amount o f energy released d u r i n g a n earthquake be called
magnitude.
7. What is mean by seismogram?
A seismogram is the graph output by a seismograph. It is a record of ground motion
at a measuring station. The energy measured in a seismogram may result from earthquake
or from some other source.
8. Write a note on Intensity.

Intensity indicates the intensity of shaking or extent of damage at a given location
due to particular earthquake. Thus the intensity of some earthquake will be different at
different places. Intensity is a measure earthquake in qualitative way by judging what actually
happens on the ground, the damage to the buildings and other structures caused by earthquake
waves.
9.
What is Elastic rebound theory?

The concept of possible mode of origin of tectonic earthquakes is known as Elastic
Rebound theory.
10. Name the types of fault.
(i)
Dip-Slip fault
(ii)
Strike-Slip fault
(iii) Oblique-Slip fault

11. What are the types of Dip-Slip fault?
Dip-Slip fault having two types they are
(i)
Normal fault
(ii)
Reverse fault
12. What are the types of Body waves and surface waves?
Body waves are mainly of two types, they are
(i)
Primary waves (or) P-waves
(ii)
Secondary waves (or) S-waves
Surface waves also having two types, they are

(i)
Love waves
(ii)
Rayleigh waves
13. Compare: Magnitude and Intensity of an earthquake.

Sl.No
1.
Magnitude
Intensity
Magnitude measures the energy release
Intensity measures the strength of
at the source of the earthquake. It is
shaking produced by the earthquake at a
determined
certain location. It is determined from
from
measurements
on
seismographs.
the effects on people, structure and

natural environment.
2.
Magnitude of an earthquake is a
Intensity is a qualitative measure of an
quantitative measure of its size. Thus
earthquake, based on the damage caused
the magnitude of the earthquake is a
by them.
single number which does not vary from

place to place.
3.
Bhuj earthquake of January 2001 had a
The intensity of the same earthquake at
magnitude of 7.7 on Richter scale. The
Bhuj is different from the intensity at
earthquake was felt over a large part of
Ahmedabad vice-versa.
the state such as Bhuj, Ahmedabad etc.

Magnitude of the earthquake of all the
places remains same, i.e. 7.7.
14. How the earthquakes are classified?

Earthquake can be classified into the following types.
(a) According to plate boundaries
(b) According to its depth of focus
(c) According to its origin of the earthquakes
(d) Based on magnitude (M).
15. What is the difference between Inter plate earthquakes and Intra plate
earthquakes?
(i)
Inter plate earthquakes: The earthquake occurring along the boundaries of

the tectonic plates are called as inter plate earthquakes.
Example: 1987, Assam Earthquake
(ii)
Intra plate earthquakes: The earthquakes occurring within a plate are called
as intra plate earthquakes.
Example: 1993, Latur Earthquake
16. What are the factors influences the ground motion?

The factors which influence the ground motion are:
(i)
Magnitude of earthquake
(ii)
Epicentral distance
(iii) Local soil conditions

17. What is the difference between shallow, intermediate and deep focus earthquake?
(i)
Shallow-focus earthquake: In this case, the seismic shocks originate at a

depth of about less than 70 km. Nearly 80% of the worlds earthquakes are
shallow-focus earthquakes.
(ii)
Intermediate-focus earthquake: In this case, the seismic waves originate at a

depth between 70 km to 300 km.
(iii) Deep-focus earthquake: Here, the point of origin of the seismic wave is at a
depth of greater than 300 km.
18. What is Seismograph?
Seismograph is an instrument used to recording motions of the earths surface
caused by seismic waves, as a function of time. A modern seismograph includes five basic
parts: a clock, a sensor called a seismometer that measures intensity of shaking at the
instruments location, a recorder that traces a chart or seismogram, of the seismic arrivals, an
electronic amplifier and a data recorder that stores the information for later analysis.
19. Explain volcanic Earthquake?
Earthquakes associated with volcanoes are more localized both in the extent of
damage and in the intensity of the waves produced in comparison to those which are
associated with faulting motions. Deep below the centre of volcano, hot magma moves
slowly through underground passages under pressure, as its makes it ways towards the
earths surface. As this happens, the surrounding rock is put under pressure as the magma
pushes against it. This causes the rock to fracture and small earthquakes to occur.
20. What are the basic difference between Focus and Epicentre?
Focus is the location within the earth where fault rupture actually occurs whereas the
epicentre is the location on the surface above the focus.

21. What is hypocenter?
Focus is an exact location within the earth where seismic waves are generated by
sudden release of stored elastic building. It is called as hypocenter.
22. What is accelerogram?
A graph plotted between acceleration of ground and time is called accelerogram.
The nature of accelerograms may vary depending on energy released at focus, type of
faults, geology along the fault plane and local soil.
23. Explain Uttarkashi earthquake of 1991?
An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck the districts of Uttarkashi, Tehri and
Chamoli in the state of Uttar Pradesh on October 20, 1991. About 768 persons lost their
lives, with about 5,066 injured. Maximum peak ground acceleration of about 0.31g was
record at Uttarkashi. Many four-storey buildings in Uttarkashi with RC frame and infill
walls sustained the earthquake. Howe ever, some of the ordinary RC buildings collapsed.
24. Enumerate TSUNAMI.
A tsunami is a wave train or series of waves, generated in a body of water by an
impulsive disturbance that vertically displaces the water column. Tsunami is a Japanese
word with the English translation, harbour wave. The term tsu means harbour and
nami means wave. Tsunami can be generated when the sea floor abruptly deforms and
vertically displaces the overlaying water. Tectonic earthquakes are a particular kind of
earthquakes that are associated with the earths crustal deformation; when these earthquakes
occur beneath the sea, the water above the deformed area is displaced from the equilibrium
position. Waves are formed as the displaced water mass, which acts influence of gravity.
When large areas of the sea floor elevate or subside, a tsunami can be created.
25. What is Focal depth and Epicentral distance?
(i)
Focal depth: The distance between the epicentre and the focus is called focal
depth.
(ii)
Epicentral distance: The distance from epicentre to any of interest is called
epicentral distance.
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MAHALAKSHMI

SUB.CODE/ NAME: CE2403/ BASICS OF DYNAMICS

2. What are the causes of Earthquake?

3. What is mean by Epicenter and focus?

8. Write a note on Intensity.

What is Elastic rebound theory?

(iii) Oblique-Slip fault

Primary waves (or) P-waves

Secondary waves (or) S-waves

Surface waves also having two types, they are

13. Compare: Magnitude and Intensity of an earthquake.

Magnitude measures the energy release

Intensity measures the strength of

at the source of the earthquake. It is

shaking produced by the earthquake at a

certain location. It is determined from

the effects on people, structure and

Intensity is a qualitative measure of an

quantitative measure of its size. Thus

earthquake, based on the damage caused

the magnitude of the earthquake is a

single number which does not vary from

Bhuj earthquake of January 2001 had a

The intensity of the same earthquake at

magnitude of 7.7 on Richter scale. The

Bhuj is different from the intensity at

earthquake was felt over a large part of

the state such as Bhuj, Ahmedabad etc.

14. How the earthquakes are classified?

Inter plate earthquakes: The earthquake occurring along the boundaries of

16. What are the factors influences the ground motion?

(iii) Local soil conditions

Shallow-focus earthquake: In this case, the seismic shocks originate at a

Intermediate-focus earthquake: In this case, the seismic waves originate at a

epicentre is the location on the surface above the focus.

Epicentral distance: The distance from epicentre to any of interest is called

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