CE 203-Class Note 4 - SKS

CE 203: Class Note 04
Earthquake & Seismic Hazards
Subashish Kundu Sunny July 2023 Reference:

Lecturer, CE, BUET Dr. T.M. Al-Hussaini
Professor, CE, BUET
Earthquake Waves
When rupture along a fault occurs, the sudden release of energy sets off vibrations in the
earth's crust. These vibrations can travel within the earth's material.
P-waves travel by compression and dilations in the direction of propagation, and have the
fastest speed (several miles/sec). These waves travel through both solid and liquid.
P Wave
Earthquake Waves
The transverse waves travel by shear distortions normal to the direction of propagation.
Although they are denoted S for Secondary waves, they transmit more energy than the P-
waves. S-waves are plane polarized. Those that cause motion in the vertical plane
containing the direction of propagation are called SV waves; horizontal waves are
called SH waves.
S Wave
Earthquake Magnitude & Energy
Magnitude (M) of an earthquake is a measure of the size of an earthquake based on

the total amount of the energy released by an earthquake, when the over-strained
fault suddenly rebound to cause the given earthquake. The released energy, in fact,
travels in the form of earthquake waves, which are recorded at the receiving station
(seismograph station).
Earthquake Magnitude & Energy
The energy released (E) and the earthquake magnitude (M) are estimated with the
help of the record of the surface waves. A typical accelerogram of earthquake waves
produced at a seismographic observatory is shown in the figure. Such a graph will
indicate the maximum acceleration (ex) reached during the earthquake (maximum
ordinate recorded on Y-axis). This value of maximum ground acceleration (ex) is then
empirically connected to estimate the value of E i.e. max. energy released.
Earthquake Magnitude
The magnitude (M) of an earthquake has also been connected by Richter with the max.
displacement amplitude of the recorded surface waves, by the equation:
𝑀 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝐴 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝐴𝑜
where
𝑀 = Magnitude in Richter
𝐴 = Max. Trace amplitude in mm
𝐴𝑜 = Distance correction for the known (estimated) value
of distance D of the observatory (recording station) from
the epicenter of the earthquake.
Leonard et al. 2014

Example: If the max. trace amplitude on the seismograph is measured to be 10 mm, and the
distance of the epicentre from the seismographic station is estimated to be 200 km, then
determine the magnitude of that earth quake
Solution:
For 200 km distance from epicenter, −𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝐴𝑜 = -0.1
𝑀 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝐴 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 𝐴𝑜
= 𝑙𝑜𝑔10 10 − 0.1
= 0.9
Leonard et al. 2014

Source: SMS Tsunami Warning

Richter's Scale
The Richter's scale of magnitude classifies the various shocks in magnitude varying
from 1 to 10, and its every successive higher number represents a little over 30 fold
1.5
(i.e. 10 ~30) increase in energy released. Thus, an earthquake of magnitude 9 has
over 30 times more energy than an earthquake of magnitude 8, and 900 times more
energy than an earthquake of magnitude 7, and 27000 times more energy than an
earthquake of magnitude 6.
Richter's Scale

Earthquake Frequency
Source: Avian Flu Diary

Historical Earthquakes
The largest earthquakes in historic times have been of magnitude slightly over 9, although
there is no limit to the possible magnitude. The most recent large earthquake of magnitude
9.0 or larger was a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan in 2011, and it was the largest
Japanese earthquake since records began.

Earthquake Intensity
An earthquake has one magnitude, however it may vary by small amount

depending on which magnitude scale you are using. Energy is a measure of
magnitude.
On the other hand, an earthquake has different intensities at different locations,

usually intensity decreases with distance. Ground acceleration is a measure of
intensity at a particular place.
The impact of an earthquake at different places can also be measured by sending

out trained observers to look at the damage done to the built environment
(landslides etc.) and the reaction of people to the event.
Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale
Acceleration produced
Intensity Name of the shock and its effect
(mm/sec2)
I Less than 10 Instrumental- recorded only by the seismograph
II Over 10 Feeble-felt only by some very sensitive people
III Over 25 Slight-commonly felt by people
IV Over 50 Moderate-commonly felt by people
V Over 100 Fairly strong-considerable amount of vibration, which wakes up people at sleep
Strong-minor damage to the buildings, particularly to their over hanging and

VI Over 250
projecting parts
VII Over 500 Very strong-damage to the buildings, such as cracks in the walls etc.
Destructive-greater damage to the buildings involving overthrowing of

VIII Over 1000
overhanging and projecting portions
IX Over 2500 Ruinous- severe damage to the buildings, involving their overthrowing
X Over 5000 Disastrous-with a severe, general destruction of buildings
XI Over 7500 Very disastrous-severe destruction of buildings and cracking of the ground
XII Over 9800 Catastrophic-large scale to complete destruction of the buildings and ground
Seismicity around Bangladesh
Historical Earthquakes in Bangladesh
Distance (km)
Date Earthquake Magnitude
from Dhaka
2nd April, 1762 Chittagong Earthquake 7.5 260+

10 Jan, 1869 Cachar Earthquake 7.5 250
14 July, 1885 Bengal Earthquake 7 170
12 June, 1897 Great Indian Earthquake 8.1 (revised) 230
8 July, 1918 Srimongal Earthquake 7.6 150
3 July, 1930 Dhubri Earthquake 7.1 250
No large earthquake in last 100 years!!

Historical Earthquakes in Bangladesh
+ 4<=M<=4.9
+ 5<=M<=5.9
Latitude
6<=M<=6.9
7<=M<=7.9
8<=M<=8.9
Longitude
Earthquake Catalogue (covering 1845-2009)

Recent Earthquakes in Bangladesh
2003 EQ
1997 EQ
2015 EQ
2023 EQ
(bdnews24)
(bnn)
Seismic Zoning Map (BNBC 2020)
The intent of the seismic zoning map is

to give an indication of the Maximum
Considered Earthquake (MCE) motion at
different parts of the country. In
probabilistic terms, the MCE motion
may be considered to correspond to
having a 2% probability of exceedance
within a period of 50 years.
References
1. Leonard, M., Burbidge, D.R., Allen, T.I., Robinson, D.J., McPherson, A., Clark, D. and Collins, C.D.N.,
2014. The challenges of probabilistic seismic‐hazard assessment in stable continental interiors: An
Australian example. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 104(6), pp.3008-3028.
2. Richter Scale & Magnitude (sms-tsunami-warning.com)
3. Earthquake Frequency (afludiary.blogspot.com)
4. Earthquake Damper in Taipei 101 (youtube.com)

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CE 203: Class Note 04

Earthquake & Seismic Hazards

Subashish Kundu Sunny July 2023 Reference:

Magnitude (M) of an earthquake is a measure of the size of an earthquake based on

Leonard et al. 2014

Leonard et al. 2014

Source: SMS Tsunami Warning

Source: SMS Tsunami Warning

Source: Avian Flu Diary

Source: SMS Tsunami Warning

An earthquake has one magnitude, however it may vary by small amount

On the other hand, an earthquake has different intensities at different locations,

The impact of an earthquake at different places can also be measured by sending

Strong-minor damage to the buildings, particularly to their over hanging and

Destructive-greater damage to the buildings involving overthrowing of

X Over 5000 Disastrous-with a severe, general destruction of buildings

2nd April, 1762 Chittagong Earthquake 7.5 260+

No large earthquake in last 100 years!!

Earthquake Catalogue (covering 1845-2009)

The intent of the seismic zoning map is

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