Mapping Depth to Bedrock, Shear Stiffness, and Fundamental Site Period at CentrePort, Wellington using Surface Wave Methods: Implications for Local Seismic Site Amplification

TL;DR

This study uses surface wave methods to map bedrock depth, shear stiffness, and fundamental site period at Wellington's CentrePort, providing insights into seismic amplification and informing mitigation strategies for earthquake resilience.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive approach combining H/V spectral ratios and surface wave testing to characterize subsurface structures and seismic site response at a complex port site.

Findings

Identified areas of complex subsurface structure across the port.

Estimated depth to soft and hard rock using Vs profiles.

Related site period estimates to the depth of hard rock and observed spectral amplification.

Abstract

Wellington's port (CentrePort) experienced significant damage from the $M_w$ 7.8 Kaik\=oura earthquake as a result of soil liquefaction, lateral spreading, and shaking-induced damage to structures. To investigate these ill effects, and propose mitigation measures to prevent similar damage in future earthquakes, there was a need to quantify the variations in the depth to bedrock, shear stiffness, and fundamental site period ($T_0$) across the port. In order to characterize $T_0$ and develop shear wave velocity (Vs) profiles for use in seismic site response analyses, horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) spectral ratio measurements and active-source and passive-wavefield surface wave testing (i.e., MASW and MAM, respectively) were performed across the port. A site period map developed from 114 H/V spectral ratio measurements indicates several areas of rapidly changing, complex subsurface structure. Deep (200-plus meters) Vs profiles developed at six reference locations across the port were used to estimate the depth to soft (Vs $>$ 760 m/s) and hard (Vs $>$ 1500 m/s) rock. $T_0$ estimates from H/V spectral ratio measurements ($T_{0,H/V}$) at the six reference locations are shown to be related to the depth of hard rock based on linear viscoelastic transfer functions calculated from Vs profiles truncated at several depths. $T_{0,H/V}$ measurements at two ground motion stations near the port are also shown to be in reasonably good agreement with predominant periods of maximum spectral amplification recorded during both the 2016 Kaik\=oura and 2013 Cook Strait earthquakes, despite these sites also being effected by soil nonlinearity and potential 3D basin edge effects.