Numerical 2D modeling of site response in Dinar Graben, Southwest Turkey, and comparison with observations

Abstract

The October 1, 1995 Dinar earthquake (M-L=5.9) caused extensive damage within a limited area in Dinar town located in southwestern Turkey. Graben structure of the damaged area suggests the basin edge effects as a potential factor on the occurred damage. In this study numerical 2D site responses in the Dinar Graben are computed by using a finite-difference scheme and numerical results are compared with the observations within the graben. Our results suggest that the ground motions within the Dinar Graben were dominated by surface waves generated from the edges of the garben. In addition to magnifying amplitudes within the graben, the surface waves increased the duration of ground motion. Synthetic response spectra of the mainshock have shown that spectral accelerations at different sites in the graben are larger than the observed one. High spectral accelerations and long durations of ground motion may explain the extensive damage observed within the Dinar Graben.