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Modeling the strong ground motion and rupture characteristics of the March 31, 2006, Darb-e-Astane earthquake, Iran, using a hybrid of near-field SH-wave and empirical Green’s function method

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Abstract

We analyze the strong motion accelerograms of the moderate (M w = 6.1), March 31, 2006, Darb-e-Astane earthquake of western Iran and also those of one of its prominently recorded, large (M w = 5.1) foreshock and (M w = 4.9) aftershock. (1) Using derived SH-wave spectral data, we first objectively estimate the parameters \(\mathit{\Omega} _{\rm o}\) (long period spectral level), f c (corner frequency) and Q(f) (frequency dependent, average shear wave quality factor), appropriate for the best-fit Brune ω  − 2 spectrum of each of these three events. We then perform a non-linear least square analysis of the SH-wave spectral data to provide approximate near-field estimates of the strike, dip, and rake of the causative faults and also the seismic moment, moment magnitude, source size, and average stress drop of these three events. (2) In the next step, we use these approximate values and an empirical Green’s function approach, in an iterative manner, to optimally model the strong ground motion and rupture characteristics of the main event in terms of peak ground acceleration/velocity/displacement and duration of ground shaking and thereby provide improved, more reliable estimates of the causative fault parameters of the main event and its asperities. Our near-field estimates for both the main moderate event and the two smaller events are in good conformity with the corresponding far-field estimates reported by other studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, Tehran, Iran

    H. Hamzehloo, H. Rahimi & M. Mahood

  2. Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Mody Institute of Technology and Science, Lakshmangarh, 332 311, Rajasthan, India

    I. Sarkar

  3. Building and Housing Research Center, Tehran, Iran

    H. Mirzaei Alavijeh & E. Farzanegan

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  1. H. Hamzehloo
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  2. H. Rahimi
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Correspondence to H. Hamzehloo.

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Hamzehloo, H., Rahimi, H., Sarkar, I. et al. Modeling the strong ground motion and rupture characteristics of the March 31, 2006, Darb-e-Astane earthquake, Iran, using a hybrid of near-field SH-wave and empirical Green’s function method. J Seismol 14, 169–195 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-009-9159-x

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