This article investigates the effects of the nonlinear behavior of soils on site response, through various earthquake recordings from the KiK-net database in Japan. This network is composed of more than 688 surface–borehole instruments, from which a characterization of the shear- and compressive-wave velocity profiles down to the borehole depth is available. We selected events with a peak ground acceleration (PGA) at the downhole station of <10 cm=s2 in order to characterize the linear soil behavior by computing the surface to downhole spectral ratios at each site. Modifications of site-response curves computed with strong events (PGA >50 cm=s2) compared to the linear characterization are supposed to be caused by nonlinear soil behavior. To describe the effects of soil nonlinear behavior on site response per event, we propose the percentage of modification (either amplification or deamplification) of the site-response curve compared to the linear evaluation (PNLev, percentage of nonlinearity) and the associated shift frequency (Shev). These parameters are used to estimate the probability that nonlinear site response is significantly different that the linear counterpart. We find that, regardless the site, this probability is important even for low input-motion PGA (values equal to or larger than 30 cm=s2 at downhole sensor). This indicates that nonlinear soil behavior must be taken into account in site-response evaluation for moderate to strong motion. In addition, for 54 sites of the KiK-net database that have recorded at least two strong events (PGA at the downhole station >50 cm=s2), we define four additional parameters that characterize the effects of soil nonlinear behavior on site responses for each site: (1) a PGA threshold (PGAth), defined as the PGA value for which PNLev is higher than 10%; (2) a site-specific PNL for a PGA of 50 cm=s2 (PNLsite); (3) a site-specific shift of the predominant frequency for a PGA of 50 cm=s2 (Shsite); and (4) a frequency from which we observe deamplification between nonlinear and linear site responses (fNL). We observe that nonlinear soil behavior can increase the amplification at frequencies below fNL.We find that fNL lies in between the fundamental and the predominant resonance frequencies of the site response and that sites having VS contrast close to the surface trigger nonlinear behavior at a lower input-motion PGA threshold. These results suggest that nonlinear behavior occurs mostly in the superficial soil layers. Furthermore, by investigating the nonlinear behavior of soils on earthquake horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios at the surface, we find that they can give satisfactory results (equivalent to the analysis of borehole site responses) for the evaluation of the fNL frequency and shift frequency (Shsite), which indicates that part of the results obtained in this study can be extended to other databases without downhole sensors
Abstract. -In order to better understand the mechanics and dynamic of landslides, it is of primary interest to image correctly their internal structure and their slip surface. Several active geophysical methods are able to provide the geometry of a given landslide, but were rarely applied in 3 dimensions in the past. The main disadvantages of methods like seismic reflection and electrical tomography are that there are heavy to set up and/or to process, and they consequently are expensive and time consuming. Moreover, in the particular case of soft-rock landslides, their respective sensitivity and resolution are not always adequate to locate the potential slip surfaces. Passive methods may represent an interesting alternative particularly for landslides difficult to access, as they require lighter instrumentation and easier processing tools. Among them, the seismic noise based methods have shown increasing applications and developments, in particular for seismic hazard mapping in urban environment. In this paper, we present seismic noise investigations carried out on two different sites, the "Super Sauze" mudslide and the "Saint Guillaume" translational clayey landslide (France), where independent measurements (geotechnical and geophysical tests) were performed earlier. Our investigations were composed of electrical tomography profiles, seismic profiles for surface-wave inversions, H/V measurements, which are fast and easy to perform in the field, in order to image shear wave contrasts (slip surfaces), and seismic noise array method, which is heavier to apply and interpret, but provides (S)-waves velocity profile versus depth. For both sites, landslide bodies are characterized by lower S wave velocity (Vs < 300 m.s -1 ) and lower resistivity ( < 60 Ohm.m) than in the stable part (Vs > 550 m.s -1 ; > 150 ohm.m). Their thickness vary from a few m to 50 m. Comparison between geophysical investigations and geotechnical data proved the applicability of such passive methods in 3D complex structures, with however some limitations. Caractérisation de glissements de terrain argileux par des méthodes de bruit de fond sismiqueMots clés. -Bruit de fond sismique, Glissement de terrain argileux, Caractérisation in-situ, Géométrie 3DRésumé. -Afin d'identifier les mécanismes de contrôle et de caractériser la dynamique de glissements de terrain, il est impératif d'imager correctement leur structure interne et leur surface de glissement. Plusieurs méthodes de prospection géophysique de proche surface sont utilisables pour identifier la géométrie d'un glissement de terrain, mais leurs potentialités ont été rarement testées en 3D. Les principaux inconvénients de méthodes géophysiques telles que la sismique réflexion ou la tomographie électrique sont la difficulté de mise en oeuvre et/ou la complexité des traitements de données, ce qui les rend chères et consommatrices en temps. De plus, pour le cas particulier de glissements argileux, leur sensibilité et résolution ne sont pas toujours adaptées à la détection des surfaces de glissem...
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