Developing design response spectra for Benghazi city including soil magnification effects

Abstract

Earthquakes in some countries worldwide cause loss of lives and properties. In Libya, design of structures to resist earthquake forces was based on a paper work published by Mallick in 1976. In 1977, and after small changes in the earthquake zoning map of Libya, the ministry of housing, at that time, adopted it as a draft code of practice for the design of structures to resist earthquake forces. With Benghazi city undergoing significant rehabilitation and development programs, including major national projects, there is a pressing need to estimate updated probabilistic seismic hazard maps and design response spectra specific to the city. This study presented updated probabilistic seismic hazard ground motion for Benghazi city, considering different return periods and accounting for peak ground acceleration (PGA) values with various soil conditions. Proposed design response spectra for Benghazi City unveils substantial PGA amplifications in soft soil areas.