Quantitative strong motion simulations at three locations in downtown Mashiki during the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake (Mw 7.0) based on the nonlinear ground response analyses with soil liquefaction

Abstract The mainshock of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake (Mw 7.0) caused extensive damage to buildings in downtown Mashiki, Prefecture, Japan. heavy building area was associated with both strong ground motion and response characteristics. Fortunately, there were two stations observed records during distributed, showing peak velocities exceeding 100 cm/s on surface. level shaking would be sufficient make soft surface sediments nonlinear. To reproduce motions quantitatively, one-dimensional nonlinear effective-stress time-history analyses conducted at three locations Mashiki. input wave employed as either underground or simulated outcrop based diffuse field theory. main purpose study twofold: investigate proper soil constitutive relationship its parameters limited amount situ information, validate method evaluation seismological bedrock time history using on-site boring survey theory showed that waveform explained accuracy. In addition, results effective stress analysis indicated liquefaction might have occurred thick layers along Akitsu River where water table considered quite shallow. Graphical