HighF v14.12

This page collects information about a proposed high frequency verification and validation exercise. Planning started in Dec 2014.

Goal

Most regional scale deterministic earthquake simulation verification and validation exercises have been done at frequencies 1Hz or lower [1] [2]. With the introduction of high performance CPU and CPU-GPU wave propagation codes, there has been significant recent progress running simulations up to 4Hz. As we increase the capabilities of our deterministic earthquake simulation codes, we need to re-evaluate the codes performance at these higher frequencies that are now possible. The goal of this activity is to evaluate the performance of multiple wave propagation codes that are capable of simulation regional scale earthquakes at frequencies 4Hz+.

Approach

High frequency simulations introduce several code modifications intended to more accurately model the physics of high frequency earthquake wave propagation simulations. Modification to existing wave propagation codes to support 1Hz+ simulations include:

• Source descriptions with energy above 1Hz
• Small scale heterogeneities in the 3D velocity models
• Frequency dependent attenuation
• Near fault plastic yielding
• Large displacement plastic yielding

To help isolate the impact of each of these changes, we propose to start with simple (possibly unrealistic) high frequency (4Hz) ground motion simulations and compare the simulation results produced by different methods. Then we will introduce these modifications one at a time, as a way if isolating the impact of each change individually.

Problem Statement

We have defined common input parameters for use by both AWP-ODC, and Hercules. The problem statements includes the following parameters:

1. Simulation Region
2. Source Description
3. Station List
4. Velocity Model
5. Simulation Duration
6. Simulated Frequency Range
7. Sample per Wavelength

Simulation Region

The simulation region four corners are given in the table below:

• HighF v14.12#Simulation Box / Velocity Model

Volume size:

• 180,000 m x 135,000 m x 61,875 m = 1.503e15 m3

Source Description

We will use a point source, and a source time function for that point source produced by Zheqiang Shi (SDSU). This source time function has frequencies above 4Hz, scaled to Mw5.1 La Habra. The source is plotted and defined in the following files. These show the source trimmed, low-pass filtered (fc=5Hz, Butterworth, 2 forward passes, 4 poles), 4300 points, dt=0.001s (and plot of what is should look like).

• Time domain Plot of Selected Source
• Source Frequency Domain Plot w/ and w/o Filtering
• Data File For 5Hz Plot (Source after filtering)

1D Velocity Model Definition

The first velocity model will be modeled on a 1D model of the Los Angeles Basin used in on the Broadband Platform project. The model was smoothed to eliminate sharp contrasts between layers.

• Diagram of smoothed 1D Model (pdf)
• Diagram of smoothed 1D Model showing Layers (pdf)
• 1D model data file (20m resolution) (rtf)

Definition of Los Angeles Basin 1D velocity models used in the Broadband Platform project:

• Broadband_File_Format_Guide#Velocity_Model_File

Station List

We developed a list of ground motion observations for the La Habra earthquake. A description of the methods used to create this merged site list are provided at Selection of La Habra Ground Motion Observations.

This site list is based on use of publicly posted data sets for the La Habra event. There should be on-scale accelerometer ground motion data at all of these sites for the La Habra mainshock. This list combine all channels available from SMO and SCECDC for the La Habra Event using only acceleration instruments within the simulation region:

• Total SMO and SCECDC [HN] Stations in simulation region : 356
  • Merged (SMO + SCECDC) Site KML Map (KML File) 356 Accelerator Seismograms for La Habra Earthquake (in simulation region and less than 200km from epicenter))
  • Merged (SMO + SCECDC) Site List (TXT File) 356 Accelerator Seismograms for La Habra Earthquake (in simulation region and less than 200km from epicenter))

We expect all these recordings to be [ HN ] channel data, In SEED terminology,

• [ H ] High Broad Band >= 80 to <= 250 Sample Rate (Hz) Corner Period: >= 10 sec
• [ N ] Accelerometer (historically some channels from accelerometers have used instrumentation codes of L and G. The use of N is the FDSN convention as defined in August 2000)

We have not yet plotted all data to visually confirm all records are above noise, and on-scale. We have not yet confirm all records are three component records.

Fig 1: 356 La Habra Earthquake ground motion accelerometer recordings for the La Habra Earthquake in Simulation Volume

Simulation Box / Velocity Model

Parameter	Value	Notes
Dimensions (km)	180 x 135 x 61.875 (31 km for 1d Model)
Bounding Box (LL)	-119.288842 34.120549, -118.354016 35.061096, -116.846030 34.025873, -117.780976 33.096503
Rotation Angle	39.9
UCVM Version	Not used for first velocity model	No heterogeneities
Velocity Model Versions	Simplified BBP 1D model defined above
Miniumum Vs	500 m/s
Samples per wavelength	6 to 7 - AWP	10 to 12 - Hercules

Point Source Parameters

Parameter	Value	Notes
Event Name	La Habra
Mw	5.1	Ref: http://www.scsn.org/2014lahabra.html
Moment	5.764 E+23 Dyne-cm	Source: En-Jui
Origin Time	2014/03/29 04:09:42.97	Source: En-Jui
Origin Location	-117.930; 33.922; 5.0km	Source: En-Jui
Strike/Dip/Rake	239/70/38	Source: En-Jui, based on review of aftershock sequence
Rise Time	0.75 s

Coordinate System

• X ~= 040 azimuth (positive from 0 to 135 km), units in m, m/s and m/s2
• Y ~= 130 azimuth (positive from 0 to 180 km), units in m, m/s and m/s2
• Z = UP (positive upward, toward the sky)

Solver Parameters

Parameter	Value	Notes
Frequency	4.0 Hz
Simulation Length (Duration)	100 s
Delta T	0.005 - AWP	0.005 - Hercules
Plane Output Resolution	250m
I/O Print Rate	every 10 steps - AWP	every 12 steps - Hercules
Station List	TBD
Software Version	TBD

Fig 1:Location of La Habra Main Shock and aftershocks, used to select preferred fault plane solution. (Image Credit: En-Jui Lee)

High-F VandV Exercise Planning Documents (2015)

• High-F V and V Exercise Description - Jan 2015 (pptx)

High-F Project Plan (2012)

• Original High-F Project Plan (pdf)
• Original High-F Project Plan (docx)

Agreements Needed

• Simulation Volumes
• Rotation Angle
• Projections used
• Points per wavelength used
• Number and location of sites used for ground motion comparison
• Proposed Station List to save results
• La Habra Point Source parameters
• Currently available code capabilities in GPU codes
  • small scale heterogeneities
  • FDQ
  • Plasticity
  • dynamic rupture source
• V and V exercise stages - need to be reviiewed and approved

Data Comparison

• HighF_v14.12_Data_Comparison

Related Entries

• High-F Project
• CME Project
• AWP-ODC
• Hercules

References Used

• Taborda, R. and J. Bielak (2013). Ground-motion simulation and validation of the 2008 Chino Hills, California, earthquake, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 103, no. 1, 131–156, doi 10.1785/0120110325.