Shear modulus reduction and damping ratios curves joined with engineering geological units in Italy

Abstract

Abstract Numerical simulations of seismic site response require the characterization of the nonlinear behaviour of shallow subsoil. When extensive evaluations are of concern, as in the case of seismic microzonation studies, funding problems prevent from the systematic use of laboratory tests to provide detailed evaluations. For this purpose, 485 shear modulus reduction, G\G 0 ( γ ) and damping ratio, D( γ ) curves were collected from multiple literature sources available in Italy. Each curve was associated with the related engineering geological units considered in seismic microzonation studies. A statistical analysis of the data was carried out with the aim of shedding light on the significant difference between the laboratory classification of samples and the macroscopic/engineering geological one, provided during seismic microzonation studies. Since the engineering geological classification plays a prominent role in extensive site response evaluations, the outcomes of the present work may be of help at least when preliminary seismic response estimates are of concern. The dataset provides reference information that can serve as key data for large-scale hazard assessments worldwide.