TY  - JOUR
A1  - Tran Thanh Tuan, 
A1  - Scherbaum, Frank
A1  - Malischewsky, Peter G.
T1  - On the relationship of peaks and troughs of the ellipticity (H/V) of Rayleigh waves and the transmission response of single layer over half-space models
JF  - Geophysical journal international
N2  - One of the key challenges in the context of local site effect studies is the determination of frequencies where the shakeability of the ground is enhanced. In this context, the H/V technique has become increasingly popular and peak frequencies of H/V spectral ratio are sometimes interpreted as resonance frequencies of the transmission response. In the present study, assuming that Rayleigh surface wave is dominant in H/V spectral ratio, we analyse theoretically under which conditions this may be justified and when not. We focus on 'layer over half-space' models which, although seemingly simple, capture many aspects of local site effects in real sedimentary structures. Our starting point is the ellipticity of Rayleigh waves. We use the exact formula of the H/V-ratio presented by Malischewsky & Scherbaum (2004) to investigate the main characteristics of peak and trough frequencies. We present a simple formula illustrating if and where H/V-ratio curves have sharp peaks in dependence of model parameters. In addition, we have constructed a map, which demonstrates the relation between the H/V-peak frequency and the peak frequency of the transmission response in the domain of the layer's Poisson ratio and the impedance contrast. Finally, we have derived maps showing the relationship between the H/V-peak and trough frequency and key parameters of the model such as impedance contrast. These maps are seen as diagnostic tools, which can help to guide the interpretation of H/V spectral ratio diagrams in the context of site effect studies.
KW  - Site effects
KW  - Theoretical seismology
KW  - Wave propagation
Y1  - 2011
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2010.04863.x
SN  - 0956-540X
VL  - 184
IS  - 2
SP  - 793
EP  - 800
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Malden
ER  -