Response spectra for the deep sediment-filled Rhone Valley in the Swiss Alps

We present numerical modeling of earthquake ground motion for various profiles across the Swiss Rhone Valley and characterize the seismic response in terms of spectral acceleration. First, we evaluate the relative amplification of 2D with respect to 1D response. Then, we show how the selected bedrock spectrum influences the response spectra of the valley sites. Particular attention is paid to how the internal sediment structure and the often weakly constrained Q-factor shape the seismic response. Results obtained for the different profiles are compared with reference spectra (Swiss building code and Eurocode 8) and for one profile with recorded data as well. From this comparison, we infer that the surficial layer strongly influences spectral acceleration values between 0.1 and 1 s. The total thickness of sediments significantly affects the seismic response at longer periods around the fundamental period of the studied valley sections between 1.8 and 3.6 s. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.