Search

This article presents the findings of a study on the directionality effect observed in strong motion records. We set out to establish ratios between several seismic intensity measures that depend on sensor orientation (e.g., GMar, Larger) and others that are orientation-independent (e.g., RotDpp, GMRotDpp, and GMRotIpp), with the intention of proposing multiplicative correction factors. The analysis included an evaluation of the impact of site conditions, ground motion intensity, earthquake magnitude, and hypocentral distance on these ratios. Following a concise overview of the directionality effects and the associated intensity measures, the Costa Rican Strong Motion Database, comprising a total of 4199 horizontal accelerograms (two components), was employed to determine the correction factors. The analysis was carried out for 5% damped response spectra within the 0.01–5 s period range. The study focuses on orientation-independent intensity measures that are derived by combining the maximum values from the recorded motions. In the comprehensive analysis of the complete database, a trend was observed between these intensity measures and the magnitude of the earthquake along with the hypocentral distance. Specifically, records from earthquakes with greater magnitudes exhibited a lower maximum spectral response to the geometric mean of the response spectra of the as-recorded (ar) components ratio (RotD100/GMar), similar to records from earthquakes with larger hypocentral distances. Based on these findings, a proposal was put forth to estimate RotD100 values using GMar values. This ratio can prove useful in transforming data from previous seismic hazard studies, including those applied in many seismic codes, and in defining the maximum anticipated seismic intensity for design purposes in a more straightforward manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regional literature that gives cultural identity and heritage differentiation to intermediate cities in Colombia is recognized and resignified by literary tourism. The objective of the reflection article is to characterize the opportunities and limitations of literary tourism as an alternative tourism product through provincial routes. The qualitative methodology was mediated by content analysis, based on a selection of 135 literary works that led to the selection of the works of three representative authors for the design of literary routes. The conclusion reiterates the opportunities of experiential literature for provincial cultural tourism by intertwining the most representative places of the territorial heritage with tours in the vital spaces of the authors or their characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studies urban form and function in Hispanic American colonial port cities. By combining different research questions and points of view, new insights are given into matters such as the origin of their urban grids, the development of their fortifications throughout the colonial era, and the military versus trade function they accomplished. The focus is on Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with other Hispanic colonial cities also included in the discussion. The field work is based on primary literature about colonial laws and ordinances and the reports of several viceroys in the eighteenth century as well as a wide array of secondary literature in different languages. The results show that, while these cities fulfilled an important role as trade nodes, this function was second to their military role. However, both functions are found to be interdependent in a number of ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latin America is a continent living amidst strong inequalities, and the region’s cities reflect this in a distinct way. In order to analyse and explain urban inequality in the region, this article studies the case of Cartagena de Indias, on the Colombian Caribbean coast, from the points of view of different historical studies about the racial gaze, gentrification, racial capitalism, and the research connecting urban planning and racial segregation, among others. By applying the historical method, the authors delve into institutional primary and secondary sources from the contemporary historiography, which relate urban development to racial issues. The main outcome is a deeper understanding of the urban and racial phenomena in the context of current theories, with some re-weighing of their impacts. Much of the discussion about racial segregation in Latin America has revolved around metropolises and forgotten medium-sized cities. To remedy this, an overview of studies and theories is offered and subsequently applied to a medium-sized city such as Cartagena, with examples from this city’s planning history in conjunction with its social history and tourist development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processes of gentrification can be seen in the historic center of Cartagena de Indias, which arise from the colonial city and the republican capital, suitable as a military fort, maritime port, railway station and cultural district. This led to the occupation of the peripheral areas and the displacement of the people who lived there to give way to walls, urban walkways, railway lines and motorized avenues. The objective of the text is to describe the processes of the urban transformation of the peripheral areas of Cartagena to consolidate the fort-city, adapted as a historic center and tourist district. To this end, the historical method is used of contrasting printed documental evidence with articles and studies on urban policies that allow the recognition of four periods of geodemographic changes. In conclusion, the current historic center has experienced the processes of the expansion of the dominant classes into the lands occupied by the popular sectors, combined with the construction of roads, the protection of walls and bulwarks, the urbanization of the nearby islands and beaches for touristic ends, as well as the sociocultural expulsion of the poorer classes from the popular sectors towards faraway places, invisible and distant from the tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the soil profile of the Costa Rican Strong-Motion Network (CRSMN) stations is classified based on actual measurements and seismic regulations. The soil classification of the Costa Rican Seismic Code based on the average shear-wave velocity of the top 30 m (VS30) is used as a reference. The site fundamental period (Tf) is included as a parameter to complement the existing characterization. For this, VS30 measurements from 52 accelerometric stations are related to the site fundamental period obtained through horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (HVSR) using ground motion records from the Costa Rican Strong-Motion Database. The H/V ratios are estimated with 5% damped acceleration response spectra and with traditional Fourier amplitude spectra from the S-wave window. From the relation between VS30 and Tf, different ranges of Tf are assigned to the existing soil profile classification and a graph with three-lines and four-areas is proposed to classify the stations of the CRSMN. These lines are plotted from the intersection between values assigned to each site class. The assigned classification at each station will be the one corresponding to the area where the pair of values (VS30 - Tf) falls. With this proposal, both parameters take relevance and are compensated, reducing the differences due to possible errors in measurements or interpretations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an iterative procedure for the time domain deconvolution in nonlinear elastoplastic materials. The approach is intended for the generation of input motions for dynamic soil–structure interaction (DSSI) numerical analyses when the desired earthquake is specified at the surface of a nonlinear soil deposit. The main advantage is that the same constitutive model (or models) to be used in the DSSI simulation to characterise the soil deposit is also employed in the deconvolution procedure. Therefore, the desired surface motion is recovered from the free-field propagation of the resulting input motion at the base of the numerical model, accounting for the assumed constitutive behaviour of the ground. An application example is also presented, where the potential of the proposed approach is shown. • A procedure for the time domain deconvolution in nonlinear materials is presented. • Is intended for the generation of input motions for DSSI numerical analyses. • The desired surface motion is successfully recovered from the resulting input motion. • An example is presented demonstrating the potential of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic regulations for the seismic performance assessment of buildings use the maximum interstory drift, θmax, as a measure to control damage. This article presents a study of the seismic performance based on the θmax for steel buildings using Mexico's regulations and the RISK-UE and HAZUS guidelines. The capacity spectrum method is used to evaluate the performance of buildings with 3 different heights located in 4 cities in Mexico with different seismicity, as well as for soft and rock soil types. The HAZUS criterion is conservative in its assement of damage, while the RISK-UE criterion is more in line with the expected damage. The service state, Sstate, and the collapse prevention state, CPstate, in Mexico's regulations are suitable for damage control, and are consistent with the damage proposed by the RISK-UE guidelines. In very high seismicity zones, the CPstate for seismic actions equal to or greater than the expected, prevent building collapse; however, significant damage to buildings can still occur. The θmax of the CPstate must be established for different seismic intensities and not only for building types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-structure interaction is a key aspect when calculating the dynamic response of nuclear structures in front of ground motions induced by earthquakes. However, modelling the seismic response in the time-domain using FEM-based models to represent the soil volume is computationally expensive because of the large number of elements involved. For this reason, it is a common practice to employ 1-D models, which allows an explicit solution of the dynamic response of the system in a fraction of time. Yet, due to the importance of nuclear structures, sometimes it is mandatory to employ 3D FEM-based models. In addition, based on probabilistic estimations of the seismic hazard at a site, it is generally necessary that the seismic response of the model comply with the spectral ordinates of the input action at the surface level. In doing so, specific accelerograms acting at the bedrock should be developed. If these signals are obtained by deconvolution using the 1D model, and then applied to the 3D one, the response calculated at the surface level will always be somewhat different from the target free field motion (the one considered in the deconvolution process at the surface level). There are several sources, like the Poisson effect in the 3D model, explaining this difference. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the input signal so that the dynamic response obtained with the FEM model fit the target spectrum. This article presents an innovative approach to achieve this goal, developing an enhanced transfer function stemming from the 1D and 3D models. Two seismic scenarios and a specific soil profile have been used as benchmark. Results show that this approach provides an adequate solution for the studied problem. • Soil-structure interaction is a key aspect when calculating the seismic response of nuclear structures. • Modelling this response in the time-domain using FEM models to represent the soil volume is computationally expensive. • The seismic response of the model must comply with specific spectral ordinates related to the hazard of the site. • This article presents an innovative approach to achieve this goal, using an enhanced transfer function from 1D and 3D models. • Two seismic scenarios and a specific soil profile have been used as benchmark. • Results show that this approach provides an adequate solution for the studied problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]