Site-specific design response spectra proposed for Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine in Iran and seismic hazard analysis

Given the uncertainty in earthquake forecasting, seismic hazard analysis has been considered to be the better method to estimate site-specific response spectra in seismic design. This research addresses a seismic hazard study for the Sarcheshmeh Copper Site in the Kerman Province, in southeast Iran. The first part of this paper includes an evaluation of seismotectonic and seismicity conditions throughout the study area. The second part addresses the seismic hazard analysis procedure followed by the determination of design ground motion parameters which is finally expressed in terms of peak ground acceleration in deterministic and probabilistic schemes. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) was obtained for the 75-, 475-, and 2475-year return period spectrum. (Kijko and Sellevoll’s in Bull Seismol Soc Am 79(3):645 654, 1989) method was used for the evaluation of seismicity parameters, and the SEISRISK III computer program was used to conduct the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis. Finally, the third part is devoted to the development of the earthquake design spectrum obtained by dynamic ground response analysis. Site response analysis program, EERA (Equivalent-linear Earthquake site Response Analysis), which implements an equivalent linear approach, was used for one-dimensional ground response analyses. The subsurface conditions including the geometry of the soil layers and their dynamic properties were extracted from the geotechnical investigations. Based on the results, the PGA values for the 75-, 475-, and 2475-year return period spectrum are 0.087, 0.302, and 0.425, respectively. This paper can provide guidance on conducting seismic hazard analyses at other sites. Also, the results could be used for earthquake-resistant design of civil engineering infrastructures of the studied area.