Time-domain BEM for three-dimensional site response analysis of topographic structures

This paper presents a formulation of a time-domain three-dimensional boundary element method for site response analysis of topographic structures. The boundary element algorithm that uses the presented time-convoluted traction kernels is applied to site response analyses of topographic Structures. The seismic responses of canyon and ridge subjected to incident P and S waves are analyzed to demonstrate the accuracy of the kernels and the applicability of the presented boundary element algorithm for site response analysis of topographic structures. Seismic response analyses of three-dimensional Gaussian-shaped ridges show that the three-dimensional axisymmetric ridge has a more amplification potential compared with three-dimensional non-axisymmetric elongated and two-dimensional ridges, if the ridge is impinged by incident waves with wavelength of about the ridge's width. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.