Three-dimensional non-linear soil-building interaction analysis in the lakebed zone of Mexico City during the hypothetical Guerrero earthquake

The 1985 Michoacan earthquake (M = 8.1) caused very severe damage to mid-rise buildings in the lakebed zone of Mexico City, which is approximately 400 km from the epicentre in the Pacific Ocean. In the present study, we perform a three-dimensional (3-D) non-linear soil-building interaction analysis for several types of low- to high-rise buildings during the hypothetical Guerrero earthquake,and try to understand the real cause of heavy damage to mid-rise buildings in the lakebed zone during the 1985 Michoacan earthquake. We make a reasonable estimation of the input earthquake motions and the local site effects. The non-linear soil-building interaction analysis explains the damage pattern observed during the 1985 earthquake, although other analyses do not. We realize that all the factors from the earthquake source to the building superstructure must be taken into account adequately. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.