26.7. Wave Amplification and Structural Resonance

Try these first

1. 1.

   What happens to seismic wave amplitude in soft soils?

   Hint

   Think about how softer mediums differ from harder ones.

2. 2.

   Describe what resonance means in the context of seismic waves.

   Hint

   Consider how a swing works.

3. 3.

   What effect do soft soils have on seismic wave amplitude?

   • Increase
   • Decrease
   • No effect

   Hint

   Think about how energy dissipates in softer vs harder materials.

4. 4.

   True or False: Resonance occurs when the frequency of earthquake waves mismatches a structure's natural frequency.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider the swing analogy.

5. 5.

   Analyze a hypothetical 10-story building on soft soil. Given that its natural frequency is 1 Hz, how would an incoming Rayleigh wave of 1 Hz affect it?

   Hint

   Consider the relationship between the wave frequency and the building's natural frequency.

6. 6.

   Evaluate a scenario where a new design is proposed to mitigate resonance effects. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of base isolation for this structure.

   Hint

   Balance between effectiveness and feasibility.