The Effects of Induced Earthquakes in Non Seismic Areas

During this PhD I would like to use Finite Element Analysis to investigate the response of masonry infilled reinforced concrete frames as well as modelling other typical structural types used in non-seismic regions across Europe. A comparison of how these responses differ based on the cause of the earthquake (hydraulic fracturing vs mining) could also be carried out using seismogram data recorded at Bobrek and Groningen. Further seismogram data is to be released by IS-EPOS on the 30th of March 2018 which should allow for further verification of results. IS-EPOS is a programme funded by the European Union that has created a database of induced seismic data (Is-epos.eu, 2017).
With the collection of a high volume of human induced seismic data it would also be possible to assess the level of attenuation relative the human induced earthquakes, and subsequently review the validity of current ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) for small seismic events, such as that by Atkinson (Atkinson, 2015).
A Eurocode 8 based comparison would be performed, using natural events as a benchmark and using hydraulic fracturing and mining data, adjusted to be spectrum compatible, to the same target design spectrum. This scaling can be done by scaling the induced data or by modifying the frequency content and phase of the induced data (Luco and Bazzurro, 2007).
The above approach will allow me to investigate the effects in terms of damage related to induced earthquakes and to compare with those related to tectonic earthquakes. A research plan like this has the potential to impact for engineers (as primary stakeholders), policy makers and insurance companies.