Effect of a fault on explosion-generated ground shock spectra

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Abstract
Shock spectrum measurements were made for an underground nuclear explosion at the Nevada Test Site of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission using 29 reed gages. The objective of the measurements was to determine the effect of a fault zone on shock spectra measured at the ground surface and generated by the explosion. The reed gages were located along two gage lines; one extended to the west and crossed the fault at right angles. The other gage line extended to the north and was generally parallel to the fault. The results showed that the fault zone had an effect on vertical spectra but not on horizontal radial spectra. The vertical gage directly on the fault showed significantly lower displacements for all frequencies above 3 cycles per second but showed no apparent effect on the 3 cps displacement. For gages beyond the fault the vertical spectra for frequencies higher than 3 cps were greater than for corresponding gages along the north gage line. It is believed that this was caused by the upthrust base rock on the side of the fault away from the explosion with a resultant decreased thickness of tuff and alluvium. This resulted in less attenuation of high frequency response than was expected.

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