A seismic zoning map conforming to Eurocode 8, and practical earthquake parameter relations for the Netherlands

Abstract

A zoning map for earthquake intensities and a relation between intensity and design ground acceleration are presented, conforming to Eurocode 8, the European earthquake building code. For the southeast of the Netherlands, reduced or simplified seismic design procedures may be used. For the remainder of the country, where expected intensities are very low, the provisions of Eurocode 8 need not be observed. From the Netherlands data set, the linear frequency-magnitude relation for the tectonic earthquakes is re-calculated. A correlation between intensity and magnitude is determined and compared with similar relations in California and Germany. The radius of perceptibility estimated from the local magnitude is more accurate than that estimated from the maximum observed epicentral intensity. This radius is substantially greater in the Netherlands than in California for the same epicentral intensity. The maximum expected earthquake for the Netherlands is estimated at about 6 ¼ local magnitude.