Abstract
This paper discusses engineering effects of the short-period surface waves caused by the lateral inhomogenuity of ground from both viewpoints of vector and tensor. The former viewpoint focuses on the irregular amplification of ground motions and the latter the behaviors of strains. First numerical simulations of earthquake response are carried out for model grounds with typically lateral inhomogenuity using the Pseudo-Spectral Methopd. Basic effects of the short-period surface waves are made clear by these simulations. Next an array observation system of earthquake motions, which has been deployed at a site characterized by lateral inhomogenuity, is used to confirm such effects resulting from the simulations. Finally it is concluded that the short-period surface waves play possibly an important role in earthquake damage.
