Stochastic Finite Fault Modeling for the 16 September 1978 Tabas, Iran, Earthquake

The main objective of this study is estimating acceleration time history of 16 September 1978 Tabas earthquake incorporating the seismological/geological source-path and site model parameters by using finite-fault simulation approach. The method generalizes the stochastic ground-motion simulation technique, developed for point sources, to the case of finite faults. It subdivides the fault plane into subfaults and assumes each subfault to be a point source with a ω-2 spectrum. The length of the fault is taken as 85km and its width as 30km, and the fault plane is divided into 17×6 elements. Geometric spreading, regional anelastic attenuation and local site effect are included in the model. Satisfactory agreements between simulated and observed results validate capability of the method in prediction of ground motion in the study region