REGIONAL PROBABILISTIC SEISMIC HAZARD ASSESSMENT OF TUNISIA

The present study is about estimation of the regional seismic hazard of Tunisia using a probabilistic approach. The purpose is to improve the earthquake engineering knowledge in the region and to develop the key “ingredients” of the elaboration of a national seismic design code. A review of previous seismic hazard maps of Tunisia is then done and the preparation of a new hazard map is studied. The new hazard assessment is carried out using the latest seismic source model proposed by the National Office of Mines in collaboration with the National Institute of Meteorology. A logic tree is constructed and a parametric study is conducted. The Impact of historical seismicity on the evaluation of seismic hazard is considered by studying the effect of removing doubtful events from the used seismic catalogue. The influence of seismicity-parameters variation is described and the influence of different ground motion prediction equations on the hazard is examined. The selection criteria of these equations are presented and adapted to the study. A hazard map of Tunisia at rock sites and for a 475-year return period is generated. The map established is compared with the ones obtained within previous studies.