Installing strong ground motion measuring devices in existing structures is significant for earthquake engineering and building safety to monitor whether the structures can be damaged or not. This study determined with different spectral ratio methods the dominant vibration period and amplification characteristics of both the structure and the ground from earthquake and noise records and compared the results. For this purpose, online- monitored accelerometer devices were placed on the top floor of a 5-story public building that was improved in 2008, on the ground where it was built, and on the rock approximately 1 km away from this building. MASW measurement was taken to determine the ground class of the area where the accelerometer device was installed on the ground right next to the building. Many earthquake records of different distances and magnitudes were obtained by the fixed devices located in the building, on the ground, and the rock. Spectral ratio methods were applied to the recorded earthquakes according to the reference station method and horizontal/vertical ratio methods according to the single station method. In addition to the analyses applied to the earthquake records, noise measurements were taken at night on the building floors and ground, and these measurements were evaluated according to the horizontal/vertical spectral ratio method and floor spectral ratio methods. As a result of all the analyses, the amplifications, dominant frequencies, and damping ratio of the building and the ground were determined, and the interference status of the building and the ground was examined. As a result, it was observed that the dominant frequency of the building, the spectral ratio amplification, and the damping ratio values of the building were approximately the same by using different spectral ratio methods for earthquake and noise data. In addition, there was a slight increase in the building's dominant period as a result of earthquakes that occurred at different times.

Bhaktapur, lying in the Kathmandu Basin, suffered damages during the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, potentially exacerbated by local site effects. This research addresses the lack of site response study on Suryabinayak Municipality, located in the southern part of Bhaktapur district. Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) and Floor Spectral Ratio (FSR) methods were employed to determine the fundamental frequencies of soil deposits at 241 free field stations and 20 Reinforced Concrete (RC) isolated buildings respectively. The fundamental frequency of soil deposits varies from 0.27 Hz to 10.00 Hz. Higher frequencies were noted near the basin edges, attributed to shallow sediment deposits, whereas a lower frequencies prevailed towards the basin centre due to an increase in sediment thickness. Out of 20 buildings studied, 7 are highly susceptible to soil-structure resonance as the frequency disparity between building and free-field is less than 15%. This research not only quantified the frequency distribution and soil-structure resonance likelihood but also established a correlation between building height and its fundamental frequency. A significant correlation is observed with a coefficient of determination (R2) value of 60.64% and 83.36% in the longitudinal and transverse directions respectively. The study's results can be endorsed to mitigate seismic hazards, build seismic-resilient structures, and maintain historical monuments.

The variation of ultrasonic parameters is closely linked to the mechanical properties and damage evolution of rock and soil mass. In this paper, uniaxial compression tests and real-time ultrasonic monitoring technology were used to explore the strength, deformation and damage characteristics of frozen soil-rock mixture (FSRM) with different block sizes and gradations, as well as the law of ultrasonic wave propagation. The results indicate that: (1) A wider gradation of rock blocks corresponds to a higher specimen strength and a lower breakage degree of rock blocks. Within the same gradation, specimens with smaller block sizes have higher strength. Wider gradation and smaller particle size of rock blocks exerts a delayed effect on damage and failure of FSRM. (2) The particle size of rock blocks plays a key role in the variation of ultrasonic parameters. Within the same gradation, the specimens with larger block sizes possess higher wave velocity and lower first wave amplitude. The effect of gradation on ultrasonic parameters is attributed to the variation of block size. (3) With the first wave amplitude as damage state variable, a damage prediction model based on the improved Duncan-Chang model is established, demonstrating superior prediction potential on the stress-strain curves of FSRM. The research confirms and promotes the quantitative correlation between ultrasonic parameters and mechanical properties of geotechnical materials, which may provide theoretical support for testing and evaluating the mechanical properties of roadbed filling in cold mountainous areas.