The predominant seismic energy input into structures is from Rayleigh waves. These attenuate rapidly with distance from the surface and are partially reflected and partially transmitted by a hole in the ground. A structure founded in such a hole may anticipate a smaller seismic input than a surface-founded structure. Estimates of such a reduction are given which indicate that only short buildings and material with low shear-wave velocities will provide the proper conditions for this beneficial effect.
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Colin B. Brown (1971) studied this question.
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