Advance Researches in Civil Engineering

Advance Researches in Civil Engineering

An Overview of the Seismic Activity in Behbahan City, Southwest Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
amin nakhlian 1
lotfolla emadali 2
sasan motaghed 3
heshmatolla mahmudian 4
nasrolla eftekhari 5
1 Center of monitoring assessment and prediction of natural disasters (MAP), Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran
2 Assistant professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran
3 Faculty of Engineering, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran
4 Lorestan National University of Skills
5 Faculty of Technology and Mining, Yasouj University, Choram, Iran
10.30469/arce.2025.519969.1086
Abstract
This study examines the seismic activity and hazards in Behbahan City, southwestern Iran, situated within the seismically active Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt. Historical earthquakes, including devastating events in 1052 and 1085 AD, highlight the region's vulnerability. The area is characterized by ongoing crustal shortening due to the Arabian-Eurasian plate convergence, with several active faults, such as the Behbahan, Aghajari, and Arjan faults, posing significant threats. Analysis of regional seismotectonic frameworks reveals that Behbahan is consistently classified as a high-seismic-hazard zone, with potential for earthquakes exceeding magnitude 7.0. Our fault analysis identifies the Behbahan Fault as posing the highest immediate risk, with an estimated moment magnitude of 7.35 at a distance of 8.4 km from the city. The study recommends microzonation studies, retrofitting of vulnerable structures (especially unreinforced masonry buildings), implementation of early-warning systems, and the development of revised peak ground acceleration (PGA) maps. Multi-disciplinary research integrating InSAR, paleoseismology, and geotechnical data is crucial for refining hazard assessments and mitigating future earthquake impacts in this historically significant and densely populated region.
Keywords
seismic hazard
seismic risk
active faults
maximum magnitude of earthquakes
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Advance Researches in Civil Engineering
Volume 6, Issue 2
Spring 2024
Pages 50-64