In the neo-deterministic seismic hazard assessment (NDSHA)
evaluation, great-earthquake-prone areas (GEPAs) play an important role in defining the ‘controlling earthquakes’ or ‘scenario earthquakes’. When considering great earthquakes, their finite rupture attributes, which contribute to determine the strong ground motions and intensities, have to be taken into account. For continental earthquakes in China, the great earthquakes are located mainly within the boundary zones of the ‘tectonic blocks’. The ‘tectonic block’ model indicates the focal mechanisms and some finite rupture attributes of the great earthquakes within the boundary zones. Accordingly, in the NDSHA for China, it is both necessary and feasible for the GEPAs to consider the finite rupture attributes of great earthquakes. The Sichuan-Yunnan border in southwest China has been taken as an example to naturally develop the originally used circular shape of GEPAs into one with more degrees-of-freedom, better reflecting the possible rupture processes of the considered earthquakes.
