The Code-Based Selection of Ground Motion Records for Nonlinear Time-History Analysis

Abstract eng:
The seismic resistance design codes recommend the selection of at least three or seven ground motion records, for the time-history analysis purposes, which shall be compatible to the design spectrum. On the other hand, the spectrum compatible records may change the structural response because of the different characteristics in comparison with the real ground motion records. It is important to propose a methodology that selects a limited number of real ground motion records, instead of the spectrum compatible records, to predict the best estimate of the response, since the design purposes are usually constrained by using of a few number of ground motion records. This paper presents the results of a statistical nonlinear response analysis of a test structure (three-storey reinforced concrete building) calculated using: (1) a selected set of thirty free-field real ground motion records presented an earthquake scenario; (2) two sets of three spectrum compatible records based on the common codes recommendation; and (3) a limited set of real ground motion records based on a precedence list of ground motion records. The structural demand and capacity are computed and compared based on the three pre-scribed methods. It is assumed that the first method result is the best prediction of the structural response. It has been shown that the second method (commonly used in the codes) predicts the structural response so conservative; hence, it is always in the safe side. However, the proposed method (third method) is able to predict the median response within an acceptable accuracy, based on the thirty ground motion records, which needs much less computation efforts in comparison with the first method.

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