Response‐only modal identification of structures using strong motion data

Dynamic characteristics of structures — viz. natural frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes — are central to earthquake‐resistant design. These values identified from field measurements are useful for model validation and health‐monitoring. Most system identification methods require input excitations motions to be measured and the structural response; however, the true input motions are seldom recordable. For example, when soil–structure interaction effects are non‐negligible, neither the free‐field motions nor the recorded responses of the foundations may be assumed as ‘input’. Even in the absence of soil–structure interaction, in many instances, the foundation responses are not recorded (or are recorded with a low signal‐to‐noise ratio). Unfortunately, existing output‐only methods are limited to free vibration data, or weak stationary ambient excitations. However, it is well‐known that the dynamic characteristics of most civil structures are amplitude‐dependent; thus, parameters identified from low‐amplitude responses do not match well with those from strong excitations, which arguably are more pertinent to seismic design. In this study, we present a new identification method through which a structure's dynamic characteristics can be extracted using only seismic response (output) signals. In this method, first, the response signals’ spatial time‐frequency distributions are used for blindly identifying the classical mode shapes and the modal coordinate signals. Second, cross‐relations among the modal coordinates are employed to determine the system's natural frequencies and damping ratios on the premise of linear behavior for the system. We use simulated (but realistic) data to verify the method, and also apply it to a real‐life data set to demonstrate its utility. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tracking modal parameters from building seismic response data using recursive subspace identification algorithm

Tracking modal parameters and estimating the current structural state of a building from seismic response measurements, particularly during strong earthquake excitations, can provide useful information for building safety assessment and the adaptive control of a structure. Therefore, online or recursive identification techniques need to be developed and implemented for building seismic response monitoring. This paper develops and examines different methods to track modal parameters from building seismic response data. The methods include recursive data‐driven subspace identification (RSI‐DATA) using Givens rotation algorithm, and RSI‐DATA using Bona fide algorithm. The question on how well the results of RSI‐DATA reflect the real condition is investigated and verified with a bilinear SDOF simulation study. Time‐varying modal parameters of a four‐story reinforced concrete school building are identified based on a series of earthquake excitations, including several seismic events, large and small. Discussions on the different methods' ability to track the time‐varying modal parameters are presented. The variation of the identified building modal frequencies and damping ratios from a series of event‐by‐event seismic responses, particularly before and after retrofitting of the building is also discussed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two‐stage damage detection algorithms of structure using modal parameters identified from recursive subspace identification

Structural damage assessment under external loading, such as earthquake excitation, is an important issue in structural safety evaluation. In this regard, appropriate data analysis and feature extraction techniques are required to interpret the measured data and to identify the state of the structure and, if possible, to detect the damage. In this study, the recursive subspace identification with Bona‐fide LQ renewing algorithm (RSI‐BonaFide‐Oblique) incorporated with moving window technique is utilized to identify modal parameters such as natural frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes at each instant of time during the strong earthquake excitation. From which the least square stiffness method (LSSM) combined with the model updating technique, called efficient model correction method (EMCM), is used to estimate the first‐stage system stiffness matrix using the simplified model from the previously identified modal parameters (nominal model). In the second stage, 2 different damage assessment algorithms related to the nominal system stiffness matrix were derived. First, the model updating technique, called EMCM, is applied to correct the nominal model by the newly identified modal parameters during the strong motion. Second, the element damage index can be calculated using element damage index method (EDIM) to quantify the damage extent in each element. Verification of the proposed methods through the shaking table test data of 2 different types of structures and a building earthquake response data is demonstrated to specify its corresponding damage location, the time of occurrence during the excitation, and the percentage of stiffness reduction.     

Analysis of the strong motion data of the 1995 Dinar, Turkey earthquake

Dinar earthquake (M_w=6.0, USGS) occurred on October 1, 1995 causing casualties and physical damage (I_o=VII–VIII MSK). The earthquake was associated with predominantly normal faulting. The PGA in Dinar was 0.33 g. Strong motion data associated with the mainshock and aftershocks of the 1995 Dinar, Turkey earthquake have been analyzed to investigate the source, attenuation and site response parameters. Strong motion data were baseline corrected, local magnitudes were computed and inelastic attenuation parameters, seismic moments and corner frequencies were assessed. A parametric analysis is attempted to understand the correlation of damage distribution with the fault parameters. It is believed that the obtained data will complement the relatively scarce earthquake data associated with extensional regimes.     

Rupture mechanism and source parameters of Umbria-Marche mainshocks from strong motion data

A long sequence of earthquakes causing few casualties and considerable damage in a wide zone struck Central Italy starting on September 26, 1997. Theearthquakes are characterized by normal faulting mechanism, with a NE-SW(anti-Apenninic direction) tension axis. In this paper we analyze the accelerometric recordings collected by the accelerograph stations belonging to the National Accelerograph Network. About 10 stations were triggered by the mainshocks of the sequence. In particular, a small size foreshock and the two mainshocks that occurred on September,26 (00:33(GMT) M_W = 5.7 and 09:40 M_W = 6.0) have been recorded by two digital 3-C accelerometers located at near source distances (within 30 km from the faults). These records are relevant to investigate the detail of therupture kinematics, due to the close epicentral distance and azimuthallocation relative to the fault orientation and geometry. Using a trial and error approach we modeled the source mechanism through the fit of the arrival times, the apparent source time duration, the main polarization features and the entire waveforms of the recorded signals, in order to get some insight on the rupture evolution, the location of the fracture origin point and the fault geometry. Based on this fault kinematic model, inferences on fault slip distribution are obtained by modeling the S acceleration waveform, comparing the ray theory synthetics with 1–5 Hz band filtered ground velocity records.The final model shows that the seismic ruptures occurred along two adjacent,sub-parallel, low angle dipping normal faults. Ruptures bothnucleated from the fault bottom and propagated up-dip, showing differentrupture velocity and length. The presence of a transfer zone (barrier)can be suggested by the mainshocks rupture evolution. This transfer zonehas probably controlled the amplitude increase of local stressreleased by the first rupture at its NW edge which triggered about 9 hourslater the second rupture. The inferred model was used to compute the predictedground acceleration in the near source range, using a hybridstatistical-deterministic approach.A similar trial and error method has been also applied to the October 14, 199715:23 earthquake (M_W = 5.6). The inferred kinematic model indicates a rupture nucleating from the faultbottom and propagating up-dip, toward the SE direction. Thus the three mainshocks ruptured distinct fault segments, adjacent and slightly offsetfrom one to another.     

Correlation of JMA instrumental seismic intensity with strong motion parameters

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) seismic intensity (I_JMA) has been used as a measure of strong shaking for many years in Japan, and it necessitates to know the correlation between the JMA seismic intensity and other strong motion indices, e.g. Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA), Peak Ground Velocity (PGV), and Spectrum Intensity (SI). In this study, two strong motion data sets were selected; in which, the first set consists of 879 three‐components non‐liquefied records selected from 13 major earthquake events that occurred in Japan, the United States, and Taiwan, and the second set consists of 17 liquefied records selected from 7 major earthquake events that occurred in Japan and the United States. The JMA seismic intensity and other ground motion indices were calculated using the selected data sets. The relationships between the JMA seismic intensity and PGA, PGV, and SI were then derived performing a two‐stage linear regression analysis. Results from the analysis show that the JMA instrumental seismic intensity shows higher correlation with SI than PGA or PGV, and it shows the highest correlation with the parameters such as the combination of PGA and SI or the product of PGA and SI. The obtained relationships are also compared with the ones obtained by other studies, which may be useful for the disaster management agencies in Japan and deployment of new SI‐sensors that monitor both PGA and SI. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of parameters selection in Chebyshev filters on the strong motion data processing

This contribution discusses the application of Chebyshev Type I filter for processing real earthquake records. Consideration is given to the effects of filtering parameters (passband amplitude ripple and order of the filter) on the time series, strong-motion parameters, Fourier Amplitude Spectrum of acceleration, and elastic displacement response spectra. Time histories of five earthquakes with different moment magnitudes have been examined (from stations located close to the epicenters). Data processing is based on application of bandpass Chebyshev filtering over frequency range with substantial signal to noise ratio (level of 3 or approximately 3 dB). Applying different filters, we have monitored several important strong-motion parameters: peak values of acceleration, velocity, and displacement; Arias intensity, acceleration/velocity spectrum intensity, significant duration, etc. Some new results and conclusions concerning the influence of Chebyshev filter in data processing of records have been summarized. The graphical and numerical outcomes obtained, as well as the comparison with a Butterworth causal filter, are included in the work. The results could be potentially useful to engineering seismologists who need to evaluate and better understand the merits of this type of filtering for strong-motion data processing.     

Identification of structural parameters of multistorey shear buildings from modal data

A procedure has been presented in this paper to identify the structural parameters, viz. mass and stiffness matrices, from modal test data for multistorey shear buildings. The first two orders of modal data have been used by other researchers to estimate the global matrices where they depend only on measurable points which are less than the total number of structural degrees of freedom. The above method has been refined here by using Holzer criteria along with other numerical methods to estimate the global mass and stiffness matrices of the structure. This shows the methodology to be more efficient and accurate. The reliability of the procedure has been shown by examples of multistorey buildings. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of noise spectra from strong motion data recorded in Greece

A large number of strong ground motions inGreece have been recorded by analogaccelerographs. The processing of analogstrong motion recordings and conversion toa digital form introduces noise in thesignal, due to the digitization andprocessing whichsignificantly affects the record. In thepresent paper a unified processing anddetermination of digitization andprocessing noise for the Greek strongmotion records is presented. Moreover,appropriate relations are proposed for thelower cut-off frequency with respect tothe epicentral distance and earthquakemagnitude for record filtering.     

汶川地震余震震源参数及地震动衰减与场地影响参数反演分析

基于强震动观测台钻孔数据, 统计得到了四川、 甘肃地区20 m深的浅硬土层场地平均剪切波速模型． 通过与美国加州地区的波速模型对比, 结合四川、 甘肃地区地震预报的地壳模型, 延拓剪切波速模型至40 km． 应用四分之一波长法计算了浅硬土层场地的平均场地放大系数． 利用场地放大系数, 消除13次余震中浅硬场地的台站场地响应, 反演了龙门山断层上、 下盘的介质品质因子以及13次余震的有效应力降． 通过与普通土层场地的强震动记录对比, 对浅硬土层场地的放大系数进行调整, 得到了深厚土层场地的平均放大系数．      

高频GPS和强震仪数据在汶川地震参数快速确定中的初步应用

高频GPS可以实时获取地表位移数据,在地震学中有十分重要的现实应用,比如快速获取震中、震级、地震烈度甚至震源破裂过程.本文以汶川地震为例,首先利用近场7个GPS台站数据反演震中位置,由于高频GPS和测震学确认的震相不一致,两种震中结果相距约15.7 km.然后对高频GPS和强震动数据进行了比较分析,我们的统计结果表明,尽管由于工作原理不同,高频GPS数据中的地震动峰值与强震记录相比存在明显差异,但是高频GPS记录的PGA、PGV和PGD同样可以作为计算地震烈度的指标.进而,使用SMBLOC程序对强震记录进行事后的基线偏移校正,得到与实时高频GPS精度相当的地表位移序列.最后,采用移动平均窗口对这些位移数据作平滑,基于最速下降法和OKADA模型,对汶川地震断层破裂的过程进行了回溯性准实时反演.结果表明,汶川地震主断层由西南向东北方向破裂,以14:28:04为基准,在震后20 s提供初始震级M_W7.0,震后70 s震级稳定在M_W7.8,但断层仍在破裂,在震后159 s根据位移波形判断事件基本结束.研究表明,实时地表位移数据可以快速准确获取强震震级和破裂方向,从而使得高频GPS将对现有地震预警系统提供很好的补充.

     

使用中国地震台网资料快速测定中强地震矩震级

利用中国地震台网数字地震资料,选取国内Ms≥5.3地震波形数据,采用长周期波形拟合方法,快速计算2008年至今86个中强震的标量地震矩MO和矩震级Mw,并将Mw与GCMT的测定结果及中国地震台网中心测定的面波震级Ms进行对比.结果表明：矩震级与GCMT测定一致,与中国地震台网中心测定的面波震级关系为Mw=0.86Ms＋0.63.     

Late Holocene slip rate and average recurrence interval of great earthquakes on the Shangzhi segment of the Yilan‐Yitong Fault Zone,northeastern China: Constraints from paleo‐earthquakes and historical written records

The Yilan‐Yitong Fault Zone (YYFZ) is considered to be the key branch of the Tancheng‐Lujiang Fault Zone (TLFZ) in northeastern China. Although the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic deformation of the YYFZ has been studied intensively over the past century, few estimates of slip rate and recurrence interval of large earthquakes in the late Quaternary, which are the two most important parameters for understanding the potential seismic hazard of this crucial structure, were obtained. Based on integrated interpretations of high resolution satellite images and detailed geologic and geomorphic mapping, linear landforms were identified, including fault scarps and troughs, along the Shangzhi segment of the YYFZ, which exceeds 25 km in length. Synthesized results of trench excavations and differential GPS measurements of terrace surfaces indicate that two events (E1, E2) occurred along the Shangzhi segment during the late Holocene, which resulted in 3.2 ±0.1 m of total vertical co‐seismic displacement with clear features of thrust motion. ¹⁴C dating of samples suggests that event E1 occurred between 440 ±30 years BP and 180 ±30 years BP and that event E2 occurred between 4 090 ±30 years BP and 3 880 ±30 years BP, which indicates that the minimum vertical slip rate of the Shangzhi segment of the YYFZ has been approximately 0.8 ±0.03 mm/year during the late Holocene. Constraints from paleo events and the slip rate suggest that the average recurrence interval of major earthquakes on the YYFZ is 3 800 ±200 years. Historical documents in Korea show that event E1 possibly corresponds to the earthquake that occurred in AD 1810 (the Qing Dynasty in Chinese history) in the Ningguta area, which had surface‐wave magnitude (Ms) of 6.8–7.5. Studies of kinematics show that the right‐lateral strike‐slip with a reverse component has been dominant along the YYFZ during the late Holocene.     

Frequency domain modal analysis of earthquake input energy to highly damped passive control structures

A new complex modal analysis‐based method is developed in the frequency domain for efficient computation of the earthquake input energy to a highly damped linear elastic passive control structure. The input energy to the structure during an earthquake is an important measure of seismic demand. Because of generality and applicability to non‐linear structures, the earthquake input energy has usually been computed in the time domain. It is shown here that the formulation of the earthquake input energy in the frequency domain is essential for deriving a bound on the earthquake input energy for a class of ground motions and for understanding the robustness of passively controlled structures to disturbances with various frequency contents. From the viewpoint of computational efficiency, a modal analysis‐based method is developed. The importance of overdamped modes in the energy computation of specific non‐proportionally damped models is demonstrated by comparing the energy transfer functions and the displacement transfer functions. Through numerical examinations for four recorded ground motions, it is shown that the modal analysis‐based method in the frequency domain is very efficient in the computation of the earthquake input energy. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inverse analysis of weak and strong motion downhole array data from the Mw7.0 Sanriku-Minami earthquake

A hybrid optimization scheme, comprising a genetic algorithm in series with a local least-squares fit operator, is used for the inversion of weak and strong motion downhole array data obtained by the Kik-Net Strong Motion Network during the M_w7.0 Sanriku-Minami Earthquake. Inversion of low-amplitude waveforms is first employed for the estimation of low-strain dynamic soil properties at five stations. Successively, the frequency-dependent equivalent linear algorithm is used to predict the mainshock site response at these stations, by subjecting the best-fit elastic profiles to the downhole-recorded strong motion. Finally, inversion of the mainshock empirical site response is employed to extract the equivalent linear dynamic soil properties at the same locations. The inversion algorithm is shown to provide robust estimates of the linear and equivalent linear impedance profiles, while the attenuation structures are strongly affected by scattering effects in the near-surficial heterogeneous layers. The forward and inversely estimated equivalent linear shear wave velocity structures are found to be in very good agreement, illustrating that inversion of strong motion site response data may be used for the approximate assessment of nonlinear effects experienced by soil formations during strong motion events.     

Horizontal to vertical spectral ratio and geological conditions: an analysis of strong motion data from Greece and Taiwan (SMART-1)

Nowadays, several research efforts have been directed towards the evaluation of the horizontal to vertical, (h/v), spectral ratio technique, following the pioneering work of Nakamura originally proposed for microtremor measurements. In the present study, an extension of this technique based on Greek and Taiwanese (SMART-1) strong motion data is attempted. Whenever possible comparisons with results obtained by the standard spectral ratio technique for the same sites are made. Regarding the Greek data it is concluded that (h/v) spectral ratio clearly distinguishes the range of resonant peaks between ‘rock’ and ‘alluvium’ sites. On the other hand, nonlinear effects that take place beneath SMART-1 array most probably obscure the expected consistency between (h/v) and standard spectral ratio technique.     

Predicting strong motion parameters for the Chamoli earthquake of 28th March, 1999, Garhwal Himalaya, India, from simplified finite fault model

State of Uttaranchal in the northern part of India in the Garhwal Himalaya was hit by the Chamoli earthquake on 28th March, 1999 (GMT). This earthquake was recorded on a strong motion array installed in this region. The maximum peak ground acceleration of 353 cm/sec² was recorded at an accelerograph located at the Gopeshwar station at an approximate epicentral distance of 14 km. The simplified method of Midorikawa (1993) has been used to model finite fault responsible for causing the Chamoli earthquake. This method is based on the Empirical Green's Function (EGF) technique of Irikura (1986).Modifications in this method have been made to include layered earth model and transmission effects at each boundary by Joshi (2001). Rupture causing the Chamoli earthquake is placed in two structural models of the earth in this work: one is a homogeneous half space and other is the multi layered earth model. Comparison in terms of root mean square error (RMSE) is made between the simulated and actual strong motion parameters like peak acceleration and duration. It is seen that the introduction of multi layered earth system in this simplified technique is capable of significantly reducing the RMSE in observed and predicted strong motion parameters and defining the attenuation rate for peak ground acceleration of this earthquake.