Generating multiple spectrum compatible accelerograms using stochastic neural networks

A new neural‐network‐based methodology for generating artificial earthquake spectrum compatible accelerograms from response spectra was proposed in 1997, in which, the learning capabilities of neural networks were used to develop the knowledge of the inverse mapping from the response spectra to earthquake accelerograms. Recently, this methodology has been further extended and enhanced. This paper presents a new stochastic neural network that is capable of generating multiple earthquake accelerograms from a single‐response spectrum. A new stochastic feature to the neural network has been combined with a new scheme for data compression using the replicator neural networks developed in the original method. A benefit of this extended methodology is gaining efficiency in compressing the earthquake accelerograms and extracting their characteristics. The proposed method produces a stochastic ensemble of earthquake accelerograms from any response spectra or design spectra. An example is presented that used 100 recorded accelerograms to train the neural network and several design spectra and response spectra to test this improved methodology. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

根据渐进谱的统计规律生成地震加速度时程

基于美国西部80条基岩上的近场强震记录, 采用Nakayama方法生成记录的渐进谱, 并参照Kameda方式,用统计方法建立了根据震级、距离等地震参数预测渐进谱的统计模型. 提出一种以渐进谱为目标谱的生成幅值和频率非平稳地震加速度时程的迭代方法. 由于考虑了渐进谱幅值和相位的相互影响,所生成的时程的相位也是时频非平稳的,并在相位调整中识别了相位谱增量符号以加速迭代收敛进程. 最后根据统计回归的目标渐进谱模型和本文提出的拟合目标渐进谱的方法,可生成不同震级、距离条件下的幅值和频率均非平稳的地震加速度时程.      

Earthquake accelerogram simulation with statistical law of evolutionary power spectrum

By using the technique for evolutionary power spectrum proposed by Nakayama and with reference to the Kameda formula, an evolutionary spectrum prediction model for given earthquake magnitude and distance is established based on the 80 near-source acceleration records at rock surface with large magnitude from the ground motion database of western U.S.. Then a new iteration method is developed for generation of random accelerograms non-stationary both in amplitude and frequency which are compatible with target evolutionary spectrum. The phase spectra of those simulated accelerograms are also non-stationary in time and frequency domains since the interaction between amplitude and phase angle has been considered during the generation. Furthermore, the sign of the phase spectrum increment is identified to accelerate the iteration. With the proposed statistical model for predicting evolutionary power spectra and the new method for generating compatible time history, the artificial random earthquake accelerograms non-stationary both in amplitude and frequency for certain magnitude and distance can be provided.     

New method of generating spectrum compatible accelerograms using neural networks

A new method is proposed for generating artificial earthquake accelerograms from response spectra. This method uses the learning capabilities of neural networks to developed the knowledge of the inverse mapping from the response spectra to earthquake accelerogram. In the proposed method the neural networks learn the inverse mapping directly from the actual recorded earthquake accelerograms and their response spectra. A two-stage approach is used. In the first stage, a replicator neural network is used as a data compression tool. The replicator neural network compresses the vector of the discrete Fourier spectra of the accelerograms to vectors of much smaller dimension. In the second stage, a multi-layer feed-forward neural network learns to relate the response spectrum to the compressed Fourier spectrum. A simple example is presented, in which only 30 accelerograms are used to train the two-stage neural networks. This example demonstrates how the method works and shows its potential. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Parametric modeling of earthquake response spectra

A mathematical model for the response spectra is determined using statistical analysis. The form of the model is first established using fifty computer simulated accelerograms. The final form is then used on twenty-five accelerograms from fifteen past United States earthquakes. This model smooths out peaks and valleys which are characteristic of the response spectrum of any single earthquake. Thus it serves as a ‘smooth design spectrum’ and can be used to approximate structural response to a future seismic event.     

Eurocode 8-compatible synthetic time-series as input to dynamic analysis

Nonlinear dynamic analysis of existing or planned structures often requires the use of accelerograms that match a target design spectrum. Here, our main concern is to generate a set of motions with a good level of fit to the Eurocode 8 design spectra for France. Synthetic time series are generated by means of a non-stationary stochastic method. To calibrate the input parameters in the stochastic approach, we select a reference set of accelerograms for a Eurocode 8 type B site category from the PEER Ground-Motion Database, which are then adjusted to the target spectrum through wavelet addition. Then, we compute nonlinear seismic responses of a soil column, including pore pressure effects, and brittle and ductile structures to the stochastic time-series, the natural accelerograms and time-series generated using stationary stochastic approaches. The results of these calculations reveal considerable variability in response despite the similarities in terms of spectral acceleration.     

HORIZONTAL-TO-VERTICAL SPECTRUM RATIO OF EARTHQUAKE GROUND MOTION FOR SITE CHARACTERIZATION

Nakamura's method, which uses a horizontal-to-vertical Fourier spectrum ratio of microtremor, has become popular to determine the predominant period and amplification of a site. In this study, this method is extended for earthquake ground motion recordings using new strong motion data recorded by JMA-87-type accelerometers. From the analysis of these accelerograms, horizontal-to-vertical Fourier spectrum ratios of a site for different earthquakes are also found to be stable irrespective of magnitude, distance and depth. To establish this fact, attenuation relations of velocity response spectra for horizontal and vertical components are derived for three damping ratios (0, 2 and 5 per cent) using the JMA data. Then the horizontal-to-vertical ratios of the velocity response spectra are obtained. The results show that the horizontal and vertical velocity response spectra are dependent on magnitude, distance and depth, but that their ratios are almost independent of magnitude, distance and depth. However, since the current data set consists of mostly intermediate to far field data, this observation should be limited to records of these distance ranges. Introducing station coefficients, representing site amplification, to this relation yields the value comparable to the horizontal-to-vertical Fourier spectrum ratio at a specific site. The stability of the spectrum ratio is explained by the transfer function between the ground surface and stiff-soil outcrop due to S-wave propagation. These results suggest that site amplification characteristics can be evaluated by one-point two-component surface recordings of earthquake ground motion, in a similar manner as proposed by Nakamura for microtremor. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of accelerograms compatible with the Chinese GB 50011-2001 design spectrum via harmonic wavelets： artificial and historic records

A versatile approach is employed to generate artificial accelerograms which satisfy the compatibility criteria prescribed by the Chinese aseismic code provisions GB 50011-2001. In particular, a frequency dependent peak factor derived by means of appropriate Monte Carlo analyses is introduced to relate the GB 50011 -2001 design spectrum to a parametrically defined evolutionary power spectrum (EPS). Special attention is given to the definition of the frequency content of the EPS in order to accommodate the mathematical form of the aforementioned design spectrum. Further, a one-to-one relationship is established between the parameter controlling the time-varying intensity of the EPS and the effective strong ground motion duration. Subsequently, an efficient auto-regressive moving-average (ARMA) filtering technique is utilized to generate ensembles of non-stationary artificial accelerograms whose average response spectrum is in a close agreement with the considered design spectrum. Furthermore, a harmonic wavelet based iterative scheme is adopted to modify these artificial signals so that a close matching of the signals' response spectra with the GB 50011-2001 design spectrum is achieved on an individual basis. This is also done for field recorded accelerograms pertaining to the May, 2008 Wenchuan seismic event. In the process, zero-phase high-pass filtering is performed to accomplish proper baseline correction of the acquired spectrum compatible artificial and field accelerograms. Numerical results are given in a tabulated format to expedite their use in practice.     

Estimation of strength reduction factors via normalized pseudo‐acceleration response spectrum

Estimation of design forces in ductility‐based earthquake‐resistant design continues to be carried out with the application of response modification factors on elastic design spectra, and it remains interesting to explore how best to estimate strength reduction factors (SRFs) for a design situation. This paper considers the relatively less explored alternative of modelling SRF spectrum via a given response spectrum. A new model is proposed to estimate the SRF spectrum in terms of a pseudo‐spectral acceleration (PSA) spectrum and ductility demand ratio with the help of two coefficients. The proposed model is illustrated for an elasto‐plastic oscillator, in case of 10 recorded accelerograms and three ductility ratios. The proposed model is convenient and is able to predict SRF spectrum reasonably well, particularly at periods up to 1.0 s. Coefficients of the proposed model may also be determined in case of a given design spectrum when there is uncertainty in SRF spectrum due to uncertainty in temporal characteristics of the ground motion. This is illustrated with the help of 474 accelerograms recorded in western U.S.A. and different scaled PSA spectra. It is shown that probabilistic estimates may be obtained in this situation for SRF spectrum by assuming the error residuals to be log normally distributed with period‐dependent parameters. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

BUILDING DUCTILITY DEMAND: INTERPLATE VERSUS INTRAPLATE EARTHQUAKES

The inelastic seismic response behaviour for a range of simplified single-degree-of-freedom models has been analysed using 180 random phase angle synthetic accelerograms with different frequency contents and different durations and 105 real accelerograms collected from different regions worldwide. Results from the analyses have identified that the frequency content of the excitation can greatly influence the ductility demand ratio due to inelastic amplification effects. Consequently, results derived from intraplate earthquake records (typically of higher frequency content) were generally different to those from interplate records. However, the commonly used El Centro accelerogram has significantly lower ductility demand in the low period range than the average of records with similar elastic response spectral shape. Apart from this, there was little evidence to suggest any inherent differences in the inelastic response behaviour of buildings from intraplate and interplate earthquakes which possessed similar frequency content. Thus, the average ductility demand ratios from future earthquakes in an area can be predicted by interpolation of the results presented in this paper assuming the elastic response spectrum has been defined. Ductility demand ratios derived from the synthetic accelerograms and the real accelerograms with similar frequency content have been shown to be consistent. However, results from synthetic records derived for the idealised code design spectra (such as the Uniform Building Code and the Australian Standard AS1170.4) indicate a significantly higher ductility demand in the long period range.     

强震加速度记录的数据处理方法

本文用数值积分法,对RDZ1-12-66型自动触发电流计记录式强震仪的幅频响应失真进行校正。并采用高通数字滤波的方法,修正加速度图的零线.为此编制了计算机程序,绘制了修正后的加速度、速度和位移时程曲线.计算了修正前后加速度图的傅氏谱。同时,对这些结果加以讨论。 修正后的加速度图,精确地表示了仪器基本频带在0.09HZ和25HZ之间的绝对地面加速度。      

Numerical simulation of ground acceleration spectra and accelerograms for engineering application

A numerical approach to the earthquake ground motion analysis is proposed for regions where no accelerograms are available. Using Haskell matrix techniques, the response spectra of a layered substratum for SV waves were calculated and then multiplied by the spectra corresponding to Brune's type pulses. The ground acceleration spectra were obtained for different angles of pulse incidence at the substratum base. The spectrum shape depends upon the substratum response and the pulse shape, while its level was related to the maximum ground acceleration corresponding to the expected maximum intensity. Transformation of the ground spectra into the time domain produced numerical accelerograms for horizontal and vertical components and for different angles of pulse incidence. Finally, a standard statistical procedure was applied to obtain the design response spectra used in engineering applications.     

A probabilistic approach for estimating the seismic response of elasto‐plastic SDOF systems

The seismic response of elasto‐plastic structures to both recorded and generated accelerograms is characterized by a large scattering of the results, even for accelerograms with similar peak ground acceleration values and frequency content. According to current code recommendations a design value of the seismic response of an elasto‐plastic structure can be computed as the mean of the responses to a certain number of spectrum‐fitting generated accelerograms. A more effective probabilistic approach is presented herein. It allows the analyst to calculate a design value of the seismic response characterized by a predefined non‐exceedance probability using a limited number of generated accelerograms. The results of the performed analyses are presented in diagrams that can be used for structural design applications. The applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated in the case of an elasto‐plastic structural system and the results are compared with those obtained applying current code recommendations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于小波变换的拟合规范反应谱多维地震动模拟

本文提出一种基于小波变换的拟合规范反应谱的多维地震动模拟算法。首先将规范反应谱推广到三维相关设计反应谱,然后将已有的三维地震动加速度时间历程曲线分解为一系列不同频段上的地震动分量,调整每一个地震动分量的幅值使其在相应的频率范围内拟合设计反应谱,最后经过调整后的地震动分量进行重构得到更新的地震动时间历程曲线。将该时间历程曲线的反应谱与目标反应谱进行比较,重复该过程直到误差位于特定的范围内。该方法可以保留原始地震动的局部时-频特性,为多维地震动的模拟提供了一种新的方法。     

基于强震记录的核电厂抗震标准反应谱研究

依据基岩场地上的汶川地震强震记录,分析了地震动地面峰值和核电站抗震标准反应谱的特性,证明了在推导和使用标准反应谱时所考虑的地面峰值加速度与地面峰值速度之比(PGA/PGV)受地面峰值加速度和震中距的影响,将对标准反应谱形状产生明显的影响.另外还发现了基岩场地的竖向峰值加速度可能要远比通常认为水平向峰值加速度的2/3大....     

Wavelet-based response spectrum compatible synthesis of accelerograms—Eurocode application (EC8)

An integrated approach for addressing the problem of synthesizing artificial seismic accelerograms compatible with a given displacement design/target spectrum is presented in conjunction with aseismic design applications. Initially, a stochastic dynamics solution is used to obtain a family of simulated non-stationary earthquake records whose response spectrum is on the average in good agreement with the target spectrum. The degree of the agreement depends significantly on the adoption of an appropriate parametric evolutionary power spectral form, which is related to the target spectrum in an approximate manner. The performance of two commonly used spectral forms along with a newly proposed one is assessed with respect to the elastic displacement design spectrum defined by the European code regulations (EC8). Subsequently, the computational versatility of the family of harmonic wavelets is employed to modify iteratively the simulated records to satisfy the compatibility criteria for artificial accelerograms prescribed by EC8. In the process, baseline correction steps, ordinarily taken to ensure that the obtained accelerograms are characterized by physically meaningful velocity and displacement traces, are elucidated. Obviously, the presented approach can be used not only in the case of the EC8, for which extensive numerical results/examples are included, but also for any code provisions mandated by regulatory agencies. In any case, the presented numerical results can be quite useful in any aseismic design process dominated by the EC8 specifications.     

A procedure for simulating synthetic accelerograms compatible with correlated and conditional probabilistic response spectra

The modeling of seismic load is a major topic that has to be addressed thoroughly in the framework of performance based seismic analysis and design. In this paper, a simple procedure for simulating artificial earthquake accelerograms matching the statistical distribution of response spectra, as given by median ground motion prediction equations, the standard deviation and correlation coefficients, is proposed. The approach follows the general ideas of the (natural) ground motion selection algorithms proposed by Baker [4] and Wang [43] but using simulated (artificial) “spectrum-compatible” accelerograms. This allows to simulate spectrum-compatible accelerograms featuring variability similar to the one of recorded accelerograms when the match of median and ±1 standard-deviation response spectra is imposed by the regulator. The procedure is illustrated by an application to the NGA ground motion data and models.     

Selection of spectrum- and seismo-compatible accelerograms for the Tuscany region in Central Italy

This article illustrates the results of a study aimed at developing a methodology for the automatic identification of the seismic input at outcropping rock sites and flat topographic conditions necessary to carry out non-linear dynamic analysis of structures and geotechnical systems. The seismic input is provided in terms of a set of 7 natural accelerograms recorded on outcropping rock and satisfying the average spectral compatibility requirements prescribed by the Italian seismic code (NTC08).The study focuses on the territory encompassing Tuscany region in Central Italy and it has been carried out for six return periods, which are 50, 75, 101, 475, 712 and 949 years. The procedure involved four main steps: (1) grouping of the response spectra with similar features; (2) definition of the reference response spectrum for each group; (3) selection of spectrum-compatible accelerograms using the reference response spectrum of each group; and (4) linear scaling of the accelerograms to satisfy the compatibility requirement with respect to other response spectra of the group. The last step is implemented through an interactive, user-friendly program named SCALCONA 2.0, which provides the seismic input in agreement with the site location and return period specified by the user. The program is freely available at the following web site: http://www.rete.toscana.it/sett/pta/sismica/01informazione/banchedati/input_sismici/progettazione/index.htm.     

Numbers of scaled and matched accelerograms required for inelastic dynamic analyses

Selecting, scaling and matching accelerograms are critically important to engineering design and assessment, enabling structural response to be determined with greater confidence and through fewer analyses than if unscaled accelerograms are employed. This paper considers the response of an 8‐storey multiple‐degree‐of‐freedom reinforced concrete structure to accelerograms selected, linearly scaled or spectrally matched using five different techniques. The first method consists of selecting real records on the basis of seismological characteristics, while the remaining methods make an initial selection on the basis of magnitude and spectral shape before (1) scaling to the target spectral acceleration at the initial period; (2) scaling to the target spectrum over a range of periods; (3) using wavelet adjustments to match the target spectrum and (4) using wavelet adjustments to match multiple target spectra for multiple damping ratios. The analyses indicate that the number of records required to obtain a stable estimate of the response decreases drastically as one moves through these methods. The exact number varies among damage measures and is related to the predictability of the damage measure. For measures such as peak roof and inter‐storey drift, member end rotation and the Park and Ang damage index, as few as one or two records are required to estimate the response to within ±5% (for a 64% confidence level) if matching to multiple damping ratios is conducted. Bias checks are made using predictive equations of the expected response derived from the results of 1656 nonlinear time‐domain analyses of the structure under the action of unscaled accelerograms. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of accelerograms recorded in the source zone of the 1995 Neftegorsk earthquake and computation of synthetic accelerograms

The strongest Neftegorsk earthquake, which occurred in 1995 in the northern part of the Sakhalin Island, was studied by the Epicentral Seismological Expedition, Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth, Russian Academy of Sciences. The performed observations yielded the unique accelerograms of strong aftershocks, which were then applied as a basis for detailed analyses. The recorded accelerations were in satisfactory compliance with the current ground motion relations. The design spectra developed on the basis of analyzed records were proposed as an example. The synthetic accelerograms were calculated using the records of the strongest aftershocks for two modal earthquakes by the empirical Green’s function technique. This technique can be recommended for practical application as the most physically substantiated method taking into account all regional features.