Deterministic vs. probabilistic earthquake hazards and risks

Both probabilistic and deterministic methods have a role in seismic hazard and risk analyses performed for decision-making purposes. These two methods can complement one another to provide additional insights to the seismic hazard or risk problem. One method will have priority over the other, depending on how quantitative are the decisions to be made, depending on the seismic environment, and depending on the scope of the project (single site or a region). In many applications a recursive analysis, where deterministic interpretations are triggered by probabilistic results and vice versa, will give the greatest insight and allow the most informed decisions to be made.     

Floor response spectra of a partially embedded seismically isolated nuclear plant

This paper deals with the effects of foundation embedment on the floor response spectra of big base isolated structures such as nuclear power plants. Analyses of a finite element model, representative of a real nuclear power plant, have been carried out. It has been demonstrated that, in agreement with previous work, base rocking excitation, induced by soil–structure interaction, may amplify the non-isolated modes׳ response and thus it must not be overlooked.     

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.     

Consistent floor response spectra for performance-based seismic design of nonstructural elements

The achievement of adequate performance objectives for buildings under increasing seismic intensities is not only related to the performance of structural members but also to the behavior of nonstructural elements. The need to properly design nonstructural elements for earthquakes has been largely demonstrated in the last few years and has become an important objective within the earthquake engineering community. A crucial aspect in the proper design of nonstructural elements is the definition of the seismic demand in terms of both absolute acceleration and relative displacement floor response spectra. In the first part of this study, relative displacement and absolute acceleration floor response spectra were computed for four reinforced concrete moment-resisting archetype frames via dynamic time-history analyses and were compared with floor response spectra predicted by means of two recent simplified methodologies available in the literature. It was observed that one of the existing methodologies is generally unable to predict consistent absolute acceleration and relative displacement floor response spectra. An improved procedure is developed for estimating consistent floor response spectra for building structures subjected to low and medium-high seismic intensities. This new procedure improves the predictions of a relative displacement floor response spectrum by constraining its ordinates at long nonstructural periods to the expected peak absolute displacement of the floor. The resulting acceleration and relative displacement response spectra are then consistently related by the well-known pseudo-spectral relationship over the entire nonstructural period range. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology was appraised against floor response spectra computed from nonlinear time-history analyses.     

Horizontal floor response spectra of base‐isolated buildings due to vertical excitation

A mechanism of horizontal floor response spectra amplification in the vicinity of higher modes' frequencies is investigated. It is demonstrated, by means of a simple two‐degrees‐of‐freedom model, that in the case of unsymmetrical superstructure, such amplification may occur because of the coupling between vertical excitation and horizontal response of the non‐isolated modes. This phenomenon is further illustrated by the results of analyses of a model of a nuclear plant. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Constant‐ductility response spectra for sequential earthquake and tsunami loading

Simplified approaches for examining structural system response under sequential earthquake and tsunami loading are helpful for understanding response trends. To aid understanding, nonlinear (constant‐ductility) response spectra are developed for elastoplastic single degree of freedom systems subjected to seismic loads followed by hydrodynamic tsunami loads. The forcing function is composed of long‐duration earthquake motion concatenated with a range of tsunami hydrodynamic forces that are proportional to the pseudo‐spectral acceleration produced by the earthquake motion. The constant‐ductility spectra are thus constructed for scenarios where the loading imposed by one hazard is not dominant over the other. The spectra and basic intensity measures indicate that the amplification of response for sequential earthquake and tsunami loading over the earthquake only case is most significant for systems with long natural periods and high‐ductility capacity under seismic loading. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

摩擦摆隔震结构地震反应谱的计算分析

探讨了摩擦摆基底隔震结构的地震反应谱规律。采用上部结构-摩擦摆两质点模型并利用系统振动微分方程,计算绘制了设计参数(质量比、摩擦系数、滑道半径)不同取值下上部结构的绝对加速度、侧向位移和基底水平滑移反应谱。结果表明：摩擦摆系统对刚度较大的上部结构具有良好的隔震效果。摩擦系数对上部结构的加速度反应、层间水平侧移和系统滑移均有较大的影响,质量比的影响次之．而滑道半径仅对系统滑移有较为显著的作用。     

场地类别划分与抗震设计反应谱的讨论

介绍了新的抗震设计规范(2001—07—20发布,2002—01—01实施)中场地类别划分和地震影响系数的有关内容,指出其中一些不相协调之处。最后,针对不同的问题建议相应的解决办法。     

新疆和田台阵PSD与PDF分析

和田台阵是我国第一个自主建成并运行至今的小孔径台阵,承担着监测印巴地区核试验以及我国西部地震活动的重要使命.台阵波形数据中充斥着背景噪声,直接影响着数据质量.为了评估台阵噪声水平,本文利用Welch平均周期法对9个子台记录的数十万条噪声样本进行功率谱估计,对出现的谱异常进行了总结归纳,通过绘制概率密度函数图以及单频曲线来研究背景噪声变化范围和规律,最后针对台阵降噪提出了建设性意见.研究结果表明,中心台长周期噪声功率谱密度随季节变化显著,具有周期性;受温度和气压影响,水平分量长周期噪声变化幅度较大,局部频段超出新高噪声模型,建议改善仪器安装条件,或者利用数学方法进行校正.所有子台短周期噪声变化规律与长周期相反,受到采石场影响,谱密度曲线在4~8 Hz之间出现形态规则的高频尖刺,A1、B3、B4子台最为明显,可以通过窄带滤波或者聚束予以压制.本文取得的研究成果为台阵运维提供重要依据,除此之外,总结出的不同地震频谱特征也为地震解释工作提供重要参考.

     

Bi-normalized response spectra and seismic intensity in Bucharest for 1986 and 1990 Vrancea seismic events

The Vrancea subcrustal earthquakes of August 30,1986 and May 30,1990 are the two most recent seismic events that have occurred in Romania with moment magnitudes M W ≥ 6.9.The spectral analysis of the strong ground motions recorded in Bucharest reveals that despite small differences in magnitude between the 1986 and 1990 earthquakes,their frequency contents are very different,sometimes even opposing.The main focus of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the response spectra in terms of the bi-normalized response spectra(BNRS) proposed by Xu and Xie(2004 and 2007) for strong ground motions recorded in Bucharest during these two seismic events.The mean absolute acceleration and relative velocity response spectra for the two earthquakes are discussed and compared.Furthermore,the mean bi-normalized absolute acceleration and normalized relative velocity response spectra with respect to the control period T C are computed for the ground motions recorded in Bucharest in 1986 and 1990.The predominant period T P is also used in this study for the normalization of the spectral period axis.Subsequently,the methodology proposed by Martinez-Perreira and Bommer(1998) is applied in order to estimate the seismic intensity of the two events.The results are discussed and several conclusions regarding the possibility of using the bi-normalized response spectra(BNRS) are given.     

不同地震水准反应谱之间的关系和罕遇地震作用设计反应谱的确定

不同地震作用水准的设计反应谱长期以来一直采用各水准谱形完全一致的假定。这与地震危险性分析的一般结论不符。《建筑抗震设计规范》(GB50011-2001)对此作出了修订。本文基于设计反应谱的三参数标定模型推导了罕遇和多遇地震作用设计反应谱的关系,指出两者谱值之比在高频、中频和低频段分别对应于峰值加速度、速度和位移之比。引入地震动衰减规律进行了罕遇和多遇地震作用设计谱关系的近似估计,提出了基于多遇地震作用设计谱确定罕遇地震作用设计谱的调整方案,验证了现行规范将反应谱特征周期适当延长以得到罕遇地震作用设计谱的做法的合理性。     

Evaluation of the seismic response of a homogeneous earth dam

The response of an earth dam to seismic loading is studied through displacement-based analyses and finite element, effective stress dynamic analyses. Displacement-based analyses are carried out using both empirical relationships and the decoupled approach in which the deformable response of the soil is accounted for through ground response analyses, and the resulting accelerograms are used in the sliding block analysis. The FE analyses are carried out using a constitutive model capable to reproduce soil non-linearity, calibrated against laboratory measurements of the stiffness at small strains. The influence of the assumed input motion and bedrock depth on the seismic response of the dam is also studied.     

Site-specific response spectra from the combination of microzonation with probabilistic seismic hazard assessment—An example for the Cologne (Germany) area

Seismic noise was measured at some 20 sites in the Cologne area (Germany) aligned nearly perpendicular to a graben structure. The H/V spectral noise ratio for each site was used to derive realistic S-wave velocity profiles down to the bedrock by means of a genetic algorithm inversion. Numerical simulations were performed for different combinations of source and propagation path parameters: focal depth, epicentral distance, attenuation and fault mechanism. Synthetic seismograms were produced and converted to Fourier and response spectra. Finally, the site-specific values from response spectral ratios, with their uncertainties, were used to modify attenuation functions entering the logic-tree algorithm of the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA). The site-specific response spectra show the significance of taking into account the local S-wave velocity structure in PSHA.     

地震动反应谱与RC框架结构地震响应相关性分析

弹塑性时程分析一般用来评估和验算结构抗震性能,如何选取合适的输入地震动是其中关键工作之一。为给结构弹塑性时程分析选取地震动提供合理的参考参数,本文讨论了地震动反应谱参数与结构地震响应之间的相关性。首先建立了6层和7层两个钢筋混凝土(RC)框架结构数值模型,分别对两个结构进行了大量地震动作用下的时程反应分析,并考察了地震反应特点;然后将结构地震响应与地震动反应谱参数建立关系并进行了相关性分析。结果表明:对RC框架而言,结构地震响应与弹性谱参数相关性较小,与等强度反应谱相关性随标准屈服强度降低而增大,与等延性反应谱相关性随延性增大而增大,而与地震动输入能量谱在标准屈服强度较小时相关性最大。建议RC框架结构在进行地震反应时程分析时,可以参考地震动的弹塑性输入能量谱、等强度速度谱和等延性加速度或位移谱,以选取引起结构不同地震反应水平的输入地震动。本文结果和结论可供结构弹塑性时程分析选取合适的输入地震动参考。     

Resonance and criticality measure of ground motions via probabilistic critical excitation method

Resonant characteristics of recorded ground motions are investigated and a new measure of criticality of ground motions is proposed. Four classes of recorded ground motions, i.e., (i) near fault motions (rock records), (ii) near fault motions (soil records), (iii) long duration motions (rock records) and (iv) long duration motions (soil records), are taken from Abrahamson N, Ashford S, Elgamal A, Kramer S, Seible F, Somerville P, Proc of First PEER Workshop on Characterization of Special Source Effects, 1998. It is shown that resonant characteristics of recorded ground motions can be captured appropriately by means of the probabilistic critical excitation method due to the present author regardless of the type of ground motions and the distance between the critical response and the actual one can be a new measure of criticality of ground motions. The time-averaged approximate treatment of nonstationary ground motions as stationary ones is shown to be adequate for structures with shorter natural periods subjected to long duration ground motions.     

求解反应谱的小波方法及汶川地震反应谱分析

采用四阶基数B-样条小波模拟地震动加速度时程,进而建立一种求地震反应的通用方法,解的误差仅来自于对地震动加速度时程的模拟。并用小波分解,将地震波分解为不同周期成分之和,以各分量最大加速度值的大小来衡量其在原波中的比重,可以清楚看到距震中不同远近地震波的性态,并做定量分析和观察各分量卓越周期的变化。求地震波及各分量的反应谱,从各分量的标准加速度反应谱中,可以看到地震波不同周期分量对体系固有周期的影响,这是以往做不到的。将上述方法应用于汶川8.0级地震加速度记录,研究不同地震记录的性态。     

Prediction of elastic displacement response spectra in Europe and the Middle East

Empirical equations are presented for the prediction of displacement response ordinates for damping ratios of 2, 5, 10, 20 and 30% of critical and for response periods up to 4s, using 532 accelerograms from the strong‐motion databank from Europe and the Middle East. The records were all re‐processed and only employed for regressions at periods within the usable range, defined as a fraction of the filter cut‐off and depending on the instrument type (digital or analogue), earthquake magnitude and site class. The equations can be applied to predict the geometric mean displacement and pseudo‐acceleration spectra for earthquakes with moment magnitudes ( M ) between 5 and 7.6, and for distances up to 100km. The equations also include style‐of‐faulting and site class as explanatory variables. The predictions obtained from these new equations suggest that earlier European equations for spectral displacements underestimate the ordinates at longer periods as a result of severe filtering and the use of the spectral ordinates at periods too close to the filter cut‐off. The results also confirm that the period defining the start of the constant displacement plateau in the Eurocode 8 (EC8) spectrum is excessively short at 2s. The results not only show that the scaling factor defined in EC8 for estimating the spectral ordinates at damping ratios different from 5% of critical are a good general approximation, but also that this scaling varies with magnitude and distance (reflecting the influence of duration) and also displays a mild dependence on response period. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A method for the direct estimation of floor acceleration spectra for elastic and inelastic MDOF structures

This paper deals with floor acceleration spectra, which are used for the seismic design and assessment of acceleration‐sensitive equipment installed in buildings. In design codes and in practice, not enough attention has been paid to the seismic resistance of such equipment. An ‘accurate’ determination of floor spectra requires a complex and quite demanding dynamic response history analysis. The purpose of the study presented in this paper is the development of a direct method for the determination of floor acceleration spectra, which enables their generation directly from the design spectrum of the structure, by taking into account the structure's dynamic properties. The method is also applicable to inelastic structures, which can greatly improve the economic aspects of equipment design. A parametric study of floor acceleration spectra for elastic and inelastic single‐degree‐of‐freedom (SDOF) and multiple‐degree‐of‐freedom structures was conducted by using (non)linear response history analysis. The equipment was modelled as an elastic single‐degree‐of‐freedom system. The proposed method was validated by comparing the results obtained with the more accurate results obtained in a parametric study. Due to its simplicity, the method is an appropriate tool for practice. In the case of inelastic structural behaviour, the method should be used in combination with the N2 method, or another appropriate method for simplified nonlinear structural analysis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparative analysis of seismic response of shallow buried underground structure under incident P,SV and Rayleigh waves

In this study, A time-domain seismic response analysis method and a calculation model of the underground structure that can realize the input of seismic P, SV and Rayleigh waves are established, based on the viscoelastic artificial boundary elements and the boundary substructure method for seismic wave input. After verifying the calculation accuracy, a comparative study on seismic response of a shallow-buried, double-deck, double-span subway station structure under incident P, SV and Rayleigh waves is conducted. The research results show that there are certain differences in the cross-sectional internal force distribution characteristics of underground structures under different types of seismic waves. The research results show that there are certain differences in the internal force distribution characteristics of underground structures under different types of seismic waves. At the bottom of the side wall, the top and bottom of the center pillar of the underground structure, the section bending moments of the underground structure under the incidences of SV wave and Rayleigh wave are relatively close, and are significantly larger than the calculation result under the incidence of P wave. At the center of the side wall and the top floor of the structure, the peak value of the cross-sectional internal force under the incident Rayleigh wave is larger than the calculation result under SV wave. In addition, the floor of the underground structure under Rayleigh waves vibrates in both the horizontal and vertical directions, and the magnification effect in the vertical direction is more significant. Considering that the current seismic research of underground structures mainly considers the effect of body waves such as the shear waves, sufficient attention should be paid to the incidence of Rayleigh waves in the future seismic design of shallow underground structures.