Conversion between seismic intensity and peak ground shaking

In this paper, the relationships between seismic intensity and peak ground shaking are studied under no specific condition, separately or simultaneously considering the number of building storey and site category, based on data of mean peak values of horizontal ground motion recorded during strong earthquakes. Then, according to the statistical results, the variation of mean peak value with intensity rating is discussed, and schemes of peak ground velocity, peak ground acceleration or response spectrum of an designed earthquake converted from intensity rating are recommended. Finally, a methodology of converting seismic intensity from response spectrum of design earthquake is also discussed, and the conversion scheme is recommended. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,13, 32–40, 1991. This paper is sponsored by the Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation.