Development of a New Method of Baseline Correction on Earthquake Strong Motions and Its Application to Long Period Sloshing Responses of Liquid Storage Tanks During Strong Earthquakes

Abstract

In this paper, a new method of baseline correction on strong motion acceleration records is presented and the fundamental concept for baseline corrections on the earthquake strong motions is described. Considering the filtering effect, the earthquakes ground motion displacements of 1995 JMA KOBE, 1999 Kocaeli YPT and 1999 Chi-Chi TCU068 are discussed. Also, the linear sloshing responses of large liquid tanks subjected to these motions were discussed. Since liquid storage tanks show the low frequency (long period) sloshing characteristics and the strong motion characteristics of 1999 Kocaeli and Chi-Chi earthquakes are also low frequencies and large permanent displacements, the sloshing responses in large liquid tanks, especially in long natural periods, were significantly affected by the low frequency motions (large permanent displacements) of these devastating earthquakes. It is very important to use suitable ground motion characterized low frequency content for earthquake resistant design of liquid storage tanks. The baseline correction method presented in the paper may be adequately used to correct strong motion records for large liquid storage design.