Empirical Correlations between Peak Ground Velocity and Spectrum-Based Intensity Measures

Abstract

Empirical correlation equations between peak ground velocity ( PGV) and several spectrum-based ground motion intensity measures are developed. The intensity measures examined in particular were: peak ground acceleration ( PGA), 5% damped pseudo-spectral acceleration ( SA), acceleration spectrum intensity ( ASI), and spectrum intensity ( SI). The computed correlations were obtained using ground motions from active shallow crustal earthquakes and four ground motion prediction equations. Results indicate that PGV is strongly correlated (i.e., a correlation coefficient of [Formula: see text]) with SI, moderately correlated with medium to long-period SA (i.e., [Formula: see text] for vibration periods 0.5-3.0 seconds), and also moderately correlated with short period SA, PGA and ASI ([Formula: see text]). A simple example is used to illustrate one possible application of the developed correlation equations for ground motion selection.