Estimation of Seismic Response Parameters Through Extended Incremental Dynamic Analysis

Abstract

Explicit determination of seismic risk is a complex problem, and the subject of many uncertainties, but it also brings new information which could help to reduce losses caused by future earthquakes. Although estimation of seismic hazard and the selection of ground motion records probably represent the main sources of uncertainty, it is also important to consider modelling and physical uncertainties, which can significantly affect the seismic response. Recently Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) has been extended by introducing a set of structural models, in addition to the set of ground motion records which is employed in IDA analysis in order to capture record-to-record variability. The set of structural models reflects epistemic (modelling) uncertainties, and is determined by utilizing the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) method. The effects of both aleatory and epistemic uncertainty on seismic response parameters are therefore considered in the extended IDA analysis, which was performed for a reinforced concrete frame. The results showed that the modelling uncertainties can reduce spectral acceleration capacity and significantly increase dispersion.