Response of multi‐span beams to spatially incoherent seismic ground motions

Abstract

AbstractThe response of continuous two‐ and three‐span beams of various lengths subjected to spatially varying seismic ground motions is evaluated. Stochastic representations of the seismic ground motions are used as input at the supports of the structures, and sensitivity analyses of the response with respect to the degree of correlation between the support motions are performed. The validity of the commonly used assumption of equal support motion is examined. Square‐roots of mean‐square values of total displacements, bending moments and shear forces are outputs of the analyses. The results indicate that fully correlated motions may produce higher or lower response than partially correlated motions, depending on the dynamic characteristics of the structure, the response quantity (bending moment or shear force) that is evaluated, the position along the axis of the beam where the response quantity is evaluated, the separation between the natural frequencies of the structure and the dominant frequencies of the input motions, and on the degree of partial correlation between the support motions.