Ground Motion Simulation Research Articles

Simulations of Ground Motions for Mw 7.9 Nepal Earthquake

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on developing a model for the Indian region to simulate ground motion using the spectral element method. The topography, bathymetry, and the 3-dimensional material properties are available in the global database are considered for the region. The simulated model is validated by generating ground motions for the Nepal earthquake, April 25, 2015, which is one of the most devastating earthquakes in recent years, with a magnitude of 7.9 Mw. These waveforms of the earthquake’s main shock and aftershocks are well recorded by the instruments available in the region. The uncertainty of the source is addressed by considering three slip models from global database. The simulated results are shown to be satisfactory when compared with recorded ground motions. The goodness-of-fit score is calculated for the synthetic ground motions, followed by the comparison with global ground motion models. The results achieve a scored of more than four, indicating a fair fit for ground motions. Furthermore, the developed in this study can be used for the generate time histories, which is useful for hazard analysis.

Stochastic Green’s Function Method Considering Non-Uniform Rise Time Distribution to Simulate 3D Broadband Ground Motion

The stochastic Green’s function method has been widely used in the field of ground motion simulation in recent years. It is generally assumed that the rise time of each subfault is the same in this method. Since the rise time significantly influences the amplitude of simulation results in the intermediate frequency band, to improve the accuracy of stochastic Green’s function method for near-fault broadband ground motion simulation, referring to the numerical simulation results of Day, the rise time is assumed to be non-uniformly distributed on the fault, and an improved approximate expression of rise time on a rectangular fault considering that the rupture starting point may be at any position and the aspect ratio may be arbitrary is proposed. Additionally, the contributions of P, SV and SH wave are considered, respectively, and an improved stochastic Green’s function method is proposed for 3D broadband ground motion simulation. Taking the 1994 Northridge earthquake in America and 2013 Lushan earthquake in China as examples, under different subfault division numbers, the synthesized source spectra are compared with the omega-squared theoretical source spectra of the large earthquake, and the simulated ground motions at observation points are compared with observed records to verify the effectiveness of the improved method. The results show that when the Northridge earthquake fault and Lushan earthquake fault are divided into 9 × 10 subfaults and 11 × 7 subfaults, respectively, the simulation results obtained using the improved method are close to the observed records in the broadband frequency range. Therefore, the improved method can effectively simulate the 3D ground motion in near-fault regions.

Sensitivity of seismic fragility curves to multiple parameters using CyberShake simulated ground motions

AbstractSeveral alternatives exist to compute seismic fragility curves. This study takes advantage of the large pool of site‐specific CyberShake simulated ground motions (GMs) to investigate the sensitivity of fragility curves to multiple analysis parameters: the analysis method (Multiple Stripe Analysis (MSA), Cloud Analysis (CA), or Incremental Dynamic Analysis), the number and intensity measure distribution of the GMs used, the GM selection method, and the amount of scaling. To this end, the fragility curve of a two‐dimensional steel frame is calculated for every analysis variation at the life safety limit state. By varying one parameter at a time, we can separate the effects of the various parameters from one another. We also assess the effect of the analysis parameters on the mean annual rate of exceedance of life safety. We find that if GMs are selected adequately for each method, different analysis methods can lead to consistent mean annual rates of exceedance despite some differences in their fragility curves. Generally, MSA and the proposed CA that models the increase of response variability with ground motion intensity best match empirical fragility points. The number of GMs affects the results for all analysis methods, while the intensity distribution of GMs affects results differently in different methods. When GMs are required to match earthquake scenario parameters in addition to intensity, more conservative fragility curves are obtained. Finally, fragility curves are sensitive to excessive scaling. This study provides important insights for performance‐based earthquake engineering.

Simplified site response analysis for regional seismic risk assessments

Seismic risk assessment on a regional scale requires an estimation of ground motion intensity and its spatial variation over large geographical areas. This task is particularly challenging in the presence of very soft soil deposits where significant amplification occurs at specific frequencies that are often referred to as local resonances. It is often not feasible to conduct a nonlinear site response analysis at thousands of sites of interest across a region such as an urban area due to the computational effort involved and the required detailed information on soil profiles at each site. Thus, in regional seismic risk analyses the hazard is typically represented by a field of response spectral ordinates estimated by ground motion models. This study proposes a simplified site response analysis procedure to improve the characterization of spectral ordinates to be used in regional seismic risk assessments. In the proposed procedure, reduced-order models are used to conduct site response analysis using very few parameters to transform response spectra at rock outcrop into response spectra at the surface of each of the sites. A particular emphasis is given to soft-soil sites characterized by low shear-wave velocities overlaid on rock or firm soils. A non-uniform continuous shear beam model with a parabolic variation of shear modulus along the depth and modal damping is used in combination with Random Vibration Theory. It is shown that the proposed approach provides better estimates than those of ground motion models or physics-based ground motion simulation models which often cannot capture the local resonances. Site-specific validation of the shear beam model and overall simplified site response analysis is performed at four soft-soil sites in San Francisco, California. Despite its simplicity, it is shown that the proposed procedure adequately captures the amplitudes and spectral shapes of the motions. It is also shown that in conjunction with ground motion models or physics-based models, the proposed simplified site response analysis procedure can be used to efficiently simulate the seismic hazard on a regional scale through an example of a regional seismic hazard analysis of 160 softer soil sites in Downtown San Francisco during the Loma Prieta earthquake.

Estimating ground motion intensities using simulation-based estimates of local crustal seismic response

Abstract. It is estimated that 2 billion people will move to cities in the next 30 years, many of which possess high seismic risk, underscoring the importance of reliable hazard assessments. Current ground motion models for these assessments typically rely on an extensive catalogue of events to derive empirical ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs), which are often unavailable in developing countries. Considering the challenge, we choose an alternative method utilizing physics-based (PB) ground motion simulations and develop a simplified decomposition of ground motion estimation by considering regional attenuation (Δ) and local site amplification (A), thereby exploring how much of the observed variability can be explained solely by wave propagation effects. We deterministically evaluate these parameters in a virtual city named Tomorrowville, located in a 3D-layered crustal velocity model containing sedimentary basins, using randomly oriented extended sources. Using these physics-based empirical parameters (Δ and A), we evaluate the intensities, particularly peak ground acceleration (PGA), of hypothetical future earthquakes. The results suggest that the estimation of PGA using the deterministic Δ−A decomposition exhibits a robust spatial correlation with the PGA obtained from simulations within Tomorrowville. This method exposes an order-of-magnitude spatial variability in PGA within Tomorrowville, primarily associated with the near-surface geology and largely independent of the seismic source. In conclusion, advances in PB simulations and improved crustal structure determination offer the potential to overcome the limitations of earthquake data availability to some extent, enabling prompt evaluation of ground motion intensities.

Seismic response study of multi-span continuous beam bridges near faults considering permanent displacement attenuation effects

The fling-step effect caused by near-fault ground motion induces a step-like permanent displacement of the ground surface, which decays sharply with increasing fault distance, leading to varying degrees of ground motion at each supporting point of the bridge structure. In this context, multi-span long-span bridges exhibit echelon displacement of the main beam and a more complex internal force response compared to ordinary bridges. To investigate the seismic response characteristics of multi-span long-span continuous girder bridges under near-fault ground motion, this study is based on the permanent displacement attenuation model. The main bridge of the Hongyazi Yellow River Bridge in Shizuishan City, consisting of 16 spans, is taken as the research object. Using OpenSees software, a finite element model for the dynamic analysis of the multi-span long-span continuous girder bridge was established, and its structural dynamic characteristics were compared with the natural vibration test of the actual bridge. Based on simulated ground motions that consider the permanent displacement attenuation effect and spatial variability, the seismic response of the key components of the near-fault multi-span long-span continuous beam bridge is examined. The results indicate that under near-fault ground motion considering the attenuation effect of permanent displacement, the main girder of multi-span long-span bridges frequently deviates from the axis in different directions, ultimately resulting in residual deformation of the main girder post-earthquake. The permanent displacement attenuation effect increases the maximum bending moment response at the pier bottom and causes uneven internal force distribution in the bridge. Ignoring this effect can lead to overestimation of bearing deformation.

Spatial distribution of damage potential of the 2023 Pazarcik Turkey earthquake using inelastic-response spectra of recorded and simulated ground motions

On 6 February 2023, a devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck the southeastern part of Turkey, followed by multiple aftershocks. The sequence of earthquakes caused extensive damage in Southern Turkey and Northern Syria. This study evaluates the destructive potential of ground shaking resulting from the Pazarcik mainshock by developing spatial distribution of inelastic demand spectra across the region by using the recorded ground motions. These spectra provide an additional step toward more realistic estimates of the damage potential of ground shaking than the traditional elastic response spectra. Given the recorded ground motions, we also developed simulated ground-motion time series at numerous un-instrumented sites. We used these recorded and simulated motions to estimate ductility demands across the affected area. Constant-ductility spectra were derived using recording stations within 100 km of the fault rupture. The results indicated that in the near-fault area, and for structural periods of 0.5 and 1.0 s, the yield strength demand at a ductility level of 3 exceeded the levels specified in the local seismic design code for a 475-year return period. Our findings demonstrate that with more refinement and efficiency of the ground-motion simulation approach, the development of near-real-time spatial distribution of ductility demand is a promising approach for rapid seismic damage assessment of earthquakes.

Pulse component extraction and its application in simulation of pulse-like ground motions

A procedure for simulating new pulse-like ground motion based on natural pulse-like ground motion record is proposed. Firstly, an extraction method of pulse waveform based on Modified Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition is proposed, which reveals the relationship between half-wavelength width and pulse time-frequency information. Secondly, according to the response spectrum of the extracted non-pulse time-history, a triangular series is used to generate a stationary time-history, and then the extracted pulse component is added to the time-history, and the intensity envelope is adjusted to obtain the simulated pulse-like ground motion. Finally, the seismic response results of the Bouc-Wen-Baber-Noori model and the three-dimensional finite element model of the high-rise building are validated. It shows that the nonlinear effect of the simulated pulse-like ground motion by this method is close to that of the original natural pulse-like ground motion. The simulated pulse-like ground motion by this method can be used to analyze the inelastic response of various structures.

Nonlinear Seismic Response of an Alluvial Basin Modelled by Spectral Element Method: Implementation of a Davidenkov Constitutive Model

ABSTRACT A subroutine incorporating soil nonlinearity is presented using SPECFEM3D Cartesian, an open-access Spectral Element Method (SEM)-based code for full waveform simulation. Specifically, the adaptive time-stepping scheme is developed in the time marching algorithm, enabling the computation to be effective. The verification of the method is first demonstrated via comparison with results calculated by DEEPSOIL. Then, applications for a trapezoid basin are implemented to study the effects of impedance ratio (IR), magnitude, and basin shape on ground motion. Finally, we focus on the nonlinear ground motion simulation of the Shidian basin in southwestern China and compare it with the linear results.

Improvement of Source Spectrum Fall‐Off for Simulating Ground Motion Using Stochastic Green’s Function Method

AbstractThe stochastic Green's function method (SGFM), which simulates the source spectra of small earthquakes based on the ω−2 model and follows the scaling law of earthquakes to synthesize into a large earthquake, is a practical ground motion simulation method in areas lacking suitable small earthquake records. However, one of the problems in the application of the SGFM is that the source spectrum synthesized from small earthquakes shows a fall‐off in the mid‐frequency band, as the number of fault divisions of the large earthquake increases. To solve this problem, this study proposes an improved method, which introduces a correction coefficient for the source spectrum according to the ω−2 model and considers the variation of subfault rise time with the rupture process. Taking the 1994 Northridge earthquake as an example, the ground motion simulation results of the improved method are compared with observed records. The results show that only introducing the correction coefficient causes larger amplitude of simulation results than observed records. Only considering the variation of subfault rise time can improve the fall‐off problem to some extent, but the accuracy of ground motion simulation at observation points has no significant improvement. By simultaneously introducing the correction coefficient and considering the variation of subfault rise time, the simulation results are in good agreement with observed records and are able to reproduce the directivity effect at the forward observation points. Therefore, the improved SGFM proposed in this study is an effective and reliable tool for ground motion simulation.

Improvements to EXSIM in Ground Motion Simulation for Earthquakes Explained by Double‐Corner‐Frequency Source Model

AbstractThe stochastic EXtended finite‐fault ground‐motion SIMulation algorithm (EXSIM) has been widely applied in simulating and predicting broadband strong ground‐motion. However, an increasingly number of researchers have found that EXSIM may overestimate ground‐motions at low frequencies for some large‐magnitude earthquakes and/or thrust earthquakes, for which the far‐field source model has been explained by a double‐corner‐frequency model. Despite controversy, the double‐corner‐frequency model is now being accepted as one of the main categories of the far‐field source model. This study demonstrated the limited applicability of EXSIM to earthquakes explained by the double‐corner‐frequency source model, by presenting the equivalence between motions generated by EXSIM and those generated by EXSIM's point‐source version, SMSIM, which adopts the ω‐square single‐corner‐frequency model. Furthermore, two improvements to EXSIM have been proposed: (a) the incorporation of the asperity‐distributed stress‐drop compound faults model and (b) the hybrid application of EXSIM with the proposed model. The effects of the two improvements have been verified by comparing EXSIM‐generating motions with recorded ground‐motions for the 2013 Mw 6.7 Lushan thrust earthquake. Significantly, consistent simulation accuracy has been achieved across high‐ and low‐frequency bands as well as in far‐ and near‐fields. The consistent accuracy of the improved EXSIM in simulating high‐ and low‐frequency ground motions enables its direct and independent application to broadband ground motion simulations. Moreover, the first validation of this consistent accuracy in both near‐ and far‐field scenarios further enhances its application in earthquake engineering practices.

Evaluation of directionality in physics-based ground motion simulations of strike-slip earthquakes

Recent advances in engineering seismology and computing power have led to the development of realistic physics-based ground motion simulations. The use of these simulations for engineering applications requires that the ground motions exhibit characteristics consistent with those of recorded ground motions. While several studies have evaluated the intensity, frequency content, duration, and other characteristics of ground motion simulations for their possible use in engineering applications, few have focused on directionality. This article evaluates directionality in the response of single-degree-of-freedom oscillators when subjected to CyberShake Study 15.12 simulated ground motions from strike-slip earthquakes, by carefully comparing it to the directionality in recorded ground motions having the same style of faulting. Physics-based ground motion simulations at 334 stations from 5 different rupture variations in two large-magnitude earthquake scenarios on the Elsinore fault are evaluated. The orientation of maximum oscillator response and its spatial distribution are studied for each rupture. The orientation of maximum oscillator response is found to occur systematically close to the epicentral transverse orientation at all rupture distances, consistent with recent findings for ground motions recorded during strike-slip earthquakes. In addition, the orientation-specific spectral accelerations, when computed as a function of angular distance from the epicentral transverse orientation, are found to exhibit a variation consistent with the overall trend observed in records from the next-generation attenuation (NGA)-West2 database. However, the level of polarization at short periods in the simulated hybrid broadband waveforms used in this study is larger than that in recorded ground motions.

Long-period ground motion simulation and pulse probability distribution characteristics of the Kumamoto MW 7.1 earthquake in Japan

The 2016 Kumamoto MW 7.1 earthquake in Japan caused severe structural damage. It produced valuable seismic records that offered an opportunity to investigate the characteristics of long-period ground motion and pulse probability distribution. This study works in three main parts. First, we use the finite difference method (FDM) to reproduce the long-period ground motions of the 2016 Kumamoto MW 7.1 earthquake. That provides a crucial foundation for the subsequent phases. We identify velocity pulses within both synthetic and observed waveforms. By rigorously analyzing these pulses, we unveiled a wealth of insights into the characteristics of velocity pulses, strengthening the influence of the rupture directivity effect. In particular, the northeast region of the rupture exhibited a significant concentration of pulsed attributes. Finally, we further focus on establishing statistical relationships between different pulse parameters. The study revealed that the pulse probability distribution model fit well with the observed pulse distribution in the parallel to the fault (FP) and normal to the fault (FN) directions. However, the model also faced challenges in the FN direction due to the mechanism of velocity pulses and altered rupture propagation direction. Crucially, the study established that velocity pulses primarily cluster within a fault distance of less than 30 km, and the relationship between pulse peak value and fault distance followed an exponential trend. The study underscores the imperative of further refining the probability distribution model of velocity pulses, making it more robust and widely applicable. Furthermore, the correlation between velocity pulses and seismic parameters requires further validation through seismic records. This study sets the stage for a deeper understanding of earthquake-induced ground motion and pulse characteristics, contributing to the ongoing efforts in seismic risk assessment.

Revisiting the 1934 Mw 8.2 Bihar–Nepal earthquake—Simulation of broadband ground motions

SUMMARY The 1934 Mw 8.2 Bihar–Nepal earthquake was one of the devastating earthquakes, which made seismologists realize the importance of proper seismic hazard analysis and design aspects in India. The event occurred way before proper seismic networks were implemented and hence there are no recorded ground motions available for this event. This study, thus aims to generate possible ground motions for the 1934 Mw 8.2 Bihar–Nepal event. The complex geographical features, ambiguous source information and lack of ground motion data make the simulation and validation of ground motions very difficult. In this regard, the broad-band (BB) ground motions are simulated and validated for the most recent well-documented Himalayan event, that is, the 2015 Mw 7.9 Nepal earthquake in order to calibrate the model and simulation methodology. For this purpose, the computational model is presented for a region of 1000 km × 670 km (longitude 80–89 °E and latitude 23–30 °N) in the Indo-Gangetic Basin to simulate the low-frequency (LF) ground motions using spectral element method. These deterministically simulated LF ground motions are combined with stochastically simulated high-frequency (HF) ground motions based on an improved seismological model . The seismic moment and dimensions of the rupture plane are used to generate ten samples for the finite fault source model having different slip distribution along the rupture plane as a random field. The BB ground motions (0.01–25 Hz) are obtained by merging LF and HF ground motions in the time domain by matching them at a frequency of ∼0.3 Hz. Such BB results are simulated at a grid of stations and at locations where modified Mercalli intensity (MMI) values are available. The estimated MMI values and the observed MMI values are compared to emphasize the efficacy of the model. The maximum PGA estimated from the simulated ground motions in horizontal and vertical directions are observed to be 0.48 g and 0.4 g. Further, 5 per cent damped response spectra and spectral amplification are analysed concerning the sediment depth of the Indo-Gangetic Basin. The results from the study can serve as inputs for dynamic analysis and the design of earthquake-resistant structures across different locations in the Indo-Gangetic Basin.

Studying Past Earthquakes with Modern Techniques: Ground-Motion Simulations for the 11 January 1693 Noto Earthquake in Italy

Abstract The 1693 Noto earthquake, which struck on 11 January, is one of the Italy’s largest and most devastating earthquakes. According to the Italian Parametric Earthquake Catalogue, it reached a maximum intensity of 11 on the Mercalli–Cancani–Sieberg scale and had an estimated magnitude of M 7.3. Nevertheless, its precise location and source definition remain subjects to debate due to the complexity of the seismic sequence and lack of geological evidence. A series of potential seismic sources differing in location, dimension, and kinematics have been proposed in the literature based on seismotectonic data and interpretations. The goal of this work is to perform a retrospective experiment to verify which of the proposed seismic sources have a better fit with the observed intensity data. To do so, novel simulation techniques are used to study this historical earthquake. We generated ground-motion scenarios for each proposed source model through a stochastic finite-fault simulation approach. Then, the simulated ground-motion parameters were converted to intensities using two different ground-motion intensity conversion equations for Italy. Finally, we compared these converted intensities with the observed intensity data in terms of normalized root mean square errors and converted intensities from ground-motion models. Our results generally show good consistency between converted intensities from the simulated and predicted ground motions, whereas the observed intensities fit better to converted ones from the peak ground velocity rather than peak ground acceleration. Our analysis reveals that the source model reproducing the best of the macroseismic data of the Noto earthquake is the Canicattì–Villasmundo fault system with a magnitude of 7.1.

Spatial correlation assessment of multiple earthquake intensity measures using physics-based simulated ground motions

Predictive models for spatial correlation play an effective role in the assessment of seismic risk associated with distributed infrastructure and building portfolios. However, existing models often rely on simplified approaches, assuming isotropy and stationarity. This paper verifies these assumptions by presenting a comprehensive study using a database of 3D physics-based simulated broadband ground motions for Istanbul, generated by the SPEED software. The results reveal significant event-to-event variability and nonstationary and anisotropic characteristics of spatial correlation influenced by source, path, and site effects. The development of nonstationary correlation models requires exploring influential metrics beyond spatial proximity and gaining a deep understanding of their impact, which is the focus of this study. Analysis of the spatial correlations of peak ground displacement, peak ground velocity, peak ground acceleration, and response spectral accelerations at different periods, employing both stationary and nonstationary correlation modelling methods and considering the finite fault model, indicates that the slip distribution pattern, direction and distance of station pairs relative to earthquake rupture, soil softness, and homogeneity of soil properties significantly influence the spatial correlations of near-field earthquake ground motions. Implementation of the introduced parameters in predictive spatial correlation models enhances the precision of regional seismic hazard assessments.

Broadband Ground-Motion Simulations with Machine-Learning-Based High-Frequency Waves from Fourier Neural Operators

ABSTRACT Seismic hazards analysis relies on accurate estimation of expected ground motions for potential future earthquakes. However, obtaining realistic and robust ground-motion estimates for specific combinations of earthquake magnitudes, source-to-site distances, and site conditions is still challenging due to the limited empirical data. Seismic hazard analysis also benefits from the simulation of ground-motion time histories, whereby physics-based simulations provide reliable time histories but are restricted to a lower frequency for computational reasons and missing information on small-scale earthquake-source and Earth-structure properties that govern high-frequency (HF) seismic waves. In this study, we use densely recorded acceleration broadband (BB) waveforms to develop a machine-learning (ML) model for estimating HF ground-motion time histories from their low-frequency (LF) counterparts based on Fourier Neural Operators (FNOs) and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). Our approach involves two separate FNO models to estimate the time and frequency properties of ground motions. In the time domain, we establish a relationship between normalized low-pass filtered and BB waveforms, whereas in the frequency domain, the HF spectrum is trained based on the LF spectrum. These are then combined to generate BB ground motions. We also consider seismological and site-specific factors during the training process to enhance the accuracy of the predictions. We train and validate our models using ground-motion data recorded over a 20 yr period at 18 stations in the Ibaraki province, Japan, considering earthquakes in the magnitude range M 4–7. Based on goodness-of-fit measures, we demonstrate that our simulated time series closely matches recorded observations. To address the ground-motion variability, we employ a conditioned GAN approach. Finally, we compare our results with several alternative approaches for ground-motion simulation (stochastic, hybrid, and ML-based) to highlight the advantages and improvements of our method.

Analysis of Liquefaction Susceptibility in the Nakdonggang Delta Region via Effective Stress Analysis

During the 2017 M5.4 Pohang earthquake, significant damage occurred because of liquefaction. However, South Korea is located in a stable continental region where earthquakes are rare, and the widely-used simplified liquefaction assessment methods have not been validated domestically. Hence, this study evaluates liquefaction at several locations in the Nakdonggang Delta region via effective stress analysis and compares the results with those of the simplified method of Boulanger and Idriss (2008). For the liquefaction assessment, a hypothetical earthquake scenario with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Dongnae Fault was assumed, and ground motions were generated via broadband hybrid ground motion simulation. The effective stress analysis was performed using OpenSeesPY and a multi-yield plasticity model. The results of the liquefaction assessment revealed significant differences between the two methods. The simplified method indicated that shallow sediments in the Nakdonggang Delta region were more susceptible to liquefaction, whereas the effective stress analysis indicated that loose, shallow sediments were more vulnerable. These results suggest that simplified liquefaction assessment methods must be carefully validated for application in South Korea. Future studies will need to accurately reflect dynamic soil properties based on experimental data to help validate effective stress analysis methods and assess the applicability of simplified methods for practical application in South Korea.

Ground-motions site and event specificity: Insights from assessing a suite of simulated ground motions in the San Francisco Bay Area

This article presents the results of a research that is part of a larger collaborative effort between the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, funded by the US Department of Energy Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response. The main objective of this study is to assess a suite of near and far-field simulated ground motions obtained from 20 realizations of an M7 Hayward Fault earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area, California USA, and inform the selection of rupture simulation parameters leading to strong motions. To this aim, comparisons are conducted with NGA-W2 and directivity ground-motion models and a selected population of records. An archetypal steel moment-resisting frame is utilized to assess infrastructure response distributions. The analyses carried out for each simulated event and subdomain with consistent properties in terms of shallow shear-wave velocity proved to be instrumental for better interpreting the differences between simulated motions and empirical models. The main reasons identified for variances between simulations and empirical relationships included (1) directivity effects fully captured by the simulations across the full breadth of rupture models; (2) site vicinity to ruptures that incorporate large-slip patches, particularly if these are in the forward-directivity direction; and (3) presence of geologic structures that can “trap” seismic waves and produce ground motions with large amplitude and long signal duration. The analyses carried out in this work provide a path for interpreting ground-motion site and event specificity obtained from a suite of physics-based simulations, differing only in the rupture model characterization, to inform the selection of simulation scenarios for site-specific engineering analyses under strong excitations. Evidence from this work points to the possibility that current hazard models may underestimate ground-motion intensities in areas where the combined effect of directivity and site conditions results in large ground-motion amplitudes.

An Empirical Spatiotemporal Input Model for Regional Seismic Ground Motions

The development of the economy and technology has attracted greater attention to regional seismic resistance, a key technology for which is the simulation of regional seismic ground motions. This study proposes a simple and highly operable method for the generation of regional seismic ground motions, which includes five steps. First, a seismic ground motion recorded at a seismic station is selected as the original ground motion. The original ground motion is then decomposed into eight sub-signals by wavelet packet transform (WPT). Next, the eight sub-signals are adjusted by the frequency attenuation model. The generated ground motion is then amplitude modulated by the peak ground acceleration (PGA) attenuation model. The frequency attenuation model and the PGA attenuation model are obtained by fitting seismic data from the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake. Finally, the propagation of the ground motion is considered. The proposed method can provide a time history of seismic ground motions for any point in a region. To investigate the rationality and applicability of the proposed method, the characteristics of the generated seismic ground motions are compared with those of true seismic ground motions. The average error of the PGA of the generated ground motions and the true ground motions is 0.072[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]; thus, the proposed method is suitable for use in small-scale regions. Furthermore, 4-story and 15-story structures are used for structural response analysis. The story drift ratio error between the generated ground and true ground motions is found to be within an acceptable error range. The proposed method provides a new way to generate ground motions for regional seismic investigation.