Incorporation of Azimuthal Dependence in a Model of Strong Ground Motion

摘要

A necessary design element for buildings and other structures subjected to strong ground motions due to earthquakes is an estimate of the frequency and intensity of earthquakes expected to occur in the region during the economic life of the structure. It is also necessary to estimate the ground motion response at a site, given that an earthquake of a certain size and a certain distance away from the site occurs. Recognizing the random nature of earthquake occurrences, and the limited understanding of the physical processes leading to seismic loading at a site, analytical models have been developed to predict the probability of exceeding a given level of ground motion during a specified period. The report presents the results of initial (Phase I) efforts to refine and improve state-of-the-art models for predicting ground motion responses, and ultimately, to improve subsequent seismic hazard estimates.