Assessment of the prediction of ground motion parameters in 1D ground response analysis using data from seismic arrays and centrifuge experiments

Abstract

Peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), and spectral acceleration are among the most widely used metrics to represent seismic hazard characteristics in practice. Several simplified seismic design procedures to evaluate liquefaction triggering, slope stability, or structural response have also proposed other ground motion parameters (GMPs) to represent a ground motion’s intensity, duration, and frequency content. To account for soil effects, these parameters can be obtained from the results of one-dimensional (1D) ground response analyses. Few studies have systematically evaluated the prediction of these additional parameters from the results of ground response analyses. This study presents an exhaustive review of the accuracy and precision of the prediction of 19 common GMPs from the results of 1D ground response analyses using vertical seismic arrays and centrifuge tests. Total stress nonlinear analyses are conducted using the software DEEPSOIL along with equivalent-linear analysis. A reference dataset composed of 10 sites and 306 ground motion recordings representing varying conditions of seismic excitation is employed. The findings of this study showed that while the models produced a reasonable approximation of spectral accelerations, a general tendency toward the over-prediction of most parameters was revealed. The results identified that the mean period ( Tm) yielded the lowest bias, and other parameters, such as the predominant spectral period ( To), PGA, and PGV, also offered some improvements over the other parameters included in this study.