Site Amplification Functions for Central and Eastern North America – Part I: Simulation Data Set Development. Issue 2 (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Harmon, Joseph; Hashash, Youssef M. A.; Stewart, Jonathan P.; Rathje, Ellen M.; Campbell, Kenneth W.; Silva, Walter J.; Xu, Boqin; Musgrove, Michael; Ilhan, Okan
• Is Part Of: Earthquake spectra. Volume 35:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 787
• Page End: 814
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Earthquake engineering -- Periodicals; Earthquake engineering; Periodicals; 624.1762
• DOI: 10.1193/091017EQS178M
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 8755-2930

Abstract

This paper presents the development of large-scale simulation-based data sets used to inform new site amplification models for Central and Eastern North America (CENA). Linear elastic, equivalent linear, and nonlinear one-dimensional site response simulations of site conditions in CENA are employed. An analysis tree is introduced to capture the range of expected CENA geologic conditions. Independent variables include the following: (1) representative and random shear wave velocity ( VS ) profiles using data from the literature; (2) randomized, nonlinear shear modulus reduction and damping vs. shear strain curves with constraint on soil shear strength; and (3) outcrop ground motions representative of the VS = 3, 000 m/s CENA reference rock condition. The resulting database of 1, 747, 278 simulations is conditioned on several parameters relevant to site amplification, which facilitates model development that is the subject of a companion paper. The database is openly available for use by other researchers.