PROBABILISTIC MODELS AND SIMULATION METHODS FOR SEISMIC GROUND ACCELERATION

Probabilistic models of seismic ground acceleration are reviewed. The review includes uniformly modulated, oscillatory, amplitude and phase modulated, ARMA, and other processes. Moreover, a novel and general no nstationary Gaussian model is presented. The model consists of a super position of harmonics with correlated Gaussian amplitudes. The harmoni c frequencies and the amplitude probabilistic characteristics depend o n the duration and the correlation of the target seismic ground motion , respectively. The model can be generalized to represent the seismic ground motion at two or more sites. Methods are also presented for gen erating realizations of the probabilistic models in the paper. The met hods are applied to demonstrate the generation of artificial seismic g round motions and to evaluate the usefulness of various probabilistic models in earthquake engineering.