Application of wavelets to analysis and simulation of earthquake motions

Abstract

A method of applying wavelet transform to earthquake motion analysis is developed from the viewpoint of energy input structures, in which relationships between wavelet coefficients and energy input, namely energy principles in wavelet analysis are derived. By using the principles, time–frequency characteristics of the 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu earthquake ground motions are analysed and time histories of energy input for various ranges of frequencies and epicentral distances are identified. Furthermore, a technique to simulate earthquake ground accelerations by wavelet inverse transform is developed on the condition that target time-frequency characteristics are specified. Structural responses to the simulated accelerations are compared with the target time–frequency characteristics, which shows satisfactory correlations between wavelet coefficients and energy responses in both time and frequency domains. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.