Empirical Relationships for Frequency Content Parameters of Earthquake Ground Motions

TLDR

The frequency content of earthquake ground motions, characterized by four scalar parameters (Tm, Tavg, To, Tp), influences the dynamic response of earth and structural systems, with Tm and Tavg reflecting low‑frequency content and To being most affected by high frequencies. Empirical relationships are developed that predict three parameters (Tm, Tavg, To) as a function of earthquake magnitude, site‑to‑source distance, site conditions, and rupture directivity. The empirical relationships were derived from a large strong‑motion database comprising recordings from recent earthquakes in Turkey and Taiwan. The study shows that Tp is inadequate, the updated relationships outperform earlier ones, three site classes (rock, shallow soil, deep soil) yield better predictions with lower error, forward directivity raises Tm and To at distances <20 km, and while all three parameters can be predicted accurately, Tm best distinguishes frequency content.

Abstract

The frequency content of an earthquake ground motion is important because it affects the dynamic response of earth and structural systems. Four scalar parameters that characterize the frequency content of strong ground motions are (1) the mean period (T m ), (2) the average spectral period (T avg ), (3) the smoothed spectral predominant period (T o ), and (4) the predominant spectral period (T p ). T m and T avg distinguish the low frequency content of ground motions, while T o is affected most by the high frequency content. T p does not adequately describe the frequency content of a strong ground motion and is not recommended. Empirical relationships are developed that predict three parameters (T m , T avg , and T o ) as a function of earthquake magnitude, site-to-source distance, site conditions, and rupture directivity. The relationships are developed from a large strong-motion database that includes recorded motions from the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Taiwan. The new relationships update those previously developed by the authors and others. The results indicate that three site classes, which distinguish between rock, shallow soil, and deep soil, provide a better prediction of the frequency content parameters and smaller standard error terms than conventional “rock” and “soil” site classes. Forward directivity significantly increases the frequency content parameters, particularly T m and T o , at distances less than 20 km. Each of the frequency content parameters can be predicted with reasonable accuracy, but T m is the preferred because it best distinguishes the frequency content of strong ground motions.