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Duration Matters: Impacts of Ground Motion Selection on Seismic Slope Displacement Analyses

Description: 

Seismic slope displacement analyses are crucial for assessing the performance of earthen structures and natural slopes under earthquake loading. Input ground motions are important components of such analyses and represent one of the main sources of variability in estimated values of slope displacement. Most studies on seismic slope displacement analyses have been conducted using shallow crustal earthquake motions. However, ground motions from subduction zones are known to have comparatively longer durations. This study demonstrates the effect of ground motion duration on seismic slope displacements using short- and long-duration motions from subduction tectonic environments. The duration is isolated from other ground motion characteristics by selecting pairs of ground motions with the same amplitude and similar spectral shape, but with different significant durations. These spectrally equivalent short- and long-duration suites of motions are then used in nonlinear finite element analyses to assess their effects on slope displacement. We find that the long-duration motions cause larger permanent displacements compared to their short-duration counterparts, especially at higher ground shaking intensity levels. Comparisons with simplified analyses show that the simplified methods can underestimate or overestimate the permanent displacement of design-level long-duration motions. Our findings demonstrate the need to consider ground-motion duration along with other ground motion characteristics (amplitude and spectral shape) to properly assess seismic slope displacement, and the damage potential of ground motions, particularly from subduction events.

Session: Earthquake-triggered Ground Failure: Data, Hazards, Impacts and Models - I

Type: Oral

Date: 4/17/2025

Presentation Time: 08:30 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Ashly

Student Presenter: No

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