Engineering validation of BB-SPEEDset, a data set of near-source physics-based simulated accelerograms

Abstract

Physics-based numerical simulations (PBS) have progressed to the level of providing a realistic description of earthquake ground motion and of its variability, both in time and space, thus enabling to fill the knowledge gaps due to the sparsity of recordings (especially in the near-source region of strong earthquakes). Nevertheless, to build confidence in the utilization of the PBS by the engineering community, simulated accelerograms need to be validated against recorded data from both seismological and engineering perspectives. This article aims at extending the validation of BB-SPEEDset, a data set of near-source broadband simulated accelerograms from multiple regions and faulting styles, obtained by the spectral element computer code SPEED. In addition to seismological checks of BB-SPEEDset proving the absence of systematic biases with respect to a near-source records data set, in this work, the validation is addressed in terms of engineering demand parameters (EDPs) of elastoplastic single-degree-of-freedom systems, taking advantage of a ground motion selection tool including simulated accelerograms. It is found that, when simulated and recorded accelerograms are selected according to the same spectral compatibility criteria, consistent statistical distributions of EDPs are obtained from the two sets. To highlight the potentialities of BB-SPEEDset for near-source analyses, an example of utilization of spectrum-compatible pulse-like motions for structural inelastic analyses is also given, resulting in a good agreement with literature solutions in terms of inelastic displacement demands.