ASCONA: Automated Selection of COmpatible Natural Accelerograms

Abstract

This paper describes an automated procedure for selecting and scaling real spectrum-compatible records. The methodology allows one to choose from a predefined database, assembled from accredited strong-motion accelerometric data banks, real records satisfying properly defined seismological constraints with the additional requirement of spectrum-compatibility with a reference spectrum in a specified period range. Among the different sets of records satisfying these constraints, the user can specify the desired one, based on additional requirements (e.g., limited scaling factors). The proposed algorithm allows one to select records compatible with either an acceleration or a displacement response spectrum. Egypt 966 LAI ET AL. ASCONA: AUTOMATED SELECTION OF COMPATIBLE NATURAL ACCELEROGRAMS 967 968 LAI ET AL. 974 LAI ET AL. 978 LAI ET AL.

Issues on the Use of Time-History Analysis for the Design and Assessment of Masonry Structures

“…[18], [19]), accelerograms are typically subdivided in three categories: real (or natural) records selected from accredited strongmotion databases, synthetic accelerograms generated through complex mathematical models of the seismic source and wave propagation phenomena, and artificial accelerograms generated by stochastic algorithms and constrained to be spectrum-compatible to a target response spectrum. Although the choice of the type of record to be used for defining the seismic input for time history analyses depends on the problem under study, in many cases real accelerograms are the best choice, since they are more realistic than spectrum-compatible artificial records and easier to obtain than synthetic seismograms generated from seismological source models.…”

“…In most cases, to satisfy spectrum-compatibility, records need to be linearly scaled to a predefined value, which can be the PGA or another selected ordinate of the target spectrum. It is important to emphasize however that the selected records also need to satisfy the requirement of "seismo-compatibility" which means that they must be consistent with the regional seismotectonic and seismogenic setting, as discussed for example in [19].…”

“…Specific tools have been developed for the selection of spectrum-compatible suites of real accelerograms, both limited to research purpose (e.g. ASCONA [19]) or available to the general public (e.g. REXEL [20]).…”

“…The selection of the real spectrum-compatible accelerograms was made using the algorithm of the ASCONA program [19]. The real records were selected to be compatible in the mean with the EC8-1 [1] type 1 acceleration response spectrum.…”

Evaluation of the Effect of Modeling Uncertainties on the Seismic Response of Existing Masonry Buildings

“…[6]), also due to the high computational effort and to objective difficulties related for example with the definition of seismic input in terms of appropriate acceleration time histories (e.g. [7], [8]) and the identification of appropriate damage limit states (e.g. [9]).…”