Predicting earthquake-induced sliding displacements using effective incremental ground velocity

Abstract

This article evaluates a pulse intensity measure, the effective incremental ground velocity ( EIGV), for predicting sliding displacements induced by real ground motions. EIGV is based on computing the additional incremental velocity of a pulse after a system begins to slide. Predictions of peak sliding displacements are made using multiple ground motion and pulse intensity measures, and it is found that at high friction levels, defined here as friction coefficient above 0.15, EIGV is a very effective parameter with a lognormal standard deviation of predicted displacements around 0.5, despite including only the properties of the largest pulse in a record. For high-friction systems, very few pulses usually cause the peak sliding displacement during the response history, hence the potential for an effective pulse intensity measure. EIGV improves sliding displacement predictions compared to existing intensity measures, which are geared toward conventional hysteretic systems. Prediction equations are developed for peak relative sliding displacement as a function of EIGV, the sliding interface coefficient of friction, and the radius of curvature for concave sliding surfaces.