Analysis of the Effects of Different Factors on Damage Potential Ranking

A quantitative evaluation of the damage potential of ground motions to structures can provide a basis for the selection of input ground motions. To determine the main factors influencing the damage potential ranking of ground motions, the corresponding effect factors were analyzed. First, the structural period range from 0.05 to 10 s was divided into three types of period ranges based on an improved Newmark–Hall spectrum. The intensity measures (IMs) that can characterize the damage potential in every period range were determined. Second, the effect of yield strength coefficient (Cy), vibration period (T), and type of site on the damage potential ranking are explained. A recommended damage potential ranking is given in the same period range. Finally, to demonstrate the rationality of the recommended damage potential ranking in this paper, two representative reinforced concrete (RC) shear structure models are established for analysis. For the same type of structures, the damage potential rankings under different Cy and T conditions have high correlation with the recommended damage potential ranking, and the discreteness is very low. When considering the site factors, the corresponding correlation and dispersion change little. Based on the analysis of two typical structural models, the R2 between the recommended damage potential ranking and structural response ranking were 0.89 and 0.94, respectively. It is proven that the methods of Cy, T, and the type of site are reasonable when establishing the recommended damage potential ranking in this paper. This study provides a theoretical basis for simplifying the evaluation of ground motion damage potential and for selecting input ground motions.