A Ground Motion Prediction Equation for the Horizontal Component of Cumulative Absolute Velocity (CAV) Based on the PEER-NGA Strong Motion Database

Cumulative absolute velocity (CAV), defined as the integral of the absolute acceleration time series, has been used as an index to indicate the possible onset of structural damage to nuclear power plant facilities and liquefaction of saturated soils. However, there are very few available ground motion prediction equations for this intensity measure. In this study, we developed a new empirical prediction equation for the horizontal component of CAV using the strong motion database and functional forms that were used to develop similar prediction equations for peak response parameters as part of the PEER Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) Project. We consider this relationship to be valid for magnitudes ranging from 5.0 up to 7.5–8.5 (depending on fault mechanism) and distances ranging from 0–200 km. We found the interevent, intra-event, and intracomponent standard deviations from this relationship to be smaller than any intensity measure we have investigated thus far.