Deep convolutional generative adversarial networks for the generation of numerous artificial spectrum‐compatible earthquake accelerograms using a limited number of ground motion records

Abstract Deep learning (DL) methodologies have been recently employed to solve various civil and earthquake engineering problems. Nevertheless, due to the limited number of reliable data in the field of earthquake engineering, it is not convenient to obtain accurate results using DL. To tackle this challenge, the generative adversarial network (GAN) approach may be considered a reliable possible candidate. GANs have been introduced as an efficient way to train generative models. GANs exhibited their capabilities as well as versatility in the field of image production. For nonlinear dynamic analyses of structures, artificial ground accelerograms that are compatible with a target response spectrum are usually generated. In this paper, an efficient algorithm is proposed by which numerous artificial spectrum‐compatible earthquake accelerograms are generated using a few ground motion records. For this purpose, a specific well‐established generative model, namely, the deep convolutional GAN (DCGAN), is adopted for the first time and used. It is shown that DCGAN can easily generate desirable artificial ground accelerograms by having a limited number of seismic records as input to train the network. To quantitatively demonstrate the quality of the artificial ground accelerograms generated by the DCGAN, several computer experiments are presented, among which the robustness and feasibility of the proposed method are examined by using only four earthquake accelerograms as the worst scenario. Moreover, the efficiency of the DCGAN is illustrated by comparing various seismic parameters and the spectral response of the generated accelerograms with those of the actual accelerograms. The outcomes illustrate the efficiency and robustness of the presented DCGAN.