Preliminary Energy-Based Validation of a Physics-Based Simulated Ground-Motion Database

The limited availability of ground motion recordings across a diverse range of source and site conditions presents significant challenges in seismic hazard assessment, particularly for nonlinear time history analyses (NLTHA) and seismic fragility assessments. This study addresses these challenges by employing Physics-Based Simulation (PBS) methodologies to generate ground motions that account for specific seismogenic source features, propagation paths, and local site conditions. The PBS approach is validated by comparing energy-based intensity measures derived from simulated ground motions with predictions from a specific empirical Ground Motion Prediction Equation. A comprehensive PBS database has been created, simulating a range of seismic scenarios to explore the influence of various parameters, including moment magnitude, source-to-site distance, and local soil conditions. Through detailed comparisons of simulated and observed ground motions, particularly focusing on the Relative Energy Input Velocity (VEIr), a good correlation is established, indicating the robustness of the PBS-generated data in reflecting real-world seismic behavior. This validation reinforces the potential of PBS techniques in enhancing our understanding of seismic hazards and improving engineering applications in earthquake-prone regions. Future research directions include expanding the variability of input parameters, and utilizing additional GMPEs, to further improve PBS ground motion predictions.