On the Use of Elastic Input Energy for Seismic Hazard Analysis

Abstract

The disaggregation of probabilistic seismic hazard calculations based on elastic input energy may prove useful for the identification of scenario events because input energy is a convenient single-parameter descriptor of motion duration and amplitude. To investigate this application, regression models are derived for the absolute input energy equivalent velocity, Vea, and the elastic pseudo-relative velocity response, PSV, in the frequency range 0.5 to 10 Hz. Disaggregation of a general seismic hazard model using Vea indicates that the modal magnitudes for the higher frequency oscillators tend to be larger, and vary less with oscillator frequency, than those derived using PSV. Larger magnitude earthquakes contribute more to seismic hazard if Vea is used. The dependence of Vea and PSV upon site classification is virtually identical, and Vea can be predicted with slightly less uncertainty as a function of magnitude, distance and site classification.