IMPORTANCE OF DETAILED MODELING OF NEAR-FIELD SEISMIC WAVE COMPLEXITY IN THE ESTIMATION OF EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE OF REINFORCED-CONCRETE BUILDINGS

This study aims to assess the significance of detailed modelling of near-field seismic wave complexity in estimating the earthquake response of reinforced-concrete (RC) buildings. Using a kinematic source description of a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in the San Ramón fault, we utilized the frequency-wavenumber (F-K) simulation method to compute ground motions for a site in the hanging-wall relative to the fault. We prepared a detailed model of a 5-story, asymmetric-plan RC building in the area and subjected it to different modelling possibilities to assess their impact on the building's response. Specifically, we explored the effects of modelling options such as fixed-base versus explicit modelling of the soil domain, and linear versus nonlinear superstructure response on various response measures such as base shear, inter-story and roof drifts, torsional response, and floor acceleration spectral ordinates. Our findings indicate that explicit modelling of the soil domain and nonlinear superstructure response significantly affect the building's response metrics. We utilized the domain reduction method to consider the full complexity of the incoming wave-field in the model response, as well as a more classic plane-wave approach with absorbing boundaries. Our study provides engineers with insights into the modelling uncertainties associated with estimating the earthquake response of buildings to near-field shallow-crust events. This discussion can help inform modelling efforts to enhance our understanding of the effects of near-field seismic wave complexity on RC building response.