Estimation of High-Frequency Spectral Decay Parameter in a High-Rise Building for Evaluation of Kinematic Soil-Structure Interaction

Abstract

The seismic response of buildings founded on soft soil is significantly affected by soil-structure interaction. Kinematic soil-structure interaction represents the variation between foundation input motion and free field due to high-frequency filtering of the seismic waves by the structure. High-frequency spectral parameter (κ) proposed by Anderson and Hough in (Bull Seismol Lett Am 74:1963–1993, 1984) is used to describe the shape of the Fourier amplitude spectrum in the high-frequency range. κ parameter has been studied extensively and used in several applications like ground motion simulations and the generation of synthetic accelerograms. In the present study, seismic records of a well instrumented 14-storeyed building, the Hollywood Storage Building with concrete pile foundation on Class D Deep Alluvium soil, are used to determine the high-frequency parameter κ for the free field and basement motions using the classic method proposed by Anderson and Hugh in (Bull Seismol Lett Am 74:1963–1993, 1984). κ is estimated based on the S-wave portion of the accelerograms. The computation of κ is done across four strong motions having magnitudes greater than 4, recorded by the building. Comparison of κ values indicates variations between free field and basement motions. Regression equations have also been developed to relate κ to magnitude and source to site distance. The variation between free field and basement motion in the fitted regression curves is also analysed to identify the effect of kinematic soil-structure interaction. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.