Seismic
structural
risk
analysis
of
critical
facilities
may
require
nonlinear
dynamic
analysis
for
which
record
selection
is
one
of
the
key
issues.
Notwithstanding
the
increasing availability of database of strong-motion records, it may be hard to find
accelerograms that fit a specific scenario (e.g., in terms of magnitude and distance)
resulting from hazard assessment at the site of interest. A possible, alternative, approach
can be the use of artificial and/or simulated ground motion in lieu of real records. Their
employment requires systematic engineering validation in terms of structural response
and/or seismic risk. Prediction equations for peak and cyclic inelastic single degree of
freedom systems’ response, based on Italian accelerometric data, are discussed in this
study as a possible benchmark, alongside real record counterparts, for the validation of
synthetic records. Even if multiple events would be in principle required, an extremely
preliminary validation is carried out considering only four simulated records of the 1980
Irpinia (southern Italy)
M
w
6.9 earthquake. Simulated records are obtained through a
broadband hybrid integral-composite technique. Results show how this simulation
method may lead to generally acceptable results. It is also emphasized how this kind
of validation may provide additional results with respect to classical signal-to-signal
comparison of real and simulated records