1 

CHAPTER 21 SITE-SPECIFIC GROUND MOTION PROCEDURES FOR SEISMIC

2  DESIGN

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3  21.1 SITE RESPONSE ANALYSIS

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4  The requirements of Section 21.1 shall be satisfied where site response analysis is performed or
5  required by Section 11.4.7. The analysis shall be documented in a report.

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6  21.1.1 Base Ground Motions.

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7  An MCE R response spectrum shall be developed for a base condition consisting of bedrock, or

8  when bedrock is very deep, firm soil conditions below softer surficial layers, using the procedure
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9  of Sections 11.4.6 or 21.2. Unless a site-specific ground motion hazard analysis described in

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Section 21.2 is carried out, the MCE R rock base response spectrum shall be developed using the
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10 

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procedure of Section 11.4.6, assuming assuming a site condition representative of the geological
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12  conditions at the base (represented by a base-condition average shear wave velocity, vs )Site
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13  Class B. If bedrock consists of Site Class A, the spectrum shall be adjusted using the site
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14  coefficients in Section 11.4.3 unless other site coefficients can be justified. At least five recorded
15  or simulated horizontal ground motion acceleration time histories shall be selected from events
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16  that have magnitudes and fault distances that are consistent with those that control the MCE R
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17  ground motion. Each selected time history shall be scaled modified so that its response spectrum
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18  is, on average, approximately at the level of the MCE R rock response spectrum over the period
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19  range of significance to structural response.

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20  21.1.2 Site Condition Modeling.

21  A site response model based on low strain shear wave velocities, nonlinear or equivalent linear
22  shear stress–strain relationships, and unit weights shall be developed. Low strain shear wave
23  velocities shall be determined from field measurements at the site or from measurements from
24  similar soils in the site vicinity. Nonlinear or equivalent linear shear stress–strain relationships
25  and unit weights shall be selected on the basis of laboratory tests or published relationships for

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 1  similar soils. The uncertainties in soil properties shall be estimated. Where very deep soil profiles
2  make the development of a soil model to bedrock impractical, the model is permitted to be
3  terminated where the soil stiffness is at least as great as the values used to define Site Class D C
4  in Chapter 20. In such cases, the MCE R response spectrum and acceleration time histories of the

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5  base motion developed in Section 21.1.1 shall be adjusted upward using site coefficients in

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6  Section 11.4.3 consistent with the classification of the soils at the profile base.

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7  21.1.3 Site Response Analysis and Computed Results.

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8  Base ground motion time histories shall be input to the soil profile as outcropping motions.
9  Using appropriate computational techniques that treat nonlinear soil properties in a nonlinear or

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10  equivalent-linear manner, the response of the soil profile shall be determined and surface ground
11  motion time histories shall be calculated. Ratios of 5% damped response spectra of surface
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12  ground motions to input base ground motions shall be calculated. The recommended surface
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MCE R ground motion response spectrum shall not be lower than the MCE R response spectrum
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14  of the base motion multiplied by the average surface-to-base response spectral ratios (calculated
15  period by period) obtained from the site response analyses. The recommended surface ground
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16  motions that result from the analysis shall reflect consideration of sensitivity of response to
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17  uncertainty in soil properties, depth of soil model, and input motions.
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18  21.2 RISK-TARGETED MAXIMUM CONSIDERED EARTHQUAKE ( MCE R )

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19  GROUND MOTION HAZARD ANALYSIS

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20  The requirements of Section 21.2 shall be satisfied where a ground motion hazard analysis is
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21  performed or required by Section 11.4.7. The ground motion hazard analysis shall account for
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22  the regional tectonic setting, geology, and seismicity; the expected recurrence rates and
23  maximum magnitudes of earthquakes on known faults and source zones; the characteristics of
24  ground motion attenuation near source effects, if any, on ground motions; and the effects of
25  subsurface site conditions on ground motions. The characteristics of subsurface site conditions
26  shall be considered either using attenuation relationsground motion models that represent
27  regional and local geology or in accordance with Section 21.1. The analysis shall incorporate
28  current seismic interpretations, including uncertainties for models and parameter values for

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 1  seismic sources and ground motions. If the spectral response accelerations predicted by the
2  attenuation relationsground motion models do not represent the maximum response in the
3  horizontal plane, then the response spectral accelerations computed from the hazard analysis
4  shall be scaled by factors to increase the motions to the maximum response. If the attenuation

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5  relationsground motion models predict the geometric mean or similar metric of the two

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6  horizontal components, then the scale factors shall be 1.11.2 for periods less than, or equal to,

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7  0.2 s, 1.31.25 for a period of 1.0 s, and 1.51.3 for periods greater than or equal to 5.010 s, unless

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8  it can be shown that other scale factors more closely represent the maximum response, in the
horizontal plane, to the geometric mean of the horizontal components. Scale factors between

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10  these periods shall be obtained by linear interpolation. The analysis shall be documented in a

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11  report.

12  21.2.1 Probabilistic ( MCE R ) Ground Motions.

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The probabilistic spectral response accelerations shall be taken as the spectral response
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14  accelerations in the direction of maximum horizontal response represented by a 5% damped

15  acceleration response spectrum that is expected to achieve a 1% probability of collapse within a
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16  50-year period. For the purpose of this standard, ordinates of the probabilistic ground motion
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17  response spectrum shall be determined by either Method 1 of Section 21.2.1.1 or Method 2 of
18  Section 21.2.1.2.
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21.2.1.1 Method 1.
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19 
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20  At each spectral response period for which the acceleration is computed, ordinates of the
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21  probabilistic ground motion response spectrum shall be determined as the product of the risk
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22  coefficient, C R , and the spectral response acceleration from a 5% damped acceleration response

23  spectrum that has a 2% probability of exceedance within a 50-year period. The value of the risk
24  coefficient, C R , shall be determined using values of CRS and CR1 from Figs. 22-18 and 22-19,

25  respectively. At spectral response periods less than or equal to 0.2 s, C R shall be taken as equal

26  to CRS . At spectral response periods greater than or equal to 1.0 s, C R shall be taken as equal to

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 1  CR1 . At response spectral periods greater than 0.2 s and less than 1.0 s, C R shall be based on

2  linear interpolation of CRS and CR1 .

3  21.2.1.2 Method 2.

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4  At each spectral response period for which the acceleration is computed, ordinates of the

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5  probabilistic ground motion response spectrum shall be determined from iterative integration of a
site-specific hazard curve with a lognormal probability density function representing the collapse

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7  fragility (i.e., probability of collapse as a function of spectral response acceleration). The

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8  ordinate of the probabilistic ground motion response spectrum at each period shall achieve a 1%

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9  probability of collapse within a 50-year period for a collapse fragility that has (1) a 10%
10  probability of collapse at said ordinate of the probabilistic ground motion response spectrum and
11  (2) a logarithmic standard deviation value of 0.6.
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21.2.2 Deterministic ( MCE R ) Ground Motions.
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13  The deterministic spectral response acceleration at each period shall be calculated as an 84th-
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14  percentile 5% damped spectral response acceleration in the direction of maximum horizontal
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15  response computed at that period. The largest such acceleration calculated for the
16  characteristicscenario earthquakes on all known active faults within the region shall be used. The
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17  scenario earthquakes shall be determined from deaggregation for the probabilistic spectral
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18  response acceleration at each period. Scenario earthquakes contributing less than 10% of the
19  largest contributor at each period shall be ignored.If the largest spectral response acceleration of
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20  the resulting deterministic ground motion response spectrum is less than 1.5Fa then this response
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21  spectrum shall be scaled by a single factor such that the maximum response spectral acceleration
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22  equals 1.5Fa. For Site Classes A, B, C and D, Fa shall be determined using Table 11.4.1 with the
23  value of Ss taken as 1.5; for Site Class E, Fa shall be taken as 1.0.The ordinates of the
24  deterministic ground motion response spectrum shall not be taken as lower than the
25  corresponding ordinates of the response spectrum determined in accordance with Fig. 21.2-1. For
26  the purposes of calculating the ordinates

27 

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 1  For the purpose of this standard, the deterministic response spectral acceleration at each period
2  shall be taken as not less than the deterministic lower limit response spectrum, of Table 21.2-1 of
3  the site class, determined in accordance with the site class requirements of Section 11.4.2.

EXCEPTION: The deterministic ground motion response spectrum need not be calculated

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whenwhere the largest spectral response acceleration of the probabilistic ground motion response

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spectrum of 21.2.1 is, at all response periods, less than 1.2Fathe deterministic lower limit

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7  response spectrum of Table 21.2-1 for the site class, determined in accordance with the site class

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8  requirements of Section 11.4.2.for Site Classes A, B or C:  Fa and  Fv  shall be determined using 

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9  Tables 11.4‐1 and 11.4‐2, with the value of  S S  taken as 1.5 and the value of  S1  taken as 0.6;

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10   
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11  Table 21.2‐1. Deterministic Lower Limit Values of MCER Response Spectra and PGAG (g). 

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Period
T (s) A B
Site Class
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BC C CD D DE E
0.00 0.50 0.57 0.66 0.73 0.74 0.69 0.61 0.55
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0.01 0.50 0.57 0.66 0.73 0.75 0.70 0.62 0.55

C

0.02 0.52 0.58 0.68 0.74 0.75 0.70 0.62 0.55

0.03 0.60 0.66 0.75 0.79 0.78 0.70 0.62 0.55
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0.05 0.81 0.89 0.95 0.96 0.89 0.76 0.62 0.55

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0.075 1.04 1.14 1.21 1.19 1.08 0.90 0.71 0.62

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0.10 1.12 1.25 1.37 1.37 1.24 1.04 0.82 0.72

0.15 1.12 1.29 1.53 1.61 1.50 1.27 1.00 0.87
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0.20 1.01 1.19 1.50 1.71 1.66 1.44 1.15 1.01

0.25 0.90 1.07 1.40 1.71 1.77 1.58 1.30 1.15
0.30 0.81 0.98 1.30 1.66 1.83 1.71 1.44 1.30
0.40 0.69 0.83 1.14 1.53 1.82 1.80 1.61 1.48
0.50 0.60 0.72 1.01 1.38 1.73 1.80 1.68 1.60
0.75 0.46 0.54 0.76 1.07 1.41 1.57 1.60 1.59
1.0 0.37 0.42 0.60 0.86 1.17 1.39 1.51 1.58

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 1.5 0.26 0.29 0.41 0.60 0.84 1.09 1.35 1.54
2.0 0.21 0.23 0.31 0.45 0.64 0.88 1.19 1.46
3.0 0.15 0.17 0.21 0.31 0.45 0.63 0.89 1.11
4.0 0.12 0.13 0.16 0.24 0.34 0.47 0.66 0.81

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5.0 0.10 0.11 0.13 0.19 0.26 0.36 0.49 0.61

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7.5 0.063 0.068 0.080 0.11 0.15 0.19 0.26 0.31

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10 0.042 0.045 0.052 0.069 0.089 0.11 0.14 0.17

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PGAG 0.37 0.43 0.50 0.55 0.56 0.53 0.46 0.42

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1  for Site Class D:  Fa shall be taken as 1.0, and  Fv  shall be taken as 2.5; and 

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2  for Site Classes E and F:  Fa  shall be taken as 1.0, and  Fv  shall be taken as 4.0. 
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3 
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4  FIGURE 21.2-1 Deterministic Lower Limit on MCE R Response Spectrum

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5  21.2.3 Site-Specific MCE R . Response Spectrum.

6  The site-specific MCE R spectral response acceleration at any period, S aM , shall be taken as the

7  lesser of the spectral response accelerations from the probabilistic ground motions of
8  Section 21.2.1 and the deterministic ground motions of Section 21.2.2.

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 1  EXCEPTION: The site-specific MCER response spectrum may be taken as equal to the MCER
2  response spectrum obtained from the USGS Seismic Design Geodatabase for the applicable site
3  class.

The site-specific MCER spectral response acceleration at any period shall not be taken as less

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than 80 percent of the MCER response spectrum obtained from the USGS Seismic Design

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Geodatabase for the applicable site class.

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7  21.2.3.1. Site Class F Sites.

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8  For sites classified as Site Class F requiring site-specific analysis in accordance with
9  Section 11.4.7, the site-specific MCER spectral response acceleration at any period shall not be

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10  less than 80% percent of the MCER response spectrum obtained from the USGS Seismic Design
11  Geodatabase for Site Class E.
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12  EXCEPTION: Where a different site class can be justified using the site-specific classification
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procedures of Section 20.3.3, a lower limit of 80% percent of SaM for the justified site class shall
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14  be permitted to be used.

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15  EXCEPTION: The site-specific MCER ground motion response spectrum shall be taken as the
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16  probabilistic ground motion response spectrum of 21.2.1 when the largest spectral response
17  acceleration of the probabilistic ground motion response spectrum of 21.2.1 is less than 1.2Fa.
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18  For Site Classes A, B, C and D, Fa shall be determined using Table 11.4.1 with the value of Ss
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19  taken as 1.5; for Site Class E, F a shall be taken as 1.0.

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20  The site-specific MCER spectral response acceleration at any period shall not be taken less than
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21  150% of the site-specific design response spectrum determined in accordance with 21.3.
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22  21.3 DESIGN RESPONSE SPECTRUM

23  The design spectral response acceleration at any period shall be determined from
24  Equation. (21.3-1):

2
25  Sa  SaM (21.3-1)
3

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 1  where S aM is the MCER spectral response acceleration obtained from Section 21.1 or 21.2.

2  The design spectral response acceleration at any period shall not be taken as less than 80% of S a

3  determined in accordance with Section 11.4.6, where Fa and Fv are determined as follows:

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4  (i) for Site Class A, B, and C: Fa and Fv are determined using Tables 11.4-1 and 11.4-2,

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5  respectively;

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6  (ii) for Site Class D: Fa is determined using Table 11.4-1, and Fv is taken as 2.4 for

S1  0.2 or 2.5 for S1  0.2 ; and

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7 

8  (iii)for Site Class E: Fa is determined using Table 11.4-1 for SS  1.0 or taken as 1.0 for

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9  S S  1.0 , and Fv is taken as 4.2 for S1  0.1 or 4.0 for S1  0.1 .

10  For sites classified as Site Class F requiring site-specific analysis in accordance with
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11  Section 11.4.78, the design spectral response acceleration at any period shall not be less than
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80% of S a determined for Site Class E in accordance with Section 11.4.5.
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13  EXCEPTION: Where a different site class can be justified using the site-specific classification
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14  procedures in accordance with Section 20.3.3, a lower limit of 80% of S a for the justified site
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15  class shall be permitted to be used.

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21.4 DESIGN ACCELERATION PARAMETERS

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17  Where the site-specific procedure is used to determine the design ground motion, in accordance
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18  with Section 21.3, the parameter SDS shall be taken as 90% of the maximum spectral
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19  acceleration, S a , obtained from the site-specific spectrum, at any period within the range from
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20  0.2 to 5 s, inclusive. The parameter S D1 shall be taken as 90% of the maximum value of the

21  product, TSa , for periods from 1 to 2 s for sites with vs > 1,450 ft/s ( vs > 442 m/s)

22  vs ,30  1, 200 ft / s ( vs ,30  365.76 m / s ) and for periods from 1 to 5 s for sites with vs ≤ 1,450 ft/s

23  ( vs ≤ 442 m/s), but not less than 100% of the value of Sa at 1 s vs ,30  1, 200 ft / s (

24  vs ,30  365.76 m / s ). The parameters S MS and SM 1 shall be taken as 1.5 times SDS and S D1 ,

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 1  respectively. The values so obtained shall not be less than 80% of the values determined in
2  accordance with Section 11.4.3 for S MS and SM 1 and Section 11.4.5 for SDS and S D1 .

3  For use with the equivalent lateral force procedure, the site-specific spectral acceleration, S a , at

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4  T shall be permitted to replace S D1 / T in Equation. (12.8-3) and S D1TL / T 2 in Eq.uation (12.8-

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5  4). The parameter SDS calculated per this section shall be permitted to be used in

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6  Equationss. (12.8-2), (12.8-5), (15.4-1), and (15.4-3). The mapped value of S1 shall be used in

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7  Equationss. (12.8-6), (15.4-2), and (15.4-4).

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8  21.5 MAXIMUM CONSIDERED EARTHQUAKE GEOMETRIC MEAN ( MCE G ) PEAK

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9  GROUND ACCELERATION
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10  21.5.1 Probabilistic MCE G Peak Ground Acceleration.

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The probabilistic geometric mean peak ground acceleration shall be taken as the geometric mean
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12  peak ground acceleration with a 2% probability of exceedance within a 50-year period.
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13  21.5.2 Deterministic MCE G Peak Ground Acceleration.

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14  The deterministic geometric mean peak ground acceleration shall be calculated as the largest
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15  84th-percentile geometric mean peak ground acceleration for characteristic scenario earthquakes
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16  on all known active faults within the site region. The scenario earthquakes shall be determined
from deaggregation for the probabilistic spectral response acceleration at each period. Scenario
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17 
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18  earthquakes contributing less than 10% of the largest contributor at each period shall be ignored.
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19  The deterministic geometric mean peak ground acceleration shall not be taken as lower than
20  0.5 FPGA , where FPGA is determined using Table 11.8-1 with the value of PGA taken as 0.5g the

21  value of PGAG of Table 21.2-1 of the site class, determined in accordance with the site class
22  requirements of Section 11.4.2.

23  21.5.3 Site-Specific MCE G Peak Ground Acceleration PGAM.

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 1  The site-specific MCE G peak ground acceleration, PGA M , shall be taken as the lesser of the

2  probabilistic geometric mean peak ground acceleration of Section 21.5.1 and the deterministic
3  geometric mean peak ground acceleration of Section 21.5.2. The site-specific MCE G peak

ground acceleration shall not be taken as less than 80% of the value of the MCE G peak ground

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4 

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5  acceleration parameter PGAM obtained from the USGS Seismic Design Geodatabase for the

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6  applicable site class PGA M determined from Eq. (11.8-1).

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7  21.6 CONSENSUS STANDARDS AND OTHER REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

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8  See Chapter 23 for the list of consensus standards and other documents that shall be considered

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9  part of this standard to the extent referenced in this chapter.
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