StructuralSafety Vol. 19, No. 1, pp.

153-168, 1997
© 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Printed in The Netherlands
ELSEVIER PII: S0167-4730(96)00026-4 0167-4730/97 $17.00 + .00

Reliability assessment of structure subjected to

horizontal-vertical random earthquake excitations
Chin-Hsiung Loh *, Ming-Jin Ma
Department of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan UnMersiO', Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

Abstract

Statistical analysis of the response spectra due to both horizontal and vertical ground excitations is conducted. A method
is presented for generating a uniform hazard response spectrum making use of the seismic hazard curve expressing annual
probability of exceedance as a function of peak ground acceleration (PGA), a set of normalized mean response spectra, and a
coefficient-of-variation function for the random normalized spectral values in terms of period T. The response spectra of the
system are calculated by considering both horizontal and vertical excitations simultaneously. Comparison on the uniform
hazard response spectrum for case of single input (horizontal excitation only) and for case of multiple inputs (horizontal and
vertical excitations) are made. It is important to note that the effect of load ratio ( M g / P e r ) as well as the PGA ratio between
horizontal and vertical ground accelerations are two important parameters in the analysis of structural systems subjected to
both horizontal and vertical ground motions. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Structural dynamics; Response spectrum; Seismic hazard analysis

1. Introduction

Analysis of structural responses subjected to random earthquake excitations has attracted attention
in the past decades. However, the effects of the vertical ground acceleration are neglected in nearly all
the published works. It is often argued that most structures are quite stiff vertically and they are
designed with a much greater factor of safety for vertical loads than that for horizontal loads.
Characteristics of response spectra of free-field vertical motion have been recently studied for
many earthquakes [1]. The vertical-to-horizontal (V/H) response spectral ratio is the simple represen-
tation of relationship between these two quantities. Fig. 1 shows the V / H spectral ratio for the Kobe
earthquake from the data at Kobe meteorological station. The vertical to horizontal spectral ratio for
1995-6-25 earthquake recorded at different station (with different epicentral distance) is shown in Fig.
2. The ratio is the largest at short periods and at long periods the V / H spectral ratio falls below 2/3.
This reasoning ignores the fact that the vertical ground acceleration is a dynamic load and that it plays

* Corresponding author.
J Discussion is open until September 1997 (please submit your discussion paper to the editor, Ross B. Corotis).

153
15 4 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma

10.00 --

SauD/SaEw /t
O
N
1.00
O .~f \_/ I| u
. . . . -"t - q -,

O SauD/SaNs

0.10

Kobe JMA Observatory 1995-1-17 earthquake

0.01 I I I I llllJ l l I I IIII] I l I I lill] I I

0.0 0.i0 1.00 i0.00

Period (sec)

Fig. 1. Verticalto horizontal spectral ratio for 1995-1-17 Kobe earthquakerecordedat Kobe JMA Observatorystation.

the role of parametric excitation for the horizontal displacement of the structure. It is possible that the
presence of the vertical ground motion can enhance the destructive process of the horizontal ground
motion on the structure. References of structures subjected to both horizontal and vertical (H + V)
base excitations were considered by Lin and Shih [2,3], Ahmadi and Mostaghel [4] and Orabi and
Ahmadi [5]. Their works have demonstrated that the vertical ground acceleration amplifies the
horizontal responses.
In this paper a single-degree-of-freedom system (SDOF) consisting of a weightless column which
supports a concentrated mass ( M ) at the top end is rigidly clamped to the base ground under both
horizontal and vertical seismic ground excitation simultaneously. The lateral deflection of the mass is
studied. Statistical analysis of the response spectrum due to both horizontal and vertical ground
excitations is conducted. Finally, the uniform-hazard response spectra is established [6] which
represents the response spectra with equal probability of exceedance for the SDOF system subjected
to both horizontal and vertical excitations.

2. Basic equations

As shown in Fig. 3, the simple elastic model chosen for the present study consists of a massless
column which is supporting a concentrated mass at the top. In the absence of ground motion, the
 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma 15 5

10.00 - -

1995.6.25

.g 1.00
•-,.",: W.35%,',111 , II - .

g
o

0.10

Near-source station (R=2 kin)

...... I-Lian station (R=25 kin)
............. Taipei Basin

0.01 I I i ii iJl] I I I IIIII1 I I I I I II1[ I I

0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00
Period (sec)

Fig. 2. Vertical to horizontal spectral ratio for 1995-6-25 Taiwan earthquake recorded at three different sites with different
epicentral distance R: near source station R = 2 km ( - - ) , R = 25 km (- - -) and station at Taipei basin with R = 60
km (---).

system is governed by [2]

Ely"= P( 6 - y) + F( / - x) (la)

M 6 + C6 = - F (lb)

where y represents the horizontal deflection of the column, x represents the vertical coordinate of the
column, P is the vertical force acting at the top o f the massless column and F is the horizontal shear
force, M is the concentrated mass at the top and C is the damping of the column and y ( / ) = &
Define K = P ~ - - ~ , Eq. ( l a ) can be rearranged and represented by
F
ytt + K 2 y = K 2 6 ql_ . ~ K 2 ( f _ x). (2)

The solution of this differential equation, by imposing the boundary condition y(0) = 0 and y'(0) = 0,
can be represented as

y=- 6+ cosKx+ KpsinKx+6+-fi(f-x)" (3)

Also by imposing y ( / ) = & m a x i m u m horizontal deflection o f concentrated mass, into Eq. (3), one
can obtain

F = KP6/(tan K f - K / ) (4)
15 6 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma

(a) (b)

/// //// -/////////~y

(d)

I ~F

c~

////~
Fig. 3. Structural model: (a) beam-column supporting concentrated mass; (b) coordinate system; (c) forces and moments
sustained by beam-column; (d) forces acting on concentrated mass.

and the equation of motion, Eq. (lb), can be rearranged as follows:

P Kf
M 6 + C6 + ~ tan K / - K/6 = O. (5)
Define K / = u, then K / / ( t a n K / - K f ) = u/(tan u - u) and Taylor series expansion can be
applied to this function, then Eq. (5) can be written as
P( 3 6 u2 )
M6+C8+7 - ~ - 5 - 17---5. . . . 6=0. (6)
 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma t 57

Since the buckling load Per of the column is expressed as Per = ~2EI/(4f2), Eq. (6) can be replaced
by

M~+C6+7 1--~r .... ) 6=0. (7)

Under seismic excitations the equation of motion for the lateral deflection of the mass is given as
(neglect higher-order terms in Eq. (7)):

(~ + 2(;,w,(~ + w~ (1 Mg+M~Jg(t))
a= (8)
Per
-

where Mg + M~)g(t) is the vertical load P acting on the top of the column and (;~ is the damping
ratio, w 2 = 3 E I / M f 3 is the natural frequency of the load-free column, and iig(t) and Ug(t) are
horizontal and vertical earthquake ground accelerations. Equation (8) may be restated as [5]
6 + 2(;oWo~ + o92(1-/3Vg(t)) = -iig(t) (9)
where Wo2 = o92(1 - M g / P c r ) , (;o = (;1o91/o9o, /3 = M/(Pcr- Mg).The parameter/3 may be restated
as
Mg
/ 3 - g(1 - y ) ' y = Per (10)
where 3' is the load ratio. 6oo is the modified system natural frequency and (;o is the modified system
damping ratio when the vertical load is presented. The relationship between o9! and o9o is
w 2 = o92(1 - mg/P,) and between (;o and (;! is (;0 = (;! t°l/ogo. Response spectrum analysis can be
performed from Eq. (9) by giving different values of load ratio y as well as the specified horizontal
and vertical ground accelerations. Fig. 4 shows the normalized acceleration response spectrum (S,)

Kobe JMA Observatory 1995-1-17 earthquake

40 I A .............. H
It ~ H + V
g" II
30 ].'! H+v(1o)
t l| t'~ (,y : 0.5)
v ,,,.,
. I /; • x

11~ " i l e" he"V..

o
~
I,'/ V TM

,o. %. ° .%

r.#) o....o .,~ .~,

I I I I I
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Period (sec)
Fig. 4. Normalized response spectra (S.) for system subjected to: (a) horizontal excitation only; (b) horizontal and vertical
excitations simultaneously; (c) both horizontal and vertical excitations with PGA normalized to 1.0 g.
15 8 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma

(a)
2000

1000-
0

~ o

~ -1000.

~
o
-2oo0.

-3000 ......... , ......... , ......... ,,, .....

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 '40.0
r i m e (see.)

(b)
2000

1000
o

~ o
0

~ -1000-

~ -2000.

-3000 f i i i i i i i ~ i i i i i I i T r I I I I f I r r I I I I I r I I f I 1 I I

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0

Time (see.)

(c)
2000-

" 1000

~ -I000

$ -2000

-3000
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0
Time (sec.)
Fig. 5. (a) Acceleration response of SDOF system (T 1 = 0.6 sec and ~1 = 5%) subjected to horizontal excitation only (record
from JMA station of Kobe earthquake); (b) acceleration response of SDOF system (T~ = 0.6 sec and ~:~ = 5%) subjected to
both horizontal and vertical excitations simultaneously (records from JMA station of Kobe earthquake); (c) acceleration
response of SDOF system (T 1 = 0.6 sec and ~l = 5%) subjected to both horizontal and vertical excitations (records from
JMA station of Kobe earthquake but the PGA of vertical motion is amplified to the same PGA of horizontal motion).
 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma 15 9

for systems with and without considering the vertical ground excitation. The Kobe JMA (January 17,
1995 earthquake) data were used as input. If the PGA value of horizontal and vertical ground
excitations are both normalized to 1.0 g the acceleration response spectra will be greater than the case
of horizontal excitation only, as shown in Fig. 4 for the dark dashed line. The response in time
domain (absolute acceleration response) of this SDOF system is shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5a shows the
response considering the horizontal excitation only, Fig. 5b shows the response considering the
horizontal and vertical excitation simultaneously, and Fig. 5c shows the response of both horizontal
and vertical excitation, but with PGA (both horizontal and vertical components) normalized to 1.0 g.
It has to be pointed out that the natural frequency of the system will decrease due to the consideration
of both horizontal and vertical excitations, i.e. to 2 = w12(l - Mg/Pcr). Fig. 6 shows the comparison of
the restoring force diagram of the system with and without considering the vertical ground excitations.
It also shows that the degradation of the system stiffness is obvious when both vertical and horizontal
excitations are presented.

Input: Kobe JMA Observatory 1995-1-17 earthquake

b
25
gJ
II

SDOF system (f = 1.OHz) with

15 horizontal excitation only I

-5

-15
! SDOF system (f = 0.7Hz) considering
both horizontal and vertical excitations

-25 ~ m

-0.8 -0.4 0 0.4 0.8

Relative displacement (M)

Fig. 6. Comparison on the restoring force diagram for system with horizontal excitation only and for system with both
horizontal and vertical excitations (y = 0.5).
160 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma

Through the analysis of this example, as shown in Fig. 4, it is clear that two important parameters
must be considered in the calculation of response spectrum. One is the load ratio y( = Mg/Pcr) and
the other is the PGA ratio between horizontal and vertical ground acceleration. Generally, larger
values of load ratio y will increase the S~ value. Too large a value of y will induce the instability (or
failure) on the calculation of the response of SDOF system. In the present study the maximum value
of 3' is set equal to 0.5. On the other hand, vertical ground excitation plays the role of parametric
excitation, the intensity of the vertical ground excitation may influence the S a value.

3. Generating uniform hazard response spectra

The uniform hazard response spectra are defined as the response spectra with equal probability of
exceedance in all structural periods. In the design application it has been common practice to establish
first sets of response spectra normalized to a PGA equal to 1.0 g and then scale them down to
specified PGA levels. These PGA levels are taken directly from a site-specific seismic hazard curve
with a given specified annual probability of exceedance. Use these PGA levels to scale-down the
normalized response spectral value. Let A denote the random PGA. Its annual probability of
exceedance function, Qa(a), is given directly by the seismic hazard curve for PGA. Further, let S
denote the random normalized acceleration response spectral value San(T, ~) for a specified period T
and damping ratio ~. The desired probability distribution function for random variable S,,(T,
) = A × S representing the non-normalized acceleration response spectral value for period T and
damping ratio ~ can be expressed as
f ~ I'C/S
p,.a(c) = P[ s~ < c] = Js=OJ,,=oPA,s(a, s)dads. (11)

Generally it is reasonable to assume that random variables A and S are statistically independent, in
which case their joint probability density function Pa,s(a, S) is of the simple form PA.s(a,
s) = Pa(a)" Ps(S). Having obtained the probability distribution function P,,(c) for the full range of
discrete values of T and for specified discrete values of ~, uniform hazard acceleration response
curves can be obtained directly therefrom. For system subjected to horizontal ground excitation,
statistical analysis on response spectrum had been studied [6]. In this paper the analysis will be
devoted to the system subjected to both horizontal and vertical excitations. The response spectrum
will be calculated using Eq. (9).

4. Reliability assessment of structure

Based on the seismic records collected from the hard site of Taiwan area (a total of 30 records),
reliability of the SDOF system subjected to both horizontal and vertical random earthquake excita-
tions is assessed. Work will concentrate on the development of uniform hazard response spectrum.

4.1. Probability distribution function of S a

Let S denote the random value of Sna(T, ~) from a set of normalized acceleration response
spectrum curve with a specified structural period T. The mean value of the acceleration response
 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma 161

(a)
40
Horizontal inputs
I;. .............. Horizontaland vertical inputs

E
30
:"'.....
O
20

~ ' ' " ' \ ~ . . . .

10

I I I I
1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
Period (sec)

(b)
1.5 --

Horizontal excitation only

.............. Horizontaland vertical excitations

1.0 m

°°°°°°°°°
6
:5 0.5 --

0 I I
0.01 0.1 1 10

Period (sec)
Fig. 7. (a) Mean value of response spectral acceleration S,(T) from 50 records of Taiwan area with hard site condition;
(b) coefficient of variation of random variable S~,(T, 0.05) for system with horizontal excitation and with both horizontal and
vertical excitations.

spectra, /z(T, sc) and the coefficient of variation (o-(T, ~:)//z(T, ~)) of San(T, 0.05) can also be
evaluated as a function of period T. Thirty records of strong ground acceleration from Taiwan Strong
Motion Network at hard site condition were selected for the analysis of the probability distribution
function of Sna(T, 0.05). Fig. 7a shows the comparison of the mean value of acceleration response
16 2 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma

spectra for a system considering horizontal and vertical excitations and for a system with horizontal
excitation only. The load ratio in this study is defined as y = 0.5. The coefficient of variation
(C.O.V.) of Sn~(T, 0.05) is also shown in Fig. 7b. For a period less than 0.1 sec the C.O.V. value is
much greater than the case of the system with both horizontal and vertical excitations. The probability

(a)
1.00 --

Horizontal excitation .."'"" ............. i.-,"

"~ 0.50 --

E
oO/o.O:,'/~o.;jy ~ m Regressional form

:°° o,.. "° T (structural period) = 0.5 sec

:"'" ..... I i r I I
0 10 20 30 40 50
Sa (m/sec 2)

(b)
1.00 - -

'_~ ;, °.°°°°°"
~3 0.50 ""

'~ Horizontal excitation only

"~ ............... Distribution of data
=
r,.) Regressional form

T (structural period) = 1.0 see

I i I P I I I
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Sa (m/sec 2)
Fig. 8. Comparison on the distribution of S ( T ) between data and regressional form (log-normal distribution). (a) At period
T = 0.5 sec, (b) at period T = 1.0 sec. Systems with horizontal excitation only and with both horizontal and vertical
excitations are considered.
 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma 163

Table 1
E s t i m a t e d m o d e l p a r a m e t e r s o f l o g - n o r m a l d i s t r i b u t i o n at T = 0.5 sec and T = 1.0 sec

T = 0.5 sec T = 1.0 sec

A ~ A
H * 3.02 0.6102 2.41 0.9577
H + V * 2.739 0.6266 2.244 0.9217

H * c o n s i d e r horizo ntal excitation.

H + V * c o n s i d e r both h o r i z o n t a l and vertical excitation.

density function for random variable S (spectral acceleration, Sn~) can be expressed using the
lognormal form [6,7]:

Ps(S) = ~ ( s e X p [ - ],0<S<w (12)

in which ( and A are shape and scale parameters, respectively. These two parameters can be
estimated from data by using maximum-likelihood method. Fig. 8 shows the comparison of the
probability distribution function of S,,a(T) at T = 1.0 sec and T = 0.5 sec for the system with both
horizontal and vertical excitations. The estimated modal parameters are shown in Table 1. The
lognormal form did not fit the data very well because only very limited data were used to fit the
specified probability distribution function for the random variable S.

4.2. Seismic hazard curve for PGA

The seismic hazard analysis gives the annual probability of exceedance for a given specified
ground intensity. As discussed before Qa(a) is given directly from the seismic hazard curve. Thus,
the corresponding probability distribution and density functions of PGA can be obtained numerically
using the relations

dPA(a)
Pa(a)= 1--QA(a) and Pa(a) = da (13)

Substitution of Eqs. (12) and (13) into Eq. (11) gives the probability distribution function for random
variable So(T, ~ ) = A × S representing the non-normalized acceleration response spectral value for
period T and damping ratio ~.

4.3. Uniform hazard response spectrum (UHRS)

The schematic diagram for the calculation of UHRS is shown in Fig. 9. Procedures for generating
UHRS are listed as follows: (1) generate the hazard curve from Eq. (11) which shows the annual
probability of exceedance for a given acceleration response spectra, curve 3 in Fig. 9; (2) given a
specific value of return period, the acceleration response spectra is determined from step (1), i.e.
16 4 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma

10 0 Curve 1
Seismic hazard curve
(based on PGA attenuation form)

Curve 2
Estimated Cd value
(Cd = ( P G A ) . S a n (T, ~))
10 - I
Curve 3
Calculate 1 - P r ( S a < c ) for T = To

<
6
[,,.
II
[,,.

10-3
~
_
2.1 x 10 "3

_=

10 - 4
R A

PGA/Sa value
Fig. 9. Schematic diagram of the conceptual design for generating seismic-hazard-based PGA values.

curve 3; (3) same calculation will be done by considering different structural periods and generate
curve 3 for each structural period. With the same annual probability of exceedance, spectral
acceleration can be determined from different structural periods. The uniform hazard response spectra
are constructed by plotting the spectral acceleration with respect to period. In Fig. 9 there are two
other curves; curve 1 is the general seismic hazard curve. The annual probability of exceedance is
plotted with respect to PGA value. Curve 2 is obtained by scaling the curve 1 with the normalized
acceleration response spectra, i.e. Ca(T, ~) = A. Sna(T, ~). For design purpose with a given annual
probability of exceedance, the PGA value was selected from curve 1. This PGA value will be used to
scale the normalized acceleration spectra S,,a(T, ~) so as to obtain the design spectral value. Curve 2
is obtained from this idea. Difference between curve 2 and curve 3 is obvious. To construct the
uniform hazard response spectrum only curve 3 is needed.
For example, from curve 3 point "R" in Fig. 9 is the identified spectral acceleration for return
period of 475 year ( p [ Y > y] = 2.1 X 10-3). As compared to the design procedure (curve 2), the
annual probability of exceedance corresponding to point "R" is greater than 2.1 X 10 -3, say at point

Fig. 10. Plot of annual probability of exceedance with respect to S, value, similar to curves 2 and 3 in Fig. 9, for system
with horizontal ground excitation only and for system with both horizontal and vertical excitations; (a) T = 0.5 sec,
(b) T = 0.75 sec, (c) T = 1.0 sec, (d) T = 2.0 sec.
 C.-H. Loh, M.-J, M a !65

(a) (b)
Structure period = 0.5 sec Structure period = 0.75 sec

--D-,H +V(PGA xSa) ---D--,H +V(PGAxSa)

H + V (UHRS) H + V (UHRS)
0.1 0.1
..... Only H (PGA x Sa) ..... Only H (PGA x Sa)
~9 - - Only H (UHRS) - - Only H (UHRS)

0.0I 0.01
~9
¢9 o
~x . Curve 2
0.001 0.001

f:a.
2
Curve 2
0.0001 "& 0.0001 Curve 3
¢n
< <
x
Curve 3
0.00001 0.00001

0.000001 t __1 0.000001L

0 1.0 2,0 3,0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0
D e s i g n r e s p o n s e s p e c t r a (g) D e s i g n r e s p o n s e s p e c t r a (g)

(c) (d)

Structure period = 1,0 sec Structure period = 2.0 sec

--t2-,H +V(PGAxSa) ---D-,H+V(PGAxSa)

0,1 ~H+V(UHRS) 0.1 H + V (UHRS)
Only H (PGA x Sa) ..... Only H (PGA x Sa)
..... Only H (UHRS) Only H (UHRS)

0.01 0,01

0.001 0.001
.r,

e~
,-&
0,0001 0.0001
Curve 2
< < x

0.O0001 0.00001

Curve 3 ~ Curve 3 ~, ~z

0.000001L 0.000001 I I I~, I~, I I

0 1.0 2,0 3.0 4.0 5.0 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
D e s i g n r e s p o n s e s p e c t r a (g) D e s i g n r e s p o n s e s p e c t r a (g)
16 6 C. -H. Loh, M.-J. Ma

10 3 Return period: 475 years

~ / - - - - Horizontal excitation

I ~~ .... eHxOritztintals
and vertical

102 s
-Z
Sf

m. /i

,.~ 10

- //
5% Damping "'I~ ~~ ~ I ~1

1 f I I t I I II1[ [ I I I I III1 t
10-2 10-1 1 10
Period T (sec)

Fig. 11. Comparison of the 475 year return period uniform hazard response spectrum between system with horizontal
excitation only and system with both horizontal and vertical excitations (5% damping ratio).

"B". It means that the code method (scale the normalized response spectra to a certain PGA level)
provided smaller return period than the result from curve 3. In other words, with the same probability,
exceedance curve 3 provides smaller S o value than curve 2.
Fig. 10a-d show the hazard curve of S a (at T = 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 2.0 sec) by considering the
structural system subjected to both horizontal and vertical base excitations and the system subjected to
horizontal base excitation only. Similar to curve 2 and curve 3 of Fig. 9 it was plotted in Fig. 10 for
different structural period. The effect of vertical ground motion on the lateral deflection of the column
system is obvious. Same computations can be made for different structural period T. The uniform
hazard response spectrum can be obtained by determining the spectral acceleration from hazard curve
[Eq. (11)] which corresponds to a specified annual probability of exceedance for all structural periods.
Fig. 11 shows the comparison of the uniform-hazard response spectra (with return period = 475 years)
for system with both horizontal and vertical ground excitations (with 7 = 0.5) and for system with
horizontal ground excitation only. It has to be pointed out that the load ratio 3/ is set to 0.5 and the
ratio of vertical PGA to horizontal PGA is equal to 1.0 in this case. Different values of PGA ratio
between vertical and horizontal ground motion may generate different values of uniform hazard
response spectra. Fig. 12 shows the calculated Sa value with 475 years return period for each
 C.-H. lxgh, M.-J. Ma 16 7

1.4 -
Load ratio = 0.5

• T =0.5sec
1.2 --
s
s
s
• T = 1.0 sec
1.0 -- sII

0.8

0.6 • T = 2.0 sec

0.4 , .... r'" I I I I I I

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4

PGA ratio (vertical PGA/horizontal PGA)

F i g . 12. P l o t o f s p e c t r a l a c c e l e r a t i o n Su(T) w i t h r e s p e c t to P G A r a t i o ( v e r t i c a l P G A / h o r i z o n t a l PGA) under load ratio = 0.5.

different value of PGA ratio. When PGA ratio equals 1.0 the S a value of the system with both
horizontal and vertical ground excitations will increase 1.32 times the S~ value of the system with
only horizontal ground excitation (for structure with natural frequency between 1.0 and 2.0 Hz). In
this study, the load ratio is an important parameter to the influence on the calculation of uniform
hazard response spectra if the system is subjected to both horizontal and vertical excitations. There is
a limit value for the load ratio. Larger values of load ratio may cause the instability of the system
response. In this study when load ratio is greater than 0.5, instability of the response occurred in some
calculations.

5. Conclusions

The response of a structure subjected to both horizontal and vertical ground excitations is studied•
Through the analysis of a SDOF system it is shown that the vertical ground excitation is a dynamic
load and that it plays the role of parametric excitation for the horizontal displacement of the structure,
and the presence of vertical ground motion can enhance the lateral responses of the structure• Based
on the calculation of uniform hazard response spectra, comparison between the system with both
horizontal and vertical ground excitations and the system with only horizontal excitations are made. It
is shown that the load ratio ( y ) as well as the ratio between vertical PGA and horizontal PGA play an
important role in the calculation of the lateral displacement. Through the numerical study it is found
that the S a value of the system subjected to horizontal and vertical ground excitations will increase
133% of the Sa value of the system subjected to only horizontal excitation for the case of the PGA
ratio between vertical and horizontal being equal to one. For design purposes it is necessary to
consider the load ratio as well as the seismic induced PGA ratio between horizontal and vertical
ground motion for the safety of the structural system•
168 C.-H. Loh, M.-J. Ma

Acknowledgements

This research project is sponsored by China Engineering Consultants, Inc., (CECI) through Mr D.
W. Chang and the National Science Council (Taiwan, R O C ) under Grant no. NSC86-2621-P-002-024.
The authors are grateful for this support.

References

[1] Bozorgnia, Y., Niazi, M. and Campbell, K. W., Characteristics of free-field vertical ground motion during the
Northridge earthquake. Earthquake Spectra, 1995, 11(4), 515-525.
[2] Lin, Y. K. and Shih, T. Y., Column response to horizontal vertical earthquakes. Journal of the Engineering Mechanics
Division, ASCE, 1980, 106, 1099-1109.
[3] Lin, Y. K. and Shih, T. Y., Vertical seismic load effect on building response. Journal of the Engineering Mechanics
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