1

1 Lecture 9: Construction of Response Spectra

1.1 Construction of Response Spectra

The response spectrum for a given ground motion component (e.g., a (t)) is developed using the following
steps:

(1) Obtain the ground motion (a (t)) for an earthquake. Typically the acceleration values should be defined
at time steps of 0.02 second, or less.

(2) Select the natural vibration period, 𝑇𝑛 , and damping ratio, 𝜉 , for SDOF system. (Usually 5 percent
damping is selected.)

(3) Determine the maximum displacement response for a SDOF structure with the selected percent
damping for a given period or frequency of vibration.

To do this, we must solve the following differential equation

𝑚𝑥̈ + 𝑐𝑥̇ + 𝑘𝑥 = 𝐹(𝑡)

Solution of above equation can be

(a) Closed form solution (linear systems)

Solution is only valid for initial conditions at rest

(b) Duhamel’s integral (linear systems)

Based on treating the periodic motion as a series of short impulses

(c) Frequency Domain method (linear systems)

Fourier transform

Inverse Fourier transform

(d) Numerical methods (linear and nonlinear systems)

Numerical time stepping methods (Newmark’s β method, Wilson-θ method etc.)

(4) Repeat step 3 and vary the fundamental period of the structure by changing the mass (m), the stiffness
(k), or both. Plot the new results.

CE-445N Elements of Earthquake and Wind Engineering Dr. Moonis Zaheer

 2

(5) Calculate the other pseudo spectral velocity values using:

𝑉 = 𝜔𝐷

(6) Calculate the pseudo acceleration response values from:

Maximum Pseudo Acceleration (g)

𝐴 = 𝜔2 𝐷

It is common to express 𝐴 in units of𝑔, thus:

𝐴(𝑖𝑛 𝑔) = 𝜔2 𝐷⁄𝑔

Example: To create a displacement response spectrum from Earthquake record of Imperial Valley El
Centro earthquake

First linear analysis

m = 100 kips; k = 100 kips / in; c = 5 percent of critical damping

Earthquake record is Imperial Valley El Centro Record; Period = 0.32 s, f = 3.13 Hz, w = 19.65 rad/s

Maximum displacement = 0.700 inches

Second linear analysis

m = 100 kips; k = 50 kips / in; c = 5 percent of critical damping

Earthquake record is Imperial Valley El Centro Record; Period = 0.45 s, f = 2.21 Hz, w = 13.89 rad/s

Maximum displacement = 1.677 inches

Third linear analysis

m = 100 kips; k = 25 kips / in; c = 5 percent of critical damping

Earthquake record is Imperial Valley El Centro Record; Period = 0.64 s, f = 1.56 Hz, w = 9.82 rad/s

Maximum displacement = 3.051 inches

Fourth linear analysis

m = 100 kips; k = 200 kips / in; c = 5 percent of critical damping

CE-445N Elements of Earthquake and Wind Engineering Dr. Moonis Zaheer

 3

Earthquake record is Imperial Valley El Centro Record; Period = 0.23 s, f = 4.42 Hz, w = 27.79 rad/s

Maximum displacement = 0.359 inches

Fifth linear analysis

m = 100 kips; k = 400 kips / in; c = 5 percent of critical damping

Earthquake record is Imperial Valley El Centro Record; Period = 0.16 s, f = 6.25 Hz, w = 39.30 rad/s

Maximum displacement = 0.135 inches

Sixth linear analysis

m = 100 kips; k = 1000 kips / in; c = 5 percent of critical damping

Earthquake record is Imperial Valley El Centro Record; Period = 0.10 s, f =0.259 Hz, w = 62.14 rad/s

Maximum displacement = 0.056 inches

CE-445N Elements of Earthquake and Wind Engineering Dr. Moonis Zaheer