Minimum magnitude boundaries in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis: an insight from structural engineering

Abstract In order to systematically advance our understanding of the minimum magnitude limit (Mmin) in Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) calculations, a novel and useful approach utilising a broad range of Single-Degree-of-Freedom (SDOF) oscillators and hazard conditions is being developed and tested. We have determined the most reasonable Mmin value for a variety of structure groups by examining the impact of Mmin on the Mean Annual Frequency (MAF) of various limit states (including the collapse capacity). The originality of the suggested methodology in the current work, known as the MAF saturation strategy, is the recommended Mmin, which is the cut-off value at which lesser magnitude events do add to the hazard but do not significantly change the MAF. The current work is the first to offer the MAF saturation strategy methodology, which searches for the cut-off magnitude at which the MAF value essentially remains constant even when smaller values of this cut-off are utilised as Mmin for hazard assessments. Therefore, given a series of carefully chosen ground motions in each oscillator instance, an Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) is carried out (by applying the Hunt and Fill algorithm), and the appropriate LS (including the collapse capacity defined as global instability) points are calculated. Thus, the relationship between the distribution of LSs and the Engineering Demand Parameter (EDP) and Intensity Measure (IM) is found. The hazard curve can convoluted with this distribution, yielding the structure-specific MAF. In order to find the cut-off lower magnitude (Mmin), this convolution is repeated for several Mmin values. This cut-off is defined as the point at which, when lower values are utilised as Mmin in the PSHA computation, the MAF's values do not change considerably (with a five per cent threshold). The acquired data were thoroughly discussed in relation to various structural features and seismic input factors.