Site Amplification Functions for Central and Eastern North America – Part I: Simulation Data Set Development

This paper presents the development of large‐scale simulation‐based data sets used to inform new site amplification models for Central and Eastern North America (CENA). Linear elastic, equivalent linear, and nonlinear one‐dimensional site response simulations of site conditions in CENA are employed. An analysis tree is introduced to capture the range of expected CENA geologic conditions. Independent variables include the following: (1) representative and random shear wave velocity ( V S ) profiles using data from the literature; (2) randomized, nonlinear shear modulus reduction and damping vs. shear strain curves with constraint on soil shear strength; and (3) outcrop ground motions representative of the V S = 3,000 m/s CENA reference rock condition. The resulting database of 1,747,278 simulations is conditioned on several parameters relevant to site amplification, which facilitates model development that is the subject of a companion paper. The database is openly available for use by other researchers.