One-Dimensional Dynamic Ground Response Analyses

The earthquake response analyses of six horizontally layered sites have been performed by means of the equivalent linear method of analysis and two non-linear methods using the method of characteristics and the finite element approach. The agreement between the equivalent linear method and the non-linear methods was found to be good in terms of the distributions of maximum accelerations and dynamic shear stresses for all the cases studied. Differences between the two types of approaches could be found for some sites between the spectral shapes of the computed surface motions.