Seismic Structural Resonance Observation Based on Recent Estimation of Earthquake Predominant Frequency

Resonance is currently more of a mechanical engineering concept than a civil engineering one. This is because in earthquake engineering or science, there has not been one definitive predominant frequency of seismic action, which is something that the resonance concept requires: at least one excitation frequency should predominate. In fact, a literature review on seismic structural resonance indicates that the subject has not been studied much. Recently, however, when the seismic spectral analysis focus is shifted—disruptively—from the common acceleration to displacement, clear predominant periods of near-field earthquake records have been observed and published. Now, based on these new and clear seismic predominant frequencies, the objective of this paper is to verify and experience clear structural resonance in linear multiple-degrees-of-freedom building models. Clear resonant structural response will be defined as evident amplification in the global deformation (top-floor relative displacement) spectrum; moreover, an additional hypothesis is that these amplifications would occur near the novel earthquake predominant frequencies.