Time Interval Damage Potential of Seismic Testing Waveforms

Abstract

The concept of time interval response spectrum is introduced for characterizing the damage potential or the likelihood of a waveform to cause multiple mode response. By modifying slightly a typical response spectrum calculation routine the Weighted Spectrum Mean (WSM) is determined by evaluating the area under a normalized spectrum curve. A more detailed delineation of the response peaks statistics of simple oscillators results in the development of a Damage Potential Index (DPI). Both WSM and DPI are utilized to quantify damage potential for a variety of waveforms including free field motion and recorded testing motions. The results suggest that a useful tool has been established with only a small added effort to help design, predict, or analyze the damage potential of testing waveforms for seismic operability qualification of equipment.