Uncertainties in long-period ground motion and its impact on building structural design: Case study of the 2011 Tohoku (Japan) earthquake

On March 11, 2011, Japan was shaken by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake (the Great East Japan Earthquake). This paper reports some aspects of this earthquake related to long-period ground motions and its impact on building structural design. It was reported that long-period ground motions were induced extensively in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. The response of high-rise buildings to the recorded ground motions during this earthquake and the simulated ground motions provided by the Japanese Government is discussed from the viewpoint of resonance and critical excitation. The main topics of this paper are (i) the investigations on uncertainties in long-period ground motions (uncertainty in predominant frequency, duration and amplitude) and (ii) its impact on structural design of super high-rise buildings. It is shown finally that the earthquake input energy and its bound analysis lead to clearer understanding of the effect of long-period ground motion on building structural design.

► Response of high-rise buildings to long-period ground motions is quite controversial. ► The long-period ground motions were induced during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. ► The criticality and uncertainty in the long-period ground motions are investigated. ► The mechanism of increase of credible bound on input energy is disclosed. ► Input duration lengthening and structural damping decrease are key parameters.