Seismic Zonation and Default Suite of Ground-Motion Records for Time-History Analysis in the North Island of New Zealand

Abstract A seismic zonation to be used in the selection of ground-motion records for time-history analysis of buildings in the North Island of New Zealand is presented. Both deaggregations of the probabilistic seismic hazard model and the seismological characteristics of the expected ground motions at different locations were considered in order to define the zonation. A profile of the records expected to apply within each zone according to the identified hazard scenarios is presented and suites of records are proposed for each zone, based on region-wide criteria, to be used in time-history analysis in the absence of site specific studies. A solution for structures with fundamental periods of between 0.4 and 2.0 seconds is proposed, considering a 500-year return period and two common site classes (C and D, according to the New Zealand Loadings Standard).