Optimal intensity measures for probabilistic seismic demand modeling of extended pile-shaft-supported bridges in liquefied and laterally spreading ground

Seismic intensity measures (IMs) perform a pivotal role in probabilistic seismic demand modeling. Many studies investigated appropriate IMs for structures without considering soil liquefaction potential. In particular, optimal IMs for probabilistic seismic demand modeling of bridges in liquefied and laterally spreading ground are not comprehensively studied. In this paper, a coupled-bridge-soil-foundation model is adopted to perform an in-depth investigation of optimal IMs among 26 IMs found in the literature. Uncertainties in structural and geotechnical material properties and geometric parameters of bridges are considered in the model to produce comprehensive scenarios. Metrics such as efficiency, practicality, proficiency, sufficiency and hazard computability are assessed for different demand parameters. Moreover, an information theory based approach is adopted to evaluate the relative sufficiency among the studied IMs. Results indicate the superiority of velocity-related IMs compared to acceleration, displacement and time-related ones. In particular, Housner spectrum intensity (HI), spectral acceleration at 2.0 s (S (a-20)), peak ground velocity (PGV), cumulative absolute velocity (CAV) and its modified version (CAV (5)) are the optimal IMs. Conversely, Arias intensity (I (a) ) and shaking intensity rate (SIR) which are measures often used in liquefaction evaluation or related structural demand assessment demonstrate very low correlations with the demand parameters. Besides, the geometric parameters do not evidently affect the choice of optimal IMs. In addition, the information theory based sufficiency ranking of IMs shows an identical result to that with the correlation measure based on coefficient of determination (R (2)). This means that R (2) can be used to preliminarily assess the relative sufficiency of IMs.