Probability density evolution analysis of a shear-wall structure under stochastic ground motions by shaking table test

In this study, the accurate dynamic response analysis and dynamic reliability assessment upon a 12-storey shear-wall structure induced by stochastic seismic excitations are implemented through shaking table test combined with the probability density evolution method. To generate the stochastic seismic excitations, this study decomposes the ground motion process as a superposition of two contributions: the first one is a fully non-stationary counterpart modeled by a known evolutionary power spectrum using the dimension-reduction spectral representation; the second one is a corrective term adjusting the first counterpart in order to make it spectrum compatible. Through this treatment, the dimension-reduction simulation of the non-stationary stochastic ground motion processes satisfying the provision imposed by certain seismic codes is accomplished. Making the generated stochastic ground motion processes as the input stimulus of the shaking table test, the stochastic dynamic response analysis and the dynamic reliability assessment of the structural components as well as the whole shear-wall structure can then be carried out adopting the probability density evolution method. The typical studies sufficiently demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method and provide a powerful reference for the reliability-based seismic optimization design with regard to the cast-in-place high-rise shear-wall structures. •Dimension reduction of ground motions compatible with seismic code is realized.•The shaking table test is excited by stochastic ground motions.•The probability density evolution method is adopted in the shaking table test.•The accurate probability density evolution of the model structure are implemented.