Response spectra for torsion, rocking and rigid foundations

Abstract Simple procedures are proposed for computing response spectra for torsional and rocking input ground motions assuming horizontally travelling waves of constant shape. It is shown that harmonic relationships exist between the rotational spectra and the corresponding translational spectra, and that SV rather than PSV is the correct basis for deriving the angular displacement, velocity and acceleration response spectra. An approximation enabling the use of the standard tripartite logarithmic response spectra is discussed. Simple expressions for ‘accidental’ eccentricity and rocking input effects are presented. Also proposed are multipliers to spectral ordinates to account for the filtering effects of rigid base mats resting on Winkler type foundations. For wave transit times shorter than half the natural period of the structure, these multipliers can be approximated by the frequency dependent averaging coefficients given in the literature, which are dependent, however, on the response, rather than the input, frequency.