Designing to the Strongest Ground Motions determines the strongest ground motions from data, rather than predictions, and discusses the design of structures to withstand the strongest ground motions. Future ground motions are highly uncertain, but the response of structures to future ground motions will not be uncertain if structures are designed to the strongest ground motions. Uncertainty is not an option in the design of structures whose collapse can be catastrophic.

Topics include

• Characteristics of collapse-inducing ground motions, including energy-demand and cyclic-demand,
• Strongest ground motions from > 200,000 instrument-year of recorded data worldwide,
• Comparison between predicted and recorded ground motions,
• Seismic characteristics and analysis of structures, including seismic-toughness and cyclic-capacity,
• Practical nonlinear analysis of structures,
• Role of aftershocks and number of cycles in seismic design, and
• Collapse-proof, rather than collapse resistant, seismic design.

Through this book, Dr. Malhotra provides valuable insights and new ways of thinking for structural and geotechnical engineers, architects, seismologists, insurers, regulators, educators, and policymakers.