Application of genetic algorithms in ground motion selection for seismic analysis

Nonlinear response-history analysis is becoming more common in the seismic analysis of structures. How to select a limited number of ground motion records is an important challenge for the response-history analysis of structures since this kind of analysis is usually time consuming. The main aim of this chapter is to explain the use of a genetic algorithm (GA) as an efficient technique in ground motion record selection. Following a brief introduction to the structural nonlinear response-history analysis, the code-conforming ground motion selection and the record selection in the performance-based earthquake engineering framework are discussed as two practical approaches in detail. The application of GA in these two approaches is explained with two simple examples.