Selection and scaling of spectrum-compatible ground motion records using hybrid coded genetic algorithms

This paper presents a new searching framework for optimal scaling of earthquake ground motion records as inputs for dynamics analysis. Two hybrid coded genetic algorithm (GA) named real-permutation and binary-permutation GA has been effectively used to solve an applicable optimization problem in earthquake engineering. Methodologies are outlined to choose a set of ground motions- with a good level of fit to the design spectrum- and corresponding scales simultaneously during a hybrid coded process. The effects of different parameters used in design of algorithms have been investigated through the sensitively analysis to suggest a set of proper input values. Analysis showed that the sensitivity of the binary-permutation GA results to input parameters variations are less than real-permutation GA. The paper also concludes that binary-permutation GA is slightly more reliable thanreal-permutation GA, accordingly it is recommended as a suitable algorithm for selecting and scaling of spectrum-compatible ground motion records.