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This paper presents a new clustering procedure based on K-means and self-organizing map (SOM) network algorithms for classification of earthquake ground-motion records. Six scalar indicators are used in data analysis for describing the frequency content features of earthquake ground motions, named as the average spectral period ( T ), the mean period ( T ), the smoothed spectral predominant period ( T ), the characteristic period ( T ), the predominant period based on velocity spectrum ( T ), and the shape factor (Ω). Different clustering validity indexes were applied to determine the best estimates of the number of clusters on real and synthetic data. Results showed the high performance of proposed procedure to reveal salient features of complex seismic data. The comparison between the results of clustering analyses recommend the smoothed spectral predominant period as an effective indicator to describe ground-motion classes. The results also showed that K-means algorithm has better performance than SOM algorithm in identification and classification procedure of ground-motion records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the development of new and simple empirical models for frequency content prediction of ground-motion records to resolve the assumed limitations on the useable magnitude range of previous studies. Three period values are used in the analysis for describing the frequency content of earthquake ground-motions named as the average spectral period ( T), the mean period ( T), and the smoothed spectral predominant period ( T). The proposed models could predict these scalar indicators as function of magnitude, closest site-to-source distance and local site condition. Three site classes as rock, stiff soil, and soft soil has been considered in the analysis. The results of the proposed relationships have been compared with those of other published models. It has been found that the resulting regression equations can be used to predict scalar frequency content estimators over a wide range of magnitudes including magnitudes below 5.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]