Response of multi-span beams to spatially incoherent seismic ground motions

The response of continuous two- and three-span beams of various lengths subjected to spatially varying seismic ground motions is evaluated. Stochastic representations of the seismic ground motions are used as input at the supports of the structures, and sensitivity analyses of the response with respect to the degree of correlation between the support motions are performed. The results indicate that fully correlated motions may produce higher or lower response than partially correlated motions