Variability and Uncertainty in Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis for the Island of Montreal

The current seismic design process for structures in Montreal is based on the 2005 edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC 2005) which is based on a hazard level corresponding to a probability of exceedence of 2% in 50 years. The code is based on the Uniform Hazard Spectrum (UHS) and deaggregation values obtained by Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) modified version of F-RISK software and were obtained by a process that did not formally consider epistemic uncertainty. Epistemic uncertainty is related to the uncertainty in model formulation. A seismological model consists of seismic sources (source geometry, source location, recurrence rate, magnitude distribution, and maximum magnitude) and a Ground-Motion Prediction Equation (GMPE). In general, and particularly Montreal, GMPEs are the main source of epistemic uncertainty with respect to other variables of seismological the model. The objective of this thesis is to use CRISIS software to investigate the effect of epistemic uncertainty on probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) products like the UHS and deaggregation values by incorporating different new GMPEs.;The epsilon "epsilon" parameter is also discussed which represents the departure of the target ground motion from that predicted by the GMPE as it is not very well documented in Eastern Canada. A method is proposed to calculate epsilon values for Montreal relative to a given GMPE and to calculate robust weighted modal epsilon values when epistemic uncertainty is considered. Epsilon values are commonly used in seismic performance evaluations for identifying design events and selecting ground motion records for vulnerability and liquefaction studies. A brief overview of record epsilons is also presented which accounts for the spectral shape of the ground motion time history is also presented.