JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

Pretell, R., Brandenberg, S.J., and Stewart, J.P. “Ground motion intensity measures at liquefaction field case history sites.” In review.

11. Buckreis, T.E., Nweke, C.C., Wang, P., Brandenberg, S.J., Ramos-Sepulveda, M.E., Shams, R., Pretell, R., Mazzoni, S., Zimmaro, P., and Stewart, J.P. (2025). “A global Application Programming Interface-enabled earthquake ground motion relational database for engineering applications.” Earthquake Spectra. https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930251344978. Open access.

10. Pretell, R., Ziotopoulou, K., Watson-Lamprey, J.A., Sinha, S. K., and Zekkos, D. (2025). “Double convolution methodology for developing input ground motions for site response and nonlinear dynamic analyses.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 151(9): 04025097. https://doi.org/10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-12499.

9. Moss, R.E.S., Altunel, E., Bassal, P., Bray, J.B., Buckreis, T., Cetin, O.K., Clahan, K., Duman, E., Frost, D., Hashash, Y., Koehler, R.D., Kozaci, O., Lozano, J.M., Macedo, J., Moug, D., Nichols, E., Pehlivan, M., Pretell, R., Stewart, J.P., Ulmer, K., and Yildirim, C. (2025). “Geotechnical and geological reconnaissance observations of the February 6^th 2023 Türkiye Earthquakes.” Earthquake Spectra 41(1): 219–248. https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930241281007.

8. Liou, I., Abrahamson, N.A., and Pretell, R. (2024). “Approaches to soil hazard in partially non-ergodic ground motion models.” Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 114 (6): 3158–3170. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120230316.

7. Buckreis, T.E., Pretell, R., Askan, A., Sandikkaya, M.A., Kale, O., Brandenberg, S.J., and Stewart J.P. (2024). “Engineering attributes of ground motions from February 2023 Türkiye Earthquake Event Sequence.” Earthquake Spectra 40(4): 2268–2284. Special Issue: 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, Earthquake. https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930241259024. Open access.

6. Brandenberg, S.J., and Pretell, R. (2024). “Evaluating epistemic uncertainty from random variables at the terminal branches of a logic tree.” Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering 10(3): 06024003. https://doi.org/10.1061/AJRUA6.RUENG-1267.

5. Pretell, R., Abrahamson, N.A., and Ziotopoulou, K. (2023). “A borehole array data-based approach for conducting 1D site response analyses II: Accounting for modeling errors.” Earthquake Spectra 39(3): 1502–1533. https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930231173443. Open access.

4. Pretell, R., Abrahamson, N.A., and Ziotopoulou, K. (2023). “A borehole array data-based approach for conducting 1D site response analyses I: Damping and V_S randomization.” Earthquake Spectra 39(3): 1473–1501. https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930231173445. Open access.

3. Pretell, R., Ziotopoulou, K., and Abrahamson, N.A. (2022). “Conducting 1D site response analyses to capture 2D V_S spatial variability effects.” Earthquake Spectra 38(3): 2235–2259. https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930211069400.

2. Basu, D., Pretell, R., Montgomery, J., and Ziotopoulou, K. (2022). “Investigation of key issues in simulating centrifuge model tests of a sheet-pile wall retaining a liquefiable soil deposit.” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 156(2022): 107243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2022.107243.

1. Pretell, R., Ziotopoulou, K., and Davis, C.A. (2021). “Liquefaction and cyclic softening at Balboa Blvd. during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 147(2): 05020014. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002417.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Pretell, R., Katuwal, S., Huaman, A., and Motamed, R. “Assessing analytical solutions for vertical site response: Insights from the Service Hall Array.” In: Proceedings of the 13^th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Portland, OR, July 13-17, 2026. In review.

Numanoglu, O.A., and Pretell, R. “Three-dimensional finite element simulation of a soil-structure system using double convolution-based input ground motions.” In: Proceedings of the 13^th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Portland, OR, July 13-17, 2026. In review.

23. Katuwal, S., and Pretell, R. “Site response for nearly vertical incident P and SV waves.” In: Proceedings of GeoCongress 2026. Salt Lake City, UT, March 9-12, 2026. Accepted.

22. Numanoglu, O. A., Pretell, R., and Hutabarat, D. “Seismic settlement analysis of Nihal Atakaş Mosque: A comparison of field observations, empirical and semi-empirical estimates, and 3D seismic soil-structure interaction simulation results.” In: Proceedings of GeoCongress 2026. Salt Lake City, UT, March 9-12, 2026. Accepted.

21. Pretell, R., Brandenberg, S. J., Stewart, J. P., Gingery, J. R., and Zafir, Z. (2025). “Relationship between factors of safety against liquefaction triggering and liquefaction effects on ground motions.” In: Proceedings of GeoExtreme 2025. Long beach, CA, November 2-5, 2025. Accepted.

20. Katuwal, S., Pretell, R., Bayless, J. R., Motamed, R., and Abrahamson N. A. (2025). “Toward advancing ground motion model predictions for the Sierras region in Eastern Calfornia.” 2025 Seminar on Utilization Strong-Motion Data. Sacramento, CA.

19. Katuwal, S., and Pretell, R. (2025). “Numerical assessment of Vs profile gradient as a site response predictor.” In: Proceedings of Geotechnical Frontiers 2025. Louisville, KY, March 2-5, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784485996.032.

18. Numanoglu, O., Pretell, R., Akkaya, S., and Taukoor, V. (2025). “Seismic settlement evaluation of the Nihal Atakas Mosque after the 2023 Kahramanmaras Turkiye Earthquakes.” In: Proceedings of the Geotechnical Frontiers 2025. Louisville, KY, March 2-5, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784485996.041.

17. Numanoglu, O., Pretell, R., Acar, M., Erinmez, S., and Baser, T. (2024). “Comparison of measured and estimated seismic settlements of three buildings and their surroundings at the coastal areas of Iskenderun in 2023, Kahramanmaras earthquakes.” In: Proceedings of the 18^th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Milan, Italy, June 30-July 5, 2024.

16. Buckreis, T., Nweke, C.C., Wang, P., Brandenberg, S.J., Shams, R., Ramos-Sepúlveda, M.A., Pretell, R., Mazzoni, S., Stewart, J.P. (2024). “User-interaction with a web-served global ground motion relational database.” In: Proceedings of the 18^th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Milan, Italy, June 30-July 5, 2024.

15. Buckreis, T.E., Pretell, R., Sandikkaya, M.A., Kale, O., Askan, A., Brandenberg, S.J., and Stewart, J.P. (2024) “February 6, 2023 Türkiye Earthquakes: Ground motions.” In: Proceedings of the 8^th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering. Osaka, Japan.

14. Pretell, R., Brandenberg, S.J., Stewart, J.P. (2024). “Consistent framework for PGA estimation at liquefaction case history sites: Application to the 1989 M6.9 Loma Prieta Earthquake.” In: Proceedings of Geo-Congress 2024. Vancouver, Canada, February 25-28, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784485316.018.

13. Pretell, R., Ziotopoulou, K., and Abrahamson, N.A. (2022). “Numerical investigation of V_S spatial variability effects on the seismic response estimated using 2D and 1D site response analyses.” In: Proceedings of GeoCongress 2022. Charlotte, NC, March 20–23, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784484043.020.

12. Pretell, R., Ziotopoulou, K., and Davis, C.A. (2022). “Parametric investigation of ground failure at Balboa Boulevard during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake via nonlinear deformation analyses.” In: Proceedings of Lifelines 2021. Los Angeles, CA. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784484449.022.

11. Ziotopoulou, K., Davis, C.A., and Pretell, R. (2022). “Investigation of water pipeline failures at Balboa Blvd. during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.” In: Proceedings of the Lifelines 2021. Los Angeles, CA, January 31-February 11, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784484449.032.

10. Pretell, R., Sinha, S.K., Ziotopoulou, K., Watson-Lamprey, J.A., and Zekkos, D. (2021). “Broadening the utilization of CSMIP data: Double convolution methodology towards developing input motions for site response and nonlinear deformation analyses.” 2021 Seminar on Utilization Strong-Motion Data. Sacramento, CA.

9. Pretell, R., Humire, F., and Ziotopoulou, K. (2020). “On the performance of two advanced constitutive models in capturing the element response of tailings.” In: Proceedings of the Tailings and Mine Waste 2020. Keystone, CO, Nobember 15-18.

8. Pretell, R., Ziotopoulou, K., and Abrahamson, N.A. (2019). “Methodology for the development of input motions for nonlinear deformation analyses.” In: Proceedings of the 7^th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering (7ICEGE). Rome, Italy, June 17-20. Accessible here.

7. Pretell, R., and Aguilar, Z. (2016). “Seismic assessment of the Costa Verde cliffs in Lima.” In: Proceedings of the 1^st World Engineering Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WECDRR). Lima, Peru.

6. Pretell, A.R., and Meneses, J.F. (2016). “Development of spectrum-compatible ground motions: a practitioner’s perspective.” In: Proceedings of the 6^th International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (ICRAGEE). Greater Noida, India.

5. Olaya, F.R., Pretell, A.R., and Luna, R. (2016). “Liquefaction and stability evaluation of a thickened tailings slope based on field and laboratory testing.” In: Proceedings of the 19^th Int. Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings. Santiago, Chile, July 5-8, 2016.

4. Pretell, R., and Dismuke, J. (2016). “Comparison of simplified and detailed analyses for assessment of dynamic displacement of a centerline tailings dam.” In: Proceedings of the 4^th Itasca Symposium Applied to Numerical Modeling. Lima, Peru, March 7-9, 2016.

3. Pretell, A.R., and Aguilar, Z. (2015). “Seismic microzonation of Pisco City and San Clemente, Túpac Amaru, San Andrés, and Paracas districts.” In: Proceedings of the 6^th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering (6ICEGE). Christchurch, New Zealand, November 1-5, 2015.

2. Pretell, A.R., and Aguilar, Z. (2012). “Microzonificación geotécnica sísmica para el ámbito de la ciudad de Pisco, San Clemente, Túpac Amaru, San Andrés y Paracas.” In: Proceedings of the 16^th Peruvian Congress of Geology & SEG Conference. Lima, Peru, September 23-26, 2012.

1. Borja, R. N., Pretell, A.R., and Parra, D. (2012). “Comparación de curvas de módulo de corte con resultados triaxiales cíclicos y análisis de respuesta sísmica.” In: Proceedings of the 20^th National Congress of Civil Engineering and 8^th International Congress of Civil Engineering. Huaraz, Peru, August, 2012.

SOFTWARE

Find some example applications here.

Pretell, R., and Brandenberg, S. (2023). separability_index: A suite of tools to assess the separability of two datasets (0.1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10404856.

Pretell, R. (2023). geostats: A suite of geostatistical tools (0.1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10253691.

Pretell, R. (2024). gmKriger: A Kriging-based ground motion intensity measure calculator (0.2.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10691892.

Pretell, R. (2023). gmms: Ground motion models and supporting tools (0.1.1). Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10397816.

Pretell, R. (2025). gmimtools: A suite of ground motion intensity measure tools (0.2.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14995401.

DATASETS

6. Buckreis, T., Nweke, C., Wang, P., Brandenberg, S., Ramos-Sepúlveda, M., Shams, R., Mohammed, S., Pretell, R., Mazzoni, S., Zimmaro, P., and Stewart, J. (2025). Archive of an Earthquake Ground Motion Relational Database (GMDB) for Engineering Applications. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-w0zm-y670.

5. Pretell, R., Buckreis, T., Brandenberg, S., and Stewart, J. (2024). Spatial correlation models for ground motion intensity measures of the 2023 Türkiye-Syria Earthquakes. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-27yr-5m86.

4. Pretell, R., Ziotopoulou, K., Watson-Lamprey, J., Sinha, S., and Zekkos, D. (2023). Acceleration time series at depth for 21 seismic stations in California: Application of the double convolution methodology. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-wpfr-4v13.

3. Pretell, R., Brandenberg, S., and Stewart, J. (2023). Consistently computed ground motion intensity measures for liquefaction triggering assessment. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-6vj1-t096.

2. Buckreis, T., Güryuva, B., İçen, A., Okcu, O., Altindal, A., Aydin, M., Pretell, R., Sandikkaya, S., Kale, O., Askan, A., Brandenberg, S., Kishida, T., Akkar, S., Bozorgnia, Y., and Stewart, J. (2023). Ground Motion Data from the 2023 Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Sequence. DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-t115-bk16.

1. Mosalam, K., Abuchar, V., Archbold, J., Arteta, C., Fischer, E., Gunay, S., Hakhamaneshi, M., Hassan, W., Micheli, L., Muin, S., Pajaro Miranda, C., Pretell Ductram, A., Peng, H., Robertson, I., Roueche, D., Ziotopoulou, K. (2019). StEER - M6.4 and M7.1 Ridgecrest, CA Earthquakes on July 4-5, 2019: Preliminary Virtual Reconnaissance Report (PVRR). DesignSafe-CI. https://doi.org/10.17603/ds2-xqfh-1631.

DISSERTATION/THESIS

2. Pretell Ductram, A. R. (2022). Accounting for V_S spatial variability and modeling errors in 1D site response analyses. Ph.D. dissertation, University of California Davis, CA, United States.

1. Pretell Ductram, A. R. (2014). Microzonificación sísmica para el ámbito de la ciudad de Pisco, y distritos de San Clemente, Túpac Amaru, San Andrés y Paracas. B.S. thesis, National University of Engineering (UNI), Lima, Peru.

REPORTS

11. Lee, J., Bastias, N., Katuwal, S., Cabas, A., Pretell, R., and Montalva, G. (2025). Understanding the performance of ground motion models in megathrust tectonic environments. CRESCENT Open Documents Library. [https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17180284){:target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”}. Accessible here.

10. Pretell, R., Brandenberg, S. J., and Stewart, J. P. (2024). Ground motion intensity measures at liquefaction field case history sites. Report submitted to CALTRANS. GIRS-2024-02. https://doi.org/10.34948/N35K59. Accessible here.

9. Ulmer K.J., Hudson K.S., Brandenberg S.J., Zimmaro P., Pretell R., Carlton B., Kramer S.L., and Stewart J.P. (2024). Next Generation Liquefaction Models for Susceptibility, Triggering, and Manifestation. Prepared for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), RIL 2024-13. ML24268A229.

8. Pretell, R., Ziotopoulou, K., Sinha, S. K., Watson-Lamprey, J. A., and Zekkos, D. (2023). Broadening the utilization of CSMIP data: Double convolution methodology towards developing input motions for site response and nonlinear deformation analyses. Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP). Sacramento, CA.

7. Ulmer, K. J., Hudson, K. S., Brandenberg, S. J., Zimmaro, P., Pretell, R., Carlton, B., Kramer, S. L., and Stewart, J. P. (2023). Task 7B: Draft final report documenting probabilistic liquefaction models. Prepared for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

6. Buckreis, T. E., Güryuva, B., Içen, A., Okçu, O., Altindal, A., Aydin, M., Pretell, R., Sandikkaya, A., Kale, Ö., Askan, A., Brandenberg, S. J., Kishida, T., Akkar, S., Cetin, Ö., Bozorgnia, Y., Stewart, J. P. (2023). February 6, 2023, Türkiye Earthquakes: Report on Geoscience and Engineering Impacts. Chapter 3: Ground motions. Geotechnical Extreme Event Reconnaissance (GEER) Association.

5. Basu, D., Pretell, R., Montgomery, J., and Ziotopoulou, K. (2021). LEAP 2020 Simulation Exercise Phase II: Type B Prediction of Centrifuge Experiments. Report and prediction results. Liquefaction Experiments and Analysis Projects (LEAP).

4. Pretell, R., Ziotopoulou, K., and Watson-Lamprey, J.A. (2021). Broadening the utilization of CSMIP data: Double convolution methodology towards developing input motions for site response and nonlinear deformation analyses. Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP). Sacramento, CA.

3. Montgomery, J., Ziotopoulou, K., Basu, D., and Pretell, R. (2020). LEAP 2020 Simulation Exercise Phase I: Model Calibration. Report and calibration results. Liquefaction Analyses and Experiments Projects (LEAP).

2. Mosalam, K., Abuchar, V., Archbold, J., Arteta, C., Fisher, E., Gunay, S., Hakhamaneshi, M., Hassan, W., Micheli, L., Muin, S., Pajaro Miranda, C., Pretell Ductram, A.R., Peng., H., Robertson, I., Roueche, D., Ziotopoulou, K. (2019). STEER – M6.4 and M7.1 Ridgecrest, CA Earthquake on July 4-5, 2019: Preliminary Virtual Reconnaissance Report (PVRR). DesignSafe-CI, Dataset, 10.17603/DS2MQ38.

1. Mosalam, K., Kijewski-Correa, T., Hassan, W., Archbold, J., Marshall, J., Mavroeidis, G., Muin, S. Mulchandani, H., Peng, H., Pretell Ductram, A.R., Prevatt, D., Robertson, I. and Roueche, D. (2018). STEER – EERI Alaska earthquake: Preliminary virtual assessment team (P-VAT) joint report. DesignSafe-CI, Dataset, 10.17603/ds2-xqfh-1631.