Simulating multi-component near-fault ground motion record containing pulse-like component

Abstract

Parametric models have been developed in the literature to simulate the near-fault seismic ground motion record component containing the pulse-like (PL) motion. However, the limited number of recorded records used to develop parametric models results in significant statistical uncertainty. An alternative method to simulate synthetic records with the PL component is the seed-record based approach. In this study, we propose the use of the iterative power and amplitude correction algorithm, along with three different transforms, to simulate the tri-component record containing the PL component. The approach requires a seed tri-component near-fault seismic ground motion record with the PL component. We compare the seed and simulated tri-component record in terms of the power distribution, coherence, velocity and displacement time histories, and response spectrum. The comparison is aimed at determining if the sampled record obtained using this approach can produce velocity and displacement time histories that are consistent with and have the same “natural variation and look" as the seed record. For the assessment, we treat a recorded record as a seed record. We also utilize a rotated version of the recorded record as the seed record, where one rotated record component in the horizontal plane is associated with the identified PL component. The numerical analysis results demonstrate a close match between the sampled records and the seed record in terms of velocity and displacement time histories, as well as the response spectrum and coherence characteristics.