[1] The ground motion data of the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan, earthquake exhibit a striking difference in frequency content between the north and south portions of the rupture zone. In the north, the ground motion is dominated by large lowfrequency displacements with relatively small high-frequency accelerations. The pattern is opposite in the south,with smaller displacements and larger accelerations...

To estimate the fault dimension of an earthquake in real time, we present a methodology to classify seismic records into near-source or far-source records. Characteristics of ground motion, such as peak ground acceleration, have a strong correlation with the distance from a fault rupture for large earthquakes. This study analyzes peak ground motions and finds the function that best classifies n...

The Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008 is the most destructive earthquake in China in the past 30 years in terms of property damage and human losses. In order to understand the earthquake process and the geo-morphological factors affecting the seismic hazard, we simulated the strong ground motion caused by the earthquake, incorporating three-dimensional (3D) earth structure, finite-fault ruptur...

In this paper a simple model of a three story building with inclined first-story columns has presented. The stories are supposed to be rigid and are connected to axially rigid mass less columns by elasto-plastic rotational springs and linear rotational dampers. The considered model is subjected to horizontal component of fault normal pulse with different magnitudes and the governed nonlinear di...

This paper presents a practical methodology for optimization of concentrically braced steel frames subjected to forward directivity near-fault ground motions, based on the concept of uniform deformation theory. This is performed by gradually shifting inefficient material from strong parts of the structure to the weak areas until a state of uniform deformation is achieved. In this regard, to ove...

Many researches have been currently conducted on the effects of fault distance on structures revealing that their seismic response can differ according to their distance from the fault. Suspension bridges due to their long period and high flexibility can be more sensitive to this phenomenon, especially in vertical vibration. Since the engineers tend to use longer spans, the length factor should...

ground vibrations during an earthquake can severely damage structures and equipments housed in them. many factors including earthquake magnitude, distance from the fault or epicenter, duration of strong shaking, soil condition of the site, and the frequency content of the motion define the properties of ground motion and its amplification. a deep understanding of the effects of these factors on...

Natural fault surfaces exhibit roughness at all scales, with root-mean-square height fluctuations of order 10−3 to 10−2 times the profile length. We study earthquake rupture propagation on such faults, using strongly rate-weakening fault friction and offfault plasticity. Inelastic deformation bounds stresses to reasonable values and prevents fault opening. Stress perturbations induced by slip o...