An analytical model for approximating pulse-like near-fault ground motions

Analytical models based on trigonometric functions are used to describe the pulse-like near-fault ground motions, and Makris model is one of the typical. In this paper, the Makris model was investigated first. It is found that the pulse period obtained analytically from the peak displacement and peak velocity underestimates the predominant period of the record. A new analytical approximation model was proposed to consider the difference of maximum and minimum velocity in the main cycle of velocity time history. The model could be applied to simulate those one-cycle pulse ground motions, including the motions with forward displacement, forward-backward displacement and forward-partially backward displacement. Examples were also presented to show that the new approximation model was useful to simulate the one-cycle pulse type ground motions. © 2017, Editorial Office of Journal of Vibration and Shock. All right reserved.