IMPORTANCE OF SEVERE PULSE-TYPE GROUND MOTIONS IN PERFORMANCE-BASED ENGINEERING: HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL REVIEW

A historical review of the recorded earthquake ground motions, EQGMs, that contain severe pulses and of the studies that have been conducted regarding the effects of these pulses on the seismic performance of buildings is carried out. The studies conducted in the 1970's and 1980's indicate clearly that there were recorded EQGMs with severe acceleration pulses which were critical for the design of structures in which significant inelastic behavior (ductility) was acceptable.