The significance of polarisation in near-fault ground motions – A case study of February 2023 Kahramanmaras M7.7 earthquake

This article presents a comprehensive study on directivity effects and impulsive signals in near-fault ground motions, focusing on the case of the Kahramanmaraş earthquake in February 2023. The study investigates the impact of polarisation on pulse-type and non-pulse-type ground motions by computing spectral acceleration values for 180-degree rotated components. The results demonstrate that pulse-type ground motions exhibit higher spectral acceleration values and higher levels of polarisation, particularly in the period ranges close to the pulse period. The findings highlight the significance of directivity effects in seismic hazard analyses and emphasise the need for accurate assessment of directivity effects in seismic design procedures.