Effects of pulse-like ground motions and wavelet asymmetry on responses of cantilever retaining wall

Fault-rupture processes produce pulse-like ground motions in near-fault regions. These motions are characterized as large-amplitude long-period pulsing that can cause severe structural damage. This study investigates their effect on cantilever retaining wall responses through finite-difference-based numerical simulations. We collect a suite of large-amplitude ground motions which are classified into pulse-like, non-pulse-like, and ambiguous using a pulse indicator. It turns out that relative wall movements by pulse- and non-pulse-like motions are not particularly different. Instead, relative wall movement is highly affected by ground motion Arias intensity, regardless of motion type. Additional simulations using original and reversed ground motion assess the effect of wavelet asymmetry (the ratio of peak amplitudes or energy values in wavelet positive and negative directions) on the wall response. Ground motion asymmetric to the wall movement direction generates larger wall displacement than ground motion asymmetric opposite to the wall movement direction. Relative wall displacements differ by up to approximately 46% depending on the direction of ground motion against the wall movement. •Responses of a cantilever retaining wall are studied by numerical simulations.•Pulse-like, non-pulse-like, and ambiguous ground motions are used as input motions.•Arias intensity of ground motions strongly controls the relative wall movement.•RWDs by pulse-like and non-pulse-like motions are not particularly different.•Wavelet asymmetry of acceleration and velocity time histories affects the permanent RWD.