Seismogram Rearrangement as a Perspective Basis for Defining New Attributes

Proper regulative in earthquake risk reduction, hazard assessment, earthquake resistant design and construction of structures, should be under perpetual improvement. They are mainly the result of earthquake study and analysis of post-seismic effects. In this context, a new frame for seismogram analysis is proposed, based on its decomposition into elementary and single (positive and negative) fluctuations (EF/SF). Decomposition enables rearrangement, both providing the frame for defining new attributes, where several main ones are proposed and elaborated in the paper: fan diagram of EFs structural axes; R- or RQ-envelope, formed over positive and over negative peaks of ordered SFs; two forms of difference functions of positive and negative R/RQ-envelopes, as a measure of seismogram’s (a)symmetry, in respect to t-axis; distributions of SFs durations. Several others are in perspective. Analogy between R-envelope and seismogram’s spectrum is considered from the aspects of arranged elements, and asymptotic behavior of these two functional attributes. More objective definition of seismogram duration is proposed, determined by linear regression across the scatter plot of SFs peaks. R-envelope showed itself as an invariant in the seismogram population, and the distribution of SFs durations as well. Results are presented through extensive graphics, backed with mathematical description. Thorough discussion of the concept and results is given.