finite source simulation of near-fault strong motion records from the 1999 chi-chi, taiwan earthquake

the stochastic method for finite fault is applied to simulate near-source ground motions from the 21 september 1999, mw 7.6 chi-chi, taiwan dip-slip earthquake. we simulated accelerograms, peak ground motions, and response spectra from 35 strong motion stations within a distance of about 10 km from the ruptured fault plane. the simulations are in good agreement with the examined records. however, the stochastic predictions are better constrained at distances >1.5 km. this primarily is attributed to the significant near-fault effects at the close vicinity of the ruptured plane related to this earthquake.