AbstractThe paper examines the effect on the structural response of the inevitable correlation which exists between the six earthquake components acting along a set of structural axes. The rotational components are expressed in terms of the spatial derivatives of the translational components. For the calculation of response, modal analysis is employed so that ground response spectra can also be used as seismic input. A methodology is developed to obtain the maximum mean square response which can occur in a structure, irrespective of its orientation with respect to the impinging seismic waves. The application of this methodology for the calculation of design response is advocated, especially for asymmetric structures. For the assumed model of seismic wave motion, the numerical results show a significant contribution to the response from the rotational components. This contribution is, however, expected to be reduced by structural foundation averaging and interaction effects. Further studies with more complete models of seismic wave motions, and their interaction with structural foundations, are thus warranted for a realistic evaluation and characterization of the rotational inputs for design purposes.