###### Abstract  
Using numerical simulations, this study investigated the seismic response of concrete dams when subjected to near-fault obliquely incident P waves. For comparison, several near-fault pulse-like movements with different motion parameters were selected and decomposed into non-pulse residual components. A seismic input procedure for P wave oblique incidence was developed and verified based on the viscous-spring artificial boundary theory. A finite element model of a concrete dam system was used for nonlinear time history analyses. The damage and displacement responses were analyzed under pulse-like and non-pulse motions with incident angles varying from \(-90^{\circ}\) to \(90^{\circ}\). The response differences induced by the pulse characteristics incident direction were examined. The relationship between the seismic parameters and response indices was also determined to obtain the optimal seismic parameter describing the variation under different incident conditions. Moreover, the coupled effect of the pulse feature and oblique incidence on the dynamic response and seismic behavior was examined. Finally, a nonlinear three-dimensional predictive model was proposed based on the optimal seismic parameter \(S_{a}(T_{1})\) and incident angle, exhibiting high correlation and accuracy. The results demonstrated that incident angles between \(60^{\circ}\) and \(75^{\circ}\) (with higher spectral acceleration values) intensified the dam damage and vibration when subjected to the oblique near-fault P waves, a crucial discovery for improving the seismic design and safety measure of concrete dams located in regions prone to near-fault seismic hazards. a pacs: 15 June 2025 16 June 2025  
search into the seismic performance of concrete dams located in NF regions has become increasingly important. NF ground motion exhibits distinct characteristics compared to standard earthquakes, notably in its long-period velocity pulses and high energy resulting from forward-directivity and fling step effects [5]. Such pulse components can lead to considerable cumulative damage to nearby structures [6]. Recent studies [7; 8; 9] have examined the dynamic response of various structures to NF earthquakes, discussing potential factors influencing the seismic responses. For instance, [PERSON] et al. [10] investigated the seismic response of concrete rockfill dams under pulse-like (PL), non-pulse (NP), and far-fault earthquake excitations using finite element analysis. Their study employed wavelet multi-scale decomposition technology to simulate artificial NF earthquakes and compared response results with actual earthquake records, highlighting the necessity of considering PL earthquake characteristics in rockfill dam design assessments. [PERSON] et al. [11] quantitatively assessed the influence of PL motion on the seismic behavior of earth dams prone to liquefaction-induced damage. Their results indicated that PL motions increased the liquefaction potential and post-event damage compared to standard motions, with the effects being dependent on the seismic duration and energy. [PERSON] et al. [12] quantified the effects of PL motion on frame buildings of varying heights and conducted a detailed evaluation of their seismic performance. Furthermore, seismic parameters including the pulse period (\(T_{\text{p}}\)) and the ratio of peak ground velocity (PGV) to peak ground acceleration (PGA)--known as PGV/PGA--were employed to describe the pulse characteristics of PL motion in [13; 14], as they exhibited a remarkable effect on the seismic response of structures [15; 16]. [PERSON] et al. [17] explored the natural self-similarity within seismic characteristics and the dynamic performance of a concrete gravity dam under decomposed NF motion, highlighting the significance of seismic design for concrete dams, particularly focusing on the intensity and pulse parameters. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [18] examined the feasibility of estimating response using an equivalent pulse rather than PL motion.