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Sine-beat phenomena have been found in the 1994 Northridge earthquake records, and they are capable of producing time-history responses and damaging quasi-resonance effects in structures. Linear, single DOF (degree of freedom) oscillators, in lieu of nonlinear, multiple DOF systems, have been found adequate to discuss the failures of tall circuit breakers during the 1971 San Fernando and the 1989 Loma Prieta quakes in California. The use of sine-beat excitation for seismic-shaking-table tests of equipment continues to be a conservative simulation of earthquakes.