Pulse-like　ground　motions　are　capable　of　inflicting　significant　damage　to　structures.　Efficient　classification　of　pulse-like　ground　motion　is　of　great　importance　when　performing　the　seismic　assessment　in　near-fault　regions.　In　this　study,　a　new　method　for　identifying　the　velocity　pulses　is　proposed,　based　on　different　trends　of　two　parameters:　the　short-time　energy　and　the　short-time　zero　crossing　rate　of　a　ground　motion　record.　A　new　pulse　indicator,　the　relative　energy　zero　ratio　(REZR),　is　defined　to　qualitatively　identify　pulse-like　features.　The　threshold　for　pulse-like　ground　motions　is　derived　and　compared　with　two　other　identification　methods　through　statistical　analysis.　The　proposed　procedure　not　only　shows　good　accuracy　and　efficiency　when　identifying　pulse-like　ground　motions　but　also　exhibits　good　performance　for　classifying　records　with　high-frequency　noise　and　discontinuous　pulses.　The　REZR　method　does　not　require　a　waveform　formula　to　express　and　fit　the　potential　velocity　pulses;　it　is　a　purely　signal-based　classification　method.　Finally,　the　proposed　procedure　is　used　to　evaluate　the　contribution　of　pulse-like　motions　to　the　total　input　energy　of　a　seismic　record,　which　dramatically　increases　the　seismic　damage　potential.