Liquefaction and Earthquake-Induced Ground Subsidence
Liquefaction and Earthquake-Induced Ground Subsidence
Liquefaction and Earthquake-Induced Ground Subsidence
Earthquake-Induced
Ground Subsidence
What is an Earthquake?
An earthquake is the sudden release of strain
energy in the Earth’s crust, resulting in
waves of shaking that radiate outwards from
the earthquake source.
LIQUEFACTION
1. Historical Criteria
Observations from earlier earthquakes provide a great deal of information's
Soil that have liquified in the past can liquify again in future earthquake
Information is also available in the form of maps of areas where liquefaction has
occurred in the past and/or is expected to occur in the future.
2. Geological Criteria
Saturated soil deposits that have been created by sedimentation in rivers and
lakes (fluvial or alluvial deposits)
deposition of debris or eroded material (colluvial deposits)can be very
liquefaction susceptible.
3. Composition Criteria
Soils composed of particle that are all about the same size are more
susceptible to liquefaction than soils with a wide range of particles.
In a soil with many different size particle, the small particle tend to fill in
the voids between the bigger particles thereby reducing the tendency for
densification and pore water pressure development when shaken.
Effects of Liquefaction
1. Loss of bearing strength
the ground can liquefy and lose its ability to support
structure.
2. Lateral Spreading
The ground can side down very gentle slopes. It is
mainly caused by cyclic mobility. It causes damage to
foundations of buildings, pipelines, railway lines and
causes shaking at pile due to increased lateral loads.
3. Sand Boil
Sand – laden water can be ejected from a buried
liquefied layer and erupt at the surface to form sand
volcanoes.
4. Flow Failures
These failures commonly displace large
masses of soil laterally. Flows develop in
loose saturated sands or silts on relatively
steep slopes.
5. Flotation
light structure that are buried in the ground can
float to the surface when they surrounded by
liquefied soil.
How to reduce liquefaction?
Earthquake-induced Ground Subsidence
Subsidence - sinking of the ground
because of underground material movement
—is most often caused by the removal of
water, oil, natural gas, or mineral resources
out of the ground by pumping, fracking, or
mining activities.