Soil characteristics and ground damage

Abstract

Soil conditions in reclaimed islands which were devastated by extensive liquefaction during the Kobe earthquake are described together with the soil strength which was obtained from the laboratory tests on undisturbed samples. Interpretation of this soil strength is given in the light of back-calculated shear strength based on accelerations recorded on the ground surface. Observed settlements of the ground surface resulting from liquefaction are described and evaluated in terms of the values estimated based on existing methodology. Finally, the outcome of an in-situ survey on permanent deformations of the land areas behind a quaywall or revetment is presented. As a result it was possible to identify the characteristic patterns of the displacements which vary with the distance from the waterfront inland.