Engineering geology problems and preservation of Chinese caves and Earthen Architecture Site: Earthquake environments at Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, China

Abstract

This paper describes fundamental settings of the Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang against earthquake damage. The potential damage caused by an earthquake might be generally estimated by Intensity scale. The intensity is related to human reaction and structural damages. Based upon the characteristics distribution pattern of the relation between magnitudes and epicentral distances or distances from faults, general effects to structures could be estimated as a preliminary base. Earthquake data from PCSeis (1606–2011) show little effects on the Mogao Grottoes. However, “Sanwei Shan fault,” which locates nearby the site, may cause a very big magnitude earthquake of M = 8. The active fault is extended to the very near to the Grottoes, the Sanwei Shan fault is identified as to produce the most dangerous earthquake to Mogao Grottoes in the future.