Seismic Ground Settlement and Deformation Behavior of Reclaimed Lands in the 1995 Kobe Earthquake

After the 1995 Kobe Earthquake, particular attention has been paid on the settlement observed at reclaimed lands located at between Osaka and Kobe, in reference to their geological characteristics. In this paper, the ground surface elevations before and after the 1995 Kobe Earthquake were compared to evaluate the seismic ground settlement of reclaimed lands. Calculated settlements by using an available empirical formula were compared with measured ones. A further study was carried out to investigate the seismic ground settlement calculated by using a numerical simulation program called “FLIP” at a selected reclaimed land. In reference to the data available from published papers on seismic ground settlement as measured, attempts were made to identify in a practical manner such settlement with the degree of the earthquake recorded at each reclaimed lands as well as the grain size and N value of the filled layer there. The proposed method for estimating seismic ground settlement caused by earthquake is estimated for its applicability and accuracy by using a simulation program