Geotechnical Aspects of Recent Japan Earthquakes

Abstract

Recently middle class earthquakes have occurred and caused various geotechnical damages every year in Japan. Among them geotechnical damages during five earthquakes from 2004 to 2008 are introduced. The 2004 Niigataken-chuetsu earthquake caused failure of expressway embankments and uplift of sewage manholes. Liquefaction-induced damage to quay walls and tanks occurred in artificially reclaimed lands during the 2005 Fukuokaken-seiho-oki earthquake. Liquefiable area had been predicted about 17 years before the earthquake. Liquefied zones were fairly coincided with the predicted liquefiable zones. Very severe slide of highway embankments occurred at 11 sites during the 2007 Notohanto earthquake. During the 2007 Niigataken-chuetsu-oki earthquake, liquefaction induced in old river channels and on gentle slopes of sand dunes, and caused settlement of houses and breakage of low pressure gas pipes. However, some houses, sewage manholes, gas pipes were survived. Huge landslides and serious debris flows occurred along the slopes of Kurikoma Volcano during the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi-nairiku earthquake. Many landslides and debris flows occurred

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