What is the smallest earthquake magnitude that needs to be considered in assessing liquefaction hazard?
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Green, Russell
Bommer, Julian
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Probabilistic assessments of the potential impact of earthquakes on the infrastructure entails the consideration of smaller magnitude events than those generally considered in deterministic hazard and risk assessments. In this context, it is useful to establish if there is a magnitude threshold below which the possibility of triggering liquefaction can be discounted because such a lower bound is required for probabilistic liquefaction hazard analyses. Based on field observations and a simple parametric study, we conclude that earthquakes as small as moment magnitude 4.5 can trigger liquefaction in extremely susceptible soil deposits. However, for soil profiles that are suitable for building structures, the minimum earthquake magnitude for the triggering of liquefaction is about 5. We therefore propose that in liquefaction hazard assessments of building sites magnitude 5.0 be adopted as the minimum earthquake size considered, while magnitudes as low as 4.5 may be appropriate for some other types of infrastructure.
Date Issued
2019-08-01
Date Acceptance
2019-03-04
Citation
Earthquake Spectra, 2019, 35 (3), pp.1441-1464
ISSN
8755-2930
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Start Page
1441
End Page
1464
Journal / Book Title
Earthquake Spectra
Volume
35
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2019, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. The final, definitive version of this paper has been published in Green, R. A., & Bommer, J. J. (2019). What is the Smallest Earthquake Magnitude that Needs to be Considered in Assessing Liquefaction Hazard? Earthquake Spectra, 35(3), 1441–1464 by Sage Publications Ltd. All rights reserved. It is available at: https://doi.org/10.1193/032218EQS064M .
Subjects
Strategic, Defence & Security Studies
0905 Civil Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-11-28