Landslides and Ground Failure Types

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary cause of an earthquake?

  • Heavy rainfall
  • Earth's rotation
  • Magnetic shifts in the Earth's core
  • Sudden release of stored energy in the Earth’s crust (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a way an earthquake can damage a structure?

  • Ground failure
  • Increased solar activity (correct)
  • Shaking of the ground
  • Surface faulting

Which of these effects can occur due to an earthquake?

  • Volcanic eruptions
  • Ground cracking (correct)
  • Tectonic plate stabilization
  • Weather changes

What broadly describes the nature of ground motions caused by earthquakes?

<p>Broad-banded vibratory (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of earthquake damage is described as the displacement that reaches the earth's surface during slip along a fault?

<p>Surface faulting (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon occurs when the soil at the surface loses its support and sinks or is transported?

<p>Ground cracking (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms describes the raised areas created during ground failure?

<p>Horsts (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of ground subsidence?

<p>Compaction from earthquake vibrations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which types of soil are most susceptible to ground subsidence?

<p>Clay and silt soils (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential damage caused by ground subsidence?

<p>Cracking and tilting of buildings (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What triggers landslides during an earthquake?

<p>They happen when slopes are marginally stable before the earthquake. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is soil liquefaction?

<p>A phenomenon where fine saturated granular soils temporarily behave like a liquid. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect does soil liquefaction have on construction?

<p>It causes the ground to lose its ability to support loads. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is a tsunami primarily generated?

<p>By undersea earthquakes. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which ground failure type is caused by violent shaking during an earthquake?

<p>Landslides. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to saturated granular soils during soil liquefaction?

<p>They temporarily change to a liquid state. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of slopes that lead to landslides during an earthquake?

<p>They are marginally stable before the tremors. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon occurs when the natural frequency of a water body matches the frequency of incoming earthquake waves?

<p>Seiches (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factors influence the earthquake forces that act on a structure?

<p>Magnitude and distance of the earthquake (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What indirect effect can an earthquake cause related to ocean activity?

<p>Formation of tsunamis. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary consequence of ground shaking for structures during an earthquake?

<p>It causes large stresses and deformations. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered the first earthquake engineer based on historical contributions?

<p>Robert Mallet (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of environment is likely to experience seiches?

<p>Enclosed bodies of water (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant event in earthquake research occurred in Japan in 1881?

<p>The first proposal for lateral force use in building design (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a recommended consideration for seismic design of buildings?

<p>Designing for horizontal forces relative to building weight (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the 20th Century divided regarding earthquake research development?

<p>Through the evolution of theoretical understanding and seismic recording (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the third period of earthquake research in the 20th Century?

<p>Creation of a dense network of seismic stations (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What major event preceded significant advancements in earthquake theory development during the second period (1950-1980)?

<p>The 1940 El Centro earthquake (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Ground Failure Types: Landslides

  • Occur when slopes that were marginally stable become unstable during an earthquake's violent shaking.
  • Result from the abrupt movement of ground materials down a slope.

Ground Failure Types: Soil Liquefaction

  • A phenomenon in which saturated granular soils temporarily behave like a liquid due to intense shaking.
  • Disrupts the soil's ability to support structures, leading to potential collapse.
  • Notable example: 1906 San Francisco Earthquake.

Indirect Effects: Tsunamis

  • Large sea waves primarily caused by undersea earthquakes.
  • Can result in catastrophic damage to coastal structures and infrastructure.

Earthquake Definition

  • A sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, producing seismic waves.
  • Causes broad vibratory ground motions from various sources, including tectonic activity and human-made explosions.

Damaging Effects of Earthquakes

  • Can damage structures through three primary mechanisms:
    • Ground failure events (landslides, liquefaction, faulting)
    • Indirect effects like tsunamis and ground cracking
    • Direct shaking of the ground where structures are built.

Ground Failure Types: Surface Faulting

  • Involves displacement that reaches the Earth's surface during fault slip.
  • Can create visible cracks and shifts in the landscape.

Ground Failure Types: Ground Cracking

  • Occurs when the soil surface loses support and sinks, causing the soil layer to break.
  • Results in fissures, scarps, horsts, and grabens.

Ground Failure Types: Ground Subsidence

  • The ground surface settles or depresses due to compaction from earthquake vibrations.
  • Common in areas with loose or compressible soils, causing structural damage like cracks or tilting.

Indirect Effects: Seiches

  • Long-period oscillating waves in confined water bodies caused by distant earthquakes.
  • Can occur when the natural frequency of the water body matches incoming seismic waves.

Ground Shaking

  • Causes structures to oscillate back and forth and up and down, leading to substantial stress and deformation.

Earthquake Forces

  • Influenced by magnitude, duration, location, type of foundation, soil characteristics, and structure design.

Brief History of Earthquake Engineering

  • Robert Mallet, an Irish civil engineer, is recognized as the first earthquake engineer, analyzing the 1857 Naples earthquake.
  • Modern research in earthquake-resistant structures began in Japan around 1881.
  • The 20th century saw three key periods:
    • Until 1950: Initial attempts to understand earthquakes through recording events.
    • 1950-1980: Development of coherent theories on ground motion characteristics and structural damage.
    • Post-1980: Creation of a dense network of seismic stations, resulting in extensive data and advancements in anti-seismic design concepts.

Next Topic

  • Elements of Seismology.

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