Ground Settlement in Simi Valley following the Northridge Earthquake
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 124, Issue 1
Abstract
Significant differential settlements were observed on a flat, undeveloped, generally silty but highly stratified alluvial site in eastern Simi Valley, Calif., due to groundshaking from the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The observed settlements were due to both liquefaction of soil beneath the ground water table and dry shaking of loose soils above it. A nearby strong motion recording station provided highly reliable ground motion data for analysis. Extensive cone penetration tests (CPT) along with occasional seismic cones (SCPT), flat plate dilatometer tests (DMT), and soil sampling were performed. Previously developed methods were adopted for converting the CPT data to equivalent Standard Penetration Test blow count (SPT-N) values for establishing liquefaction potential and predicting settlement. Site specific calibration of CPT data was performed to establish a correlation between CPT readings and the percentage of fines. Contours of predicted ground settlement agreed very well with the location and the observed differential settlements along a ground fissure that developed shortly after the earthquake.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 124 • Issue 1 • January 1998
Pages: 80 - 89
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Jan 1, 1998
Published in print: Jan 1998
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