TECHNICAL PAPERS
Mar 1, 1994

Earthquake Fault Rupture Propagation through Soil

This article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLY
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 3

Abstract

The phenomenon of earthquake fault rupture propagation through soil is quite complex and is not well understood at this time. This paper presents the results of an integrated investigation of this problem. Insights are developed from the examination of surface fault rupture field case histories, laboratory physical model tests, and physical analogies to the earthquake fault rupture process. Field observations and experimental results illustrate the “typical” patterns of behavior developed in the soil overlying a base rock fault displacement. Evidence suggests that differential movement across the distinct fault rupture dissipates as the fault rupture propagates toward the ground surface through unconsolidated earth materials, and that the characteristics of the soil overlying the bedrock fault strongly influence the observed earthquake fault rupture propagation behavior.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
Allen, C. R., Hanks, T. C., and Whitcomb, J. H. (1973). “San Fernando earthquake seismological studies and their tectonic implications.” San Fernando, California, earthquake of February 9, 1971. N. A. Benfer et al., eds., U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
2.
Barrows, A. G., Kahle, J. E., Weber, F. H., Jr., and Saul, R. B. (1973). “Map of surface breaks resulting from San Fernando, California earthquake of February 9, 1971.” San Fernando, California, earthquake of February 9, 1971. L. M. Murphy, ed., U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
3.
Belousov, V. V. (1961). “Experimental geology.” Sci. Am., (Feb.), 96–106.
4.
Bonilla, M. G. (1970). “Surface faulting and related effects.” Earthquake engineering, R. L. Weigel, ed., Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 47–74.
5.
Bonilla, M. G. (1988). “Minimum earthquake magnitude associated with coseismic surface faulting.” Bull. Assoc. of Engrg. Geol., XXV(1), 17–29.
6.
Bonilla, M. G., and Lienkaemper, J. J. (1991). “Factors affecting the recognition of faults exposed in exploratory trenches.” USGS Bull. 1947, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C.
7.
Bray, J. D. (1990). “The effects of tectonic movements on stresses and deformations in earth embankments,” PhD thesis, University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
8.
Cole, D. A., Jr., and Lade, P. V. (1984). “Influence zones in alluvium over dip‐slip faults.” J. Geotech. Engrg., ASCE, 110(5), 599–615.
9.
Crone, A. J., Machette, M. N., Bonilla, M. G., Lienkaemper, J. J., Pierce, K. L., Scott, W. E., and Bucknam, R. C. (1987). “Surface faulting accompanying the Borah Peak earthquake and segmentation of the Lost River Fault, Central Idaho.” Bull. Seismic Soc. Am., 77(3), 739–770.
10.
Davie, J. R. (1973). “Behaviour of cohesive soils under uplift forces,” PhD thesis, University of Glasgow, Scotland.
11.
Emmons, R. C. (1969). “Strike‐slip rupture patterns in sand models.” Tectono‐physics, 7(1), 71–87.
12.
“Final geoseismic investigation, proposed LNG terminal, Little Cojo Bay, California, Vols. 1–8,” Rep., Dames & Moore for Western LNG Terminal Associates, Los Angeles, Calif.
13.
Friedman, M., Handin, J., Logan, J. M., Min, K. D., and Stearns, D. W. (1976). “Experimental folding of rocks under confining pressure. Part III: faulted drape folds in multilithologic layered specimens.” Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 87(Jul.), 1049–1066.
14.
Heath, E. G., and Leighton, F. B. (1973). “Subsurface investigation of ground rupturing during San Fernando Earthquake.” San Fernando, California, earthquake of February 9, 1971, L. M. Murphy, ed., U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 165–172.
15.
Horsfield, W. T. (1977). “An experimental approach to basement‐controlled faulting.” Geologie En Mijnbouw, Haarlem, The Netherlands, 56(4), 363–370.
16.
Kratzsch, H. (1983). Mining subsidence engineering. Springer‐Verlag, New York, N.Y.
17.
Lade, P. V., Cole, D. A., Jr., and Cummings, D. (1984). “Multiple failure surfaces over dip‐slip faults.” J. Geotech. Engrg., ASCE, 110(5), 616–627.
18.
Lawson, A. C. (1908). “The California earthquake of April 18, 1906.” Rep. of State Earthquake Invest. Comm., Carnegie Inst., Vol. I, Washington, D.C.
19.
Nasu, N. (1931). Comparative studies of earthquake motions above‐ground and in a tunnel (part I). Tokyo University Earthquake Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan, Vol. 9, 454–472.
20.
Niccum, M. R., Cluff, L. S., Chamorro, F., and Wyllie, L. (1976). “Banco Central de Nicaragua: a case history of a high‐rise building that survived surface fault rupture.” Engrg. Geo. and Soils Engrg. Sym., No. 14, C. B. Humphrey, ed., Transportation Department, Div. of Highways, Boise, Idaho, 133–144.
21.
Plafker, G. (1967). “Surface faults on Montague Island associated with the 1964 Alaska earthquake.” USGS Prof. Paper 543‐G, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C.
22.
Reid, H. F. (1910). “The California earthquake of April 18, 1906.” Rep. of State Earthquake Invest. Comm., Carnegie Inst., Vol. II, Washington, D.C.
23.
Richter, C. F. (1958). Elementary seismology. W. H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, Calif.
24.
Roth, W. H., Scott, R. F., and Austin, I. (1981). “Centrifuge modeling of fault propagation through alluvial soils.” Geophys. Res. Ltrs., 8(6), 561–564.
25.
Sanford, A. R. (1959). “Analytical and experimental study of simple geologic strucures.” Geol. Soc. of Am. Bull., 70(Jan.), 19–52.
26.
Scott, R. F. (1987). “Failure.” Geotechnique, London, England, 37(4), 423–466.
27.
Scott, R. F., and Schoustra, J. J. (1974). “Nuclear power plant siting on deep alluvium.” J. Geotech. Engrg. Div., ASCE, 100(GT4), 449–459.
28.
Sherard, J. L., Cluff, L. S., and Allen, C. R. (1974). “Potentially active faults in dam foundations.” Geotechnique, London, England, Vol. 24, 367–427.
29.
Slemmons, D. B. (1957). “Geological effects of the Dixie Valley‐Fairview Peak, Nevada, earthquakes of December 16, 1954.” Seism. Soc. Am. Bull., 47(4), 353–375.
30.
Sutherland, H. B. (1988). “Uplift resistance of soils.” Geotechnique, London, England, 38(4), 493–516.
31.
Suyehiro, K. (1932). “Engineering seismology—notes on American Lectures.” Proc., ASCE, 58(4), 1–43.
32.
Taylor, C. L., Cline, K. M., Page, W. D., and Schwartz, D. P. (1985). “The Borah Peak, Idaho Earthquake of October 28, 1983—surface faulting and other phenomena.” Earthquake Spectra, 2(1), 23–49.
33.
Taylor, C. L., and Cluff, L. S. (1977). “Fault displacement and ground deformation associated with surface faulting.” ASCE Spec. Conf. Lifeline Earthquake Engrg., ASCE, New York, N.Y., 338–353.
34.
Tchalenko, J. S. (1970). “Similarities between shear zones of different magnitudes.” Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 81(Jun.), 1625–1640.
35.
Wells, D., and Coppersmith, K. (1994). “New empirical relationships among magnitude, rupture length, rupture width, rupture area and surface displacements.” Seism. Soc. Am. Bull., 84(4).
36.
Witkind, I. J., Myers, W. B., Hadley, J. B., Hamilton, W., and Fraser, G. C. (1962). “Geologic features of the earthquake at Hebgen Lake, Montana, August 17, 1959.” Seism. Soc. Am. Bull., 52(2), 163–180.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Volume 120Issue 3March 1994
Pages: 543 - 561

History

Received: Feb 6, 1992
Published online: Mar 1, 1994
Published in print: Mar 1994

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Jonathan D. Bray, Member, ASCE
Asst. Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
Raymond B. Seed, Member, ASCE
Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA
Lloyd S. Cluff, Member, ASCE
H. Bolton Seed, Fellow, ASCE
Deceased; formerly Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
Mgr., Geosci. Dept., Pacific Gas & Electric, San Francisco, CA 94106

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share