Engineering Reconnaissance Following the Magnitude 5.7 Tripura Earthquake on January 3, 2017
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 34, Issue 4
Abstract
On January 3, 2017, adjoining states of Tripura and Bangladesh witnessed a moderate earthquake of a magnitude of 5.7 () originating in the Dhalai district of Tripura with an intensity of IV to VI in Modified Mercalli intensity (MMI) scale. The earthquake caused damages in reinforced concrete (RC) building structures, old masonry buildings, nonengineered rammed earth/adobe houses, landslides, liquefaction, and ground cracks at different locations near the epicenter of Tripura. Two districts, Dhalai and Unakoti, situated in the northern part of Tripura were mostly affected due to this earthquake. However, it is noteworthy that low-cost houses, such as bamboo houses, bamboo reinforced rammed earth houses and brick masonry houses with frames made of precast reinforced cement concrete (RCC) pillars performed relatively better as compared to unreinforced/unstabilized rammed earth and brick masonry houses. Analysis of damages identify cases of initiation of lateral spreading near the riverbank, landslide due to inadequate slope and presence of unstabilized soil, shear cracks and joint failure at earthen walls, structural cracks in rammed earth and masonry buildings situated at hill slopes, and minor structural cracks in RCC buildings as predominant damage features. Suggestions on enhancement of seismic safety of different types of structures are also discussed keeping a view on the current construction practices at Tripura. This study will help to develop preparedness for the possible vulnerability issues learned from this earthquake and assist to identify the future direction of research for overcoming seismic hazard for this state.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the support of the National Institute of Technology Agartala in sponsoring the damage survey. They would like to thank Professor R P Sharma, Professor Civil Engineering Department NIT Agartala, Dr. Sarat Das, Coordinator Tripura Disaster Management Cell, and Er. S Debnath, SDO PWD Kumarghat for arranging logistic support and information without which the technical visit could not be properly completed. The authors would also like to thank GSI and USGS for using their maps in this manuscript. The authors would also like to thank M.Tech and Ph.D. scholars of NIT Agartala for assisting data recording and photography during a visit.
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Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 34 • Issue 4 • August 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 2, 2019
Accepted: Dec 4, 2019
Published online: Apr 29, 2020
Published in print: Aug 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Sep 29, 2020
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