System Response of an Interlayered Deposit with Spatially Distributed Ground Deformations in the Chi-Chi Earthquake
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 10
Abstract
Lateral spreading of an interlayered deposit adjacent to a meandering stream channel in Wufeng, Taiwan, during the 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake is evaluated using two-dimensional (2D) nonlinear dynamic analyses (NDAs) with geostatistical modeling of the subsurface to assess their ability to approximate the observed magnitude and spatial extent of ground deformations, as well as identify the key factors and mechanisms that most contributed to the overall system response. In-situ data from borings and cone penetration tests (CPTs) depict thinly stratified overbank deposits of low-plasticity silty sands, silts, and clays, interlayered with laterally discontinuous channel-deposited sands. The three-dimensional (3D) subsurface is simulated using transition probability-based indicator geostatistics, conditioned on available CPT data and geological inferences. The NDAs are performed using the PM4Sand and PM4Silt constitutive models, within the FLAC finite difference program. Sensitivity analyses are performed to understand the influence of uncertainties in the stratigraphy, channel conditions, soil properties, input ground motions, constitutive model calibration protocols, and numerical boundary conditions, as well as the performance of alternate channel transects. Most analysis cases generally matched the maximum displacements observed near the channel but overestimated the extent of displacements away from the channel. The most favorable results were largely influenced by nonstationary stratigraphic trends and cyclic softening of fine-grained soils, in addition to the liquefaction of coarse-grained soils. This case history demonstrates the capabilities and limitations of current subsurface and NDA modeling procedures for predicting ground deformation patterns.
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Data Availability Statement
Some of the data, models, or code used during the study were provided by third parties. The site characterization data was sourced from the Taiwan Ground Failure Database hosted by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER 2002). Ground motions were obtained from the PEER NGA-West2 Ground-Motion Database (PEER 2013). Direct requests for software can be made to the providers indicated in the references. Some of the codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors appreciate the financial support of the National Science Foundation (Award CMMI-1635398) and the California Department of Water Resources (Contract 4600009751) for different aspects of the work presented herein. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of these organizations. The analyses benefited from discussions with Graham Fogg for the transition probability simulations, Katerina Ziotopoulou for the postliquefaction model calibrations, and Renmin Pretell and Francisco Humire for peer feedback. The data procurement and initial analyses of this case study are attributed to early efforts by Daniel Chu, Jonathan Stewart, Leslie Youd, Bin-Lin Chu, Shannon Lee, Sung-Chi Hsu, and others. The authors are grateful for their support and interactions.
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Received: Dec 19, 2021
Accepted: May 12, 2022
Published online: Aug 11, 2022
Published in print: Oct 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jan 11, 2023
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