A Case Study of the Behavior of Seaport Facilities During the 1978 Miyagi-Ken-Oki Earthquake

by Stuart D. Werner, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc, Emeryville, CA, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Lifeline Seismic Risk Analysis?Case Studies

Abstract:

This paper assesses seismic response characteristics of seaport facilities during the 1978 Miyagi-Ken-Oki earthquake by (a) compiling and assessing documented information from post-earthquake examinations of affected facilities; and (b) using established dynamic analysis techniques to assist in this assessment. Results presented in the paper show that the most substantial damage occurred at sites of quay walls, piers, and sheet-pile bulkheads where significant liquefaction took place. The analysis showed that the site of this bulkhead structure probably experienced some liquefaction during the earthquake, and that this liquefaction could have led to the observed damage to the structure. The analysis also demonstrated that vibratory compaction soil improvement techniques would have substantially reduced the potential for liquefaction of the near-surface soil layers at this site.

Subject Headings: Soil liquefaction | Soil analysis | Compacted soils | Soil stabilization | Ports and harbors | Structural analysis | Earthquakes | Japan | Asia

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