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Liquefaction potential at Izmit Bay: comparison of predicted and observed soil liquefaction during the Kocaeli earthquake

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Abstract

The 1999 Kocaeli earthquake resulted in large-scale damage to structures and a death toll of more than 20,000. Numerous liquefaction and associated ground deformations caused by the earthquake were particularly observed along the southern coasts of Izmit Bay and Sapanca Lake, as well as the city of Adapazari. The paper discusses the soil liquefaction and lateral spreading along the southern coast of Izmit Bay. A microzonation map was created using the data from liquefaction susceptibility analyses and a liquefaction severity index. The predicted liquefiable zones showed good agreement with site observations. The assessment suggests that the amount of liquefaction-susceptible layers in the soil profile reduces away from the coastal zone.

Résumé

Le séisme de Kocaeli causa plus de 20 000 victimes en 1999 ainsi que des dommages considérables aux structures. L’article présente les phénomènes de liquéfaction des sols et les glissements de terrain de type « lateral spreading » causés par le séisme, spécialement le long des côtes de la baie d’Izmit et du lac de Sapanca ainsi qu’à l’intérieur des terres, dans la ville d’Adapazarz. Une carte de micro-zonage a été réalisée à partir des données fournies par des analyses de susceptibilité à la liquéfaction et d’un indice de potentiel de liquéfaction. Les zones identifiées comme susceptibles d’être soumises aux phénomènes de liquéfaction se sont avérées conformes aux observations de terrain. L’évaluation de la susceptibilité à la liquéfaction fait apparaître que les horizons géologiques présentant un fort potentiel de liquéfaction diminuent d’importance à mesure que l’on s’éloigne de la zone côtière.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the municipalities of the settlements located at the southern part of Izmit Bay for information and the logs of geotechnical boreholes. Special thanks are due to the Kocaeli District Directorate of the Mineral Research and Exploration Institute (MTA) for their kind help during authors’ visit to the site.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Directorate of Construction and Technical Works, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara, 06800, Turkey

    Bora Sonmez

  2. Department of Geological Engineering, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara, 06800, Turkey

    Resat Ulusay

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  1. Bora Sonmez
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  2. Resat Ulusay
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Correspondence to Resat Ulusay.

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Sonmez, B., Ulusay, R. Liquefaction potential at Izmit Bay: comparison of predicted and observed soil liquefaction during the Kocaeli earthquake. Bull Eng Geol Environ 67, 1–9 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-007-0105-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-007-0105-2

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