Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Field-observed phenomena of seismic liquefaction and subsidence during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan Province, a large number of buildings, water conservancy facilities, and transportation facilities were severely damaged. The damage caused by liquefaction and earthquake-induced soil subsidence was widely distributed, diverse, and extensive. Typical liquefaction and earthquake-induced subsidence damage for this region has been described by investigations of soils and foundations in the earthquake-stricken area. Factors that influenced the liquefaction of soils in Dujiangyan County were analyzed, accounting for regional geological conditions. The results identify several factors that may affect the process of liquefaction and general damage to buildings, roads, levees, and dams. Such factors could serve as the basis for further research into mitigating the damage caused by earthquake-induced liquefaction and subsidence. The importance of detailed ground reconnaissance and the implementation of reasonable and effective measures to improve soft soil are proposed for earthquake hazard reduction in similar areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • China Earthquake Administration (2008a) Analysis of the cause of the M8.0 Wenchuan earthquake. http://www.cea.gov.cn/manage/html/8a8587881632fa5c0116674a018300cf/content/08_05/30/1212119940937.html Last accessed 28/10/2009 (in Chinese)

  • China Earthquake Administration (2008b) Seismic intensity map of the M8.0 Wenchuan earthquake. http://www.cea.gov.cn/manage/html/8a8587881632fa5c0116674a018300cf/_content/08_08/29/1219979564089.html Last accessed 28/10/2009 (in Chinese)

  • Chu DB, Stewart JP, Lee S, Tsai JS, Lin PS, Chu BL, Seed RB, Hsu SC, Yu MS, Wang MCH (2004) Documentation of soil conditions at liquefaction and non-liquefaction sites from 1999 Chi–Chi (Taiwan) earthquake. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 24(9–10):647–657

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cundy AB, Kortekaas S, Dewez T, Stewart IS, Collins PEF, Croudace IW, Maroukian H, Papanastassiou D, Gaki-Papanastassiou P, Pavlopoulos K, Dawsonb A (2000) Coastal wetlands as recorders of earthquake subsidence in the Aegean: a case study of the 1894 Gulf of Atalanti earthquakes, central Greece. Mar Geol 170(3):3–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans MD, Zhou S (1995) Liquefaction behavior of sand-gravel composites. J Geotech Eng ASCE 121(3):287–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu SC, Tatsuoka F (1984) Soil liquefaction during Haicheng and Tangshan earthquake in China; a review. Soils Found 24(4):11–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Richard MA, Smith DG, Jol HM, Peterson CD (1996) Evidence for eight great earthquake-subsidence events detected with ground-penetrating radar, Willapa barrier, Washington. Geology 24(2):99–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shennan I, Hamilton S (2006) Coseismic and pre-seismic subsidence associated with great earthquakes in Alaska. Quat Sci Rev 25(1–2):1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shibata T, Oka F, Ozawa Y (1996) Characteristics of ground deformation due to liquefaction. Special Issue on Geotechnical Aspects of the January 17, 1995 Hyogoken-Nambu Earthquake. Soils and Foundations 65–79

  • Xenaki VC, Athanasopoulos GA (2003) Liquefaction resistance of sand–silt mixtures: an experimental investigation of the effect of fines. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 23(3):1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeghal M, Elgamal A, Zeng X, Arulmolid K (1999) Mechanism of liquefaction response in sand–silt dynamic centrifuge tests. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 18(1):71–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40802070 and 40841014), the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and Shanghai Education Development Foundation (Shu Guang Project No. 08SG22), and the Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (No. B308).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geotechnical Engineering, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China

    Yu Huang & Ximiao Jiang

  2. Key Laboratory of Geotechnical and Underground Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Tongji University, 200092, Shanghai, China

    Yu Huang & Ximiao Jiang

Authors
  1. Yu Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ximiao Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yu Huang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huang, Y., Jiang, X. Field-observed phenomena of seismic liquefaction and subsidence during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. Nat Hazards 54, 839–850 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9509-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9509-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation