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Characteristics of Flow Failures Triggered by Recent Earthquakes in China

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Abstract

In recent years, several strong earthquakes occurred in China, like the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, 2003 Bachu Earthquake, etc. These earthquakes triggered numerous flow failures, causing severe damage to buildings and infrastructure. In this paper, some general characteristics of flow failures triggered by these recent earthquakes are reviewed. Based on seismic data analysis and field investigation, a brief overview of typical liquefaction phenomena and their characteristics during recent large earthquakes in China is presented. It is manifested that liquefaction occurs mainly in the alluvial plain sediments with low groundwater levels. Some new phenomena, like liquefaction of gravelly soil and deep-level sandy soils, and re-liquefaction, should be paid enough attention in further study. Then, the paper outlines the spatial distribution characteristics of flowslides induced by earthquakes to provide a reference for seismic design and risk mitigation. The flowslide-prone areas are dip slopes opposing the propagation direction of seismic wave, which are mostly located along the surface rupture and near the epicenter, especially on the hanging wall of the fault. Lastly, the state of the post-earthquake investigation and evaluation method for flow failures in China is presented briefly. Field investigation and remote-sensing image interpretation play important roles in the data collection and evaluation of seismic geohazards after earthquakes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, Grant No. 2012CB719803) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41372355 and 41211140042).

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Yu Huang

  2. Department of Geotechnical Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Yu Huang & Miao Yu

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK

    Subhamoy Bhattacharya

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  1. Yu Huang
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  2. Miao Yu
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  3. Subhamoy Bhattacharya
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Correspondence to Yu Huang.

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Huang, Y., Yu, M. & Bhattacharya, S. Characteristics of Flow Failures Triggered by Recent Earthquakes in China. Indian Geotech J 44, 218–224 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-014-0101-y

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