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Liquifaction at Strong Motion Stations and in Urayasu City during the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake
Earthquake Spectra
  • Brady R. Cox, University of Texas at Austin
  • Ross W. Boulanger, University of California - Davis
  • Kohji Tokimatsu, Tokyo Institue of Technology
  • Clinton M. Wood, University of Texas at Austin
  • Akio Abe, Tokyo Soil Research Co.
  • Scott Ashford, Oregon State University
  • Jennifer Donahue, Geosyntec
  • Kenji Ishihara, Chuo University
  • Robert Kayen, U.S. Geological Survey
  • Kota Katsumata, Tokyo Institute of Technology
  • Tadahiro Kishida, University of California - Berkeley
  • Takaji Kokusho, Chuo University
  • H. Benjamin Mason, Oregon State University
  • Robb Moss, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
  • Jonathan P. Stewart, University of California - Los Angeles
  • Kazushi Tohyama, Tokyo Institute of Technology
  • Dimitios Zekkos, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Publication Date
3-1-2013
Abstract

The 2011 MW = 9.0 Tohoku-oki earthquake generated a large number of unique soil liquefaction case histories, including cases with strong ground motion recordings on liquefiable or potentially liquefiable soils. We have compiled a list of 22 strong motion stations (SMS) where surface evidence of liquefaction was observed and 16 SMS underlain by geologically recent sediments or fills where surface evidence of liquefaction was not observed. Pre-earthquake standard penetration test data and borehole shear wave velocity (Vs) profiles are available for some stations, but critical information, such as grain size distribution and fines plasticity, are often lacking. In the heavily damaged city of Urayasu, we performed post-earthquake cone penetration testing at seven SMS and Vs profiles, using surface wave methods at 28 additional locations to supplement existing geotechnical data. We describe the liquefaction effects in Urayasu, the available site characterization data, and our initial data interpretations.

Citation Information
Brady R. Cox, Ross W. Boulanger, Kohji Tokimatsu, Clinton M. Wood, et al.. "Liquifaction at Strong Motion Stations and in Urayasu City during the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake" Earthquake Spectra Vol. 29 Iss. S1 (2013) p. S55 - S80
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/rmoss/44/