Earthquake reconniassance

Sponsors: Rutherford Discovery Fellowship (RSNZ), Marsden Fund (RSNZ), NZ Earthquake Commission (EQC), NZ Natural Hazards Research Platform (NHRP), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

Liquefaction-induced damage in the Cantebury earthquakes

Earthquake engineering is principally an observation-driven science. Earthquake reconniassance is the principal opportunity to obtain direct performance observations which are necessary to validate numerical and other theoretical analysis methods that underly performance-based earthquake engineering. Research group members have been involved in the following reconniassance efforts:

Canterbury earthquakes (2010-present):

Field investigation of strong motion stations which recorded near-field ground motions;

Liquefaction extent and severity, and impacts of liquefaction on residential and commercial structures, and bridges; and

Investigation of structures in the Christchurch central business district (CBD), in particular those with seismic instrumentation (e.g. UC Physics building, Christchurch Police Station);

21 July 2013 Seddon and 16 August 2013 Lake Grassmere earthquakes:

Investigation of the spatial distribution of ground motions and impacts on Marlborough dams and winery facilities

Investigation of the seismic response of instrumented structures in Wellington

11 March 2011 Tohoku earthquake:

Field investigation of strong motion stations, and liquefaction-induced damage in Urayasu, Tokyo Bay; and

Field investigation of the eastern Japan coast affected by tsunami.

29 September 2009 Samoa Tsunami:

Field investigation of tsunami run-up extents and heights, assessment of building damage for tsunami fragility function development.