Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 3.2
Surface fault rupture associated with the Izmit
(Turkey) earthquake on August 17, 1999. (
Photograph by Tom
Fumal, USGS.
)
in Turkey a month before. The earthquake also triggered at least five aftershocks near or
above magnitude 6. The epicenter of the earthquake was in a small country town of Chi-chi
(located about 90 mi south of Taipei). Surface fault rupture associated with this Taiwan
earthquake caused severe damage to civil engineering structures, as discussed below:
●
Dam failure:
Figures 3.3 and 3.4 show two views of the failure of a dam located north-
east of Tai-Chung, Taiwan. This dam was reportedly used to supply drinking water for
the surrounding communities. The surface fault rupture runs through the dam and caused
the southern end to displace upward about 9 to 10 m (30 to 33 ft) as compared to the
northern end. This ground fault displacement is shown in the close-up view in Fig. 3.4.
Note in this figure that the entire length of fence on the top of the dam was initially at the
same elevation prior to the earthquake.
●
Kuang Fu Elementary School:
Figures 3.5 and 3.6 show damage to the Kuang Fu
Elementary School, located northeast of Tai-Chung, Taiwan. The Kuang Fu Elementary
School was traversed by a large fault rupture that in some locations caused a ground dis-
placement of as much as 3 m (10 ft), as shown in Fig. 3.5.
