Assessment of liquefaction potential of the Erzincan, Eastern Turkey

Abstract

This study includes determination of liquefaction potential in Erzincan city center. Erzincan Province is situated within first-degree earthquake zone on earthquake map of Turkey. In this context, the earthquake scenarios were produced using the empirical expressions. Liquefaction potential for different earthquake magnitudes (6.0, 6.5, 7.0) were determined. Liquefaction potential was investigated using Standard Penetration Test (SPT). Liquefaction potential analyses are determined in two steps: geotechnical investigations and calculations. In the first steps, boreholes were drilled to obtain disturbed and undisturbed soil samples and SPT values were obtained. Laboratory tests were made to identify geotechnical properties of soil samples. In the second step, liquefaction potential analyses were examined using two methods, namely Seed and Idriss (1971), Iwasaki et al. (1981). The liquefaction potential broadly classified into three categories, namely non-liquefiable, marginally liquefiable and liquefiable regions. Additionally, the liquefaction potential index classified into four categories, namely non-liquefiable, low, high and very high liquefiable regions. In order to liquefaction analysis complete within a short time, MATLAB program were prepared. Following the analyses, liquefaction potential index is investigated by Iwasaki et al. (1982) methods. At the final stage of this study, liquefaction potential maps and liquefaction potential index maps of the all study area by using IDW (inverse distance weighted) interpolation method in Geostatistical Analyst Module of ArcGIS 10.0 Software were prepared for different earthquake magnitudes and different depths. The results of soil liquefaction potential were evaluated in ArcGIS to map the distributions of drillings with liquefaction potential. The maps showed that there is a spatial variability in the results obtained which made it difficult to clearly separate between regional areas of high or low potential to liquefy. However, this study indicates that the presence of ground water and sandy-silty soils increases the liquefaction potential with the seismic features of the region.