Assessment of building response to liquefaction-induced differential ground deformation

The occurrence of liquefaction during earthquakes can cause significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. The damaging effect of liquefaction is a permanent deformation of the ground, which will either be vertical in level ground, or horizontal (with a vertical component) in sloping ground or in the vicinity of a free face. Buildings in zones of liquefaction are particularly vulnerable to differential ground movements, resulting from the heterogeneity of stratigraphy and soil properties. Many published methodologies are now available for assessing the likelihood and extent of liquefaction occurrence. However, it is equally important to understand how the occurrence of liquefaction will affect the built environment. This paper presents analytical solutions for the assessment of expected structural damage to existing reinforced concrete frame buildings resulting from liquefaction-induced differential ground movements. The methodology is primarily intended for application to assessments of expected earthquake damage and losses to existing buildings, and therefore satisfies the requirements of such studies for a simple, rational approach using easily attainable structural parameters to represent the building stock.