ASIA PACIFIC COLLEGE OF ADVANCE STUDIES

AH Banzon St., Ibayo, City of Balanga, Bataan

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL
IN EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
(ELECTIVE 1)

A.Y. 2020-2021

REFERENCES:
1. Encyc. Brit. – encyclopedia Britannica 2001
2. NSCP 2015 – National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP), Volume I, Buildings, Towers and
Other Vertical Structures, 7th Edition
3. McCormac – Structural Analysis (A Classical and Matrix Approach), Second Edition, Jack C.
McCormac and James K. Nelson Jr.; 1997
4. Norris – Elementary Structural Analysis, Fourth Edition; C. H. Norris, J. B. Wilbur & S. Utku; 1991
Lesson 1: Earthquakes and Urbanization
OBJECTIVES

• To introduce the Earthquakes that occur in the Philippines and in many parts of the world and the
urbanization.
• To learn the recorded seismic events that takes place around the world which is an integral
component of the geologic evolution of the earth.

INTRODUCTION

Earthquakes have been an integral component of the geologic evolution of planet earth. Since the dawn
of history, mankind has been continually reminded of their ruinous power, usually without warning.
Although the first attempt to fully document a seismic event and its effects probably occurred in 1755
following the great earthquake in Lisbon, Portugal, scientific earthquake research is mainly a product of
the 20th century. Because of the complex nature of earthquake effects, current investigations
encompass many disciplines, including those of both the physical and social sciences. Research activities
center on such diversified topics as earthquake mechanics, earthquake prediction and control, the
prompt and accurate detection of tsunamis (seismic sea waves), earthquake-resistant construction,
seismic building code improvements, land use zoning, earthquake risk and hazard perception, disaster
preparedness, plus the study of the concerns and fears of people who have experienced the effects of
an earthquake.

Data from these investigations help to form an integrated picture of a most complex field of study
termed urban seismology. This chapter attempts to amalgamate recent research input comprising the
vivifying components or urban seismology at a level useful to those having an interest in the earthquake
and its effects upon an urban environment. However, because some of those interested in the
earthquake-urban problem may not have a strong background in the physical sciences, the succeeding
chapters will be devoted to an examination of major earthquake parameters.

SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM

There are several dreaded characteristics of an earthquake. Unlike other rapidly occurring natural
hazards, earthquakes usually strike without warning or regard to time of day or season of the year and
are characterized by numerous direct effects that is, ground shaking and permanent crustal movements
and induced effects, such as landslides, avalanches, ground subsidence, liquefaction, ground fissuring,
tsunamis, seiches, and fire. Earthquakes can kill, injure, and cause property damage thousands of
kilometers from their point of origin. Earthquakes are often perceived, although incorrectly, as a force
capable of destroying the very foundation of the planet, which helps to explain the feeling of fear and
helplessness that transgresses all elements of society.

The 1991 Luzon earthquake is atypical in the respect that it did not result in the unusually high death
count that can result from seismic events.

Other areas have not been as fortunate as Luzon. Recorded history has repeatedly been witness to the
devastation of cities and the killing of millions. As a conservative estimate, the death count for all
seismic events most probably exceeds 5,000,000 and injuries would be in the tens of millions. China has
lost more than 2,100,000 of its citizens; Japan more than 500,000; Italy more than 370,000; and India
more than 350,000.

Table 1 lists major earthquakes and death counts from 526 through 2003. The largest loss of life was
associated with the Shaanxi, China (now People’s Republic of China) earthquake of 1556, in which
approximately 830,000 lives were lost. This count compares to some 600,000 American deaths incurred
in all wars and rank as the third worst natural disaster in the history of humanity. It is preceded only by
the 1931 Yellow River, China flood (3,700,00 deaths) and the 1970 Ganges Delta and Bangladesh
cyclonic storm (more than 1,000,000 deaths). The second most disastrous earthquake also occurred in
the People’s Republic of China. The July 27, 1976 Hopei Province events reportedly killed approximately
655,000 people and injured more than 700,000. The third most catastrophic seismic event was the 1737
Calcutta, India earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people. Several earthquakes have been
responsible for 100,000 or more deaths.

The Philippines has been very fortunate in terms of lives lost as compared to other countries with an
earthquake hazard. Our worst seismic disaster was the 1991 Luzon earthquake through which at least
1,600 lives were lost. The death count for all destructive Philippine earthquake hazard with property
damage totaling about 509 billion pesos. It is probable, however, that out worst seismic disasters are
ahead of us.

In certain years, the greatest loss of life from natural hazards is attributable to the earthquake.
However, on the average, approximately 10,000 lives are lost each year to this hazard. For the period
from 1974 to 1999, earthquake casualties ranked third behind flood and hurricane deaths.
Approximately 56,000 people were killed by earthquakes during this 20-year period.

TABLE 1: RECORDED INTERNATIONAL MAJOR EARTHQUAKES

DATE LOCATION DEATHS MAGNITUDE

May 20, 526 Antioch, Syria 250,000 N.A.

856 Corinth, Greece 45,000 N.A.

1057 Chihli, China 25,000 N.A.

February 11, Near Mt. Etna,

15,0001 N.A.
1169 Sicily

Cilicia, Asia
1268 60,000 N.A.
Minor

September 27,
Chilhli, China 100,000 N.A.
1290

May 20, 1293 Kamakura, Japan 30,000 N.A.

January 26,
Lisbon, Portugal 30,000 N.A.
1531

January 24,
Shaanxi, China 830,000 N.A.
1556

November, Shemaka,
80,000 N.A.
1667 Cucasia

January 11,
Catania, Italy 60,000 N.A.
1693

December 30,
Hokkaido, Japan 137,000 N.A.
1730

October 1, 1737 Calcutta, India 300,000 N.A.

June 7, 1755 Northern Persia 40,000 N.A.

November 1,
Lisbon, Portugal 60,000 8.75*
1755

February 4,
Calabria, Italy 30,000 N.A.
1783

February 4,
Quito, Ecuador 41,000 N.A.
1797

1811-12 New Madrid, MO N.A. 8.7*

September 5, Aleppo, Asia

22,000 N.A.
1822 Minor

December 28,
Echigo, Japan 30,000 N.A.
1828

August 13-15,
Peru, Ecuador 40,000 N.A.
1868

Venezuela,
May 16, 1875 16,000 N.A.
Colombia

Charleston, SC,
August 31, 1886 60 6.6
USA

Japan, (sea
June 15, 1896 27,120 N.A.
wave)

April 4, 1905 Kangra, India 19,000 8.6

April 18-19, San Francisco,

5032 8.3
1906 USA

August 17, 1906 Valparaiso, Chile 20,000 8.6

October 21,
Central Asia 12,000 8.1
1907

December 28,
Messina, Italy 83,000 7.5
1908

January 13,
Avezzano, Italy 29,980 7.5
1915

October, 11, Mona Passage, P.

116 7.5
1918 Rico

December 16,
Gansu, China 200,000 8.6
1920

September 1,
Yokohama, Japan 143,000 8.3
1923

March 16, 1925 Yunnan, China 5,000 7.1

May 22, 1927 Nan-Shan, China 200,000 8.3

December 25,
Gansu, China 70,000 7.6
1932

March 2, 1933 Japan 2,990 8.9

March 10, 1933 Long Beach, USA 115 6.2

January 15, Bihar-Nepal,

10,700 8.4
1934 India
 Taiwan
April 21, 1935 3,276 7.4
(Formosa)

My 30, 1935 Quetta, India 50,000 7.5

January 25,
Chillan, Chile 28,000 8.3
1939

December 26,
Erzincan, Turkey 30,000 8.0
1939

December 20,
Honshu, Japan 1,330 8.4
1946

June 28, 1948 Fukui, Japan 5,390 7.3

August 5, 1949 Pelileo, Ecuador 6,000 6.8

August 15, 1950 Assam, India 1,530 8.7

Northwest
March 18, 1953 1,200 7.2
Turkey

June 10-17, North

2,000 7.7
1956 Afghanistan

July 2, 1957 North Iran 1,200 7.4

December 13,
West Iran 1,300 7.3
1957

May 21-30,
South Chile 5,000 9.5
1960

September 1,
Northwest Iran 12,230 7.3
1962

Skopje,
July 26, 1963 1,100 6.0
Yugoslavia

March 27, 1964 Alaska 131 9.2

August 19, 1966 East Turkey 2,520 7.1

August 31, 1968 Northeast Iran 12,000 7.3

Yunnan Prov.,
January 4, 1970 10,000 7.5
China

March 28, 1970 West Turkey 1,100 7.3

May 31, 1970 North Peru 66,000 7.8

February 9, San Fernando

65 6.6
1971 Val., CA

April 10, 1972 South Iran 5,054 7.1

December 23, Managua,

5,000 6.2
1972 Nicaragua

December 28, Pakistan (9

5,200 6.3
1974 Towns)

September 6,
Turkey (Lice, etc) 2,300 6.7
1975
 February 4,
Guatemala 23,000 7.5
1976

May 6, 1976 Northeast Italy 1,000 6.5

Irian Jaya, New

June 25, 1976 422 7.1
Guinea

July 27,1976 Tangshan, China 655,000 8.0

The urban development of the Philippines is a very recent phenomenon when compared to other
countries, which have seismic risks; this helps explain why so many countries have a long history of great
loss of life caused by devastating earthquakes. Countless cities in these countries have occupied unsafe
sites for centuries, and periodically they have been partially or totally. For example, Managua, Nicaragua
was hit by destructive earthquakes in 1844, 1858, 1881, 1898, 1913, 1918, 1928, 1931, 1968, and 1972.
The site of the city has never been abandoned, and after each quake, a great number of seismically
unsafe structures rise from the ruins to await a similar fate sometimes in the future.

The situation in the Philippines, as well as in other countries, is rapidly changing, as the earth becomes
an overpopulated and urban planet. As these urban areas rapidly expand, a greater percentage of the
world’s population encroaches upon active seismic zone, and earthquakes are becoming one of the
most awesome geologic hazards to life and property.