Effects of Earthquakes

MUHAMMAD YOUNAS
( M.PHIL GEOPHYSICS)
QUAID-E-AZAM UNIVERSITY
ISLAMABAD
Earthquake never kills, but damage of the structures
during earthquake due to incorrect or insufficient
design and construction, kills the peoples.
 Damage due to Earthquakes

Earthquakes have varied effects, including changes in geologic

features, damage to man-made structures and impacts on
human and animal life.

Earthquake damage depends on many factors:

• The size of the Earthquake.
• The distance from the focus of the earthquake
• The properties of the materials at the site
• The nature of the structures in the area
 Effects of earthquakes

• Ground shaking: shakes structures constructed on ground

causing them to collapse.
• Liquefaction: conversion of formally stable cohesion less soils
to a fluid mass, causing damage to the structure.
• Landslides: triggered by the vibrations.
• Retaining structure failure: damage of retaining walls and sea
walls.
• Fire: indirect result of earthquakes triggered by broken gas
and power lines.
• Tsunamis: large waves created by the instantaneous
displacement of the sea floor during submarine faulting.
 Ground shaking

Frequency of shaking differs for different seismic waves.

High frequency body waves shakes low buildings more.
Low frequency surface waves shake high buildings more.
Intensity of shaking also depends on type of subsurface
materials.
Unconsolidated materials amplify shaking more than rocks do.
Building respond differently to shaking depending on
construction styles, materials
Due to ground shaking
 Soil liquefaction

This occur when water saturated soil or sediment turns from a solid to
liquid as result of earthquake shaking.

The strength of the soil reduced, often dramatically, to the point where it
is unable to support structure or remain stable
Liquefaction

• Occurs in loose, saturated sands

• Grain structure collapses
• Pore pressure increases
• Effective stress decreases
• Strength and stiffness decreases
Due to soil liquefaction
 Land slides
Landslides: triggered by the vibrations.
Landslides often occur in steep river valleys and areas of weak
sands and clays.
 Retaining structure failure

Liquefied soil exerts higher pressure on retaining walls, which

can cause them to tilt or slide.
 Fire
Earthquakes some times cause fire due to broken gas lines,
contributing to the loss of life and economy.
 Tsunami
• Is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a
large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large
lake.
• Tsunami is a Japanese word with the English translation,
harbor wave,( tsu mean harbor, while nami means wave)
 Tsunami
• Tsunami can be generated when the sea floor abruptly
deforms and vertically displaces the overlying water.
• The water above the deformed area is displaced from its
equilibrium position. Waves are formed as the displaced
water mass, which acts under the influence of gravity,
attempts to regain its equilibrium.
• Tsunami travels at a speed that is related to the water depth-
hence as the water depth decreases, the tsunami slows.
Formation of tsunami
Tsunami movement:
• 800 kmph in deep water
• 350 kmph in medium depth water
• 50 kmph in shallow water