Dynamic Behaviour of a Caisson Quaywall Under Strong Earthquake

Effective stress analysis is performed to evaluate the residual displacement of a caisson quaywall during 1994 Hokkaido- Toho- Oki Earthquake and 1993 Kushiro- Oki Earthquake. The constitutive model used in this study is a multiple shear mechanism type defined in strain space and can take into account the effect of rotation of principal stress axis. The earthquake accelerations recorded at the outcropping rock during the earthquake are used as input bedrock motion. The results of finite element analysis are in good agreement with the observed behaviour of the quaywall. The analysis also indicates that liquefaction and high excess pore water pressure have a significant effect on the deformation of the caisson. Soil improvement is speculated as the most reliable measures against liquefaction. The influence of soil improvement and the reasonable improved area are discussed in the paper.