Earthquake and Geotechnical Engineering Fundamentals

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the definitions, hazards, and engineering principles involved in geotechnical earthquake engineering as presented in the lecture notes.

Earthquake

The sudden shaking of the Earth's surface caused by the release of energy within the Earth's crust, usually occurring when tectonic plates move along faults.

Tectonic Plates

Large sections of rock that move along faults, which are cracks in the Earth's crust.

Earthquake Engineering

A broad field that deals with the effects of earthquakes on people and their environment and methods of reducing those effects using geology, seismology, and risk analysis.

Seismology

The study of the internal behavior of the earth and the nature of seismic waves generated by earthquakes.

Geology

The application of geologic data and principles to factors affecting the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of civil engineering works.

Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Hazards

Major types include Ground Shaking, Soil Liquefaction, Landslides and Slope Failure, Ground Settlement, and Surface Faulting.

Geotechnical conditions

Refer to the physical properties and characteristics of the soil and rock that make up the earth's surface and subsurface, critical for structure stability.

Seismic Hazard Assessment

The process of evaluating the likelihood and potential impact of earthquakes on infrastructure.

Seismic Load

The forces exerted on a structure due to seismic activity.

Base Isolation

A technique that decouples a structure from ground motion, reducing the energy transferred to the building.

Resonance

The condition where the frequency of seismic waves matches the natural frequency of a structure, leading to amplified vibrations.

Damping

The process of dissipating energy within a structure to reduce vibrations.

Earthquake Loading

The application of an earthquake-generated excitation on a structure or geo-structure, occurring at contact surfaces with ground or adjacent structures.

Ring of Fire

An area circumscribing the Pacific Plate where more than $80\%$ of earthquakes with a magnitude greater than $7.0$ are likely to occur.

Global Earthquake Frequency

In any given year, the world can expect $18$ earthquakes with a magnitude greater than $7.0$.