Postearthquake Deformation Analysis of Wildlife Site

Abstract

Postearthquake deformations of the Wildlife site, Imperial Valley, Calif., following the 1987 Superstition Hills earthquake, have been interpreted by finite‐element deformation analyses. The analyses consider the stress redistribution and reconsolidation caused by the development of liquefaction. The stress redistribution analysis was conducted under fully undrained condition to consider the effects of strain‐softening behavior of liquefied materials. The reconsolidation analysis was conducted using Biot's theory to consider the effects of dissipation of excess pore‐water pressures. The results reveal that the delayed pore‐water pressure response and deformation may be due to the redistribution of stresses and pore‐water pressures.