Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Learning From Earthquakes

OSU Researchers Study Liquefaction in Nepal

February 7, 2018

Virtual Earthquake Reconnaissance Team (VERT) Summary by Patrick Bassal.

 

Dr. Ben Mason and Dr. Deepak Rayamahji, geotechnical earthquake engineering researchers from Oregon State University, recently returned from a trip in Nepal, where they studied the liquefaction effects triggered by the M7.8 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. Their work included documenting collapsed and tilting buildings damaged by liquefaction, and performing in-situ site investigations in an effort to understand the structure of the liquefied soils. Their long-term goal is to improve future construction efforts in Nepal, by implementing the use of soil testing by local engineers and scientists.
 
 
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Figure 1. Photo courtesy of Eric Thompson.

 

An article about their trip has been posted on the local Corvallis, Oregon newspaper website: Corvallis Gazette-Times: Earthquake Researchers

 

Curated topics from the April 25, 2015, Nepal Earthquake to help inform reconnaissance activities, identify impacted regions, and help document the timeline of earthquake response/recovery. 

Information on geotechnical impacts—landslides and liquefaction—from the April 25, 2015, Nepal earthquake.