The influence of surface ruptures on building damage in the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake: A case study in Fengyuan City

In addition to the main surface rupture along the Chelungpu fault associated with the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake, numerous secondary or branch ruptures on hangingwall were also observed. These secondary surface ruptures are parallel or sub-parallel to the main rupture within a distance of a few meters to 1-2 km. The rupture length of these secondary ruptures varies from a few tens of meters up to 5 km. The surface deformation resulted in serious damages of buildings. The present work studied the features of surface deformation on the hangingwall around the Chung-Cheng Park, Fengyuan, Taichung. Three distinct surface ruptures, minor ruptures and tension cracks were observed in this area. The observed distribution and types of building damage on the hangingwall are demonstrated. Due to the difference in geological condition and complex pattern of surface deformation, the resulted building damages on the hangingwall vary. A series of site investigation including field survey, drilling, seismic prospecting, P-S logging tests and laboratory tests were carried out in the interested area. A geological structure model was proposed on the basis of the results of site investigation. Numerical simulation was carried out to model the surface deformation as well as subsurface potential damage zone of an active fault. It reasonably explains the observed pattern of surface deformation and indicates that the surface deformation zone during a catastrophic earthquake is predictable.