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Environment
Shaky Foundations
by VK
Joshi
During the
post Kutch (Bhuj) earthquake (2001) surveys a strange phenomenon came to
the notice of the seismologists of Geological Survey Of India (GSI).
They noticed in Ahmedabad that some buildings, like Akshay Apartments, a
building comprising 12 flats came down like a pack of cards. All
occupants except an old lady came out before it came down and survived.
Barely 30 m away from this building stood Gautam Krupa complex with 16
flats. These flats received only minor cracks. Scores of such incidents
were reported by the GSI team from several localities.
In the recent
past after major earthquakes in Mexico City (1985), San Francisco (1989)
and Los Angles (1995) similar phenomenon had been noticed. This set the
ball rolling. Was it because of some supernatural power that saved
selected buildings from destruction or was it due to some other reason?
Science does not believe in superstitions. It has to have an answer for
every query.
The answer was not lagging behind. Those who have watched the 1957 Movie
Bridge on the River Kwai by David Lean would recall that the British
soldiers as they marched in a column in unison began to march
haphazardly as they crossed the Bridge. Why? The uniform footfall of the
soldiers creates ripples on the ground. While marching through the
bridge, such ripples can make the bridge collapse if the structure
starts to resonate at the same wave length. Knowing well the fact the
structural engineers have been using design parameters that ensure that
a colossal civil structure does not resonate with earthquake waves at
the same wave length.
It is easier said than done. In case of a structure like a major dam or
a bridge across a river all such parameters are taken in to account and
the structures are designed to face the maximum possible consequences.
However, in case of individual houses or even multistoried apartments,
in India except earthquake resistant designs as per the earthquake zone
in which the apartment lies, nothing much is done.
Recent studies have shown that merely following the earthquake design
code in an alluvial country uniformly within a zone is not enough. Wide
spread damage at Ahmedabad with lucky escape for a few is one of the
recent examples from India.
The seismologists found that as the earthquake waves traverse through
different sub-soil layers of sand, clay, gravel etc. their behavior
varies in different layers. This causes variation in ground
amplification and dynamic site period resulting in large variation in
the severity of damage to buildings, roads, railway lines and other
lifeline structures.
Alarmed by possibilities of great damage in case of a powerful
earthquake occurring within a radius of 200 km, the seismologists in
India too have started a micro-seismic zonation of vulnerable areas.
Dehradun is one such area in North India which is at present highly
vulnerable in case of an earthquake occurring in the central Himalayas.
Firstly the city has witnessed a lot of damage during Kangra (1905),
Uttarkashi (1991) and Chamoli (1999) earthquakes says Dr. A.K. Mahajan
of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun secondly being the
present capital of Uttarakhand, the city is going through a construction
boom. Suddenly the population of the city has increased multifold and
housing is one of the priorities.
An earthquake never kills anyone, people die of house collapse. That is
why the need for houses which can withstand the impact of the Shear or S
waves of the earthquake. These waves travel at a slower rate through a
rocky medium, but generate a ripple effect in an elastic medium. The
unconsolidated sand and gravel layers in the subsurface in an alluvial
terrain are ideal propagators of S waves over long distances.
Dehradun valley is unique as it is parallel to the mountains. Normally
valleys are carved across the mountains. Dehradun lies between the
Siwalik Hills and the Himalayas. Since it is like a bowl the streams
from north and south drain in to the valley. Layers of sediments brought
by these rivers have been deposited in the valley. These sediments are
coarse gravels and in depth they become coarser with occasional patches
of clay or mudstone. In the northern part of the city these gravels are
absent, instead rocs of Siwalik are found in the subsurface. Towards the
east there is more lime present in the gravel.
Seismic hazard wise, Dehradun is quite vulnerable. It falls in the zone
IV of the seismic zonation map of India. Based on the past earthquake
evidences, active tectonics or study of fault planes along which
movement is still going on and seismic vulnerability studies indicate
one conclusion, that is an earthquake of magnitude of 1905 Kangra
earthquake is overdue in the Himalayan kingdom. If such an earthquake
occurs Dehradun may have as much as 200,000 fatalities. Though it is not
yet possible to predict �when�, but a powerful earthquake is due for
sure.
The S waves of an earthquake develop a greater magnification while
passing through lose and unconsolidated sediments. Problem with Dehradun
city, is its location on lose deposits of sand and gravel. These are
called as the fan deposits-that is material carried by streams down the
steam gradients gets fanned out as soon as the stream hits a plain. This
material has undergone several cycles of weathering, erosion and
deposition. Studies by Mahajan have shown that the peak amplification
function between the free surface and the bedrock is at 3 Hz in the
northern part of the city, 2.5 Hz in the middle and 1.5 Hz in the south
and southwestern parts of the city. This confirms much less thickness of
lose alluvial sediments in the northern part of the city compared to the
southern and southwestern part.
Geological Survey of India (GSI), having seen the selected damage at
Ahmedabad after Kutch (Bhuj) earthquake 2001 has already started a
systematic micro-zonation of most vulnerable areas from severe
earthquakes point of view. Dehradun being a vulnerable area and one of
the densely populated areas has been studied in detail. A ground
vulnerability index of Dehradun urban complex has been prepared by the
GSI. As per that southern part of Dehradun around Pithuwala, Nayanagar,
Tuntawala, Harbhajwala etc showed very high values of vulnerability
index and hence fell in very high earthquake damageable zone. Most of
the central part of Dehradun shows low level of vulnerability.
Southwestern part of city also shows a higher intensity increment. In
other words that area will have worse affect in the event of a high
intensity earthquake.
In a subsurface set up like Dehradun�s the possibility of ground
underneath getting liquefied is more. Under similar situation several
multistoried apartments crumbled at Ahmedabad. GSI�s studies in Dehradun
indicate that chances of liquefaction at Dehradun are quite remote.
However ground motion can get amplified three to four times in the event
of an earthquake of magnitude around 8 within 100 km radius of Dehradun.
Such amplifications mean that while constructing multistoried apartments
expert advice must be sought and building designed accordingly.
It is important that in vulnerable areas all public utility buildings
including schools, hospitals and offices where a larger congregation of
people is anticipated should be made absolutely earthquake safe.
Strange are the nature�s ways. Indian plate is constantly moving
underneath the Asian plate since past 20 million years. Consequently the
Himalayas are constantly rising. The Himalayan belt is under a constant
stress. It is the release of this stress that leads to major earthquakes
in the region. All leading seismologists postulate release of stress
this time in the Central Kumaon sector. Such observations make Dehradun
all the more vulnerable. It is not only for the present for all times to
come that building codes are strictly followed as per the threat
envisaged in particular areas of urban habitats like Dehradun.
April 5,
2009
Image of Rubble of Akshay
Apartment, Ahmedabad being removed while Gautum Krupa Apartment stands
unscathed in back ground, courtesy GSI.
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