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Near-surface softening and healing in eastern Honshu associated with the 2011 magnitude-9 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake

Author

Listed:
  • Su-Yang Wang

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Hai-Yang Zhuang

    (Nanjing Tech University)

  • Hao Zhang

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Hong-Jun He

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Wei-Ping Jiang

    (China Earthquake Administration)

  • Er-Lei Yao

    (Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute)

  • Bin Ruan

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Yong-Xin Wu

    (Hohai University)

  • Yu Miao

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

The near-surface part of the crust, also called the skin of the earth, is the arena of human activity of which the stiffness is of great concern to engineers in infrastructure construction. The stiffness reduction of near-surface geomaterials also plays a vital role in geohazards triggering. However, the physical mechanism behind the material softening is still not fully understood. Here, we report a coseismic shear-wave velocity reduction in the near surface by up to a few tens of percent during the strongest shaking from the 11 March 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake and a subsequent two-stage healing process including a rapid recovery within a few minutes and a slow recovery over many years. We also present a theoretical contact model between mineral grains in geomaterials containing multiple metastable contacts at small separations due to the oscillatory hydration interaction, which can explain the emergence of different stages in the healing process.

Suggested Citation

  • Su-Yang Wang & Hai-Yang Zhuang & Hao Zhang & Hong-Jun He & Wei-Ping Jiang & Er-Lei Yao & Bin Ruan & Yong-Xin Wu & Yu Miao, 2021. "Near-surface softening and healing in eastern Honshu associated with the 2011 magnitude-9 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-21418-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21418-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Qiuzhe Wang & Jiang Bian & Wenting Huang & Qingrui Lu & Kai Zhao & Zhaoyan Li, 2022. "Seabed Liquefaction around Pipeline with Backfilling Trench Subjected to Strong Earthquake Motions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Lang Liu & Xiaotian Yang & Boquan Yan & Siyu Miao, 2022. "Dynamic Responses of RC Girder Bridge under Heavy Truck and Seismic Loads Combined," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-20, July.

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