18 March 2024 | Kemal Onder Cetin¹² · Berkay Soylemez¹ · Hayri Guzel¹ · Elife Cakir¹
The February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş-Türkiye earthquake sequence caused significant damage, with soil liquefaction identified as a major factor. Field investigations were conducted to assess the damage and document liquefaction sites. Surface manifestations of liquefaction, such as soil ejecta and ground deformations, were identified and mapped. Soil samples were collected and analyzed, revealing that most liquefied ejecta were low plasticity clays (CL), primarily from the Gölbaşı-Adıyaman region. Some samples, particularly from Hatay Airport, showed higher plasticity indices, with one classified as high plasticity clay (CH). These samples mostly fell within the "Zone B: Testing Recommended" region on the Seed et al. (2003) susceptibility chart, though 12 out of 74 samples fell outside the susceptible limits. Laboratory tests on liquefied ejecta samples showed that clayey soils can produce liquefied ejecta under cyclic loading. Detailed site investigations and laboratory testing are ongoing to further understand this unexpected response. Until these findings are available, the liquefaction susceptibility of silty-clayey soil mixtures should be assessed conservatively. The study highlights the importance of considering clayey soils in liquefaction assessments and provides insights into the behavior of liquefied soils in earthquake-prone regions. The results contribute to the understanding of liquefaction mechanisms and inform future risk assessments and mitigation strategies.The February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş-Türkiye earthquake sequence caused significant damage, with soil liquefaction identified as a major factor. Field investigations were conducted to assess the damage and document liquefaction sites. Surface manifestations of liquefaction, such as soil ejecta and ground deformations, were identified and mapped. Soil samples were collected and analyzed, revealing that most liquefied ejecta were low plasticity clays (CL), primarily from the Gölbaşı-Adıyaman region. Some samples, particularly from Hatay Airport, showed higher plasticity indices, with one classified as high plasticity clay (CH). These samples mostly fell within the "Zone B: Testing Recommended" region on the Seed et al. (2003) susceptibility chart, though 12 out of 74 samples fell outside the susceptible limits. Laboratory tests on liquefied ejecta samples showed that clayey soils can produce liquefied ejecta under cyclic loading. Detailed site investigations and laboratory testing are ongoing to further understand this unexpected response. Until these findings are available, the liquefaction susceptibility of silty-clayey soil mixtures should be assessed conservatively. The study highlights the importance of considering clayey soils in liquefaction assessments and provides insights into the behavior of liquefied soils in earthquake-prone regions. The results contribute to the understanding of liquefaction mechanisms and inform future risk assessments and mitigation strategies.