[1] A strong earthquake (Mw 6.8) struck the coastal region east of Algiers and the Tell Atlas of Algeria on 21 May, 2003 and was responsible of severe damage and about 2400 casualties. The coastal mainshock was followed by a large number of aftershocks, the largest reaching Mw 5.8 on 27 May 2003. We study the mainshock, first major aftershocks and about 900 events recorded by temporary seismic stations using master-event approach and doubledifference (DD) methods. Although the seismic station array has a large gap coverage, the DD algorithm provides with an accurate aftershocks location. The mainshock hypocenter relocation is determined using three major aftershocks (5.0 Mw 5.8) chosen as master events. The new mainshock location shifted on the coastline (36.83N, 3.65E) at 8 -10 km depth. Seismic events extend to about 16-km-depth and form a N 55°-60°E trending and 45°-55°SE dipping fault geometry. Up to now, it is the unique among the recently studied seismic events of the Tell Atlas of Algeria. Mainshock and aftershocks relocation, the thrust focal mechanism (Harvard CMT: N 57°, 44°SE dip, 71 rake) and the seismic moment 2.86 10 19 Nm, infer a 50-km-long fault rupture that may appear at the sea bottom at 6 to 12 km offshore north of the coastline. The Zemmouri earthquake occurred along the complex thrust-and-fold system of the Tell Atlas and provides with new constraints on the earthquake hazard evaluation in northern Algeria.

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In this paper, the Thin Layer Method (TLM) is adapted for solving one-dimensional primary consolidation problems. It is also combined with a stochastic formulation integrating Monte Carlo simulations to investigate primary consolidation of a random heterogeneous soil profile. This latter is modeled as a set of superposed layers extending horizontally to infinity, and having random properties. Spatial variability of soil properties is considered in the vertical direction only. Soil properties of interest are elastic modulus and soil permeability, modeled herein as spatially random fields. Lognormal distribution is chosen because it is suitable for strictly non-negative random variables, and enables analyzing the large variability of such properties. The statistics regarding final settlement and its corresponding time are investigated by performing a parametric study, which integrates the influence of variation coefficient of both elastic modulus and soil permeability, and vertical correlation length. Obtained results indicate that heterogeneity significantly influences primary consolidation of the soil profile, generating a quite different way of soil grain rearrangement and water pressure dissipation in comparison to the homogeneous case, and causing a delay in the consolidation process.