Damage Assessment and Seismic Intensity Analysis of the 2010 (M_w8.8) Maule Earthquake

Abstract

The MSK-64 seismic intensities inside the damage area of the 2010 Maule earthquake are estimated. With this purpose, field surveys of damage to typical single-family buildings located in 111 cities of the affected area were used. Cities located close to the north part of the earthquake rupture suffered higher damage, but most of this damage concerned adobe and unreinforced masonry houses. Minor and moderate damage was noted in modern low-rise engineered and nonengineered constructions, especially in confined masonry buildings. Despite the large length of the rupture, which reached more than 450 km, only one intensity value equal to IX was determined, and 21% of the values were greater than VII. The attenuation of seismic intensity was controlled by the distance to the main asperity more than to the hypocenter, which would be an important characteristic of the megathrust earthquakes, and it should therefore be considered in the seismic risk of large subduction environments.

Suspended Sediments in Chilean Rivers Reveal Low Postseismic Erosion After the Maule Earthquake (Mw 8.8) During a Severe Drought

“…We calculate the following parameters to describe the impact of the ground motion within the catchment boundaries: (i) the maximum horizontal PGA from Boroschek et al, ) and the USGS (); (ii) the maximum seismic intensities, considering data from Astroza et al (), Van Daele et al (), and USGS (); (iii) the volumetric sum of landslides activated by the earthquake; (iv) the volumetric sum of landslides activated by the earthquake normalized by the catchment area; and (v) the sum of the landslide areas divided by landslide distance to streams. The coseismic inventory was built by Serey et al () including previous unpublished works (Escobar, ; Moya, Sepúlveda, Serey, García, et al, ; Moya, Sepúlveda, Serey, Montalva, et al, ; Serey et al, ).…”

“…The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) PGA interpolation had systematically lower values than the local records (Figure a), which may be due to site effects at the local seismic stations (Boroschek et al, ). Twenty‐one percent of the MSK‐64 intensities exceeded VII (Astroza et al, ), and only one value reached the maximum of IX in the coastal town of Constitución (Figure b). Although higher slip occurred under the ocean, the entire continental forearc region suffered MM intensities that exceeded V (U.S. Geological Survey [USGS], 2010) and VII in specific locations (Van Daele et al, ; Figure b).…”

“…Background colors represent modeled values from the U.S. Geological Survey. Point data are from Boroschek et al (), Van Daele et al (), and Astroza et al (). Gray ellipses in (a) indicate the approximate extent of large (Mw≥8) megathrust events in the 100 years preceding the Maule earthquake (Campos et al, ; Lin et al, ).…”

Técnicas de refuerzo sísmico para la recuperación estructural del patrimonio arquitectónico chileno construido en adobe

“…El terremoto del Maule ocurrido en Febrero del año 2010 de magnitud Mw8.8, ha sido el más destructivo de la zona central de Chile en las últimas décadas, siendo además considerado el quinto evento sísmico más grande registrado a nivel mundial (1). En él, los edificios construidos con estructuras en base a materiales frágiles como el adobe, resultaron ser los más afectados (1).…”

“…En él, los edificios construidos con estructuras en base a materiales frágiles como el adobe, resultaron ser los más afectados (1). Sin embargo y a pesar de los daños severos, el estado chileno optó por recuperar ese patrimonio, al reconocer que el uso de las albañilerías de adobe forma parte de una rica cultura constructiva local ligada al mundo rural (2) y que las tipologías construidas entre los siglos XVI y XIX con dicho sistema constructivo poseen características muy marcadas (volúmenes de baja altura y grandes cubiertas, recintos herméticos con corredores exteriores) y se encuentran diseminadas en el territorio, otorgando un carácter único al paisaje de los valles del centro de Chile.…”