Recurrent liquefaction-induced failures triggered by 2014 Cephalonia, Greece earthquakes: Spatial distribution and quantitative analysis of liquefaction potential

• Spatial distribution of liquefaction manifestation triggered by 2014, Cephalonia earthquakes
• Detailed description of the liquefaction-induced surface disruption
• Quantitative assessment of liquefaction potential
• Failure mode of quay walls along the waterfront area in Lixouri

Two earthquakes occurred on January, 26 and February, 3 2014 of Mw 6.1 and Mw 6.0, respectively, onshore the island of Cephalonia, Greece. The environmental effects e.g. rockfalls, liquefaction and ground cracks triggered by the events were widespread at the western part of the island and mainly in the peninsula of Paliki. The most remarkable characteristics of these two events were the generation of strong ground motion, the highest ever recorded in Greece and the recurrent liquefaction phenomena at the waterfront areas of Lixouri and Argostoli. In addition, the grain size distribution curves of soil samples collected along the seafront area at Lixouri indicated a sandy ejecta and are plotted in the range of possibility of liquefaction defined by Tsuchida (1971).By taking into account the data provided by three post-earthquake field trips that took place immediately after the first and the second earthquake, and the information provided by geotechnical boreholes drilled along the shoreline in Lixouri, a quantitative description of the liquefaction-induced deformations and a preliminary failure mode of the waterfront structures in Lixouri are presented in this study. As an outcome, a post-liquefaction induced settlement of ≈ 16 cm at two sites was computed.