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Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geohazard Prevention
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Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geohazard Prevention

A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Hazards".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 22664

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Florin Pavel

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Guest Editor
Department of Reinforced Concrete Structures, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: risk and fragility analysis; earthquake; seismology; seismics; earthquake seismology; earthquake engineering; civil engineering; seismotectonics; engineering seismology; earthquake prediction; tectonics; applied geophysics; active tectonics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Alexandru Aldea

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Reinforced Concrete Structures, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: seismic hazard; soil conditions; seismic risk; earthquake engineering; wind engineering; seismology
Dr. Cristian Arion

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Reinforced Concrete Structures, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, 020396 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: seismic hazard; seismic risk; earthquake engineering; soil conditions; strucutral vulnerability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled “Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geohazard Prevention”, focuses on the critical intersection between geotechnical earthquake engineering practices and the prevention of geohazards. Geohazards, such as landslides, earthquakes, and soil liquefaction, pose significant threats to infrastructure and human lives, making their examination, prevention, and mitigation crucial. Moreover, the context of global warming brings new challenges in the assessment of geohazards.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest advancements, research findings, and innovative approaches in geotechnical earthquake engineering that contribute to effective geohazard prevention strategies. It seeks to provide a platform through which researchers, engineers, and practitioners can share their expertise, case studies, and practical solutions aspiring to address geotechnical challenges and minimize the impact of geohazards.

The articles featured in this Special Issue cover a wide range of topics including, but not limited to:

  • geotechnical site investigation techniques;
  • slope stability analysis and monitoring;
  • case studies in geotechnical earthquake engineering;
  • ground improvement methods;
  • soil liquefaction;
  • seismic design aspects;
  • geotechnical risk assessment.

The interdisciplinary nature of this Special Issue encourages collaboration between various fields such as civil engineering, geology, seismology, and geophysics.

By disseminating cutting-edge research and best practices in geotechnical engineering and geohazard prevention, this Special Issue aims to contribute to the development of robust infrastructure systems that can withstand and mitigate the adverse effects of geohazards, and to serve as a valuable resource for academics, professionals, and policymakers involved in geotechnical engineering and disaster risk management.

Dr. Florin Pavel
Prof. Dr. Alexandru Aldea
Dr. Cristian Arion
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Geosciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • geotechnical earthquake engineering
  • geohazard prevention
  • landslides
  • earthquakes
  • soil liquefaction
  • soil investigation
  • risk assessment
  • design codes

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 3032 KB  
Article
Reformulated Multiple Shear Mechanism Model for Fast 3D Nonlinear Ground Motion Analysis
by Yoshihiro Shishikura, Wataru Hotta and Muneo Hori
Geosciences 2026, 16(2), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences16020071 - 5 Feb 2026
Viewed by 321
Abstract
We have proposed the reduction in triple integral to double integral that is used in multiple shear mechanism model for faster 3D nonlinear ground motion analysis. In this study, we propose reformulation of the mechanism which results in the expression of an elasto-plastic [...] Read more.
We have proposed the reduction in triple integral to double integral that is used in multiple shear mechanism model for faster 3D nonlinear ground motion analysis. In this study, we propose reformulation of the mechanism which results in the expression of an elasto-plastic tensor as the product of strain and 4th-, 6th- and higher-order tensors. Storing these high-order tensors in a database, we can eliminate numerical computation required for the triple or double integration. Because the database is stored in the memory of a computational node, it is necessary to design the database considering the trade-off relation between the database size and the accuracy of computing the elasto-plasticity tensor. We carried out numerical experiments to verify the reformulation that uses the database for high-order tensors and to examine the performance of using the database. It is shown that the computational time is reduced to approximately 2% by using the reformulation and the database. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geohazard Prevention)
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22 pages, 19991 KB  
Article
Comprehensive Methodology for Assessing Structural Response to Probable Seismic Motions: Application to Guatemala City
by Carlos Gamboa-Canté, María Belén Benito, Omar Flores and Carlos Pérez-Arias
Geosciences 2025, 15(11), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15110427 - 8 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1293
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive methodological framework that encompasses all stages required to evaluate the structural response to potential seismic motions. The proposed approach involves the estimation of seismic hazard at the site of interest, the disaggregation and definition of control earthquakes, the [...] Read more.
This study presents a comprehensive methodological framework that encompasses all stages required to evaluate the structural response to potential seismic motions. The proposed approach involves the estimation of seismic hazard at the site of interest, the disaggregation and definition of control earthquakes, the characterization of local site effects, the assessment of possible resonance phenomena, and the comparison between response spectra derived from probable seismic scenarios and the design spectra of the buildings, leading to conclusions regarding structural safety. The methodology integrates instrumental measurements of soil and building vibration periods with analytical procedures to define response spectra consistent with expected seismic scenarios. It was applied to buildings of special importance located in Guatemala City, particularly within the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (USAC) campus, with the aim of evaluating their structural safety and developing retrofitting criteria when necessary. The implementation began with a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) to identify control earthquakes that make the largest contribution to hazard for a 475-year return period, followed by the estimation of rock response spectra. A seismic microzonation study was then conducted to characterize local site conditions. Instrumental vibration measurements of the soil and structures were obtained, and a soil–structure interaction analysis was carried out to evaluate potential resonance effects. The results showed no evidence of resonance. Finally, soil response spectra derived from the control earthquakes were compared with the design spectra defined by the AGIES 2024 structural safety standards. The results confirmed that the design spectra adequately envelope the computed response spectra for all soil–structure combinations. The proposed methodology is replicable and can be used to assess the seismic design adequacy of other buildings, providing a rational basis for retrofitting decisions when design spectra do not fully encompass the expected seismic response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geohazard Prevention)
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19 pages, 5422 KB  
Article
Influence of Shaking Sequence on Liquefaction Resistance and Shear Modulus of Sand Through Shaking Table Tests
by Roohollah Farzalizadeh, Abdolreza Osouli and Prabir K. Kolay
Geosciences 2025, 15(7), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15070235 - 20 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1897
Abstract
Case histories have shown that the liquefaction behavior of soils can differ depending on the pre-seismic history of sites. Assessing the shear modulus in soils subjected to seismic events is critical for advancing the fundamental understanding of soil behavior and enhancing the accuracy [...] Read more.
Case histories have shown that the liquefaction behavior of soils can differ depending on the pre-seismic history of sites. Assessing the shear modulus in soils subjected to seismic events is critical for advancing the fundamental understanding of soil behavior and enhancing the accuracy of soil modeling applications. This paper aims to study the effect of small and large pre-shaking sequences on the liquefaction resistance and shear modulus of sand through shaking table tests. The experimental results indicated that small shakings increase liquefaction resistance and shear modulus. Although large shakings leading to liquefaction cause significant densification, they significantly reduce the liquefaction resistance and shear modulus of sand at shallow depths due to the upward water flow during excess pore water pressure dissipation. The high upward flow of water during liquefaction changes the soil structure and increases the horizontal displacement of densified soil in the subsequent shaking. The amplification factor of acceleration was found to be primarily influenced by the excess pore water pressure generated in the soil instead of its relative density at the start of shaking. This paper presents the variations in Ru with shear strain and the relationship between a normalized shear modulus and shear strain considering the pre-shaking history of sand for shallow depths. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geohazard Prevention)
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24 pages, 11340 KB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of Embedment Depth Effects on the Rocking Behavior of Foundations
by Mohamadali Moradi, Ali Khezri, Seyed Majdeddin Mir Mohammad Hosseini, Hongbae Park and Daeyong Lee
Geosciences 2024, 14(12), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14120351 - 18 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2252
Abstract
Shallow foundations supporting high-rise structures are often subjected to extreme lateral loading from wind and seismic activities. Nonlinear soil–foundation system behaviors, such as foundation uplift or bearing capacity mobilization (i.e., rocking behavior), can act as energy dissipation mechanisms, potentially reducing structural demands. However, [...] Read more.
Shallow foundations supporting high-rise structures are often subjected to extreme lateral loading from wind and seismic activities. Nonlinear soil–foundation system behaviors, such as foundation uplift or bearing capacity mobilization (i.e., rocking behavior), can act as energy dissipation mechanisms, potentially reducing structural demands. However, such merits may be achieved at the expense of large residual deformations and settlements, which are influenced by various factors. One key factor which is highly influential on soil deformation mechanisms during rocking is the foundation embedment depth. This aspect of rocking foundations is investigated in this study under varying subgrade densities and initial vertical factors of safety (FSv), using the PIV technique and appropriate instrumentation. A series of reduced-scale slow cyclic tests were performed using a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) structure model. This study first examines the deformation mechanisms of strip foundations with depth-to-width (D/B) ratios of 0, 0.25, and 1, and then explores the effects of embedment depth on the performance of square foundations, evaluating moment capacity, settlement, recentering capability, rotational stiffness, and damping characteristics. The results demonstrate that the predominant deformation mechanism of the soil mass transitions from a wedge mechanism in surface foundations to a scoop mechanism in embedded foundations. Increasing the embedment depth enhances recentering capabilities, reduces damping, decreases settlement, increases rotational stiffness, and improves the moment capacity of the foundations. This comprehensive exploration of foundation performance and soil deformation mechanisms, considering varying embedment depths, FSv values, and soil relative densities, offers insights for optimizing the performance of rocking foundations under lateral loading conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geohazard Prevention)
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22 pages, 4068 KB  
Article
Analysis of the Liquefaction Potential at the Base of the San Marcos Dam (Cayambe, Ecuador)—A Validation in the Use of the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio
by Olegario Alonso-Pandavenes, Francisco Javier Torrijo and Gabriela Torres
Geosciences 2024, 14(11), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14110306 - 13 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2338
Abstract
Ground liquefaction potential analysis is a fundamental characterization in areas with continuous seismic activity, such as Ecuador. Geotechnical liquefaction studies are usually approached from dynamic penetration tests, which pose problems both in their correct execution and in their evaluation. Our research involves analyzing [...] Read more.
Ground liquefaction potential analysis is a fundamental characterization in areas with continuous seismic activity, such as Ecuador. Geotechnical liquefaction studies are usually approached from dynamic penetration tests, which pose problems both in their correct execution and in their evaluation. Our research involves analyzing dynamic penetration tests and microtremor geophysical surveys (horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio technique, HVSR) for analyzing the liquefaction potential at the base of the San Marcos dam, a reservoir located in Cayambe canton (Ecuador). Based on the investigations performed at the time of construction of the dam (drilling and geophysical refraction profiles) and the application of 20 microtremor observation stations via the HVSR technique, an analysis of the safety factor of liquefaction (SFliq) was conducted using the 2001 Youd and Idriss formulation and the values of the standard penetration test (SPT) applied in granular materials (sands). In addition, the vulnerability index (Kg) proposed by Nakamura in 1989 was analyzed through the HVSR records related to the ground shear strain (GSS). The results obtained in the HVSR analysis indicate the presence of a zone of about 100 m length in the central part of the foot of the dam, whose GSS values identified a condition of susceptibility to liquefaction. In the same area, the SPT essays analysis in the P-8A drill hole also shows a potential susceptibility to liquefaction in earthquake conditions greater than a moment magnitude (Mw) of 4.5. That seismic event could occur in the area, for example, with a new activity condition of the nearby Cayambe volcano or even from an earthquake from the vicinity of the fractured zone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geohazard Prevention)
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23 pages, 2619 KB  
Article
Prediction of Soil Liquefaction Triggering Using Rule-Based Interpretable Machine Learning
by Emerzon Torres and Jonathan Dungca
Geosciences 2024, 14(6), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14060156 - 6 Jun 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3866
Abstract
Seismic events remain a significant threat, causing loss of life and extensive damage in vulnerable regions. Soil liquefaction, a complex phenomenon where soil particles lose confinement, poses a substantial risk. The existing conventional simplified procedures, and some current machine learning techniques, for liquefaction [...] Read more.
Seismic events remain a significant threat, causing loss of life and extensive damage in vulnerable regions. Soil liquefaction, a complex phenomenon where soil particles lose confinement, poses a substantial risk. The existing conventional simplified procedures, and some current machine learning techniques, for liquefaction assessment reveal limitations and disadvantages. Utilizing the publicly available liquefaction case history database, this study aimed to produce a rule-based liquefaction triggering classification model using rough set-based machine learning, which is an interpretable machine learning tool. Following a series of procedures, a set of 32 rules in the form of IF-THEN statements were chosen as the best rule set. While some rules showed the expected outputs, there are several rules that presented attribute threshold values for triggering liquefaction. Rules that govern fine-grained soils emerged and challenged some of the common understandings of soil liquefaction. Additionally, this study also offered a clear flowchart for utilizing the rule-based model, demonstrated through practical examples using a borehole log. Results from the state-of-practice simplified procedures for liquefaction triggering align well with the proposed rule-based model. Recommendations for further evaluations of some rules and the expansion of the liquefaction database are warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geohazard Prevention)
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Review

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41 pages, 10214 KB  
Review
A Review of Parameters and Methods for Seismic Site Response
by A. S. M. Fahad Hossain, Ali Saeidi, Mohammad Salsabili, Miroslav Nastev, Juliana Ruiz Suescun and Zeinab Bayati
Geosciences 2025, 15(4), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15040128 - 1 Apr 2025
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 8927
Abstract
Prediction of the intensity of earthquake-induced motions at the ground surface attracts extensive attention from the geoscience community due to the significant threat it poses to humans and the built environment. Several factors are involved, including earthquake magnitude, epicentral distance, and local soil [...] Read more.
Prediction of the intensity of earthquake-induced motions at the ground surface attracts extensive attention from the geoscience community due to the significant threat it poses to humans and the built environment. Several factors are involved, including earthquake magnitude, epicentral distance, and local soil conditions. The local site effects, such as resonance amplification, topographic focusing, and basin-edge interactions, can significantly influence the amplitude–frequency content and duration of the incoming seismic waves. They are commonly predicted using site effect proxies or applying more sophisticated analytical and numerical models with advanced constitutive stress–strain relationships. The seismic excitation in numerical simulations consists of a set of input ground motions compatible with the seismo-tectonic settings at the studied location and the probability of exceedance of a specific level of ground shaking over a given period. These motions are applied at the base of the considered soil profiles, and their vertical propagation is simulated using linear and nonlinear approaches in time or frequency domains. This paper provides a comprehensive literature review of the major input parameters for site response analyses, evaluates the efficiency of site response proxies, and discusses the significance of accurate modeling approaches for predicting bedrock motion amplification. The important dynamic soil parameters include shear-wave velocity, shear modulus reduction, and damping ratio curves, along with the selection and scaling of earthquake ground motions, the evaluation of site effects through site response proxies, and experimental and numerical analysis, all of which are described in this article. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Geohazard Prevention)
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