1988 ARMENIA EARTHQUAKE .1. SEISMOLOGICAL, GEOTECHNICAL, AND STRUCTURAL OVERVIEW

This is the first in a sequence of five papers dealing with engineerin g aspects of the surface-wave magnitude M(s) approximate to 6.8, 1988 Armenia earthquake, the devastating effects of which are still being f elt in Armenia. Although the central theme of our three-year study has been to assess the role of local soil conditions on the magnitude and geographic distribution of damage, we have come to recognize that a c lose link exists among seismological, geological, geotechnical, and st ructural aspects of the Armenia earthquake. Our field investigations a nd analysis of various geologic and engineering aspects of the earthqu ake have culminated in a series of five papers. This and the companion paper present mostly factual information pertaining to: (1) The mecha nics of the fault and its surface breakout; (2) some potentially signi ficant topographic, geologic, and geotechnical features; and (3) the s tatistics of damage in cities of Spitak, Leninakan (now called Kumayri ), and Kirovakan, Armenia, correlated to geologic and soil profiles. I n the third and fourth papers of this series, which will appear in a S ubsequent issue of the journal, theoretical analysis of soil amplifica tion in Leninakan and Kirovakan are described. The fifth paper, also i n a later issue of the journal, presents data and analysis of liquefac tion-induced embankment failure case histories.