EARTHQUAKE FAULT RUPTURE PROPAGATION THROUGH SOIL

The phenomenon of earthquake fault rupture propagation through soil is quite complex and is not well understood at this time. This paper pre sents the results of an integrated investigation of this problem. Insi ghts are developed from the examination of surface fault rupture field case histories, laboratory physical model tests, and physical analogi es to the earthquake fault rupture process. Field observations and exp erimental results illustrate the ''typical'' patterns of behavior deve loped in the soil overlying a base rock fault displacement. Evidence s uggests that differential movement across the distinct fault rupture d issipates as the fault rupture propagates toward the ground surface th rough unconsolidated earth materials, and that the characteristics of the soil overlying the bedrock fault strongly influence the observed e arthquake fault rupture propagation behavior.