After the 1995 Kobe Earthquake, particular attention has been paid on the settlement observed at reclaimed lands between Osaka and Kobe, in reference to their geological characteristics. In this paper, the ground surface elevations before and after the 1995 Kobe Earthquake were compared to evaluate the seismic ground settlement of reclaimed lands. Calculated settlements by using an available empirical formula were compared with measured ones. A further study was carried out to investigate the correlation between the seismic behavior of microtrmos at each reclaimed land and the liquefaction occurrence during the 1995 Kobe Earthquake.
Many reclaimed lands have been constructed along the north to north-east shoreline of Osaka Bay, including Port Island, Rokko Island, Yumeshima, Sakishima and Kansai International Airport Island. Some of these islands have been constructed by waste disposals. The 1995 Kobe Earthquake that struck the southern part of Hyogo prefecture, Japan brought many severe damages. The geotechnical phenomena that caused the damages were mainly soil liquefaction and ground settlement and these phenomena were commonly found at reclaimed lands. Most damages at reclaimed lands were concentrated on the structures at port facilities. They include such damages as displaced caissons composing of revetments and embankments, collapsed cranes and buildings on the ground with lateral soil displacement and soil liquefaction. At inner areas of the reclaimed lands located far from the shoreline, such phenomena as sand boil and ground settlement were commonly observed. The settlement were as large as several tens of centimeters in some parts. (Brebbia, C. A., 1996). In this paper, attempts are made to analyze mainly the behavior of the seismic ground settlement and the
