Damage to the Highway System

Pisco, Peru Earthquake

August 15, 2007
M8.0

Jerome S. O’Connor, P.E.

Senior Program Officer, Transportation Research
MCEER, University at Buffalo
 Incan Engineering - Machu Picchu

Peru population = 28 million

Land Area = 75% that of Alaska
MCEER Reconnaissance Report
 LIMA

CAÑETE

CHINCHA
PISCO

25 miles off shore ICA

Ica population = 700,000

 August 15, 2007 Earthquake
• M 8.0 (moment magnitude)
• Modified Mercalli Intensity as high as VIII
• PGA of 0.49g
• Duration > 170 seconds
• Two distinct phases of strong ground motion
• Small tsunami wave
Aceleración vertical (g)

0.06 ac max: 4.0527e -02 g

0.04

0.02

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
-0.02

-0.04
Tiem po (s)
August 15, 2007 Earthquake
 Consequences
• >519 deaths & 1874 serious injuries
• 54,926 buildings destroyed & 20958
seriously damaged

CATEDRAL SAN CLEMENTE, PISCO PUEBLO

 Liquefaction
increase in pore pressure in sandy soils resulting
in particle separation and quicksand like condition

X-section of sand boil in trench wall

 Liquefaction

• Ground settlement
• Lateral spreading
• Embankment failure
• Landslides
• Reduced vertical & horizontal capacity for
structure foundations, resulting in
settlement, tilting, shear failure, collapse
 Observed Highway Damage

• Serious pavement damage

• Embankment failure
• Rockfalls
• Culvert failure
• Retaining wall failures
Pan American Highway
Pan American Highway
CARRETERA PANAMERICANA SUR- ZONA SAN CLEMENTE
Pan American Highway
Pan American Highway
Pan American Highway

CARRETERA PANAMERICANA SUR- ZONA SAN CLEMENTE

Pan American Highway
Pan American Highway
Pan American Highway
Rockfall
Retaining Wall Damage
Puente Huamani

Built 1950
H15 design load
36 Ton weight limit
 Puente Huamani
(Vista en Elevación)

Longitud Total : 136 m

5 Tramos : 23m + 30m + 30m + 30m + 23m
Longitud de Tramos Suspendidos = 16m

Image courtesy of Jack López Ingenieros

Puente Huamani
Puente Huamani
 Severe cracking of Pier 2 (from South end) necessitates
extensive repair but the horizontal shear blocks managed to
retrain lateral movement of the superstructure.

Photo #CIP45 by Dr. Alva, National University

Puente Huamani
 Huamani Damage
• Severe cracking of one pier stem
• Severe cracking of transverse concrete
diaphragms
• Cracking and spalling of horizontal shear blocks,
pier caps, and diaphrams
• Tipping of the south abutment toward the stream
bed (4” at top)
• Lateral displacement of the superstructure
(approximately 100 mm or 4”)
• Damage to approach pavement
•
 Huamani Success

• No fatalities or injuries
• No dropped spans
• Successful use of horizontal shear blocks
to restrain bridge superstructure laterally
• Piers endured liquefaction without damage
• Lifeline structure taken out of service but
detour was available and repairs were
manageable
Timber Bridges
Puente Huachinga

Built 1966
Puente Huachinga
Puente Huachinga
Puente Los Molinos

Built 1932
Puente Los Molinos
Puente los Molinos
Puente Los Molinos
 Combination of Hazard Effects
• Shaking
• Liquefaction
• Rockfall and landslides
• El Nino flooding
• Huayco
• Debris impacts
• Overloads
Newer Construction
Other Structure Types
 Conclusions
• U.S. can learn from South America’s experiences
– History of large earthquakes
– Fairly good performance of bridges
• Liquefaction can cause severe damage to roadways and
bridges
• Older bridges are vulnerable
– Less stringent original design
– Deteriorated condition
– Accumulated damage from previous extreme events
• Damage to buildings illustrates importance of building
codes & construction quality
• Value of a Bridge Management System & Inspection
Program
 Spanish Technical Terms
APPENDIX C: English-Spanish Translation
Vocabulary is provided to facilitate use of this document and
facilitate communication with professional counterparts in
Spanish speaking countries. It includes technical terms that are
pertinent to transportation engineering, bridge inspection,
geotechnical engineering.
English Spanish
abutment estribo, contrafuerte
aftershock réplica
aggregate / crushed stone for concrete grava
angular rock Grava, roca con ángulos
asphalt asfalto
be careful tenga cuidado
boundary límite
 Acknowledgments
• Phil Yen, FHWA COTR and George Lee,
Project Director

• In Peru: Jack Lopez Jara, Jack Lopez Acuña,

Jorge E. Alva Hurtado, Julio Kuroiwa, & others

• ASCE Team Leader Alex Tang & Bridge Team

Members Lucero Mesa, SCDOT and Monique
Nykamp, Shannon & Wilson Inc.