Seismic and Tsunami Design Considerations for Essential Port Facilities - Case Studies

Abstract

Recent large earthquakes and devastating tsunamis around the Pacific Rim have underscored the need for the disaster resilience of essential port structures such as piers, wharves, seawalls, and operations and security facilities. These port facilities and structures are part of an interdependent transportation network providing critical functions in seaport commerce, maritime security, and marine transportation in coastal regions.The mountain-and water-based geography of many coastal regions limits land-based transportation route redundancy and places greater importance on marine transportation routes and infrastructure. Maritime-based communities such as the Puget Sound Region, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Hawaiian Islands rely on marine transportation networks and infrastructure for commerce, transportation, and economic vitality. These are lifeline systems. In the aftermath of an earthquake or tsunami, the continued function of these essential facilities is critical to the response and recovery of the affected region, and in some cases, other parts of the United States as well. 1425 Ports 2013 © ASCE 2013 Ports 2013 Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON on 12/07/14. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.2 This paper provides overview and comparison case studies of the seismic and tsunami design considerations and features of three essential United States Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Command and Maritime Security Fast Response facilities located in the Puget Sound Region, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Hawaiian Islands. Design considerations and features compared include design for earthquake, liquefaction, and tsunami for near shore buildings and foundations. Special emphasis is placed on the application of seismic design standards on buildings and port and marine infrastructure. The importance of port facilities and infrastructure to the disaster resilience of these coastal regions and supporting research needs are also discussed.