A review of soil liquefaction in the Caribbean Greater and Lesser Antilles in reconsidering the ground motion effect of the M7.0 2010 Haiti earthquake in the Port-au-Prince Seaport and Léogâne Plain

Abstract

On 12 January 2010, the M7.0 Haiti earthquake caused infrastructure damage induced by extensive soil liquefaction and foundation failure in the Port-au-Prince International Seaport and Léogâne Plain. This study re-examines the soil liquefaction effects of the main shock and aftershock events by exploring the existing studies on calcareous sands, reviewing the phenomenon of liquefaction in the Caribbean Islands, and associating them within the seismic history of the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Due to the geomorphology of the Islands, urban development has typically been concentrated along the coast, in locations vulnerable to soil liquefaction. This study demonstrates that the liquefaction that occurred at sites in the M7.0 Haiti event was triggered by the main shock even at low peak ground accelerations (PGAs), the first aftershock effects were significant, and soil liquefaction was not rare in the Antilles. It identifies the elements that characterize historical cases of soil liquefaction caused by earthquakes in the Caribbean Islands. In addition, it points out the characteristics and findings of paleoliquefaction and paleoseismicity investigations conducted in the Caribbean region. Investigations and studies on the calcareous sand liquefaction and paleoseismology are essential to improve the seismic hazard and risk assessment of the Caribbean Islands. The existence of a large number of studies making reference to this topic highlights its significance.