DAMAGE MECHANISM OF EXPANJION JOINTS OF WATER LIFELINES IN THE 2011 GREAT EAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE

Abstract

 Many water pipelines were damaged in Great East-Japan Earthquake. Especially many damages were observed at the buried expansion joints used in large diameter water main lines, so that the water supply suspension was largely developed during several weeks. In this study, based on the site observation of damaged joints, the damage mechanism of buried expansion joints were investigated from the seismic response analysis.