The ground acceleration of historical earthquakes
Abstract
There exists in Spain a body of literature on the subject of historic earthquakes which, due to the lack of adequate analysis of the information available, turns out to be practically worthless.
This article investigates the Andalusian Earthquake (25/12/1884). Ground liquefaction is analyzed at five sites within the province of Granada and Malaga, as well as in the damage caused to the Restabal Church. The final conclusions show the minimum acceleration value, which causes both the ground liquefaction as well as damage to the building itself.
This research's starting point is taken from historic data found in reports carried out by Official Spanish, Italian and French Commissions sent to study the earthquake. Those documents provide us with information about the damage caused both to the buildings themselves, as well as to the effects on the ground.
The geotechnical data needed to check ground liquefaction was obtained by penetration tests. The mechanical characteristics and resistance of the materials of the building, essential for the analysis of their seismic resistance, were taken from samples carried out in the laboratory on the same materials or from already existing data from similar materials.