Summary of liquefaction macrophenomena in Wenchuan Earthquake

On May 12, 2008, a catastrophic earthquake of magnitude 8.0, the epicenter of which was located at Wenchuan, struck Sichuan Province, which is the most destructive earthquake in China since 1949. However, the liquefaction matters are hardly understood even until now. The liquefaction geographic distribution and the relationship between liquefaction behaviors and seismic intensity are presented, and the liquefaction macrophenomena including sandboils and watersprouts, ground subsidence, ground fissures are summarized. A brief summary of the structural damage caused by the liquefaction is also introduced. Comparing with the previous liquefaction phenomena in Tangshan Earthquake and Haicheng Earthquake, the preliminary analysis reveals new characteristics of the liquefaction behaviors and proposes new liquefaction matters worthy of further research. The liquefaction phenomena are quite different from the previous ones, and further investigation and analysis need to be conducted. The liquefaction in intensity VI, gravel soil liquefaction, high watersprouts, rich ejected soil types and liquefaction with fissures are the typical macrophenomena in the shock.