Performance Assessment of Geosynthetic Reinforced Quay Walls under Concurrent Tsunami and Earthquake Aftershocks

Abstract

Coastal structures are built against the dynamic loadings from waves, tides, and storms. However, natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis can impart additional loadings on these structures that might exceed their design specifications. In the past, several earthquakes and tsunamis had resulted in severe damages even on coastal structures engineered to withstand tsunamis. It is reasonable to suggest that the tsunami waves succeeding the earthquake had impacted the coastal structures along with an aftershock, imparting the most critical loading conditions. However, limited studies are available, evaluating the performance of coastal structures when subjected to the combined loading conditions. Among various coastal structures, quay walls stand out due to their distinctive loading patterns, concurrently sustaining vertical live loads, active pressure from retained backfill, and dynamic wave forces from the sea. Therefore, the present study paper puts forth a comprehensive analysis of geosynthetic reinforced quays under the influence of a tsunami withdrawal and an earthquake aftershock. Since the magnitudes of seaward-directed loads during tsunami drawdown are unknown and difficult to assess practically, this study assumes a worst-case loading condition to represent these effects. The analytical approach adopted employs the horizontal slice method, encompassing the influence of outboard seawater, backfill submergence, tsunami impact, and pseudo-static earthquake loads. Results indicate that combined loading conditions substantially increase reinforcement forces, reducing the internal stability of quay walls. Critical parameters influencing stability include the shear strength of backfill soil, quay wall inclination, and surcharge loads. © 2025 American Society of Civil Engineers.