PROVISION OF BUILDING CODES IN THE CONTEXT OF SEISMIC SITE CHARACTERIZATION AND LIQUEFACTION SUSCEPTIBILITY ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Integration of regional code-based provisions considering local site effects and updated analytical techniques is a must in the field of seismic site characterization and liquefaction susceptibility assessment. Aiming to do so, we have introduced provisions of BNBC 2020 to characterize seismic site class and liquefaction susceptibility with the largest database to date and generated vulnerability maps of Dhaka City, and classified the areas into different zones considering the potential risk factors. The results show that the geologic age of soil plays a significant role in triggering liquefaction in different areas of Dhaka City and the majority portion of the recent artificial fill areas are subjected to high liquefaction potential for a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. The study also supplements the newly published Bangladesh National Building Code (2020) and provides guidelines according to the code to conduct engineering studies as per recommended seismic site class and liquefaction susceptibility for design considerations following the newly published mandates.