Liquefaction hazard assessment and ground failure probability analysis in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal

A significant liquefaction hazard exists across the Kathmandu Valley, with central and southern regions showing higher susceptibility to ground failure during earthquakes. This conclusion stems from a detailed analysis using borehole data from 410 locations, including SPT-N values, to assess liquefaction potential for three scenario earthquakes. The study employed established methods to generate hazard maps, revealing that most areas face medium to very high risk of liquefaction damage, validated by observations from the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake (Mw 7.8). Target SPT-N values were also determined to mitigate future liquefaction risks in vulnerable zones.

Subedi, M., & Acharya, I. P. (2022). Liquefaction hazard assessment and ground failure probability analysis in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. Geoenvironmental Disasters, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40677-021-00203-0