The magnitude Mw 6.2 earthquake of February 22nd 2011 that struck beneath the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, caused widespread damage and was particularly destructive to the Central Business District (CBD). The shaking caused major damage, including collapses of structures, and initiated ground failure in the form of soil liquefaction and consequent effects such as sand boils, surface flooding, large differential settlements of buildings and lateral spreading of ground towards rivers were observed. A research project underway at the University of Canterbury to characterise the engineering behaviour of the soils in the region was influenced by this event to focus on the performance of the highly variable ground conditions in the CBD. This paper outlines the methodology of this research to characterise the key soil horizons that underlie the CBD that influenced the performance of important structures during the recent earthquakes, and will influence the performance of the rebuilt city centre under future events. The methodology follows post-earthquake reconnaissance in the central city, a desk study on ground conditions, site selection, mobilisation of a post-earthquake ground investigation incorporating the cone penetration test (CPT), borehole drilling, shear wave velocity profiling and Gel-push sampling followed by a programme of laboratory testing including monotonic and cyclic testing of the soils obtained in the investigation. The research is timely and aims to inform the impending rebuild, with appropriate information on the soils response to dynamic loading, and the influence this has on the performance of structures with various foundation forms.
An aerial photograph of the Christchurch central city. The photograph has been captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "High Street runs across this photograph in the top third from the old Majestic Theatre at the intersection of Manchester and Lichfield Streets to the intersection of Madras and St Asaph Street which is just beyond the edge of the photo".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Hotel Grand Chancellor, demolished to a level that it no longer dominates the skyline".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "164-170 Hereford Street with the tell-tale gravel spread on the roadway signalling imminent demolition".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The deconstruction of Brannigans, viewed from the top of the BNZ building in Cathedral Square".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "A truck on Gloucester Street adorned with signs reading, 'Ultimately mean' and 'Black Ice'".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Two giant nibblers demolishing the last of the Hotel Grand Chancellor car park, Cashel Street".
A photograph of children's paintings attached to a cordon fence. The photograph is captioned by Paul Corliss, "Manchester and Tuam Streets, botanical preservation site".
A video of a presentation by Antony Gough, New Zealand property developer, during a panel at the 2016 Seismics in the City Conference. The panel has three themes:A City on the Move: Collaboration and Regeneration: "'Christchurch is now moving rapidly from the recovery phase into a regeneration stage with Central and Local Government working with the wider community, including the business community to ensure we get optimal outcomes for greater Christchurch' (CECC)."Looking Back: Remembering and Learning: "What are the milestones? What are the millstones? What have we learnt? What have we applied?"Looking Forward: Visioning and Building: "What do we aspire to? What are the roadblocks? What is the way forward?"
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Corner of Gloucester Street and New Regent Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Forsyth Barr Building, corner Armagh and Colombo Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Cathedral Square - front of the Christchurch Cathedral".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "235-243 High Street and Westpac building".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "A road maintenance crew working on Madras Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Corner of Poplar Lane with Tuam Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Detail of the corner of Government Life Building".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Queen Victoria still watches over Victoria Square".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "PWC Building, Armagh Street - viewed from Gloucester Street".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The damaged Retour Restaurant in Cambridge Terrace".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Design and Art College, 116 Worcester Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The Scenic Hotel at 87 Kilmore Street".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Road maintenance crew working on Madras Street".
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The damaged Retour Restaurant in Cambridge Terrace".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Louis Vuitton Building being demolished, Colombo Street".
An aerial photograph of Christ Church Cathedral with the Millennium Hotel in the foreground.
A photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "The new Press building on Gloucester Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Louis Vuitton Building being demolished, Cathedral Square".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Looking north along Madras Street from Latimer Square".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "New Regent Street (west side) from Armagh Street".
Photograph captioned by BeckerFraserPhotos, "Looking north along Madras Street from Latimer Square".