Damage to earth structures by the 2004 Niigata-ken Chuetsu earthquake in Japan and their rehabilitation works

Damage to earth structures for roads, railways and residential areas, as well as dams and river levees, during the 2004 Niigata-ken Chuetsu earthquake in Japan, and their rehabilitation works are overviewed. Several influential factors are pointed out, such as a) heavy rainfall preceding the earthquake, b) large aftershocks, c) geological conditions for subsoil including existence of liquefiable layers, d) compaction degrees for embankment, and e) drainage capacity from subsoil/embankments. It is also reported that, in the reconstruction works of damaged roads and railways, preferred use of geogrid-reinforced soil retaining walls was implemented.