Seismic stability analysis of the Po river banks

The Po River is the major Italian watercourse. Over half its length is controlled with embankments as protection measures against heavy floodings. Recently, the Italian Government has funded a project for the evaluation of the seismic stability of about 90 km of embankments of the Po River. The project mainly aims at the seismic stability analyses of the river banks, with assessment of local site response and evaluation of the liquefaction potential. Hundreds of geotechnical investigations within the study area were performed and the water level variations in the embankment subsoil were investigated using piezometers. This paper describes the methodology and the main results of the analyses. The safety conditions of 43 significant sections in static and seismic conditions were investigated using limit equilibrium analyses. Dynamic effects in the seismic condition were considered using the pseudostatic method. Local seismic hazard and effects of site conditions on the ground motion are taken into account in the definition of the expected seismic action. Eventually, the results of the analyses are summarized in a static and seismic stability map of the investigated area, a useful tool for the local Authority in the territory hazard control.