Modelling of speleothems failure in the Hotton cave (Belgium). Is the failure earthquake induced?

Abstract To provide quantitative information on the ground acceleration necessary to break speleothems, laboratory measurements on samples of stalagmite have been performed to study their failure in bending. Due to their high natural frequencies, speleothems can be considered as rigid bodies to seismic strong ground motion. Using this simple hypothesis and the determined mechanical properties (a minimum value of 0.4 MPa for the tensile failure stress has been considered), modelling indicates that horizontal acceleration ranging from 0.3 m/s 2 to 100 m/s 2 (0.03 to 10g) are necessary to break 3... Mehr ...