NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

PUBLICATIONS

An Investigation of the Miyagi-ken-oki, Japan Earthquake of June 12, 1978 (NBS SP 592)

Published

Author(s)

Bruce R. Ellingwood

Abstract

On June 12, 1978, a destructive earthquake with Richter magnitude of 7.4 occurred off the east coast of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Preliminary estimates by the National Land Agency of Japan indicated that the earthquake caused an equivalent of $800 million in total damage. Following the earthquake, it was arranged through the U.S.-Japan Program in Natural Resources (UJNR) that teams of U.S. structural engineers and geologists would visit Miyagi Prefecture and inspect the damage caused by the earthquake. This report assembles the information and collective experiences of the investigation team so as to describe the earthquake and document its effects. Field investigations conducted by geologist and structural engineers are described in detail and some of the implications for seismic resistant design and construction of structures in the United States are also discussed.
Citation
Special Publication (NIST SP) - 592
Report Number
592
NIST Pub Series
Special Publication (NIST SP)
Pub Type
NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NBS.SP.592

Keywords

earthquake, Japan
Structural engineering, Disaster and failure studies and Earthquake risk reduction

Citation

Ellingwood, B. (1980), An Investigation of the Miyagi-ken-oki, Japan Earthquake of June 12, 1978 (NBS SP 592), Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NBS.SP.592 (Accessed October 13, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created October 30, 1980, Updated November 10, 2018
Was this page helpful?