Module 4: Liquefaction of Soils

Objective: Lectures in this module introduce the concepts of liquefaction to the students. Starting with the concept of effective stress and the increase of pore pressures during dynamic loading which leads to liquefaction, the lectures slowly familiarize the students to critical void ratio, steady state line, state parameter, flow liquefaction, limited liquefaction, effect of density, generation of flow liquefaction surface, concepts of cyclic shear stress, cyclic stress ratio, resistance of soils to liquefaction, laboratory determination of liquefaction potential, field tests to estimate the cyclic resistance ratio, computing factor of safety against liquefaction, hazards associated with liquefaction and evaluation of liquefaction through cyclic stress and cyclic strain approaches, development of sand boils, lateral spreads and influence of various parameters on liquefaction. At the end of this module, students would be able to understand what is liquefaction and what type of soils undergo liquefaction under what earthquake conditions, what are the various hazards associated with liquefaction and how to evaluate liquefaction potential of ground. Keywords: liquefaction, critical void ratio, steady state line, flow liquefaction, cyclic mobility, liquefaction hazards, sand boils, lateral spreading, evaluation of liquefaction, cyclic stress approach, cyclic strain approach, cyclic stress ratio, cyclic resistance ratio Lectures: (6) 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. Introduction to Liquefaction Concepts of Liquefaction Initiation of Liquefaction Evaluation of Liquefaction Liquefaction Hazards Exercise Problems in Liquefaction

Recommended Reading: Kramer, S.L. (1996) Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Prentice Hall. Robert W. Day (2002) Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Handbook McGraw-Hill. Braja M. Das, Ramana G.V. (2010) Principles of soil dynamics, C L Engineering. Prakash, S. (1981) Soil Dynamics, McGraw-Hill. Jefferies, M. Been, K. (2006) Soil Liquefaction: A critical state approach, Taylor & Francis. Idriss, I.M. and Boulanger, R. (2006) Soil liquefaction during earthquakes, EERI.