The 3rd International Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Disaster Mitigation 2016 (ICEEDM-III 2016)

Liquefaction Potential Analysis Using SPT And CPT Data

(Case Study : Benoa Area, Denpasar)
N. Aribudimana*, M. Wahyu Pramanab, W. Ariana Basokac
a*,b,c
University of Udayana, Bukit Jimbaran, Badung, Bali

Abstract
Liquefaction is a phenomenon where the saturated non-cohesive soil loses its strength caused by earthquake. That
condition of soil can be found in Benoa area, Denpasar. Therefore, liquefaction potential analysis must be conducted for
a consideration for a construction process in that area. Method which is used in liquefaction potential analysis is a
method developed by I.M Idriss and Boulanger (2008). This method use SPT and CPT data. SPT and CPT data is
analyzed to get CRR (Cyclic Resistance Ratio) value or the soil resistance against liquefaction. CRR value will be
compared to CSR (Cyclic Stress Ratio) value or shear stress which is caused by earthquake and the result is FS (Factor of
Safety) value against liquefaction. The result of the liquefaction potential, either use SPT or CPT data are expected to
produce similar result. The result of the analysis is in the form of soil stratigraphy which can shows clearly the soil layer
is potentially liquefied or not. From the analysis result in Benoa area, either SPT or CPT data shows the soil has a
liquefaction potential. FS value from SPT data shows all the test points have liquefaction potential in various depth, with
FS value ranges from 0.4 to 0.8. FS values from CPT data shows all of the test points have a liquefaction potential in
depth 1 to 12 m, with FS value ranges from 0.3 – 0.7.
Keywords: Liquefaction, CSR (Cyclic Resistance Ratio), CRR (Cyclic Stress Ratio), FS (Factor of Safety)

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background
Soil is a very important element in the construction process. Soil serves as a foundation footing. Therefore, the
strength and the stability of the soil is something that must be kept in planning. If not properly taken into account in the
planning, failures in the soil can affect the whole building.
Problems on the soil that can occur in an earthquake is soil liquefaction. Liquefaction is a process of changing the nature
of the soil from solid to liquid state, which is caused by cyclic loading that is generally caused by the earthquake so that
pore water pressures rise toward the vertical stress. Liquefaction occurs when a non-cohesive soil in a water-saturated
state are losing a strong shear. During an earthquake soil more behaves as a liquid than as a solid, so that there is
liquefaction which can endanger buildings on top of it.
1.2. Objectives
From the background of the above problems, the objectives of this study are : Analyzing the liquefaction
potential, Determining the score of soil security against liquefaction with the data of SPT and CPT, Comparing the
security score of the soil using the liquefaction data of SPT and of SPT

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1. Liquefaction
Liquefaction is a condition where the soil gets cyclic load (load caused by the earthquake), thus resulting in the
soil deforms from solid to liquid (liquefied) and loss of strong shear. In this case, soil that experiencing liquefaction is
manifold sand or soil contains a lot of sand, which means the soil is non-cohesive, and well saturated (the gaps of
particles are filled by water) or in water-saturated conditions. The water content will put pressure on the soil particles,
causing the loss of grip in the soil particles.

2.2 Methods
Methods in liquefaction potential analysis in this study were as follows:
1. Soil type examination
2. Calculating the magnitude of Earthquake Plan and PGA
3. Calculating the value of CSR
4. Calculating the value of CRR from SPT data, then compared with CSR, the Factor of Safety (FS) was obtained
5. Comparing the value of FS from the data of SPT and CPT

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1. Soil Type Examination
The research will review two soil test sites located in the area of Benoa. The first location is in the domestic
passenger terminal of the port of Benoa and the second location is in Pertamina Depot of Benoa. The first location has
two drill points with SPT test interval of 2 meters and 2 points of Cone Penetration Test (CPT) with a 0.2 meter interval
in which each of the tests are carried out in adjoining locations. The second location has 1 point drill with SPT test
interval of 2 meters and 1 point of Cone Penetration Test (CPT) with a 0.2 meter interval. Here is shown one type of soil
examination at the study sites.

Table 1 Data of Soil Types on the First Location BH-02

Fine
Depth (m) Soil Types Fraction
(%)
0–2 Silty sand 11.68
2–4 Fine Sand 8.43
4–6 Grainy Sand 16.82
6–8 Grainy Sand 16.82
8 – 10 Grainy Sand 16.82
10 – 12 Fine Sand 16.82
12 – 14 Sea Corals, Solid 16.82
14 – 16 Sea Corals, Solid 16.82
 The results of soil investigation showed that soil at Benoa neighborhood is dominantly sand with the water table
level which is located at 1 meter below the ground surface. Sandy soil (non-cohesive) and water saturated is the soil that
tends to experience liquefaction, so that liquefaction potential analysis needs to be done.

3.2 Earthquake Calculation Plan and PGA

The earthquake plan is needed that will be used as a parameter of earthquakes that likely to occur in Benoa area.
To get the data history of earthquake, it is obtained from the website of the NEIC-USGS (National Earthquake
Information Center - United States Geological Survey). Earthquake historical data needed, is the earthquake with a radius
of 500 km from the coordinates of the Benoa area for 50 years (1965-2015). From the search results, it was obtained the
largest earthquake magnitude has ever happened is 6.5 MW (Moment Magnitude) which will then be used as earthquake
plans in liquefaction potential analysis.
In the national standard of SNI 1726 - 2012, the Indonesian earthquake maps already contained PGA value of
each region. Bali is classified into the zone of dark green color, with a value of PGA of 0.25g - 0.3g. In this study the
value of PGA used is 0.25g.

3.3. CSR Value Calculation

In determining the value of CSR, the things that must be taken into account are horizontal earthquake peak
acceleration on the soil surface (Amax), gravity, stress reduction coefficient, and overburden stress value. All variables
are formulated in the following equation:

…………………………………. (1)
Where :
amax : peak horizontal acceleration on the surface of soil caused by earthquake
g : gravity
σv : vertical overburden stress
σ‟vo : effective vertical overburden stress
rd : coefficient of stress reduction

3.4. Calculation of CRR Value of SPT Data

I.M. Idriss and R.W. Boulanger in 2008 modified the value of some parameters such as (N1)60 , ∆(N1)60 and
CRR7.5 summarized in the following equation :

……………….. (2)

Where :
(N1)60cs : Corrected Value of N SPT

Furthermore, CRR value is compared to the value of CSR of each layer of soil and it will get the value of FS.
Results of the values of CSR, CRR, and FS are plotted onto a graph showing the value in each layer of soil. Below is a
graph of the calculation of the liquefaction potential analysis of SPT data from each point of drilling.
 Figure 1: Graph of Relationship Between CSR, CRR and FS with depth at the first location of BH-01

In the graph, the black line indicates the line is at a point that is equal to one. If the FS versus Depth graph is on
the left of the black line, it can be said that the layer of soil potentially experience liquefaction. Conversely, if the lines
are in the right black line, it can be said to have resistance to liquefaction.

3.5 Calculation of CRR Value from CPT Data

The empirical formula developed by Idriss and Boulanger, 2008 is to use conical tip resistance values that have
been corrected, with the following formula:

………………………………………………………… (3)

Where :
Qc1Ncs : Value of resistant conical tip which has been corrected

Furthermore, the CRR value is compared with the value of CSR of each layer of soil and it will get the value of
FS. Results of the value of CSR, CRR and FS are plotted onto a graph showing the value in each layer of soil. Below is a
graph of the calculation of the liquefaction potential analysis of SPT data from each point.
 Figure 2: Graph of Relationship Between CSR, CRR, and FS with depth at the First Location of S-01
3.6. Comparison of FS Value from the SPT and CPT Data
In the calculation of liquefaction potential analysis, the SPT and CPT data have its own advantages and
disadvantages. Thus it is necessary to compare the two data in order to obtain more comprehensive results. At each test
site, data retrieval of SPT and CPT was carried out side by side in the expectation that soil tested do not have too much
different characteristics of the soil.

Figure 3. Graph of Comparison of FS Value of SPT-1 and CPT-1 in the First Location
 Figure 4. Graph of Comparison of FS Value of SPT-2 and DPT-2 at the First Location

Figure 5. Graph of Comparison of FS Value of SPT-2 and DPT-2 at the Second Location
 The graph above shows the two data both used the data of SPT and CPT showed that the soil has the potential for
liquefaction. The difference is that in the data of soil CPT obtained was shallower than the SPT data, this is because the
CPT data collection will be stopped if there are hard soil (exceeding the capacity of the tool) although in the subsoil still
have the possibility of having the type of softer soil.
The graph shows that the liquefaction potential analysis using CPT data is more critical than using SPT data because the
value of FS generated from CPT data shows more layers of soil with liquefaction potential.

4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1. Conclusions
1. The value of FS (Safety Factor) of soil against liquefaction using SPT data indicates that all test sites have the
potential to soil liquefaction (FS <1) at a depth that varies with the value of the FS which ranging from 0.4 to 0.8.
The value of FS (Safety Factor) of soil against liquefaction using CPT data shows that all soil test sites
potentially undergo liquefaction (FS <1) at a depth of 1-12 m, with a value of FS ranging from 0.3 up to 0.7.
2. The results of the analysis of soil liquefaction potential on the two types of test (SPT and CPT) showed that the
soil has the potential to liquefaction. However, using CPT data is more critical than the SPT data because the
value of FS generated by CPT data is relatively smaller.
4.2. Recommendations
1. Determination of safety factor (FS) of soil against liquefaction using the two data (SPT and CPT) needs
reconsideration or further study if the results show much different results. With this comparison, it is expected
that the decision-making of soil assumptions soil can be made by taking the more critical values.
2. More research is needed on the potential liquefaction covering a range of areas / regions, so that in the future can
be created a comprehensive liquefaction potential map.

REFERENCES
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(2) The National Standardization Agency. „How Penetration Testing Tools Fields with SPT‟ SNI 4153,2008, Jakarta.
(3) The National Standardization Agency. “Tata Cara Perencanaan Ketahanan Gempa untuk Struktur Bangunan Gedung dan
Non Gedung, SNI 1726, 2012, Jakarta.
(4) Budhu, Muni. “Soil Mechanic and Foundation” , 2000. USA.
(5) Das, Braja M. ”Principle of Soil Dynamic”, 2009, USA.
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(8) Politeknik Negeri Bali. 2009. Result soil investigation 1
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