Liquefaction: Behavior

Evidence, Prediction,
and Prevention

Richard P. Ray, Ph.D, P.E.

Todays Menu

What is Liquefaction ?
How is it expressed ?
Can we estimate liquefaction potential ?
Can we prevent it from happening or
reduce its impact ?

What is it

Worms eye view - Physical Behavior

Professors eye view - Laboratory and
Analytical Approach

Worms eye view

Triaxial Test on Sand

1 3
q
2

1 3
p'
u
2

Triaxial Test on Saturated Sand

sin ' tan '

Expression of Liquefaction

Sand boils and flows free-field

Landslides static lateral stress
Foundation Failures surface loadings

Evaluating Liquefaction
Potential
Empirical Methods SPT, CPT
Stress or Strain-Based Simplified
Effective Stress Time History Models
Probabilistic Methods

Evaluating Liquefaction
Potential
Compare Earthquake Load to Soil Resistance
Stress Based

Strain Based

Seed & Idriss

Dobry et al

One Dimensional
Response Analysis

One Dimensional
Response Analysis
Laboratory Strain
Cyclic Testing

Laboratory Stress
Cyclic Testing

Seed & Idriss Simplified Method

FS=Resistance/Load
Resistance = res = fn( SPT Blow Count,
Earthquake Mag,
Percent Fines)
Load = cyc = fn( Earthquake Accel,
Vertical Stress)

Load Equation, Seed & Idriss

Simplified Method

cyc

amax
0.65
v rd
g

Divide profile into segments (~2ft.)

Compute v , rd for each segment
Compute cyc for each segment

Stress Reduction Factor (rd)

Stress Reduction vs.
Depth
amax

cyc 0.65
-20

v rd

Depth, ft

0
Low

20

Avg
High

40

Poly. (Low )

60
80
100
0.000

0.200

0.400

0.600

0.800

Stress Reduction Factor, rd

1.000

Seed & Idriss Load Profile, cyc

Liquefaction Load and Resistance
Cyclic Stress (psf)
0.00

1000.00 2000.00 3000.00 4000.00

0.00
5.00
10.00

Depth (ft)

15.00
20.00
25.00
30.00
35.00
40.00
45.00
50.00

Load
Resistance

Resistance Equation, Seed & Idriss

Simplified Method

res

CSRM
CSR 7.5
v'
CSR7.5

Use same depth segments (~2ft.)

Compute v for each segment
Compute CSR for each segment
Compute res for each segment

Resistance Equation, Seed &

Idriss Simplified Method
CSR = Cyclic Stress Ratio res /v
CSR based on SPT N160 values
CSR influenced by Percent Fines
Therefore
Must correct N blow counts
Must account for Percent Fines

Empirical CSR Based on Blow Count, N160

N vs CSR
0.5

<5%, Wu
15%, Wu
35%, Wu
<5%, Ray
15%, Ray
35%, Ray

0.4

CSR

0.3

0.2

0.1

res

CSRM '
CSRM 7.5
v
CSRM 7.5

0
0

10

15

(N1)60

20

25

30

Load-Resistance and F.S. Profiles

Liquefaction Load and Resistance

Liquefaction Factor of Safety

Factor of Safety

Cyclic Stress (psf)

1000.00

2000.00

3000.00

4000.00

0.00

0.00

5.00

5.00

10.00

10.00

15.00

15.00

20.00

20.00

25.00
30.00

Load
Resistance

Depth (ft)

Depth (ft)

0.00

25.00
30.00

35.00

35.00

40.00

40.00

45.00

45.00

50.00

50.00

Factor of Safety
FS=1

Zone of Potential
Liquefaction

10

Resistance Equation, Seed & Idriss

Simplified Method (Alternatives)
CSR = Cyclic Stress Ratio res /v
CSR based on CPT =>SPT N160 , or
CSR based on Vs => SPT N160
CPT to SPT Conversion
100

SPT N

80
60
40
20
0
0

40

80

120

160

Cone Tip Resistance, Qc (tsf)

200

Silts
Fine Sand
Sand
Silty Sand
Coarse Sands
Sandy Gravel

Loading Conditions, Dobry et al

Simplified Strain Method

cyc

amax v rd
0.65
g G(cyc )

Divide profile into segments (~2ft.)

Compute v , rd for each segment
Compute cyc for each segment
(iterative procedure)

Liquefaction Resistance, Dobry

et al. Simplified Strain Method
Perform strain-controlled laboratory tests at
several stages of cyc-lab to measure number of
cycles to liquefaction N(l,)
At cyc = cyc-lab compare Neq to N(l,)
If Neq > N(l,) liquefaction possible
If Neq < N(l,) liquefaction not possible

Settlement During Liquefaction,

Dobry et al-Castro Method
Uses correlation of cyc to vol for dry and
saturated sands (SP, SP-SC, SC)
For every profile segment use cyc to find
vol
Multiply vol times segment height to get
segment settlement contribution
Add all segment contributions for
settlement estimate at surface.

Settlement Correlation - Castro

Settlement Correlation

Vol. Comp vol %

10.00

1.00

SP
SP-SC
0.10

SC

0.01
0.0001

0.0010

0.0100

0.1000

Cyclic Shearing Strain cyc(mm/mm)

Alternative Methods for

Liquefaction Potential Estimation
Empirical Approach, Cone Resistance
Empirical Approach, Shear Wave Velocity
MOC 1-D Analysis

Empirical Approach, Cone

Resistance

Empirical Approach, Shear Wave

Velocity

MOC 1-D Analysis

Surface
1
Base
Reach
Layer

2
3

dz
z
1-D Shear Wave

4
5
Base

Reach
Nodes

2.00E+00

1.20E+00

1.50E+00

1.10E+00

1.00E+00

1.00E+00

5.00E-01

9.00E-01

0.00E+00

8.00E-01

-5.00E-01

7.00E-01

Vel 1
Vel 187
Energy Ratio

-1.00E+00

6.00E-01

-1.50E+00

5.00E-01
0

10

15
Time (sec)

20

25

30

Energy Ratio

Velocity (ft/sec)

MOC 1-D Analysis Output

5.00E+02
Shearing Stress (psf)

2.50E+02

-8.0E-03

-6.0E-03

-4.0E-03

0.00E+00
-2.0E-03 0.0E+00

2.0E-03

4.0E-03

6.0E-03

8.0E-03

Shearing Strain (m/m)

-2.50E+02

-5.00E+02

Prevention/Control
Soil modification
Reduced Loads
Drainage (pore pressure relief)