PRESENTATION ON

LIQUEFACTION
AND
LIQUEFACTION POTENTIAL
BY: Mahesh Raj Bhatt
ME in Structural Engineering , Kathmandu University
1. LIQUEFACTION:
What is liquefaction
When does it occur
Liquefaction of soil
How it works
Shear strength of soil
Types of liquefaction
2.LIQUEFACTION POTENTIAL
How to identify
Liquefaction analysis
Prediction
Mitigations
3. CONCLUSIONS:
 LIQUEFACTION:

In soil mechanics term liquefied first used by

Allen Hazen (1918), In reference to
Failure of Calaveras Dam in California.

Attention of engineer after

-1964 Alaska Earthquake(Mw=9.2)
good Friday earthquake
- 1964 Niigata Earthquake( Ms=7.5)
Japan
-1989 loma-Prieta Earthquake and
others.
 What is Liquefaction?

A phenomenon whereby a saturated or

partially saturatedsoilsubstantially
loses strength and
stiffnessin response to an appliedstress,
usually earthquake shaking or other
sudden change in stress condition,
causing it to behave like a liquid.
 When does it occurs??

-when the effective stress of soil is reduced to

essentially zero, which corresponds to a
complete loss of shear strength

May be initiated by
Monotonic Loading
Cyclic loading
Shock loadings(EQs)
 Liquefaction of soil:
Soils behave like a liquid. How and why?
To understand the above phenomenon:
some basics required regarding:

Total stress, (t)

Pore water pressure (u)
Effective stress (eff )
t= eff + u eff = t- u
 How It Works??

When the seismic waves pass through the soil, the

vibrations cause the individual grains in the soil to
move around and
re-adjust their positions

This ultimately results in a decrease in volume of

the soil mass as
the grains pack more tightly together
a reduction in porosity
Soil loose its strength because of loss of effective
stress
Saturated sand in ground vibration,
-it tends to compact and decrease in volume ;
-if no drainage, decrease in volume results
-increase in pore water pressure
IF
Pore water pressure=overburden pressure
THAN
effective stress = zero,
-sand looses strength completely and
develops a liquefied state.
How pore pressure increase
Spring water analogy of soil layer
 Shear strength of soil
Shear strength, = c + t tan
Effective stress gives more realistic behaviour of
soil, Shear strength can be expressed as
= c1 + (t u)tan1
During the ground motion due to an earthquake,
static pore pressure may by an amount udyn, then
= c1 + (n u + udyn)tan1
Let us consider a situation when u + udyn= n, then
= c1
In cohesion less soil, c1= 0, hence = 0 (sand)
Influence of soil condition on liquefaction potential
Liquefaction damage 1964 Niigata japan
Alaska Earthquake (1964)
 Types of liquefaction:
1. Flow liquefaction 2. Cyclic
Liquefaction:
static> liquid state static< liquid state

-flow of soil mass -spreading of mass

-slope >3 degree - slope <3 degree
-steep area -level area
-flow/often movement -lateral spreading
- ground oscillation
Flow failure
Lateral spreading
 Liquefaction potential/evaluation of
liquefaction hazards

Is the soil susceptible to liquefaction?

If so , will liquefaction be triggered?
If so , will damage occur?
ANSWER IS
We Should evaluate potential
liquefaction hazards
 How to identify??
a. Historical Criteria
-. earlier earthquake data/Maps/documents
availale
b. Geological Criteria
. Saturatedsoil deposits that have been created by
sedimentation in rivers and lakes (fluvial or alluvial
deposits),
deposition of debris or eroded material (collegial
deposits),
or deposits formed by wind action (Aeolian deposits)
can be very liquefaction susceptible .
c.Compositional Criteria
-soil types clay/sand/silt
-composition of soils
 Critical aspects of hazard
evaluation
susceptibility initiation effects
-alteration of
yes no -monotonic
Ground
loading Motion

- Hazard do -cyclic -sand boiling

historic not exist loading
(End)
al
criteria
-geological - -settlements

criteria developme
nt of flow
Liquefactio
n
-Compositional -evaluation -instability
 LIQUEFACTION ANALYSIS
Objective: does soil liquefy During Earthquake?
Assumption: Soil act as rigid body
- moves horizontal with amax exerted by EQ
At force equilibrium:
Horizontal seismic force = Max. shear force at the base of column
(max)
Horizontal seismic force = Mass x Accl.= [(t .z)/g]amax = vo
(amax/g) = max
Mass = W/g = (t .z)/g = vo /g

If effective vertical stress = vo ,

Then (max / vo ) = (vo / vo )(amax/g)
In reality, during an earthquake, soil column does not act as a rigid
body
(max / vo ) = rd (vo / vo )(amax/g)
rd ~ 1- 0.012z , also depends upon the magnitude of the earthquake
 Time history of shear stress during earthquake for liquefaction analysis

Conversion of irregular earthquake record to an equivalent

series of uniform stress cycle by
av = cyc = 0.65max = 0.65 rd (vo / vo )(amax/g)
To felicitate liquefaction analysis, define a dimensionless
parameter
CSR or SSR = cyc / vo = 0.65 rd (vo / vo )(amax/g)
CSR = Cyclic stress ratio, SSR = Seismic stress ratio
FS = Factor of safety against liquefaction = CRR/CSR
CRR= Cyclic resistance ratio
CYCLIC RESISTANCE
RATIO (CRR)

Represents liquefaction
resistance of soil
Data used: EQ ~ 7.5,
Line represents
dividing line
Three lines contain- 35,
15 or 5 % fine
Data to the left of each
line indicate field
liquefaction
Data to the right of
each line indicate no
liquefaction
FS = CRR/CSR
FS = Factor of safety
against liquefaction
 can liquefaction be
predicted??
NOT BUT
Possible to identify areas giving detailed information
that have the potential of liquefaction
Liquefaction susceptibility:
(Controlling factor: soil type, density and water) table

Liquefaction opportunity:

(Frequency of earthquake occurrence, intensity of

seismic ground shaking)
 How to mitigate
Liquefaction:
a. Improving soil properties BY:
. Vibro-compaction
. Dynamic compaction
. Compacting grouting
. Stone columns
b. Lowering ground water table:
c. Ground surface correction.
d. BE CAREFULL ABOUT HAZARD
MAPING.
Vibro-Compaction
Dynamic compaction:
Compaction grouting
 CONCLLUSIONS:
Liquefaction is most important
earthquake caused hazard all over the
world.
Attention and researched should be
increased in it.
Hazard mapping are compulsory in Nepal.
(terai and valley regions)
- pokhara valley is most susceptible in
Nepal.
Implementation of mapping should be
kept in mind by all.
 Bibliography:
http://publication.hils.org.np/hilspub/index.php/IJLE/arti
cle/download/97/48
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_liquefaction
http://www.slideshare.net/jagadanand/liquefaction-o
f-soil?qid=28563337-882f-4bb0-adef-ae2c8d7707e1&v=&
b=&from_search=1
https://theses.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-21918224
9741411/unrestricted/Chp07.pdf
epa.ohio.gov/portals/34/document/guidance/gd_660_cha
pter_5.pdf
Geotechnical earthquake engineering Steven L . Kramer.
Pearson 2007.
Seismic analysis of structures T. K, Datta. John Wiley &
Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd, 2 Clementi Loop, 2010
THANK YOU !!!!

ANY QUARIES??