Liquefaction Potential Index: Field Assessment
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 4
Abstract
Cone penetration test (CPT) soundings at historic liquefaction sites in California were used to evaluate the predictive capability of the liquefaction potential index (LPI), which was defined by Iwasaki et al. in 1978. LPI combines depth, thickness, and factor of safety of liquefiable material inferred from a CPT sounding into a single parameter. LPI data from the Monterey Bay region indicate that the probability of surface manifestations of liquefaction is 58 and 93%, respectively, when LPI equals or exceeds 5 and 15. LPI values also generally correlate with surface effects of liquefaction: Decreasing from a median of 12 for soundings in lateral spreads to 0 for soundings where no surface effects were reported. The index is particularly promising for probabilistic liquefaction hazard mapping where it may be a useful parameter for characterizing the liquefaction potential of geologic units.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 4 • April 2003
Pages: 315 - 322
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 6, 2001
Accepted: Sep 9, 2002
Published online: Mar 14, 2003
Published in print: Apr 2003
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