How Reliable is the Plasticity Index for Estimating the Liquefaction Potential of Clayey Sands?
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper examines the validity of the plasticity index (PI) as a criterion for estimating the liquefaction potential of clayey soils under cyclic loading. The results of undrained cyclic stress-controlled ring-shear tests on artificial mixtures of sand with different clays saturated with water indicated that an increase in PI decreased the soil potential to liquefy, and soil with seemed to be nonliquefiable, a finding that is in agreement with the results of other researchers. However, in this study some deviations from this relation were found when a bentonite–sand mixture was treated with solutions of different ions, thus bringing into question the effectiveness of PI as a measure of the liquefaction potential of clayey soil having a certain pore water chemistry.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 1 • January 2006
Pages: 124 - 127
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 7, 2004
Accepted: May 12, 2005
Published online: Jan 1, 2006
Published in print: Jan 2006
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