Equivalent Linear Computation of Response Spectra for Liquefiable Sites: The Spectral Envelope Method
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 4
Abstract
A simplified methodology is proposed for the computation of elastic response spectra at liquefiable sites, based on the widely used equivalent linear (frequency domain) site response analysis method. The actual response spectrum is obtained as the upper-bound envelope of the thus calculated response spectra corresponding to the preliquefaction and the postliquefaction segments of the seismic excitation, the former computed for the natural soil properties and the latter for the properties of the liquefied soil. The time of liquefaction onset, which separates the two seismic excitation segments, is defined in terms of the minimum factor of safety against liquefaction within the liquefiable layer. Additional guidelines are provided for the estimation of the excess pore pressure buildup and the associated soil softening during the preliquefaction segment of the seismic excitation, as well as for the definition of the liquefied soil stiffness and the hysteretic damping ratio. The proposed methodology has been calibrated against the results of rigorous elastoplastic parametric numerical analyses and its overall accuracy is further validated against seismic motion recordings from two liquefaction case studies.
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Acknowledgments
This research has been cofinanced by the European Union [European Social Fund (ESF)] and Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)-Research Funding Program: THALES. Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 4 • April 2017
Copyright
©2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 9, 2016
Accepted: Jul 26, 2016
Published online: Oct 28, 2016
Discussion open until: Mar 28, 2017
Published in print: Apr 1, 2017
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