Liquefaction Resistance of Soils from Shear-Wave Velocity
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 126, Issue 11
Abstract
A simplified procedure using shear-wave velocity measurements for evaluating the liquefaction resistance of soils is presented. The procedure was developed in cooperation with industry, researchers, and practitioners and evolved from workshops in 1996 and 1998. It follows the general format of the Seed-Idriss simplified procedure based on standard penetration test blow count and was developed using case history data from 26 earthquakes and >70 measurement sites in soils ranging from fine sand to sandy gravel with cobbles to profiles including silty clay layers. Liquefaction resistance curves were established by applying a modified relationship between the shear-wave velocity and cyclic stress ratio for the constant average cyclic shear strain suggested by R. Dobry. These curves correctly predicted moderate to high liquefaction potential for >95% of the liquefaction case histories and are shown to be consistent with the standard penetration test based curves in sandy soils. A case study is provided to illustrate application of the procedure. Additional data are needed, particularly from denser soil deposits shaken by stronger ground motions, to further validate the simplified procedure.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 126 • Issue 11 • November 2000
Pages: 1015 - 1025
History
Received: Sep 17, 1999
Published online: Nov 1, 2000
Published in print: Nov 2000
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