Effects of Spatial Variability on Liquefaction-Induced Settlement and Lateral Spreading
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 1
Abstract
Nonlinear dynamic numerical simulations of infinite slopes are used to examine the effects of spatial variability in penetration resistances on liquefaction-induced settlement and lateral spreading for gently sloping ground and to develop guidance on selecting representative properties for uniform models. Simulation results for models having uniform properties (uniform models) are compared to results for models having spatially correlated Gaussian random field property distributions (stochastic models). Results are presented for sets of stochastic model realizations and a set of ground motions scaled to a range of peak ground accelerations. Computed responses and ground deformations (settlements and lateral displacements) for these uniform and stochastic models are used to identify representative properties (as a percentile of the stochastic distributions) for which the uniform models produce reasonable agreement with the median of the stochastic model responses. The effects of the scales of fluctuation, nonliquefiable crust layer thickness, sand layer thickness, ground motion characteristics, sand density, and other factors are evaluated. Implications for engineering practice are discussed.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful for comments and suggestions provided by Professors Jason DeJong, Ronnie Kamai, Bruce Kutter, and I. M. Idriss and the two anonymous reviewers. Portions of this work were supported by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Any opinions, findings, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of this organization.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 1 • January 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 27, 2015
Accepted: May 25, 2016
Published online: Aug 2, 2016
Published in print: Jan 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Jan 2, 2017
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