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Liquefaction Potential Index-Based Hazard Mapping for Benghazi Sabkha Deposits of Libya

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Abstract

Benghazi city is the second largest city in Libya. Rapid and large infrastructural development and related economic activities in the last 20 years have mandated the use of Sabkha soils within the city limits for construction activities. There is a growing need to explore the geotechnical aspects of Sabkha soils including the liquefaction hazard. In this article liquefaction potential index (LPI) has been used for evaluating liquefaction hazards. Standard penetration test data from nearly 95 boreholes, located along the coastline of Benghazi city, has been used in the evaluation. The results of LPI analyses to investigate the surficial manifestations of liquefaction during 5.3, 6.5, and 7 magnitude earthquake scenarios for a peak ground acceleration of 0.18 g are presented in the form of a liquefaction hazard map for Sabkha soils of Benghazi. The map identifies 4 zones (A, B, C, and D) based on LPI. The results indicated that the LPI values of the Benghazi Sabkha deposits represent different levels of liquefaction severity for the above range of earthquake magnitudes. However, the Sabkha deposits displayed severe liquefaction susceptibility for earthquake magnitudes greater than 6. The results showed the severity from low to very high with LPI values ranging between 2 and 15. The results confirm the inherited depositional nature of mixed and layered deposits of Sabkha soils.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their appreciation to Arabian Gulf Oil Company, El Sahel Engineering and testing Ltd., Libyan Technical Consultancy Company, for providing the borehole and geological data of different sites in the study area, as well as to Mr. Ali Shoeb, Dr. Abdelaziz Abuaziza, and Mr. Mohamed Shein for their support and help in this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Engineering, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Ahmad Miftah

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Srinagar, Hazratbal, 190006, JK, India

    Majid Hussain

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, Mersin 10, Turkey

    Huriye Bilsel

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  1. Ahmad Miftah
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  2. Majid Hussain
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  3. Huriye Bilsel
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Correspondence to Majid Hussain.

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Miftah, A., Hussain, M. & Bilsel, H. Liquefaction Potential Index-Based Hazard Mapping for Benghazi Sabkha Deposits of Libya. Indian Geotech J 52, 1278–1291 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-022-00622-2

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