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Liquefaction induced strength loss and deformation: simulation and design

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Abstract

Estimates of earthquake-induced deformations for geotechnical structures affected by liquefaction can involve significant uncertainties stemming from the uncertainty in the in-situ residual shear strengths and the effects of pore pressure diffusion (or void redistribution) on those shear strengths. The results of physical model tests involving liquefiable sands with lower-permeability interlayers have demonstrated how various factors can influence the degree to which void redistribution can affect shear strength losses and slope deformations. Numerical simulations using a critical-state compatible constitutive model are shown to reproduce the patterns of void redistribution that were observed in two centrifuge model tests. The constitutive model used in these simulations is described, followed by results for each of the centrifuge model tests. Current limitations in our abilities to account for void redistribution in nonlinear deformation analyses are described, followed by a discussion of how this relates to current design practice for estimating residual shear strengths of liquefied soils.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for portions of this research was provided the U.S. Geological Survey through Award G09AP00121. Support for K. Ziotopoulou was provided by the 2008 International Fulbright Science and Technology Award from the Institute of International Education and the U.S. Department of State. The authors appreciate the above financial support, the helpful comments and suggestions of I. M. Idriss, and the assistance of numerous other colleagues with various aspects of the work presented herein.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Ross W. Boulanger & Katerina Ziotopoulou

  2. Department of Structural Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Ronnie Kamai

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  1. Ross W. Boulanger
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Correspondence to Ross W. Boulanger.

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Boulanger, R.W., Kamai, R. & Ziotopoulou, K. Liquefaction induced strength loss and deformation: simulation and design. Bull Earthquake Eng 12, 1107–1128 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-013-9549-x

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