Static Shear and Liquefaction Potential

Abstract

Cyclic loading triaxial tests on isotropically consolidated samples or cyclic simple shear tests on one-dimensionally consolidated samples are commonly performed to assess the liquefaction potential of cohesionless soils. These tests are designed to simulate field conditions in which, prior to an earthquake, there are no initial shear stresses acting on the planes which will be subjected to cyclic shear stresses by the earthquake loading.