Analysis of progressive liquefaction as a moving-boundary problem

Abstract

The propagation of liquefied zones in sand beds under fluid-wave loading is theoretically analysed in the present study. The completely liquefied state of sand is modelled as an inviscid fluid of a particular density, and the underlying sub-liquefied soil is modelled as a poro-elastoplastic material obeying a simple law of cyclic plasticity. It is shown that the proposed theoretical model is capable of consistently predicting the prograssive nature of liquefaction as observed in centrifuge wave tank tests on loose deposits of fine-grained sand. The theoretical model can also predict the final depth of the liquefaction front under a given wave loading.