Liquefaction Resistance of Soils from Shear-Wave Velocity

TLDR

The procedure was developed in cooperation with industry, researchers, and practitioners and evolved from workshops in 1996 and 1998. The study presents a simplified shear‑wave velocity procedure for evaluating soil liquefaction resistance and calls for additional data from denser soils and stronger ground motions to further validate it. The method follows the Seed‑Idriss simplified format based on standard penetration test blow counts, was calibrated with case histories from 26 earthquakes and over 70 sites, and uses a modified relationship between shear‑wave velocity and cyclic stress ratio proposed by Dobry. The resulting curves correctly predicted moderate to high liquefaction potential for more than 95 % of the case histories and matched standard penetration test curves in sandy soils, as illustrated by a case study.

Abstract

A simplified procedure using shear-wave velocity measurements for evaluating the liquefaction resistance of soils is presented. The procedure was developed in cooperation with industry, researchers, and practitioners and evolved from workshops in 1996 and 1998. It follows the general format of the Seed-Idriss simplified procedure based on standard penetration test blow count and was developed using case history data from 26 earthquakes and >70 measurement sites in soils ranging from fine sand to sandy gravel with cobbles to profiles including silty clay layers. Liquefaction resistance curves were established by applying a modified relationship between the shear-wave velocity and cyclic stress ratio for the constant average cyclic shear strain suggested by R. Dobry. These curves correctly predicted moderate to high liquefaction potential for >95% of the liquefaction case histories and are shown to be consistent with the standard penetration test based curves in sandy soils. A case study is provided to illustrate application of the procedure. Additional data are needed, particularly from denser soil deposits shaken by stronger ground motions, to further validate the simplified procedure.