Effects of Nonplastic Fines on the Liquefaction Resistance of Sands

TLDR

Studies have reported conflicting results on how silt content influences the liquefaction susceptibility of sandy soils. The study seeks to clarify the effects of nonplastic fines on sand liquefaction susceptibility and to assess how these effects impact penetration resistance and simplified engineering methods. A laboratory parametric study employing cyclic triaxial tests was performed. When silt particles are embedded in a sand matrix, liquefaction resistance is governed by relative density and is independent of silt content; when sand particles are suspended in a silt matrix, resistance is also governed by relative density but is lower than for sand‑dominated matrices and is essentially independent of sand amount and type.

Abstract

A laboratory parametric study utilizing cyclic triaxial tests was performed to clarify the effects of nonplastic fines on the liquefaction susceptibility of sands. Studies previously published in the literature have reported what appear to be conflicting results as to the effects of silt content on the liquefaction susceptibility of sandy soils. The current study has shown that if the soil structure is composed of silt particles contained within a sand matrix, the resistance to liquefaction of the soil is controlled by the relative density of the soil and is independent of the silt content of the soil. For soils whose structure is composed of sand particles suspended within a silt matrix, the resistance to liquefaction is again controlled by the relative density of the soil, but is lower than for soils with sand-dominated matrices at similar relative densities. In this case, the resistance to liquefaction is essentially independent of the amount and type of sand. These findings suggest the need for further evaluation of the effects of nonplastic fines content upon penetration resistance, and the manner in which this relationship affects the simplified methods currently used in engineering practice to evaluate the liquefaction resistance of silty soils.