Explanation of liquefaction in after shock of the 2011 great east Japan earthquake using numerical analysis

During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, severe liquefaction occurred in reclaimed ground in Urayasu city, Chiba prefecture. This liquefaction provided important lessons for us to re-recognize the liquefaction mechanism. A distinct feature of the liquefaction in this earthquake is that severe liquefaction happened not only in the main shock but also in an aftershock with a maximum acceleration of 25 gal. In some areas, liquefaction happened in the aftershock is even more serious than that happened in the main shock. In this paper, focus is placed on the characteristic features in the occurrence of liquefaction and consequent ground settlement. Based on the observed data, a series of dynamic–static analyses, considering not only the earthquake loading but also static loading during the consolidation after the earthquake shocks, are conducted in a sequential way just the same as the scenario in the earthquake. The calculation is conducted with 3D soil–water coupling finite element–finite difference analyses based on a cyclic elasto-plastic constitutive model. From the results of analyses, it is recognized that small sequential earthquakes, which cannot cause liquefaction of a ground in an independent earthquake vibration, cannot be neglected when the ground has already experienced liquefaction after a major vibration. In addition, the aftershock has great influence on the long-term settlement of low permeability soil layer. The observed and predicted liquefaction and settlements are compared and discussed carefully. It is confirmed that the numerical method used in this study can describe the ground behavior correctly under repeated earthquake shocks.     

Soft sediments and damage pattern: a few case studies from large Indian earthquakes vis-a-vis seismic risk evaluation

India is prone to earthquake hazard; almost 65 % area falls in high to very high seismic zones, as per the seismic zoning map of the country. The Himalaya and the Indo-Gangetic plains are particularly vulnerable to high seismic hazard. Any major earthquake in Himalaya can cause severe destruction and multiple fatalities in urban centers located in the vicinity. Seismically induced ground motion amplification and soil liquefaction are the two main factors responsible for severe damage to the structures, especially, built on soft sedimentary environment. These are essentially governed by the size of earthquake, epicentral distance and geology of the area. Besides, lithology of the strata, i.e., sediment type, grain size and their distribution, thickness, lateral discontinuity and ground water depth, play an important role in determining the nature and degree of destruction. There has been significant advancement in our understanding and assessment of these two phenomena. However, data from past earthquakes provide valuable information which help in better estimation of ground motion amplification and soil liquefaction for evaluation of seismic risk in future and planning the mitigation strategies. In this paper, we present the case studies of past three large Indian earthquakes, i.e., 1803 Uttaranchal earthquake (Mw 7.5); 1934 Bihar–Nepal earthquake (Mw 8.1) and 2001 Bhuj earthquake (Mw 7.7) and discuss the role of soft sediments particularly, alluvial deposits in relation to the damage pattern due to amplified ground motions and soil liquefaction induced by the events. The results presented in the paper are mainly focused around the sites located on the river banks and experienced major destruction during these events. It is observed that the soft sedimentary sites located even far from earthquake epicenter, with low water saturation, experienced high ground motion amplification; while the sites with high saturation level have undergone soil liquefaction. We also discuss the need of intensifying studies related to ground motion amplification and soil liquefaction in India as these are the important inputs for detailed seismic hazard estimation.     

Test Investigation on Liquefied Deformation Structure in Saturated Lime-Mud Composites Triggered by Strong Earthquakes

Three identical model boxes were made from transparent plexiglass and angle iron. Using the method of sinking water and according to the sedimentary rhythm of saturated calcium carbonate(lime-mud) intercalated with cohesive soil,calcites with particle sizes diameters of ≤ 5 μm,10–15 μm and 23–30 μm as well as cohesive soil were sunk alternatively in water of three boxes to build three test models,each of which has a specific size of calcite. Pore water pressure gauges were buried in lime-mud layers at different depths in each model,and connected with a computer system to collect pore water pressures. By means of soil tests,physical property parameters and plasticity indices(Ip) were obtained for various grain-sized saturated lime-muds. The lime-muds with Ip ranging from 6.3 to 8.5(lower than 10) are similar to liquid saturated silt in the physical nature,indicating that saturated silt can be liquefied once induced by a strong earthquake. One model cart was pushed quickly along the length direction of the model so that its rigid wheels collided violently with the stone stair,thus generating an artificial earthquake with seismic wave magnitude greater than VI degree. When unidirectional cyclic seismic load of horizontal compression-tension-shear was imposed on the soil layers in the model,enough great pore water pressure has been accumulated within pores of lime-mud,resulting in liquefaction of lime-mud layers. Meanwhile,micro-fractures formed in each soil layer provided channels for liquefaction dewatering,resulting in formation of macroscopic liquefaction deformation,such as liquefied lime-mud volcanoes,liquefied diapir structures,vein-like liquefied structures and liquefied curls,etc. Splendid liquefied lime-mud eruption lasted for two to three hours,which is similar to the sand volcano eruption induced by strong earthquake. However,under the same artificial seismic conditions,development of macroscopic liquefied structures in three experimental models varied in shape,depth and quantity,indicating that excess pore water pressure ratios at initial liquefaction stage and complete liquefaction varied with depth. With size increasing of calcite particle in lime-mud,liquefied depth and deformation extent increase accordingly. The simulation test verifies for the first time that strong earthquakes may cause violent liquefaction of saturated lime-mud composed of micron-size calcite particles,uncovering the puzzled issue whether seafloor lime-mud can be liquefied under strong earthquake. This study not only provides the latest simulation data for explaining the earthquake-induced liquefied deformations of saturated lime-mud and seismic sedimentary events,but also is of great significance for analysis of foundation stability in marine engineering built on the soft calcium carbonate layers in neritic environment.     

武汉地区地震效应影响研究

虽然武汉市地震影响及地震危险性的水平较低 ,强震也不是武汉市工程地质环境的主要问题 ,但在城市生命线工程和高层超高层建筑方面必须考虑单体抗震设防。而且 ,随着武汉市城市建设的不断发展 ,地震效应影响逐渐成为武汉市工程地质环境评价的一个重要因子。文章在分析了武汉地区地震动衰减规律 ,进行了地震危险性评价 ,深入研究了各土层动力参数性质的基础上 ,指出武汉地区地震地面破坏主要存在砂土液化和软土震陷两种型式及各自可能的空间分布.     

液化场地桩基桥梁震害响应大型振动台模型试验研究

采用大型振动台进行液化场地桩基桥梁震害响应模型试验,很好再现了自然地震触发场地液化及结构破坏的各种宏观现象。0.15gEl Centro波输入下,上部砂层局部液化,桩-柱墩加速度主要表现为低频反应,桩动应变幅值自下而上很快增大、到达地表则大幅度减小。0.5gEl Centro波输入下,整个砂层全部液化,桩被折断且加速度也主要表现为低频反应,桩动应变幅值自下而上很快增大、到达地表则大幅度减小。砂层液化与否,对桩-柱墩动力反应影响很大。     

1998 Adana-Ceyhan (Turkey) Earthquake and a Preliminary Microzonation Based on Liquefaction Potential for Ceyhan Town

A moderate earthquake (M_s = 6.2) occurred in the Cukurova region in the southern part of Turkey, on 27 June 1998. It resulted in loss of 145 lives and significant damage particularly in the settlements close to the epicenter at the south of Ceyhan town. Widespread liquefaction and associated sand boils, ground fissures and ground deformations due to lateral spreading occurred during this earthquake. In this study, main characteristics of the earthquake are presented and liquefaction throughout the site was assessed. An attempt was also made to establish preliminary microzonation maps for Ceyhan using the data from liquefaction susceptibility analyses. The results of the analyses indicated that the data from the liquefied sites were within the empirical bounds suggested by the field-performance evaluation method. Fortunately, most of the riversides were used for agricultural purposes alone, damage to structures from liquefaction and associated ground failures were rather limited. Preliminary assessments indicated that at depths of about 5 m the liquefaction potential of thin sand layers tends to diminish.     

2018年5月28日中国吉林松原M5.7级地震引起的液化构造*

2018年5月28日,吉林松原市宁江区毛都站镇牙木吐村发生M5.7级地震(45°16'12″N,124°42'35″E),震源深度13 km,震中位于郯庐断裂带西北侧的扶余/松原—肇东断裂带、第二松花江断裂带和扶余北断裂带交汇处。地震诱发震中距3 km范围内普遍的液化和地表裂缝,给当地居民带来严重灾害。可见液化构造以砂火山为主,其次为液化砂堆、液化砂脉和液化砂席等。液化砂火山又可分为有火山口型砂火山、无火山口型砂火山和无砂型(水)火山。地震液化伴生软沉积物变形构造有变形层理、负载构造和火焰构造、滑塌褶皱、碟状构造和包卷层理等。地震诱发液化砂火山形成过程包括液化层内超孔隙流体压力形成、上覆低渗透层破裂和水、砂喷出地表后砂涌3个阶段。液化和流化砂体在上涌过程中会注入低渗透黏土层形成各种形态的砂脉、砂席和多种类型的变形构造。垂向上地震液化结构可划分为底部松散可液化层、下部液化变形层、上部液化变形层和地表砂火山4层结构。液化层埋深2~5 m,液化层厚度2 m。松原M5.7级地震发震机制为NE-SW(35°~215°)方向挤压应力使断层活跃,推测扶余/松原—肇东断裂是主要的发震断层。松原地震液化构造研究为现代地震活动区和灾害易发区预测提供依据,为地震引发的现代软沉积物变形构造研究提供丰富的素材,兼具将今论古意义,为揭示本世纪以来郯庐断裂带北段进入了一个强断裂和地震活跃阶段提供了最新的实际资料。     

高原季节性冻土区砂土液化探讨——以阿克陶MS6.7地震为例

2016年11月25日新疆阿克陶县木吉乡发生MS6.7地震,发震构造为公格尔山拉张系北端的木吉断裂,断裂总长度超过100 km,以右旋走滑为主兼有一定的拉张分量。文章在对震区进行了初步的地震地质灾害调查,总结砂土液化和地裂缝在高原季节性冻土地区的分布及发育特点的基础上,发现:1)在研究区Ⅰ维日麻村的砂土液化主要沿原有泉眼或沿地裂缝发育,沿泉眼形成的砂土液化其喷砂锥的覆盖面积达36.1 m2,占总液化面积的60%,研究区Ⅱ布拉克村的砂土液化则主要是沿草甸的根系喷出,在地表形成大面积的最新涌水结冻特征;2)对研究区Ⅱ布拉克村地裂缝的深度进行统计,反演出区域冻土层厚度,结合探槽揭露的地层剖面,推断冻土层发生大面积地裂缝是因为地震引起冻土层下部融土层发生砂土液化导致土层变形失稳,从而使冻土层发生形变产生一系列规律性的地裂缝。     

建筑场地地震液化危害评价及地基处理

本文分析了地基失稳,计算震陷值及差异震陷等地基失效形式和液化土层的隔震作用,研究了液化指数、地基失效、液化土层隔震与多层房屋震害的关系,根据液化土的双重作用原理划分了液化危害等级,并提出了建筑场地地震液化危害评价方法和按小震不坏,中震可修,大震不倒的抗液化处理原则。     

Numerical simulation of mitigation for liquefaction-induced soil deformations in a sandy ground improved by cement grouting

This paper presents a numerical study of mitigation for liquefaction during earthquake loading. Analyses are carried out using an effective stress based, fully coupled, hybrid, finite element-finite differences approach. The sandy soil behavior is described by means of a cyclic elastoplastic constitutive model, which was developed within the framework of a nonlinear kinematic hardening rule. In theory, the philosophies of mitigation for liquefaction can be summarized as two main concepts, i.e. prevention of excess pore water pressure generation and reduction of liquefaction-induced deformations. This paper is primarily concerned with the latter approach to liquefaction mitigation. Firstly, the numerical method and the analytical procedure are briefly outlined. Subsequently, a case-history study, which includes a liquefaction mitigation technique of cement grouting for ground improvement of a sluice gate, is conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of liquefaction countermeasures. Special emphasis is given to the computed results of excess pore water pressures, displacements, and accelerations during the seismic excitation. Generally, the distinctive patterns of seismic response are accurately reproduced by the numerical simulation. The proposed numerical method is thus considered to capture the fundamental aspects of the problems investigated, and yields results for design purposes. From the results in the case, excess pore water pressures eventually reach fully liquefied state under the input earthquake loading and this cannot be prevented. However, liquefaction-induced lateral spreading of the foundation soils can be effectively reduced by the liquefaction mitigation techniques. An erratum to this article can be found at     

汶川地震液化土层类型验证及土性分析

2008年5月12日汶川特大地震中,除在山区引发了大量山体滑坡、崩塌和泥石流外,在成都平原等地液化现象也十分普遍。液化主要分布在含砂、砾石和卵石等的第四系地层。依据地层分布特征和地震烈度,选择6个典型液化点（带）进行现场勘测和试验,以验证液化土层类型、了解液化土层的土性特征,并检验《建筑抗震设计规范》中液化判别方法的适应性。结果表明：(1) 典型液化点土类包含砂、砾石和卵石等,6个验证点中有2个为砂层液化(其中1个为砾砂)、3个为砾石层液化和1个为卵石层液化;(2) 与非液化地层相比,液化地层结构松散,均匀性差,颗粒大小分布曲线较平缓,不均匀系数较大,其中液化砂土级配良好,砾石和卵石级配不良;(3) 依据《建筑抗震设计规范》液化判别方法,将验证点1中砂液化判为非液化,其余5个验证点由于含较多粗颗粒,因无法进行标准贯入试验而无法进行液化判别。     

地震液化条件下地面的大变形三维数值分析

地基液化条件下地面大变形是造成工程结构破坏的主要原因之一。考虑地形、地震、土层、地下水等影响因素,针对典型的岸坡场地3层土地基模型,利用有限差分法FLAC3D,对可液化场地在地震作用下发生地面大变形的过程进行了数值模拟。结果表明,临空面坡比愈大、地表坡度越陡,地基液化地表侧向位移值愈大;变坡度的场地在地震作用下发生的侧移要比单一倾斜率的场地大;地震最大加速度越大、地震持续时间越长,地基液化侧向位移、地表沉陷和隆起现象越严重;液化层的埋深、厚度以及地下水位都对地面大变形的产生有着不同程度的影响,应选择合理的地基处理方案进行处理。     

液化与非液化场地加速度反应谱对比

通过对2011年新西兰发生的6.3级地震中获取的硬土场地、软土场地和液化场地强震记录实测资料进行分析,研究包括3种类型场地的地震动特征及其相互关系。分析的强震记录为震中距小于50 km,且峰值大于0.05g的23个场地上的加速度记录,其中含3个硬场地、11个软场地和9个液化场地。3种类型场地上的放大系数谱对比分析表明,硬土场地、软土场地和液化场地上的地震动特征具有明显区别,三者层次清晰,差别显著,从地震动表现上液化场地已构成一个与常规场地并列的独立单元;液化场地减少地震动高频分量但同时对低频分量显著放大,与非液化场地相比,液化场地可使其上短周期结构反应减小一半,但同时可使其上长周期结构反应放大2.5～5.0倍;土层的液化对此次地震中克莱斯特彻奇市中心CTV大楼的破坏应有很大影响,大楼自振周期约为0.7 s,地震中土层液化使场地加速度反应谱卓越周期由0.1～0.3 s增到0.5～1.0 s,与大楼的自振周期趋于吻合,加重了大楼震害。以此为鉴,按现有规范中地震动的设计方法,如遇液化场地将对长周期结构给出明显危险的结果,因此从振动角度今后进行结构抗震设计时,可液化场地上的地震动应给予特殊考虑。     

液化自由场地震响应大型振动台模型试验分析

开展了含上部黏土层、饱和砂土层、密实砂土层的可液化自由场地在水平地震动激励下的大型振动台模型试验研究,分析了地震动激励时饱和砂土液化后场地加速度、位移、孔压比时空响应等动力响应。试验结果表明：在小震激励时,场地动力反应较小,加速度反应自下而上不断放大,各深度处孔压比均较小,模型地基整体处于弹性反应阶段;0.3g汶川地震卧龙台地震记录输入时,孔压积累迅速,可液化土体最上部土层孔压比达到1,饱和土体液化,模型地基表现出明显的非线性反应特征,加速度反应在饱和砂土层中未有明显放大,土体卓越周期对应的反应加速度自下而上有不断增大趋势。该研究是土-群桩-上部结构体系大型振动台系列试验中可液化自由场动力反应部分,可供今后做对比分析和验证数值模拟参考。     

皖北新元古界软沉积物液化变形-塌落叠合构造的古地震成因研究

在皖北新元古界四十里长山组下部粉砂岩层中, 发育有一个软沉积物液化变形-塌落叠合构造。观测剖面共分为三部分: 下部为啸积砾岩未变形层, 中部为液化均一层、球枕状层和塌落叠合层, 上部为震积不整合面, 不整合面之上为啸积砾岩未变形层。共同构成一个完整的地震-海啸震积岩序列。中部的液化均一层、球枕状层和塌落叠合层是震积事件的主旋回层。对剖面特征及成因机理研究分析后发现, 该剖面位于浅海陆棚边缘斜坡相带。在古地震多旋回脉动震颤作用下, 经液化均一变形, 负载体下沉滑覆及盖层塌落多重叠合, 最终形成具有软沉积物变形特征的叠合构造。四十里长山组沉积期, 位于浅海陆棚边缘斜坡地带的粉砂质软沉积物, 为震颤变形的能量转化提供了物质基础。而强地震的多旋回脉动作用, 给软沉积物液化均一变形、负载体下沉滑覆、盖层塌落叠合等提供了原动力。     

基于MPL神经网络的地震作用下砂土液化评估及预测

砂土在地震的作用下会产生剧烈的液化现象,液化引发的地基失稳会对道路、建筑物、堤坝等各类设施造成严重危害。因此,地震作用下的砂土液化判别预测一直是地质灾害领域研究的热点问题。本文使用过去几十年发生在世界各地的166组地震作用下砂土液化实例数据,通过大量数据训练和参数分析建立了基于机器学习的地震作用下砂土液化判别模型。结果表明,当网络结构为6(输入层)-15(隐藏层)-1(输出层)、训练函数为Levenberg-Marquardt时,对地震液化预测效果较好,最大准确率可达96%。参数分析结果表明不同参数对网络预测准确率影响程度不一:锥端阻力、地表归一化峰值水平加速度影响相对较大;地震震级、总垂向应力、有效垂向应力影响中等;贯入深度对其影响较小。因此在不同网络预测精度要求的条件下,可考虑适当简化输入参数。     

Piles in fully liquefied soils with lateral spread

The paper provides a new analysis procedure for the assessment of the lateral response of isolated piles/drilled shafts in saturated sands as liquefaction and lateral soil spread develop in response to dynamic loading such as that generated by the earthquake shaking. The presented method accounts for: (1) the development of full liquefaction in the free-field soil that could trigger the lateral spread of the overlying crust layer; (2) the driving force exerted by the crust layer based on the interaction between the pile and the upper non-liquefied soil (crust) layer; and (3) the variation of the excess pore water pressure (i.e. post-liquefaction soil strength) in the near-field soil with the progressive pile deflection under lateral soil spread driving force. A constitutive model for fully liquefied sands under monotonic loading and undrained conditions is developed in order to predict the zone of post-liquefaction zero-strength of liquefied sand before it rebounds with the increasing soil strain in the near-field. The analytical and empirical concepts employed in the Strain Wedge (SW) model allow the modeling of such a sophisticated phenomenon of lateral soil spread that could accompany or follow the occurrence of seismic events without using modifying parameters or shape corrections to account for soil liquefaction.     

倾斜土层地震液化诱发大变形数值分析方法

基于有限元理论,进行了缓坡土层地震液化引起大变形的数值方法研究,即采用二维有效应力动力有限元方法进行分析,在液化分析过程的每一时段考虑地震液化和振动软化得到土单元的模量,通过非线性静力方法计算每时段地震液化引起的大变形,得到土层各深度处的水平和竖向位移。由算例分析了地震动和土层坡度等因素的影响,通过对比分析表明了该方法的有效性,可为工程场地地震地质灾害评价提供参考数据。     

The Bhuj, India, earthquake: lessons learned for earthquake safety of dams on alluvium

The Bhuj, India, earthquake of 26 January 2001, M_s 7.9, caused dams built on alluvium to sustain damage ranging from cosmetic to severe. Major damage was caused almost entirely by soil liquefaction in the alluvium. The critical factor was the level of earthquake ground motion.

The Bhuj earthquake showed that peak horizontal accelerations (PHAs)≤0.2 g were generally safe. PHAs>0.2 g were hazardous, when unconsolidated granular foundation soils were water saturated. N values of <20 are indicative of susceptibility to soil liquefaction. The Bhuj experience showed that alluvial foundation soils, subject to a PHA>0.2 g, must be evaluated over the full area beneath a new dam and all soils deemed susceptible to liquefaction must be either removed or treated. For remediating an old dam, reliable options are removal and replacement of liquefiable alluvium beneath upstream and downstream portions of the dam, combined with building berms designed to provide stability for the dam should there be a strength loss in soils beneath the dam.     

近远场地震动作用下地铁车站结构地基液化效应的振动台试验

开展了近场和远场地震动作用下3跨3层地铁车站结构地基液化效应的振动台模型试验,测试了地铁车站结构的加速度、应变、水平位移反应和地基土孔隙水压力、加速度、震陷及其作用于模型结构侧墙的动土压力反应。分析和总结了地铁车站结构地基液化效应特征,结果表明：模型结构对其周围地基土孔隙水压力场的分布有明显影响,结构两侧和底部地基土中的孔压峰值小于相同深度离结构较远地基土中的孔压峰值;地基土中孔压的消散速度自下而上呈逐渐减慢的趋势;地震动作用过程中,模型结构产生向上的相对运动,强地震动作用时模型结构上浮现象明显;模型结构侧墙受到的动土压力随深度增大而减小,输入地震动特性对动土压力的大小有显著影响。