Liquefaction in silty soils—screening and remediation issues

Current techniques for liquefaction screening, ground modification for liquefaction mitigation, and post-improvement verification rely on knowledge gained from extensive research on clean sands, field observations of liquefied ground, and judicial correlation of normalized penetration resistance [(N₁)₆₀,q_c1N] or shear wave velocity (v_s1) data with field liquefaction observations. Uncertainties prevail on the direct extrapolation of such techniques for silty soil sites. This paper examines laboratory data on liquefaction resistance, strength, and v_s1 of sands and silty soils using grain contact density as the basis. Effect of silt content on cyclic resistance, strength, m_v, and c_v is examined in this light. Rational insights on effects of silt content on the current screening techniques based on (N₁)₆₀, q_c1N, and v_s1 to silty soils are offered. Recent advances and modifications to the traditional densification, drainage, and permeation grouting techniques to make them viable for silty soils are discussed.     

Stone columns as liquefaction countermeasure in non-plastic silty soils

In many cases densification with vibro-stone columns cannot be obtained in non-plastic silty soils. Shear stress re-distribution concepts [1] have been previously proposed as means to assess stone columns as a liquefaction countermeasure in such non-plastic silty soils. In this study, centrifuge testing is conducted to assess the performance of this liquefaction countermeasure. Attention is focused on exploring the overall site stiffening effects due to the stone column placement rather than the drainage effects. The response of a saturated silt stratum is analyzed under base dynamic excitation conditions. In a series of four separate model tests, this stratum is studied first without, then with stone columns, as a free-field situation, and with a surface foundation surcharge. The underlying mechanism and effectiveness of the stone columns are discussed based on the recorded dynamic responses. Effect of the installed columns on excess pore pressures and deformations is analyzed and compared. The test results demonstrate that stone columns can be an effective technique in the remediation of liquefaction induced settlement of non-plastic silty deposits particularly under shallow foundations, or vertical effective stresses larger than about 45 kPa (1000 psf) in free field conditions.     

A critical state interpretation for the cyclic liquefaction resistance of silty sands

Contrary to many laboratory investigations, common empirical correlations from in situ tests consider that the increase in the percentage of fines leads to an increase of the cyclic liquefaction resistance of sands. This paper draws upon the integrated Critical State Soil Mechanics framework in order to study this seemingly not univocal effect. Firstly the effect of fines on the Critical State Line (CSL) is studied through a statistical analysis of a large data set of published monotonic triaxial tests. The results show that increasing the content of non-plastic fines practically leads to a clockwise rotation of the CSL in (e–ln p) space. The implication of this effect on cyclic liquefaction resistance is subsequently evaluated with the aid of a properly calibrated critical state elasto-plastic constitutive model, as well as a large number of published experimental results and in situ empirical correlations. Both sets of data show clearly that a fines content, less than about 30% by weight, may prove beneficial at relatively small effective stresses (p₀<50–70 kPa), such as the in situ stresses prevailing in most liquefaction case studies, and detrimental at larger confining stresses, i.e. the stresses usually considered in laboratory tests. To the extent of these findings, a correction factor is proposed for the practical evaluation of liquefaction resistance in terms of the fines content and the mean effective confining stress.     

An experimental study of the liquefaction strength of silty sands in terms of the state parameter

An elaborate program of monotonic and cyclic triaxial laboratory tests on mixtures of sand and silt with fines content 0%, 15% and 25% was performed to investigate the effect of density, consolidation stress and non-plastic fines on the liquefaction strength. The monotonic tests illustrated that the critical state lines of all mixtures do not cross each other, and are, approximately, parallel to each other. The results of the cyclic tests illustrated that the relationship between the cyclic strength and the state parameter does not depend on the consolidation stress, the soil density and the silt content. Analysis in terms of the state parameter showed that: (i) as the consolidation stress increases, the cyclic strength decreases and this effect is more pronounced as the specimens become denser, especially as the fines content increases and (ii) the cyclic strength decreases as the fines content increases and this effect is more pronounced as the specimens become denser.     

Correlation of cyclic preloading with the liquefaction resistance

The compactivity of sand due to cyclic loading with a high number (N>10³) of small cycles (ε^ampl≤10⁻³) cannot be described by void ratio and stress alone. It depends strongly on the soil fabric usually described as ‘cyclic preloading’. The cyclic preloading cannot be measured directly in situ but correlates well with the liquefaction resistance. This paper demonstrates this correlation on the basis of laboratory tests. Practical applications can be derived from this work.     

Assessing CPT-based methods for liquefaction evaluation with emphasis on the cases from the Chi-Chi, Taiwan, earthquake

In the early morning (1:47 Taiwan time) of September 21, 1999, the largest earthquake of the century in Taiwan (M_w=7.6, M_L=7.3) struck this island country. The earthquake killed more than 2400 people and caused great destruction to buildings, bridges, dams, highways, and railways. One of the causes for heavy damages to the structures is soil liquefaction and ground settlement during the earthquake. In this paper, investigation of soil liquefaction and case histories of liquefaction are presented. Three CPT-based simplified methods, the Robertson method, the Olsen method, and the Juang method, are examined using the case histories derived from the Chi-Chi earthquake. The results of the comparison show that the Juang method is more accurate than the two methods in predicting liquefaction potential of soils based on the cases derived from the Chi-Chi earthquake, although all three methods are quite comparable in accuracy.     

Evaluation of liquefaction potential using neural-networks and CPT results

In this research, a reliable Cone Penetration Test data set was gathered with a wide range of parameters. This data was incorporated in a Neural-Networks computer software called STATISTICA Neural-Networks. The back propagation algorithm with a multilayer perceptron network is utilized to analyze the liquefaction occurrence in different sites. In this study, different sets of effective parameters for the neural-network analyses are selected such that to reduce the noise and to obtain more accurate results.Considering the relative importance of effective parameters in liquefaction assessment, it is indicated that σ₀, σ′₀ together play a more important role than what previously was assumed and hence the relative importance of the q_c and seismic parameters are decreased compared with the previous works. The results presented here have more accuracy than previous works while at the same time, the range of the parameters used in this study is much wider than what was previously used. This range of parameters makes the proposed method applicable for practical purposes.     

Evaluation of soil liquefaction in the Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake using CPT

During the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake, many sand boiling phenomena were observed in central Taiwan, which caused severe ground settlement and structure damages. According to the installed accelerograms, the peak ground surface horizontal accelerations in the liquefaction-affected areas range from 774.42 to 121.3 gal. The writers carried out an extensive investigation of soil liquefaction in this earthquake. In this paper, we present results of the CPT exploration and post-earthquake liquefaction analysis. Two hundred and seventy five (275) cone penetration test data were collected from the liquefaction-affected areas, and 46 liquefaction case histories and 88 non-liquefaction case histories were derived that can be used to evaluate the accuracy of existing liquefaction evaluation models. In addition, the strength of the liquefied soils after earthquake and the implication of its liquefaction potential in the future event are discussed.     

Characterization of the uncertainty of the Robertson and Wride model for liquefaction potential evaluation

As the profession moves toward the performance-based earthquake engineering design, it becomes more important and pressing to examine the uncertainty of the limit state model used for liquefaction potential evaluation. In this paper, the uncertainty of the Robertson and Wride model, a simplified model for liquefaction resistance and potential evaluation based on cone penetration test, is investigated in detail for its model uncertainty in the framework of first-order reliability analysis. The uncertainties of the parameters used in the Robertson and Wride model are also examined. The model uncertainty is estimated by calibration with a fairly large set of case histories. The results show that the uncertainty of the Robertson and Wride model may be characterized with a mean-to-nominal of 0.94 and a coefficient of variation of 0.15 based on the case histories examined.     

A laboratory study on the undrained strength of a silty sand from Central Western Taiwan

The sand deposit in Central Western Taiwan typically contained significant amounts of fines. The assessment of liquefaction potential using the simplified procedure often involved adjustment in field test results to account for the effects of fines. The available fines content (FC) adjustment methods are highly empirical and may lead to very different conclusions. The need and/or level of FC adjustment should be justified based on cyclic behavior of sand and its relationship with fines. This study made an attempt to provide that reference information for a silty sand commonly found in Central Western Taiwan. A series of isotropic consolidation, undrained monotonic and cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on reconstituted Mai Liao Sand (MLS) with various FCs and densities. Concurrent shear wave velocities were measured using bender elements in some of the cyclic triaxial tests. This paper describes the geological background, the laboratory tests and their implications in the assessment of liquefaction potential for MLS.     

Liquefaction mitigation in silty soils using composite stone columns and dynamic compaction

The objective of this study is to develop an analytical methodology to evaluate the effectiveness ofvibro stone column (S. C.) and dynamic compaction (D.C.) techniques supplemented with wick drains to densify and mitigate liquethctionin saturated sands and non-plastic silty soils. It includes the following: (i) develop numerical models to simulate and analyze soil densification during S.C. installation and D.C. process, and (ii) identify parameters controlling post-improvement soil density in both cases, and (iii) develop design guidelines for densification of silty soils using the above techniques. An analytical procedure was developed and used to simulate soil response during S.C. and D.C. installations, and the results were compared with available case history data. Important construction design parameters and soil properties that affect the effectiveness of these techniques, and construction design choices suitable for sands and non-plastic silty soils were identified. The methodology is expected to advance the use of S.C. and DC. in silty soils reducing the reliance on expensive field trials as a design tool. The ultimate outcome of this research will be design charts and design guidelines for using composite stone columns and composite dynamic compaction techniques in liquefaction mitigation of saturated silty soils.     

Influence of colloidal silica grout on liquefaction potential and cyclic undrained behavior of loose sand

Cyclic triaxial tests were performed to investigate the influence of colloidal silica grout on the deformation properties of saturated loose sand. Distinctly different deformation properties were observed between grouted and ungrouted samples. Untreated samples developed very little axial strain prior to the onset of liquefaction. However, once liquefaction was triggered, large strains occurred rapidly and the samples collapsed within a few additional loading cycles. In contrast, grouted sand samples experienced very little strain during cyclic loading. Additionally, the strain accumulated uniformly throughout loading rather than rapidly prior to collapse and the samples never collapsed. Cyclic triaxial tests were done on samples stabilized with colloidal silica at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20%. In general, samples stabilized with higher concentrations of colloidal silica experienced very little strain during cyclic loading. Sands stabilized with lower concentrations tolerated cyclic loading well, but experienced slightly more strain. Thus, treatment with colloidal silica grout significantly increased the deformation resistance of loose sand to cyclic loading.     

Dynamic properties and liquefaction resistance of two soil materials in an earthfill dam—Laboratory test results

Results are presented of laboratory resonant column and cyclic triaxial tests on specimens of two compacted soils (a sandy–silty clay and a sand–gravel mixture), planned to be used in the core and the shells, respectively, of a proposed earthfill dam. The values of low-amplitude shear modulus of the clayey material were found to increase with increasing confining pressure and decreasing water content, with deviations of ±20% from the predictions of the “Hardin equation”. On the other hand, the low-amplitude damping ratio was found to be at least four times higher than the values corresponding to natural undisturbed cohesive soils. The proposed G/G₀−γ_c curve for the compacted cohesive soil was found to be independent of confining pressure and small variations of the water content on either side of the optimum value and showed a remarkable agreement with recently published similar curves for natural cohesive soils. For the case of the sand–gravel mixture, normalized G/G₀–γ_c and D–γ_c curves are proposed, based on recently published results for gravelly soils and the limited data of the present study. The liquefaction resistance of the saturated sand–gravel mixture was found to be strongly dependent on its relative density, especially for high values of cyclic stress ratio. A relative density of at least 55% was found to be necessary to assure safety against earthquake-induced liquefaction of the material. The results presented herein may be used (directly or as guide) in the seismic analysis of (new or existing) earth dams constructed from similar soil materials and in addition they provide insight into the dynamic behavior of compacted soils.     

Understanding the effect of a static driving shear stress on the liquefaction resistance of medium dense granular soils

The influence of a driving static shear stress on the liquefaction resistance of medium dense granular soils is investigated. A laboratory study of the behavior of five sands (percentage of silt varying between 2 and 42%, and D₅₀ varying between 0.55 and 0.09 mm) was undertaken. These five sands were sampled from the foundations of two dams in Quebec (Canada). Sixty cyclic direct simple shear (DSS) tests were performed with and without a driving static shear stress. Relative densities D_r varied between 60 and 70%, and static shear stress ratios =τ_st/σ′_vc varied between 0.2 and 0.6. The presence of static shear stress increased the cyclic strength of these soils. A relation between and K() factor giving the effect of preshearing on cyclic shear resistance is obtained. The mechanical competence is examined as a function of D₅₀ and percentage of fines. The observed dilatancy yielded rather cyclic mobility than liquefaction.     

Liquefaction potential and strain dependent dynamic properties of Kasai River sand

The availability of efficient numerical techniques and high speed computation facilities for carrying out the nonlinear dynamic analysis of soil-structure interaction problems and the analysis of ground response due to earthquake loading increase the demand for proper estimation of dynamic properties of soil at small strain as well as at large strain levels. Accurate evaluation of strain dependent dynamic properties of soil such as shear modulus and damping characteristics along with the liquefaction potential are the most important criteria for the assessments of geotechnical problems involving dynamic loading. In this paper the results of resonant column tests and undrained cyclic triaxial tests are presented for Kasai River sand. A new correlation for dynamic shear damping (D_s) and maximum dynamic shear modulus (G_max) are proposed for the sand at small strain. The proposed relationships and the observed experimental data match quite well. The proposed relationships are also compared with the published relationships for other sands. The liquefaction potential of the sand is estimated at different relative densities and the damping characteristics at large strain level is also reported. An attempt has been made to correlate the G_max with the cyclic strength of the soil and also with the deviator stress (at 1% strain) from static triaxial tests.     

Requirements for soil-specific correlation between shear wave velocity and liquefaction resistance of sands

The application of the simplified method for evaluating the liquefaction potential based on shear wave velocity measurements has increased substantially due to its advantages, especially for microzonation of liquefaction potential. In the simplified method, a curve is proposed to correlate the cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) with overburden stress-corrected shear wave velocity (V_s1). However, the uniqueness of this curve for all types of soils is questionable. The objective of this research is to study whether the correlation between CRR and V_s1 is unique or not. Besides, the necessity of developing the soil-specific correlations is also investigated. Based on laboratory test data, a new semi-empirical method is proposed to establish the soil-specific CRR–V_s1 correlation. To validate the proposed method, a number of undrained cyclic triaxial tests along with bender element tests were performed on two types of sands. Similar experimental data for six other types of sands reported in the literature was also compiled. Applying the proposed method, soil-specific CRR–V_s1 correlation curves were developed for these eight types of sands. It is shown that the correlation is not unique for different types of sands and the boundary curve proposed in the available simplified method can only be used as an initial estimation of liquefaction resistance. Finally, using the results of this study as well as previous ones, a chart is suggested to be used in engineering practice showing the conditions for which a detailed soil-specific CRR–V_s1 correlation study needs to be performed.     

Cyclic resistance and liquefaction behavior of silt and sandy silt soils

The liquefaction behavior and cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) of reconstituted samples of non-plastic silt and sandy silts with 50% and 75% silt content are examined using constant-volume cyclic and monotonic ring shear tests along with bender element shear wave velocity (V_s) measurements. Liquefaction occurred at excess pore water pressure ratios (r_u) between 0.6 and 0.7 associated with cumulative cyclic shear strains (γ) of 4% to 7%, after which cyclic liquefaction ensued with very large shear strains and excess pore water pressure ratio (r_u>0.8). The cyclic ring shear tests demonstrate that cyclic resistance ratio of silt and sandy silts decreases with increasing void ratio, or with decreasing silt content at a certain void ratio. The results also show good agreement with those from cyclic direct simple shear tests on silts and sandy silts. A unique correlation is developed for estimating CRR of silts and sandy silts (with more than 50% silt content) from stress-normalized shear wave velocity measurements (V_s1) with negligible effect of silt content. The results indicate that the existing CRR–V_s1 correlations would underestimate the liquefaction resistance of silts and sandy silt soils.     

Micro- and macro-observations of liquefaction of saturated sand around buried structures in centrifuge shaking table tests

A novel experimental method was designed to study the micro-behavior of saturated sand around a buried structure in centrifuge shaking table tests under strong simulated earthquake loading, in addition to the traditional macro-measurements. One free field test was first carried out as a reference, followed by one test with a deep buried structure and one with a shallowly buried structure. During the tests with the buried structure, high quality pictures of moving sand around the structure were recorded by a newly developed image acquisition system. By analyzing the interesting pictures at reasonable intervals using an image analysis software, the evolutions of microstructural features were obtained such as the orientations of the long axes of particles, the orientations of contact normals between particles and the average contact number of the interesting group of particles. The results showed that the evolutions of the micro-features were consistent with those of the macro-measurements such as excess pore pressures and accelerations, which help illuminate the mechanism of sand liquefaction.     

Plasticity model for sand under small and large cyclic strains: a multiaxial formulation

This paper presents the multiaxial formulation of a plasticity model for sand under cyclic shearing. The model adopts a kinematic hardening circular cone as the yield surface and three non-circular conical surfaces corresponding to the deviatoric stress ratios at phase transformation, peak strength and critical state. The shape of the non-circular surfaces is formulated in accordance with the experimentally established failure criteria, while their size is related to the value of the state parameter ψ. To simulate cyclic response under small and large shear strain amplitudes without a change in model parameters, it was found necessary to introduce: (a) a non-linear hysteretic (Ramberg–Osgood type) formulation for the strain rate of elastic states and (b) an empirical index of the effect of fabric evolution during shearing which scales the plastic modulus. This index is estimated in terms of a macroscopic second-order fabric tensor, which develops as a function of the plastic volumetric strain increment and the loading direction in the deviatoric plane. Comparison of simulations to pertinent data from 27 resonant column, cyclic triaxial and cyclic direct simple shear tests provide a measure for the overall accuracy of the model.     

Optical dating of flowstone and silty carbonate-rich sediments from Panxian Dadong Cave,Guizhou, southwestern China

Panxian Dadong Cave located in the western Guizhou is a very important Paleolithic site in China. At this site bone and stone artifacts, human teeth and mammalian fossils (known as Ailuropoda-Stegodon fauna) were found, and the site was previously dated to 120–300 ka using ESR/uranium-series methods. In this study, we successfully extracted fine quartz grains from flowstone and silty carbonate-rich sediments in the excavated area. The quartz extracts displayed excellent luminescence properties, and satisfied the SAR (single-aliquot regenerative dose method) acceptance criteria. The sensitivity-corrected OSL signals are not saturated at a dose up to about 1400 Gy. The cultural unit was OSL dated to 190–300 ka, corresponding to MISs 7–8. The flowstone deposits overlying the cultural unit were determined to be 13–190 ka and the silty carbonate-rich sediments underlying the cultural unit to be 300–360 ka. The optical ages are in general agreement with the coupled ESR/U-series and U-series ages.