A study on the identification of liquefaction-induced failures on ground surface based on the data from the 1999 Kocaeli and Chi-Chi earthquakes

One of the major causes of earthquake damage is liquefaction. However, it doesn't result in severe harm unless it leads to ground surface damage or ground failure. Therefore, prediction of potential for ground surface damage due to liquefaction is one of the important issues in microzonation studies for liquefaction-induced damage in areas with high seismicity. In 1985, based on a database compiled from Chinese and Japanese earthquakes, Ishihara considered the influence of the non-liquefied cap soil on the occurrence or non-occurrence of ground failure (mainly sand boiling), and proposed an empirical approach to predict the potential for ground surface damage at sites susceptible to liquefaction. However, some investigators indicated that this approach is not generally valid for sites susceptible to lateral spread or ground oscillation. In this study, a contribution to improve the approach by Ishihara is made. For the purpose, an index called liquefaction severity index (LSI) and data from two devastating earthquakes, which occurred in Turkey and Taiwan in 1999, were employed. The data from liquefied and non-liquefied sites were grouped and then analysed. Based on the observations reported by reconnaissance teams who visited both earthquake sites and the results of the liquefaction potential analyses using the filed-performance data, a chart to assess the potential for ground surface disruption at liquefaction-prone areas was produced. The analyses suggest that the procedure proposed by Ishihara is quite effective particularly for the occurrence of sand boils, while the bounds suggested in this method generally may not be valid for the prediction of liquefaction-induced ground surface disruption at sites susceptible to lateral spreading. The chart proposed in this study shows an improvement over the Ishihara's approach for predicting the liquefaction-induced ground surface damage. The microzonation maps comparing the liquefaction sites observed along the southern shore of Izmit Bay and in Yuanlin, and the surface damage and non-damage zones predicted from the proposed chart can identify accurately the liquefaction (sand boiling and lateral spreading) and no-liquefaction sites.     

1989～2011期间8次强地震中抗液化地基处理成功案例的回顾与启示

回顾了1989年美国Mw6.9级Loma Prieta地震、1993年日本Ms7.8级Kushiro-Oki地震、1994年日本Mw8.2级Hokkaido Toho-Oki地震、1995年日本Ms7.2级阪神地震、1999年台湾集集地震、1999年土耳其Mw7.4级Kocaeli地震、2001年美国Mw6.8级Nisqually地震以及2011年Mw9.0级东日本地震中场地抗液化工程措施的成功案例,初步分析了各种抗液化工程措施的有效性与优劣性,可以给出如下工程场地抗液化处理的经验：（1）对于易液化的沿海及填海造陆场地,采用适宜的抗液化工程措施应成为地基处理不可缺少的环节;（2）应基于场地条件、经济条件及环境要求,综合考虑场地抗液化地基处理措施的选择;（3）挤密砂桩法和碎石桩法运用广泛、技术成熟且比较经济,宜优先选择作为抗震设防烈度Ⅷ度及以下地区的场地抗液化地基处理措施;（4）强夯法使用机具简单、费用低廉,适宜选择作为抗震设防烈度Ⅷ度及以下地区大面积场地的抗液化地基处理措施;（5）注浆法、深层搅拌法、旋喷法作为抗震设防烈度Ⅸ度及以下地区的场地抗液化地基处理措施是有效的;（6）多种抗液化地基处理措施联合使用的处理效果往往优于单一措施单独使用的处理效果,在条件许可的情况下,宜选择多种抗液化地基处理措施联合使用,以期达到更好的处理效果。     

板桥学校液化带工程地质条件及液化土层特性

砂土液化是地震主要次生地质灾害之一。在512汶川地震中,德阳等地发生较大面积砂土液化现象。为详细了解液化带工程地质基本特征,选择板桥学校液化带进行详细液化震害调查、钻探和现场试验。结果表明:（1）液化震害典型,主要包括喷水冒砂、地表裂缝、侧移和基础下沉等;（2）砾石层是唯一的无粘性土层,砾石层分为性质不同的全新世沉积和更新世沉积两部分,未见砂层分布;（3）液化土层是全新统砾石层,该砾石的颗粒大小分布特征表现为级配不良,并有粒组缺失现象;（4）非液化盖层对喷出物有过滤作用,砂粒等细颗粒容易沿裂缝喷出地表,卵砾石等粗颗粒受阻留在土层中,导致喷出物为砂土。     

基于土层常规参数的剪切波速液化概率计算公式

分析国际上现有液化场地剪切波速473组数据进行参数特征后,以此为基础,采用分区方法,利用成熟的Logistic模型,提出了以地表峰值加速度、剪切波速、地下水位、可液化层埋深等4个参数表达的土体液化概率计算公式和不同概率下液化临界值计算公式,研究了不同概率水平下公式的适用性,并与现有主要方法进行比较。研究表明:地震动强度为液化判别首要影响参数,液化层与非液化层剪切波速区分度不显著,采用以往一个公式构造液化判别公式的方式难以要达到基本要求;现有Andrus公式和石兆吉公式会将很多明显为非液化的场地误判为液化场地,违背了现有认识,达到了不可接受的程度,需要改进。文中公式取50%概率时液化点和非液化点回判成功率符合对等原则,不同烈度下成功率均在70%左右;总体看,公式表现良好,可为中国工程建设提供一个合理、可操作性强的剪切波速液化概率判别方法。     

CPT-based probabilistic evaluation of seismic soil liquefaction potential using multi-gene genetic programming

In this paper, liquefaction potential of soil is evaluated within a probabilistic framework based on the post-liquefaction cone penetration test (CPT) data using an evolutionary artificial intelligence technique, multi-gene genetic programming (MGGP). Based on the developed limit state function using MGGP, a relationship is given between probability of liquefaction (P_L) and factor of safety against liquefaction using Bayesian theory. This Bayesian mapping function is further used to develop a P_L-based design chart for evaluation of liquefaction potential of soil. Using an independent database of 200 cases, the efficacy of the present MGGP-based probabilistic method is compared with that of the available probabilistic methods based on artificial neural network (ANN) and statistical methods. The proposed method is found to be more efficient in terms of rate of successful prediction of liquefaction and non-liquefaction cases, in three different ranges of P_L values compared to ANN and statistical methods.     

Probabilistic assessment of soil liquefaction considering spatial variability of CPT measurements

The conventional liquefaction potential assessment methods (also known as simplified methods) profoundly rely on empirical correlations based on observations from case histories. A probabilistic framework is developed to incorporate uncertainties in the earthquake ground motion prediction, the cyclic resistance prediction, and the cyclic demand prediction. The results of a probabilistic seismic hazard assessment, site response analyses, and liquefaction potential analyses are convolved to derive a relationship for the annual probability and return period of liquefaction. The random field spatial model is employed to quantify the spatial uncertainty associated with the in-situ measurements of geotechnical material.     

Elementary empirical model to assess seismic soil liquefaction

Liquefaction potential (LP) assessment plays a significant role in damages due to earthquake. The spirit underlying the present work is the evaluation of LP by correlating most significant parameters reflecting the dynamic response of soil with actual field behavior wherein an attempt of integrating the effect of dynamic soil properties and ground motion parameters simulating the actual site conditions is being made. Accordingly, a dynamic response–based Elementary Empirical Liquefaction Model (EELM) is proposed by processing a total of 314 reported case records covering a wide range of parameters demarcating “yes” and “no” zones of liquefaction. The method to develop the EELM essentially consists of evaluation of liquefaction potential, defining functional form of EELM representing dynamic response of soil to earthquake shaking, collection of data, computation of model parameters and formulation followed by validation of the model. The proposed empirical model though in fundamental form is found to perform fairly well resulting into an overall success rate of 86 % for both liquefaction and non-liquefaction points with significantly high success rate of 98 % for liquefied cases. Comparison of predictive performance of the proposed EELM with other approaches shows higher efficiency and thus signifies the theme of employing integrated approach.     

Assessment of soil liquefaction potential based on numerical method- a case study of an urban railway project

Paying special attention to geotechnical hazards such as liquefaction in huge civil projects like urban railways especially in susceptible regions to liquefaction is of great importance. A number of approaches to evaluate the potential for initiation of liquefaction, such as Seed and Idriss simplified method have been developed over the years. Although simplified methods are available in calculating the liquefaction potential of a soil deposit and shear stresses induced at any point in the ground due to earthquake loading, these methods cannot be applied to all earthquakes with the same accuracy, also they lack the potential to predict the pore pressure developed in the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out a ground response analysis to obtain pore pressures and shear stresses in the soil due to earthquake loading. Using soil historical, geological and compositional criteria, a zone of the corridor of Tabriz urban railway line 2 susceptible to liquefaction was recognized. Then, using numerical analysis and cyclic stress method using QUAKE/W finite element code, soil liquefaction potential in susceptible zone was evaluated based on design earthquake.     

Seismic centrifuge modelling of earth dams

Three dynamic centrifuge models were tested to obtain data for safety evaluation of the Jen-Yi-Tan Dam in Taiwan subject to a strong earthquake. In these tests, recorded 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake ground motions were modified and used on the electro-hydraulic shaking table mounted on the 400 g-ton centrifuge at the University of Colorado at Boulder. All tests were conducted under centrifugal acceleration of 150 g, and the input acceleration was scaled accordingly in order to simulate the given earthquake. A rigid container and water as pore fluid were used in the tests. In both Models 2 and 3, no sign of soil liquefaction was observed in the tests although a noticeable amount of settlements were found from the earth dam cross-section profile after testing.     

静力触探法对巴楚地震液化判别的适用性

2003年2月24日新疆巴楚-伽师地区发生的6.8级地震中出现了自1996年唐山大地震以来我国大陆境内最为严重的砂土液化现象。以此地震液化调查为基础,检验包括我国规范液化判别方法、Robertson方法和Olsen方法的国内外现有静力触探试验为指标的液化判别方法的适用性。结果表明,我国规范、Robertson方法、Olsen方法在对巴楚地震液化场地判别中,总体上非液化场地判别成功率高于液化场地判别成功率,非液化场地的判别成功率分别为88%、71%和88%,但对液化场地判别成功率分别为55%、73%和45%,明显偏于危险,原因需要进一步查明,建立适合局部地区的液化判别方法应是未来必须进行的工作。     

Earthquake-induced liquefaction hazard mapping at national-scale in Australia using deep learning techniques

Australia is a relatively stable continental region but not tectonically inert, having geological conditions that are susceptible to liquefaction when subjected to earthquake ground motion. Liquefaction hazard assessment for Australia was conducted because no Australian liquefaction maps that are based on modern AI techniques are currently available. In this study, several conditioning factors including Shear wave velocity (Vs30), clay content, soil water content, soil bulk density, soil thickness, soil pH, distance from river, slope and elevation were considered to estimate the liquefaction potential index (LPI). By considering the Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) technique, peak ground acceleration (PGA) was derived for 50 yrs period (500 and 2500 yrs return period) in Australia. Firstly, liquefaction hazard index (LHI) (effects based on the size and depth of the liquefiable areas) was estimated by considering the LPI along with the 2% and 10% exceedance probability of earthquake hazard. Secondly, ground acceleration data from the Geoscience Australia projecting 2% and 10% exceedance rate of PGA for 50 yrs were used in this study to produce earthquake induced soil liquefaction hazard maps. Thirdly, deep neural networks (DNNs) were also exerted to estimate liquefaction hazard that can be reported as liquefaction hazard base maps for Australia with an accuracy of 94% and 93%, respectively. As per the results, very-high liquefaction hazard can be observed in Western and Southern Australia including some parts of Victoria. This research is the first ever country-scale study to be considered for soil liquefaction hazard in Australia using geospatial information in association with PSHA and deep learning techniques. This study used an earthquake design magnitude threshold of M_w 6 using the source model characterization. The resulting maps present the earthquake-triggered liquefaction hazard and are intending to establish a conceptual structure to guide more detailed investigations as may be required in the future. The limitations of deep learning models are complex and require huge data, knowledge on topology, parameters, and training method whereas PSHA follows few assumptions. The advantages deal with the reusability of model codes and its transferability to other similar study areas. This research aims to support stakeholders’ on decision making for infrastructure investment, emergency planning and prioritisation of post-earthquake reconstruction projects.     

Evaluation of liquefaction potential based on CPT results using evolutionary polynomial regression

In this paper a new approach is presented, based on evolutionary polynomial regression (EPR), for determination of liquefaction potential of sands. EPR models are developed and validated using a database of 170 liquefaction and non-liquefaction field case histories for sandy soils based on CPT results. Three models are presented to relate liquefaction potential to soil geometric and geotechnical parameters as well as earthquake characteristics. It is shown that the EPR model is able to learn, with a very high accuracy, the complex relationship between liquefaction and its contributing factors in the form of a function. The attained function can then be used to generalize the learning to predict liquefaction potential for new cases not used in the construction of the model. The results of the developed EPR models are compared with a conventional model as well as a number of neural network-based models. It is shown that the proposed EPR model provides more accurate results than the conventional model and the accuracy of the EPR results is better than or at least comparable to that of the neural network-based models proposed in the literature. The advantages of the proposed EPR model over the conventional and neural network-based models are highlighted.     

Development of a geotechnical and geophysical database for seismic zonation of the Ankara Basin,Turkey

The Kocaeli earthquake (M _w = 7.4) of 17 August 1999 occurred in the Eastern Marmara Region of Turkey along the North Anadolu Fault and resulted in a very serious loss of life and property. One of the most important geotechnical issues of this event was the permanent ground deformations because of both liquefaction and faulting. These deformations occurred particularly along the southern shores of ?zmit Bay and Sapanca Lake between the cities of Yalova and Adapazar? in the west and east, respectively. In this study, three sites founded on delta fans, namely De?irmendere Nose, Yeniköy tea garden at Seymen on the coast of ?zmit Bay, and Vak?f Hotel site on the coast of Sapanca Lake were selected as typical cases. The main causes of the ground deformations at these sites were then investigated. Geotechnical characterization of the ground, derivation of displacement vectors from the pre- and post-earthquake aerial photographs, liquefaction assessments based on field performance data, and analyses carried out using the sliding body method have been fundamental in this study. The displacement vectors determined from photogrammetric evaluations conducted at De?irmendere and Seymen showed a combined movement of faulting and liquefaction. But except the movements in the close vicinity of shorelines, the dominant factor in this movement was faulting. The results obtained from the analyses suggested that the ground failure at De?irmendere was a submarine landslide mainly because of earthquake shaking rather than liquefaction. On the other hand, the ground failures at the Yeniköy tea garden on the coast of Seymen and the hotel area in Sapanca town resulted from liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. It was also obtained that the ground deformations estimated from the sliding body method were quite close to those measured by aerial photogrammetry technique.     

砂土地震液化的模糊概率评判方法

利用模糊数学中的模糊概率理论,建立了砂土地震液化的模糊概率综合评判模型。在此模型中,提出了模糊权重的概念,可充分考虑权重的模糊性,从而避免权重取值带来的不确定性。结合砂土地震液化特点,选取地震烈度、标准贯入击数、平均粒径和上覆有效压力作为主要评价影响因子,同时将液化程度划分为不液化、轻微液化、中等液化和严重液化4个等级,进而使其评判结果更为精细化。通过算例分析,表明文中方法对砂土液化评判的合理性与有效性。     

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。     

最近20年地震中场地液化现象的回顾与土体液化可能性的评价准则

回顾了1994年美国Northridge地震、1995年日本阪神地震、1999年土耳其Kocaeli地震、1999年台湾集集地震、2008年中国汶川地震、2010年智利Maule地震、2010～2011新西兰Darfield地震及余震、2011年东日本地震中大量的、不同类型的液化实例调查与研究,发现这些地震的液化具有以下特点：（1）罕见的特大地震（Mw9.0）使远离震中300～400 km的新近人工填土发生严重的大规模液化;（2）特大地震（Ms8.0、Mw8.8）使远离震中的低烈度Ⅴ～Ⅵ度地区发生严重液化;（3）海岸、河岸附近地区的新近沉积冲积、湖积土,填筑时间不到50年的含细粒、砂砾人工填土,容易发生严重液化;（4）天然的砂砾土层液化发生严重液化;（5）发生了深达20 m的土层液化现象;（6）松散土层液化后可以恢复到震前状态并再次发生液化;（7）高细粒（粒径≤75 ?m）含量≥50%或高黏粒（粒径≤5 ?m）含量≥25%的低-中塑性土严重液化,对介于类砂土与类黏土之间的过渡性态土,有时地表未见液化现象;（8）液化土层的深度较深或厚度较小时,容易出现地面裂缝而无喷砂现象;有较厚的上覆非液化土层时,场地液化不一定伴随地表破坏。液化实例证明,第四系晚更新世Q3地层可以发生严重液化;黏粒含量不是评价细粒土液化可能性的一个可靠指标;低液限、高含水率的细粒土易发生液化,采用塑性指数PI、含水率wc与液限LL之比作为细粒土液化可能性评价的指标是适宜的。综合Boulanger和Idriss、Bray和Sincio、Seed和Cetin等的液化实例调查与室内试验研究成果,建议细粒土液化可能性的评价准则如下：PI ＜12且wc/LL＞0.85的土为易液化土,12＜PI≤20和/wc/LL≥0.80的土为可液化土;PI ＞20或wc/LL＜0.80的土为不液化土。     

Soil liquefaction studies at Mumbai city

Mumbai city is the economical capital of India and is situated about midway on the western coast of stable continental region of Peninsular India. Major part of the city being of reclaimed land, the soil type is of alluvium, sand, and recent conglomerate. There are some bigger water bodies within the city range. In this study, an attempt has been made to study the susceptibility of soil liquefaction using simplified empirical procedure based on number of blow counts (N values) of the soil layers from standard penetration test. The liquefaction susceptibility is quantified in terms of factor of safety along the borehole depths at available borehole locations using earthquake-induced cyclic stress on the soil and the cyclic resistance of the soil to withstand the load. The factor of safety against liquefaction is evaluated at different sites for two peak ground acceleration (PGA) levels pertaining to 10 and 2?% probability of exceedance in 50?years corresponding to uniform hazard response spectra for Mumbai city with 475- and 2,475-year return period, respectively. Contour maps are prepared that display the factor of safety at different depths for earthquake magnitude of M _w 6.5. These contour maps show the liquefaction vulnerability at different sites in the city.     

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.     

Liquefaction analysis and soil improvement in Beydag dam

Beydag dam is under construction on Kucukmenderes River for irrigation purposes. Due to the scarcity of core material and liquefaction of alluvium at the dam site, the original design was changed to Roller Compacted Concete (RCC) from rockfill dam with claycore. Although the new design was safer, it nearly doubled the cost of the dam, so the owner, State Hydraulic Works of Turkey, (DSI) set out to find more economical but equally safe alternative. Since jet-grouting is a cheap ground improvement tool in Turkey, such an alternative was developed for the ground improvement against liquefaction together with concrete face rockfill dam sitting on top of improved ground. This paper presents a detailed discussion of how the new alternative was developed and evaluated: it discusses the determination of jet grouting pattern, the placement of jet grouted blocks, and the assesment of liquefaction. On one hand the soil cement strength of jetgrout columns, internal friction angle of alluvium and rockfill were important in determining the dimensions of the blocks, on the other hand the location of the blocks were highly affected by the areas where liquefaction occurred. One of the most important parameter that has a considerable influence in delineating the boundary betweeen liquefaction and non-liquefaction was the value of stress reduction coefficient (r _d), being primarily sensitive to the weight of overburden, which is calculated by the height from the face of dam to the depth where the calculation was made. This approach is justified by two-dimensional ground response analysis. Most importantly, this paper shows that there exists an alternative solution for building dams on the liquefaction prone sites without removing alluvium by using a well known jet grouting technique for improving ground at only selected places.     

碎石桩复合地基桩体减震作用研究

地震引起的土体液化和地基失效对岩土工程师而言仍是一个热点问题。地震液化及地基变形可以采用多种地基加固方法防治,碎石桩技术是常用方法之一。碎石桩复合地基抗液化效用主要是增加桩周土体的密度、桩体的排水以及桩体分担地震水平剪应力作用(桩体减震作用)。目前,以抗液化为主的碎石桩复合地基的设计以及效果评价方法仍只考虑加密作用。首先通过3个模型(1个饱和砂土地基模型、2个碎石桩复合地基模型)的振动台试验研究抗液化碎石桩的减震作用。然后以试验记录的模型动力反应以及建立的理论模型为基础,分析碎石桩复合地基的桩体减震作用。试验及理论分析结果表明,复合地基中的碎石桩可以明显地降低作用在桩间可液化土上的地震剪应力。