Liquefaction characteristics of gap-graded gravelly soils in K0 condition

A series of undrained cyclic direct simple shear tests, which used a soil container with a membrane reinforced with stack rings to maintain the K₀ condition and integrated bender elements for shear wave velocity measurement, were performed to study the liquefaction characteristics of gap-graded gravelly soils with no fines content. The intergrain state concept was employed to categorize gap-graded sand–gravel mixtures as sand-like, gravel-like, and in-transition soils, which show different liquefaction characteristics. The testing results reveal that a linear relationship exists between the shear wave velocity and the minor fraction content for sand–gravel mixtures at a given skeleton void ratio of the major fraction particles. For gap-graded gravelly sand, the gravel content has a small effect on the liquefaction resistance, and the cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) of gap-graded gravelly sands can be evaluated using current techniques for sands with gravel content corrections. In addition, the results indicate that the current shear wave velocity (V_s) based correlation underestimates the liquefaction resistance for V_s values less than 160 m/s, and different correlations should be proposed for sand-like and gravel-like gravelly soils. Preliminary modifications to the correlations used in current evaluations of liquefaction resistance have thus been proposed.     

Correlation of shear wave velocity with liquefaction resistance based on laboratory tests

According to the results of cyclic triaxial tests on Hangzhou sands, a correlation is presented between liquefaction resistance and elastic shear modulus. Material-dependent but independent of confining stress, shows the linear relation of (σ_d/2)^1/2 with G_max. For its application to different soils, a method proposed by Tokimatsu [Tokimatsu K, Uchida A. Correlation between liquefaction resistance and shear wave velocity. Soils Found 1990:30(2):33–42] is utilized to normalize the shear modulus with respect to minimum void ratio. A simplified equation is established to evaluate the liquefaction potential by shear-wave velocity. The critical shear-wave velocity of liquefaction is in linear relation with 1/4 power of depth and the peak horizontal ground surface acceleration during earthquakes. The equation proposed in this paper is compared with previous methods especially the procedure proposed by Andrus [RD Andrus, KH Stokoe. Liquefaction resistance of soils from shear-wave velocity. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 2000:126(11):1015–25]. The results show its simplicity and effectiveness when applied to sands, but more validation or modification is needed for its application to sand with higher fines content.     

Non-plastic silty sand liquefaction,screening, and remediation

Assessing liquefaction potential, in situ screening using cone penetration resistance, and liquefaction-remediation of non-plastic silty soils are difficult problems. Presence of silt particles among the sand grains in silty soils alter the moduli, shear strength, and flow characteristics of silty soils compared to clean host sand at the same global void ratio. Cyclic resistance (CRR) and normalized cone penetration resistance (q_c1N) are each affected by silt content in a different way. Therefore, a unique correlation between cyclic resistance and cone resistance is not possible for sands and silty sands. Likewise, the response of silty soils subjected to traditional deep dynamic compaction (DC) and vibro-stone column (SC) densification techniques is influenced by the presence of silt particles, compared to the response in sand. Silty soils require drainage-modifications to make them amenable for dynamic densification techniques. The first part of this paper addresses the effects of silt content on cyclic resistance CRR, hydraulic conductivity k, and coefficient of consolidation C_v of silty soils compared to clean sand. The second part of the paper assesses the effectiveness of equivalent intergranular void ratio (e_c)_eq concept to approximately account for the effects of silt content on CRR. The third part of the paper explores the combined effects of silt content (viz effects of (e_c)_eq, k, and C_v) on q_c1N using laboratory model cone tests and preliminary numerical simulation experiments. A possible inter-relationship between q_c1N, CRR, accommodating the different degrees of influence of (e_c)_eq, k, and C_v on q_c1N and CRR, is discussed. The fourth part of the paper focuses on the detrimental effects of silt content on the effectiveness of DC and SC techniques to densify silty soils for liquefaction-mitigation. Finally, the effectiveness of supplemental wick drains to aid drainage and facilitate densification and liquefaction mitigation of silty sands using DC and SC techniques is discussed.     

Probabilistic correlation between laboratory and field liquefaction potentials using relative state parameter index (ξR)

Cyclic triaxial tests on reconstituted sand samples are broadly employed in practice while they ignore the inherent characteristics of soil in field condition such as aging, fabric, and prior strain history. Relative state parameter index, ξ_R, is utilized in a probabilistic framework to adjust the cyclic triaxial resistance ratio of sands at 15 uniform cycles (CRR_tx,15) to field condition. A wide-ranging database containing the results of cyclic triaxial tests conducted on reconstituted samples has been compiled to derive a correlation between relative state parameter index (ξ_R) and triaxial cyclic resistance ratio. The adjustment coefficients proposed by researchers are employed to correct CRR_tx,15−ξ_R relationship for actual field condition. The adjusted CRR_tx,15−ξ_R relationships are applied to a database of field liquefaction case histories composed of both SPT and CPT based data and their performances in field condition are evaluated. It is demonstrated that constant triaxial-to-field adjusting coefficients cannot ever predict conservative results. Logistic regression method is employed to derive a field probabilistic criterion that obtains the likelihood of liquefaction initiation in terms of ξ_R. The ξ_R-based boundary curve standing for 20% likelihood of liquefaction initiation is found to be the most conservative limit state boundary to be used in field conditions. Finally, the triaxial and field CRR−ξ_R relationships are composed and a probabilistic triaxial-to-field adjustment coefficient is proposed in terms of ξ_R and a given liquefaction probability. It is anticipated that the proposed relationship could reasonably correct the results of cyclic triaxial testing on freshly reconstituted sand samples.     

A time probabilistic approach to seismic landslide hazard estimates in Iran

Understanding where seismically induced landslides are most likely to occur is crucial in land use planning and civil protection actions aimed at reducing property damage and loss of life in future earthquakes. For this purpose an approach proposed by Del Gaudio et al. [1] has been applied to the whole Iranian territory to provide the basis to assess location and temporal recurrence of conditions of seismic activation of slope failures, according to the Newmark's model [2]. Following this approach, occurrence probabilities for different levels of seismic shaking in a time interval of interest (50 years) were first obtained through a standard hazard estimate procedure. Then, empirical formulae in the form proposed by Jibson et al. [3] and calibrated for the main seismogenic Iranian regions were used to evaluate the slope critical acceleration (Ac)_x for which a prefixed probability exists that, under seismic shakings, Newmark's displacement D_N exceeds a threshold×corresponding to landslide triggering conditions. The obtained (Ac)_x values represent the minimum slope resistance required to limit the probability of landslide seismic triggering within the prefixed value. A map reporting the spatial distribution of these values gives comparative indications on regional different exposure of slopes to shaking capable of inducing failures and provides a reference for hazard estimate at local scale. The obtained results show that the exposure to landslide seismic induction is maximum in the Alborz Mountains region, where critical accelerations up to ∼0.1 g are required to limit the probability of seismic triggering of coherent type landslides within 10% in 50 years.     

Sand fabric evolution effects on drain design for liquefaction mitigation

This paper revisits the seminal work of Seed and Booker (1977) [21] on the design of infinitely permeable drains for liquefaction mitigation. It is shown that their basic mathematical assumption for the rate of earthquake-induced excess pore pressure generation overlooks sand fabric evolution effects during cyclic loading and eventually leads to underestimation of the drain effectiveness. This is because such effects cause peak excess pore pressures to be attained at the early stages of partially drained shaking, followed by a gradual attenuation even if shaking continues undiminished, a response feature not predicted by the original formulation. In addition, special emphasis is given to the analytical relation describing the excess pore pressure build-up until liquefaction in undrained tests. This relation was considered unique in the original work, for reasons of simplicity, thus neglecting sand fabric evolution effects that may differentiate it for various sands, densities and loading conditions. Hence, a revised analytical formulation is proposed, which takes into account both above effects of sand fabric evolution. The paper provides a quantitative assessment of their influence on drain effectiveness and establishes a new set of charts for drain design. Experimental measurements from shaking table tests, as well as robust numerical simulations are shown, which underline the necessity for the revised solution and design charts.     

Intergrain contact density indices for granular mixes II： Liquefaction resistance

Whether the presence of non-plastic silt in a granular mix soil impact its liquefaction potential and how to evaluate liquefaction resistance of sand containing different amounts of silt contents are both controversial issues. This paper presents the results of an experimental evaluation to address these issues. Two parameters, namely, equivalent intergranular void ratio （ec）eq and equivalent interfine void ratio （ef）eq, proposed in a companion paper （Thevanayagam, 2007） as indices of active grain contacts in a granular mix, are used to characterize liquefaction resistance of sands and silty sands. Results indicate that, at the same global void ratio （e）, liquefaction resistance of silty sand decreases with an increase in fines content （Cv） up to a threshold value （Crth）. This is due to a reduction in intergrain contact density between the coarse grains. Beyond Crth, with further addition of fines, the interfine contacts become significant while the inter-coarse grain contacts diminish and coarse grains become dispersed. At the same e, the liquefaction resistance increases and the soil becomes stronger with a fttrther increase in silt content. Beyond a limiting fines content （CrL）, the liquefaction resistance is controlled by interfine contacts only. When Cr〈Crth, at the same （e）eq, the liquefaction resistance of silty sand is comparable to that of the host clean sand at a void ratio equal to （ec）eq. When CF〉CFth, at the same （ef）eq, the cyclic strength of a sandy silt is comparable to the host silt at a void ratio equal to （ef）eq.     

Evaluation of CPT-based Liquefaction Procedures at Regional Scale

The liquefaction database describing the response of the Christchurch area in the 2010–2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (CES) provides a unique basis for evaluating the regional application of various liquefaction analysis procedures, from liquefaction triggering analyses through to liquefaction vulnerability parameters. This database was used to compare the Robertson and Wride [17], Moss et al. [15] and Idriss and Boulanger [7] liquefaction triggering procedures as well as evaluate the impact of the 2014 versus 2008 Cone Penetration Test (CPT)-based liquefaction triggering procedure by Idriss and Boulanger on four liquefaction vulnerability parameters (S_V1D, LPI, LPI_ISH and LSN), the correlation of those parameters with observed liquefaction-induced damage patterns in the CES, and the mapping of expected damage levels for 25, 100 and 500 year return period ground motions in Christchurch. The effects on S_V1D, LPI, LPI_ISH and LSN were small relative to other sources of variability for the majority of the affected areas, particularly where liquefaction was clearly severe or clearly not. Nonetheless, considering the separation of the land damage populations as well as consistency between the events, the the IB-2008 liquefaction triggering procedures appears to give a slightly better fit to the mapped liquefaction-induced land damage for the regional prediction of liquefaction vulnerability for the Christchurch soils. The Boulanger and Idriss [1] triggering procedure produces improved agreement between the liquefaction vulnerability parameters and observations of damage for: areas south of the Central Business District (CBD) where there tends to be higher soil Fines Content (FC), and localized areas that experienced liquefaction during the smaller Magnitude (M) earthquake events. Implementation of the 2014 liquefaction triggering procedure for mapping of expected liquefaction-induced damage at 25, 100 and 500 year return period ground motions is shown to require use of representative Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA)-M values consistent with the de-aggregation of the seismic hazard. Use of equivalent magnitude-scaled PGA-M7.5 pairs, where the equivalency relates to previously published MSF relationships, with the 2014 liquefaction triggering procedure is shown to be unconservative for certain situations.     

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.     

Predicting seismic liquefaction potential of sands by optimum seeking method

The feasibility of using the optimum seeking method to assess the seismic liquefaction potential of sands has been investigated. Optimization theory is a very important branch of applied mathematics and has a wide application in the practical world. Using the available field sand liquefaction data, the influence of various factors is quantified using the optimum seeking method. The factors considered are: the earthquake magnitude M, the distance of the site from the source of the earthquake L, the depth of the water table D_w, the depth of the sand deposit D_s, and the standard penetration test (SPT) blow count N. The most important factors have been identified as the earthquake magnitude and the SPT blow count. Prediction results show that the proposed method is effective and feasible. Since neither normalization of the SPT blow count nor calculation of the seismic shear-stress ratio are required, the proposed method is simpler and more direct than the conventional methods of evaluating liquefaction potential.     

3rd Ishihara Lecture: An investigation into why liquefaction charts work: A necessary step toward integrating the states of art and practice

This paper is a systematic effort to clarify why field liquefaction charts based on Seed and Idriss׳ Simplified Procedure work so well. This is a necessary step toward integrating the states of the art (SOA) and practice (SOP) for evaluating liquefaction and its effects. The SOA relies mostly on laboratory measurements and correlations with void ratio and relative density of the sand. The SOP is based on field measurements of penetration resistance and shear wave velocity coupled with empirical or semi-empirical correlations. This gap slows down further progress in both SOP and SOA. The paper accomplishes its objective through: a literature review of relevant aspects of the SOA including factors influencing threshold shear strain and pore pressure buildup during cyclic strain-controlled tests; a discussion of factors influencing field penetration resistance and shear wave velocity; and a discussion of the meaning of the curves in the liquefaction charts separating liquefaction from no liquefaction, helped by recent full-scale and centrifuge results. It is concluded that the charts are curves of constant cyclic strain at the lower end (V_s1<160 m/s), with this strain being about 0.03–0.05% for earthquake magnitude, M_w≈7. It is also concluded, in a more speculative way, that the curves at the upper end probably correspond to a variable increasing cyclic strain and K_o, with this upper end controlled by overconsolidated and preshaken sands, and with cyclic strains needed to cause liquefaction being as high as 0.1–0.3%. These conclusions are validated by application to case histories corresponding to M_w≈7, mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area of California during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.     

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.     

Settlements of saturated clean sand deposits in shaking table tests

Shaking table tests were conducted on saturated clean Vietnam sand in the large biaxial laminar shear box (1880 mm×1880 mm×1520 mm) at the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE), Taiwan. The settlement of sand specimens was measured and evaluated during and after each shaking test. Without liquefaction, the settlement of sand caused by shaking is very small. Significant volume changes occur only when there is liquefaction of sand. The volumetric strain of liquefied sand was calculated according to the measured settlement and the thickness of liquefied sand in the specimen. Relations between volumetric strain after liquefaction and the relative density of saturated clean sand were developed for various shaking durations and earthquake magnitudes. They are not affected by the shaking amplitude, frequency, and direction (one- or multidirectional shaking).     

A surface seismic approach to liquefaction

The liquefaction potential of soils is traditionally assessed through geotechnical approaches based on the calculation of the cyclical stress ratio (CSR) induced by the expected earthquake and the ‘resistance’ provided by the soil, which is quantified through standard penetration (SPT), cone penetration (CPT), or similar tests. In more recent years, attempts to assess the liquefaction potential have also been made through measurement of shear wave velocity (V_S) in boreholes or from the surface. The latter approach has the advantage of being non-invasive and low cost and of surveying lines rather than single points. However, the resolution of seismic surface techniques is lower than that of borehole techniques and it is still debated whether it is sufficient to assess the liquefaction potential.In this paper we focus our attention on surface seismic techniques (specifically the popular passive and active seismic techniques based on the correlation of surface waves such as ReMi^TM, MASW, ESAC, SSAP, etc.) and explore their performance in assessing the liquefaction susceptibility of soils. The experimental dataset is provided by the two main seismic events of M_L=5.9 and 5.8 (M_W=6.1, M_W=6.0) that struck the Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy) on May 20 and 29, 2012, after which extensive liquefaction phenomena were documented in an area of 1200 km².The CPT and drillings available in the area allow us to classify the soils into four classes: A) shallow liquefied sandy soils, B) shallow non-liquefied sandy soils, C) deep non-liquefied sandy soils, and D) clayey–silty soils, and to determine that on average class A soils presented a higher sand content at the depth of 5–8 m compared to class B soils, where sand was dominant in the upper 5 m. Surface wave active–passive surveys were performed at 84 sites, and it was found that they were capable of discriminating among only three soil classes, since class A and B soils showed exactly the same V_S distribution, and it is possible to show both experimentally and theoretically that they appear not to have sufficient resolution to address the seismic liquefaction issue.As a last step, we applied the state-of-the art CSR–V_S method to assess the liquefaction potential of sandy deposits and we found that it failed in the studied area. This might be due to the insufficient resolution of the surface wave methods in assessing the Vs of thin layers and to the fact that Vs scales with the square root of the shear modulus, which implies an intrinsic lower sensitivity of Vs to the shear resistance of the soil compared to parameters traditionally measured with the penetration tests. However, it also emerged that the pure observation of the surface wave dispersion curves at their simplest level (i.e. in the frequency domain, with no inversion) is still potentially informative and can be used to identify the sites where more detailed surveys to assess the liquefaction potential are recommended.     

Excess222Rn and the benthic boundary layer in the western and southern Indian Ocean

We present 9 bottom²²²Rn profiles measured from the western and southern Indian Ocean during the 1977–1978 GEOSECS expedition. These profiles can be grouped into three cypes: one-layer, two-layer, and irregular types. The one-layer profiles with quasi-exponential distributions allow one to estimate the apparent vertical eddy diffusivity,K_v, with a simple model. The two-layer profiles show that there is a benthic boundary layer of the order of 50–100 m in which the excess²²²Rn distribution shows a vertical gradient much smaller than that of the layer immediately above. Within the boundary layer, the STD potential temperature (θ) and density(σ₄) profiles are practically constant, and theK_v values are of the order of 1000 cm²/s. The STD profiles for the water column above the boundary layer show gradients of increasing stability, and theK_v values are of the order of 100 cm²/s. Modeling of the Rn data in the water column above the boundary layer indicates that there is a transition layer which effectively reduces the penetration of excess Rn from the benthic boundary layer into the upper layer.Sarmiento et al. [10] have shown that the buoyancy gradient or stability is inversely correlated with the apparent vertical eddy diffusivity, and the resulting buoyancy flux is fairly uniform, ranging from 1 to 14 × 10^?6 cm²/s³ in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. However, Sarmiento et al. [11] show that a much higher buoyancy flux is associated with an intensified flow of the bottom water through a passage. In the Indian Ocean basins, we have found that the buoyancy flux has a comparable range (3–14 × 10^?6 cm²/s³), except for a couple of stations where both stability and apparent vertical diffusivity are higher, resulting in a much higher buoyancy flux, probably indicative of rapid bottom water flow.     

Intergrain contact density indices for granular mixes I： Framework

Mechanical behavior such as stress-strain response, shear strength, resistance to liquefaction, modulus, and shear wave velocity of granular mixes containing coarse and fine grains is dependent on intergrain contact density of the soil. The global void ratio e is a poor index of contact density for such soils. The contact density depends on void ratio, fine grain content （Cv）, size disparity between particles, and gradation among other factors. A simple analysis of a two-sized particle system with large size disparity is used to develop an understanding of the effects of Cv, e, and gradation of coarse and fine grained soils in the soil mix on intergrain contact density. An equivalent intergranular void ratio （ec）oq is introduced as a useful intergrain contact density for soils at fines content of less than a threshold value Crth. Beyond this value, an equivalent interfine void ratio （ef）eq is introduced as a primary intergrain contact density index. At higher values of Cv beyond a limiting value of fine grains content CVL, an interfine void ratio ef is introduced as the primary contact density index. Relevant equivalent relative density indices （Drc）eq and （Drf）eq are also presented. Experimental data show that these new indices correlate well with steady state strength, liquefaction resistance, and shear wave velocities of sands, silty sands, sandy silts, and gravelly sand mixes.     

An accessible strong-motion dataset (PGA,PGV, and site vS30) of 2022 MS6.8 Luding,China Earthquake

A M_S6.8 earthquake occurred on 5th September 2022 in Luding county, Sichuan, China, at 12: 52 Beijing Time(4:52 UTC). We complied a dataset of PGA, PGV, and site v_S30 of 73 accelerometers and 791 Micro-Electro-Mechanical System(MEMS)sensors within 300 km of the epicenter. The inferred v_S30 of 820 recording sites were validated. The study results show that:(1)The maximum horizontal PGA and PGV reaches 634.1 Gal and 71.1 cm/s respectively.(2) Over 80% of records ar...     

Characterisation of subsurface spatial variability using a cone resistivity penetrometer

The subsurface spatial variation in clay soils, such as thin-layered sand seams, affects the mechanical strength and electrical resistivity. The objective of this study is the development and application of cone resistivity penetrometer (CRP), which measures the cone tip resistance, sleeve friction, and electrical resistivity to evaluate the subsurface spatial variability. The electrical resistivity is measured at the cone tip to increase its resolution. Two outer diameters of the cone resistivity penetrometers (CRPs) are developed: D=10 mm CRP with a projected area of 0.78 cm² and D=15 mm CRP with a projected area of 1.76 cm². The cone tip resistance is effectively separated using a friction sleeve. Strain gauges are used to measure the mechanical strength, and coaxial type electrodes monitor the electrical resistivity. The application tests in the laboratory are conducted using layered soils and saturated sands. In addition, the penetration tests in the field are carried out and compared with the standard piezocone test. The penetration tests show that the soil layers and the density changes are clearly detected by the electrical resistivity and mechanical strength. Field tests show that CRP clearly evaluates the subsurface profile. This study suggests that CRP may be a useful technique for the evaluation of subsurface spatial variability during penetration testing.     

Impact and cyclic shaking on loose sand properties in laminar box using gap sensors

This paper focuses on using high-frequency GAP-SENSORs (GSs), accelerometers, and load cells in a laminar shear box (LSB) filled with loose Toyoura sand to understand the effects of impact loads and cyclic shaking at 1-G on soil properties. The shear wave velocity at small strain (V_s) was calculated directly from first arrival reference using displacement time-history of two GSs under impact loading. Moreover, from first peak using the reduced deformation amplitude technique, damping ratio was calculated. In addition, shaking table tests were performed under harmonic loading with amplitude of acceleration inside the model ground varying from 0.02 g to 1 g. The frequencies of excitation varied from 1 Hz to 10 Hz. GSs and inside accelerometers were used to directly measure the outside lateral deformation and shear stress at different elevations of LSB, respectively. Results show that the shear modulus (G) and the damping ratio (D) behavior of model sand are generally consistent with the behavior presented by similar tests using only accelerometers. In addition, damping ratio increases as frequency loading increases. Characteristic changes in two shear stress components in shaking loading conditions were also investigated using high precision inside load cells.     

Form drag is a major component of bed shear stress associated with tidal flow in the vicinity of an isolated sand bank,Torres Strait,northern Australia

Tidal current and elevation data were collected from five oceanographic moorings during October 2004 in Torres Strait, northern Australia, to assess the effects of large bedforms (i.e., sand banks) on the drag coefficient (C_D) used for estimating bed shear stress in complex shallow shelf environments. Ten minute averages of tidal current speed and elevation data were collected for 18 days at an on-bank site (<7 m water depth) and an off-bank site (<10 m). These data were compared to data collected simultaneously from two shelf locations (<11 m) occupied to measure regional tidal behaviour. Overall C_D estimates at the on- and off-bank sites attained 7.0±0.1×10⁻³ and 6.6±0.1×10⁻³, respectively. On-bank C_D estimates also differed between the predominant east–west tidal streams, with easterly directed flows experiencing C_D=7.8±0.18×10⁻³ and westerly directed flows C_D=6.4±0.12×10⁻³. Statistically significant differences between the off-bank and on-bank sites are attributed to the large form drag exerted by the sand banks on the regional tidal currents, and statistically significant differences between the westward and eastward flows is ascribed to bedform asymmetry. Form drag from the large bedforms in Torres Strait comprises up to 65% of the total drag coefficient. When constructing sediment transport models, different C_D estimates must therefore be applied to shelf regions containing steep bedforms compared to regions that do not. Our results extend the limited inventory of seabed drag coefficients for shallow shelf environments, and can be used to improve existing regional seabed mobilisation models, which have direct application to environmental management in Torres Strait.