Liquefaction Vulnerability Analysis using N-SPT Value and Grain Size Analysis on Gumbasa Irrigation Canal in the Post-Disaster Petobo Area, Sulawesi

Abstract

Strong earthquakes occurred in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, in late 2018, causing an inheritance disaster, soil liquefaction on Gumbasa Irrigation Canal at Petobo, Sulawesi. Soil liquefaction is a phenomenon of a decreasing soil bearing capacity triggered by strong vibrations in certain soil conditions. It immediately changes the soil characteristic from solid to liquid. Liquefaction vulnerability analysis was done using Idriss-Boulanger's simplified procedure based on SPT value in several spots. The Petobo liquefaction zone has seven boreholes, five of which are located near the Gumbasa Irrigation Canal. The soil sample at those boreholes was taken to the laboratory for further soil testing using grain size analysis. The simplified procedure is intended to calculate the safety factor using Cyclic Resistance Ratio, Cyclic Stress Ratio, and Magnitude Scaling Factor. The liquefaction vulnerability analysis resulted in the AB 1 - AB 3 area near Gumbasa Irrigation Canal, which liquefied. Meanwhile, LP 1 and LP 4 are contrary. LP 1 is located upstream of the canal, whereas LP 4 the downstream. Grain size analysis yields a consistent result that AB 1 - AB 3 soil is quite scattered inside the liquefiable constraint.