Protecting Heritage Structures Against Liquefaction: Recent Developments

Abstract

The occurrence of liquefaction of loose, saturated and cohesionless soils during major earthquakes is a reasonably common problem and has a more significant potential for destruction. Landmark research regarding the prevention of liquefaction using traditional techniques such as air injection, biogas generation, soil densification and other procedures are well documented. These techniques are energy consumptive and ecologically destructive. However, for protecting the heritage structures, a non-destructive method should be used to preserve the already existing structures. One of the recent research interests is using a novel technique called Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) to prevent liquefaction. This test is not only non-destructive but also green and has long-term effects overcoming all the limitations of the conventional practices. An attempt was made to compile the ongoing research for liquefaction resistance using MICP.