Seismic Performance Evaluation of Improved Jet Grouted Grid Form with Horizontal Slab in Liquefaction Mitigation

Abstract

A chain event of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes caused considerable geotechnical damage related to liquefaction in many places around Kumamoto plain. Many low-rise houses and traditional Japanese style houses, which were constructed on shallow foundation, suffered differential settlement and tilting due to liquefaction. To mitigate the building damages due to the liquefaction, a new countermeasure method of jet grout grid form with a horizontal slab is introduced in this study. The effectiveness of the proposed technique was evaluated through physical modelling and numerical modelling. As a part of the physical modelling, a set of 1 g shaking table tests for unimproved case and improved case were performed, in which the mitigation effects of the grid form with a horizontal reinforcing slab were examined based on the acceleration, excess pore water pressure ratio as well as ground settlement. Numerical simulation was also performed for assessing the effect of improved method on soil-structure interaction and building settlement during the earthquake. The physical and numerical results confirmed that the grid form with horizontal slab reinforced method is effective in settlement control and offers favorable contribution in liquefaction mitigation.