Liquefaction

Abstract

Liquefaction of the ground during earthquakes has long been documented and has drawn much attention from earthquake engineers because of its devastation to engineered structures. In this chapter we review a few of the best studied field cases and summarize insights from extensive experimental data critical for understanding the interaction between earthquakes and liquefaction. Despite the progress made in the last few decades, several outstanding problems remain unanswered. One is the mechanism for liquefaction beyond the near field, which has been abundantly documented in the field. This is not well understood because, according to laboratory data, liquefaction should occur only in the near field where the seismic energy density is great enough to cause undrained consolidation leading up to liquefaction. Another outstanding question is the dependence of liquefaction on the frequency of the seismic waves, where the current results from the field and laboratory studies are in conflict. Finally, while in most cases the liquefied sediments are sand or silty sand, well-graded gravel has increasingly been witnessed to liquefy during earthquakes and is not simply the result of entrainment by liquified sand. It is challenging to explain how pore pressure could build up in gravely soils and be maintained at a level high enough to cause liquefaction.