Evaluation of Liquefaction Potential Using Field Performance Data

Abstract

The evolution of a simplified procedure for evaluating the liquefaction potential of sand deposits using data obtained from standard penetration tests is reviewed. Field data for sites which are known to have liquefied or not liquefied during earthquakes in the United States, Japan, China, Guatemala, Argentina, and other countries are presented to establish a criterion for evaluating the liquefaction potential of sands in Magnitude 7‐1/2 earthquakes. The results of this study are then extended to other magnitude earthquakes using a combination of laboratory and field data. Available information on the liquefaction resistance of silty sands is also reviewed and a simple procedure for considering the influence of silt content is proposed. A method is presented for using the field data to evaluate the possible magnitude of pore water pressure generation in sands and silty sands which remain stable during earthquake shaking. Finally, the applicability of other in situ field tests, such as the static cone penetrometer, shear wave velocity, and electrical measurements for evaluating the liquefaction resistance of soils is examined.