A Quantitative Approach of Liquefaction Analysis

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering
pg. 1
Plate No. 1
A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH OF LIQUEFACTION
ANALYSIS
Submitted by: Tampus, Robert Michael

Student No.: 2013140129
Course: B.S. GSE
Year: 3
Faculty/Instructor: Engr. Celestino Avis
Plate Exercises of C. C. Avis
Rating:
Date Submitted:
Mapua Institute of Technology, 2016
pg. 2
1.
Description
Ground shaking during an earthquake may cause water-saturated sandy soils to undergo liquefaction. The
soil is said to liquefy, when it loses its shear strength and behaves as a viscous liquid under the application of
seismic load. If conditions are favorable, liquefaction is considered as a major seismic hazard (Sana,
2016). Earthquake waves cause water pressures to increase in the sediment and the sand grains to lose contact
with each other, leading the sediment to lose strength and behave like a liquid. The soil can lose its ability to
support structures, flow down even very gentle slopes, and erupt to the ground surface to form sand boils. Many
of these phenomena are accompanied by settlement of the ground surface usually in uneven patterns that
damage buildings, roads and pipelines.
Three factors are required for liquefaction to occur:
a) loose, granular sediment typically "made" land and beach and stream deposits that are young
enough (late Holocene) to be loose.
b) saturation of the sediment by ground water (water fills the spaces between sand and silt grains)
c) strong shaking
2.
Objectives/Purpose
The main objective of this plate is to perform a quantitative approach of liquefaction analysis. Specifically, it
aims to:
a. Calculate the peak ground acceleration using the Fukushima and Tanaka Attenuation Equation,
b. Interpret given borehole information,
c. Compute the factor of safety (F.S.), and
d. Determine whether the area is liquefiable or non-liquefiable.
3.
Formula
Fukushima and Tanaka Attenuation Equation

where:
A = peak ground acceleration (cm/sec2)
M = surface wave magnitude
R = distance to epicenter (km)
Cyclic Stress Ratio (CSR)
where:
CSS = equivalent uniform cyclic shear stress
g = acceleration due to gravity = 981 cm/s2
= total vertical stress (kPa)
= effective vertical stress (kPa)
rd = stress reduction factor = 1 0.008d
d = depth from the ground surface to the point of analysis (m)
Correction for the SPT Value
where:
N60 = SPT N-value corrected for field procedures
Em = hammer efficiency = 0.45
CB = borehole diameter correction = 1.0
CS = sampler correction factor = 1.0
CR = rod length correction factor = 0.75
N = SPT N value recorded in the field
Since the graph (Appendix 1) is normalized for M = 7.5, if the design magnitude is not equal to 7.5, convert
the CSR to:
where:
=3
=2
= 1.5
= 1.25
for M = 5.5
for M = 6.0
for M = 6.5
for M = 7.0
= 1.0
= 0.65
pg. 3
for M = 7.5
for M = 8.0
Factor of Safety (FS)
4.
Application to Geological Engineering Course:

As future geological engineers, some companies or the government would require the assistance in
determining the potential for liquefaction for their properties or communities, respectively. The assessment of
liquefaction hazards requires thorough geotechnical site characterization and credible estimates of the ground
motions predicted for the exposure interval of interest. Practical problems were given in this plate, where the
formulas are used by practitioners and professionals.
5.
Problem Exercise:
1. The following borehole information was taken from a subsurface investigation at a site near the
Proposed Bacolod Airport where liquefaction is suspected. Summarized below indicates the results of
SPT and sieve analysis.
Depth (m)
Nfield (blows/ft)
Soil Classification (USCS)
Percent fines (%)
1.5
23
Silty Sand (SM)
30
3.0
20
Fine to medium sand (SW)
5
4.5
16
3
6.0
20
6
7.5
18
3
9
32
Silty Sand (SM)
20
10.5
40
Silty Sand (SM)
22
The design earthquake will occur in the Philippine Fault Zone. The causative fault is 20 km from the site
and the design MCE is 6. The site is underlain by deep cohesionless soils. Using a unit weight of 16.50
kN/m3 and the ground water table was 1.75 meters below the ground surface; evaluate the liquefaction
potential at this site using the simplified method by Seed and Idriss.
Solution:
1) Compute the peak ground acceleration using Fukushima and Tanaka Attenuation Equation:
2)
Correct the SPT N using
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Compute the total stress: = unit weight of soil x depth

Compute the pore pressure: u = unit weight of water x depth
Compute the effective stress: = u
Compute the stress reduction factor: rd = 1-0.008d
Determine the Cyclic Stress Ratio to Cause Liquefaction (CSRL) from the graph (Appendix 1).
Compute the Cyclic Stress Ratio (CSRE) induced in the soil by the design earthquake from the
formula.
9)
Compute the Factor of Safety:
(
(
)
)
Sample Computations at 1.5 m depth:
) (
pg. 4
Liquefaction Analysis Tabulation:

Depth (m)
Thick
Node
Nfield
Ncor60
'
rd
CSRL
(graph)
CSRE
F.S.
Conclusion
0.11
4.15
NL
0.13
2.06
NL
0.22
0.16
1.39
NL
0.14
0.28
0.18
1.58
NL
0.95
0.12
0.24
0.19
1.27
NL
72.36
0.93
0.29
0.58
0.20
2.96
NL
82.40
0.92
1.00
2.00
0.20
9.96
NL
Fro
m
To
z,m
b/ft
kN/
m3
b/ft
kPa
kPa
kPa
7.5
6.0
Formula
0.0
1.5
1.5
0.75
23.00
16.50
12.94
12.38
0.00
12.38
0.99
0.23
0.46
1.5
3.0
1.5
2.25
20.00
16.50
11.25
37.13
4.91
32.22
0.98
0.13
0.26
3.0
4.5
1.5
3.75
16.00
16.50
9.00
61.88
19.62
42.26
0.97
0.11
4.5
6.0
1.5
5.25
20.00
16.50
11.25
86.63
34.34
52.29
0.96
6.0
7.5
1.5
6.75
18.00
16.50
10.13
111.38
49.05
62.33
7.5
9.0
1.5
8.25
32.00
16.50
18.00
136.13
63.77
9.0
10.5
1.5
9.75
40.00
16.50
22.50
160.88
78.48
where:
NL = No Liquefaction
L = Liquefaction
Conclusion: Given these parameters,

the soil layers are non-liquefiable
since their factors of safety are
greater than 1.
2.
pg. 5
The following borehole information was taken from a subsurface investigation at a site near the
proposed hypothetical airport X where liquefaction is suspected. Summarized below indicates the results
of SPT and sieve analysis.
Depth (m)
Nfield (blows/ft)
Percent fines (%)
1.5
20
Silty Sand (SM)
30
3.0
17
5
4.5
13
3
6.0
17
6
7.5
15
3
9
29
Silty Sand (SM)
20
10.5
37
Silty Sand (SM)
22
The design earthquake will occur in a nearby hypothetical fault zone Y. The causative fault is 15 km from
the site and the design MCE is 7. The site is underlain by deep cohesionless soils. Using a unit weight of
16.0 kN/m3 and the ground water table was 1.50 meters below the ground surface; evaluate the
liquefaction potential at this site using the simplified method by Seed and Idriss.
Solution:
11) Correct the SPT N using

12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)

Compute the Cyclic Stress Ratio (CSRE) induced in the soil by the design earthquake from the formula.
(
18) Compute the Factor of Safety:
)
)
) (
pg. 6

Depth (m)
Thick
Node
Nfield
Ncor60
'
rd
CSRL
(graph)
CSRE
F.S.
Conclusion
0.22
1.29
NL
0.16
0.28
0.59
0.11
0.14
0.35
0.40
0.96
0.14
0.18
0.38
0.46
56.50
0.95
0.12
0.15
0.41
0.37
66.22
65.78
0.93
0.29
0.36
0.42
0.86
80.93
75.07
0.92
1.00
1.25
0.43
2.90
NL
From
To
z,m
b/ft
kN/
m3
b/ft
kPa
kPa
kPa
7.5
7.0
Formula
0.0
1.5
1.5
0.75
20.00
16.00
11.25
12.00
0.00
12.00
0.99
0.23
0.29
1.5
3.0
1.5
2.25
17.00
16.00
9.56
36.00
7.36
28.64
0.98
0.13
3.0
4.5
1.5
3.75
13.00
16.00
7.31
60.00
22.07
37.93
0.97
4.5
6.0
1.5
5.25
17.00
16.00
9.56
84.00
36.79
47.21
6.0
7.5
1.5
6.75
15.00
16.00
8.44
108.00
51.50
7.5
9.0
1.5
8.25
29.00
16.00
16.31
132.00
9.0
10.5
1.5
9.75
37.00
16.00
20.81
156.00
where:
L = Liquefaction
Conclusion:
The
zones
between 1.5 to 9.0 meters

depth
are
judged
to
liquefy. Below this depth,

the increased density as
represented
by
high
value and the presence of

fines
makes
liquefaction
less likely.
3.
pg. 7
The following borehole information was taken from a subsurface investigation at a site near the
proposed hypothetical airport A where liquefaction is suspected. Summarized below indicates the
results of SPT and sieve analysis.
Depth (m)
Nfield (blows/ft)
Percent fines (%)
1.5
21
Silty Sand (SM)
30
3.0
18
5
4.5
14
3
6.0
18
6
7.5
16
3
9
30
Silty Sand (SM)
20
10.5
38
Silty Sand (SM)
22
The design earthquake will occur in a nearby hypothetical fault zone B. The causative fault is 35 km from
the site and the design MCE is 8. The site is underlain by deep cohesionless soils. Using a unit weight of
16.75 kN/m3 and the ground water table was 2.0 meters below the ground surface; evaluate the
liquefaction potential at this site using the simplified method by Seed and Idriss.
Solution:
20) Correct the SPT N using

21)
22)
23)
24)
25)
26)

Compute the Cyclic Stress Ratio (CSRE) induced in the soil by the design earthquake from the formula.
(
27) Compute the Factor of Safety:
)
)
) (
pg. 8

Depth (m)
Thick
Node
Nfield
Ncor60
'
rd
CSRL
(graph)
CSRE
F.S.
Conclusion
0.20
0.75
0.08
0.21
0.40
0.11
0.07
0.27
0.27
0.96
0.14
0.09
0.30
0.30
66.47
0.95
0.12
0.08
0.32
0.24
61.31
76.88
0.93
0.29
0.19
0.34
0.56
76.03
87.29
0.92
1.00
0.65
0.34
1.89
NL
The
zones
From
To
z,m
b/ft
kN/
m3
b/ft
kPa
kPa
kPa
7.5
8.0
Formula
0.0
1.5
1.5
0.75
21.00
16.75
11.81
12.56
0.00
12.56
0.99
0.23
0.15
1.5
3.0
1.5
2.25
18.00
16.75
10.13
37.69
2.45
35.24
0.98
0.13
3.0
4.5
1.5
3.75
14.00
16.75
7.88
62.81
17.17
45.65
0.97
4.5
6.0
1.5
5.25
18.00
16.75
10.13
87.94
31.88
56.06
6.0
7.5
1.5
6.75
16.00
16.75
9.00
113.06
46.60
7.5
9.0
1.5
8.25
30.00
16.75
16.88
138.19
9.0
10.5
1.5
9.75
38.00
16.75
21.38
163.31
where:
L = Liquefaction
Conclusion:
between 0 to 9.0 meters

depth
are
judged
to
liquefy. Below this depth,

the increased density as
represented
by
high
value and the presence of

fines
makes
liquefaction
less likely.
pg. 9
APPENDIX 1 (CSRL GRAPH)

10
pg.
APPENDIX 2 (REFERENCES)
Sana, H. and Nath, S. K. (2016). Liquefaction potential analysis of the Kashmir
valley alluvium, NW Himalaya. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering Vol.85
June 2016. pp. 11-18
http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/sfgeo/liquefaction/aboutliq.html

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A Quantitative Approach of Liquefaction Analysis

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Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

Submitted by: Tampus, Robert Michael

Plate Exercises of C. C. Avis

Mapua Institute of Technology, 2016

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

Fukushima and Tanaka Attenuation Equation

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

Application to Geological Engineering Course:

Correct the SPT N using

Compute the total stress: = unit weight of soil x depth

Compute the Factor of Safety:

Sample Computations at 1.5 m depth:

Plate Exercises of C. C. Avis

Mapua Institute of Technology, 2016

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

Liquefaction Analysis Tabulation:

Conclusion: Given these parameters,

Plate Exercises of C. C. Avis

Mapua Institute of Technology, 2016

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

11) Correct the SPT N using

Compute the total stress: = unit weight of soil x depth

18) Compute the Factor of Safety:

Sample Computations at 1.5 m depth:

Plate Exercises of C. C. Avis

Mapua Institute of Technology, 2016

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

Liquefaction Analysis Tabulation:

between 1.5 to 9.0 meters

liquefy. Below this depth,

value and the presence of

Plate Exercises of C. C. Avis

Mapua Institute of Technology, 2016

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

20) Correct the SPT N using

Compute the total stress: = unit weight of soil x depth

27) Compute the Factor of Safety:

Sample Computations at 1.5 m depth:

Plate Exercises of C. C. Avis

Mapua Institute of Technology, 2016

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

Liquefaction Analysis Tabulation:

between 0 to 9.0 meters

liquefy. Below this depth,

value and the presence of

Plate Exercises of C. C. Avis

Mapua Institute of Technology, 2016

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

APPENDIX 1 (CSRL GRAPH)

Plate Exercises of C. C. Avis

Mapua Institute of Technology, 2016

Subject: GEO133P, Application of Quantitative Analysis in Geological Engineering

Plate Exercises of C. C. Avis

Mapua Institute of Technology, 2016

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