Exploring liquefaction resistance in saturated and gassy sands at different state parameters

Abstract

Earthquake-induced liquefaction is a relevant natural hazard due to the damages caused in numerous buildings, facilities and infrastructures worldwide. The damages caused to the infrastructure by this phenomenon are caused by the loss of stiffness and strength in granular soils, which leads to settlements and lateral spreading. Earthquake-induced liquefaction typically occurs in saturated deposits composed of non-plastic soils. Hence, the degree of saturation reduction is considered one of the most favourable and optimistic methods for liquefaction resistance mitigation. This paper explores the earthquake-induced liquefaction in saturated and gassy sands, varying their degree of saturation and state parameters. The state parameter was used to analyse the mechanical behaviour by combining the effects of relative density (or initial void ratio) with confinement pressure. Results show that liquefaction resistance improvement caused by the reduction in the degree of saturation is higher as the state parameter increases. This improvement can be described and quantified by multivariate models integrating the effects of degree of saturation and state parameter on liquefaction resistance. This provides a potential solution for improving the resilience of infrastructures susceptible to earthquake-induced liquefaction.