Depositional environment effects on observed liquefaction performance in silt swamps during the Canterbury earthquake sequence

Abstract

Stratified silty soils deposited in back-swamp settings are shown through regional CPT-based analyses to have mitigating effects on the manifestation of liquefaction in Christchurch. Liquefaction triggering within these deposits is inadequately captured by simplified liquefaction assessment methodologies. Differing near-surface geology and depositional environments indicated in historical documents explain in part the limitations of current liquefaction evaluation procedures in southwest Christchurch. The historical swamp areas are shown through a regional CPT study to contain stratified silt/sand deposits or thick silt layers. Consideration of depositional environment distinguishes between liquefaction performances that are not able to be differentiated through the CPT-based liquefaction triggering assessment alone. CPT resolution is shown to be insufficient to capture the thin layering at these stratified sites, and the simplified liquefaction assessment methods do not take into account the effects of the stratification on pore water pressure movement within a soil profile. Instead, continuous sampling and careful logging of high-quality samples provide important insights on stratification at these silty soil swamp sites and in discerning differences in stratigraphy resulting from differences in depositional environment.