Evaluation of sheet pile-ring countermeasure against liquefaction for oil tank site

Abstract

The evaluation of a countermeasure against liquefaction which uses a sheet pilering for oil tank sites is presented. The simulation of earthquake responses observed at tank sites with and without sheet pile-ring is first performed to validate the three-dimensional finite element numerical model. Using the numerical model, liquefaction analysis is performed and the excess pore water pressure generated in the soil and the settlement of tank are investigated. The comparison of two- and three-dimensional models is also conducted to assess the applicability of two-dimensional analysis. The results show that the numerical model could simulate the observed earthquake responses of tank-ring-soil system, and that the excess pore water pressure and the settlement of the tank could be significantly reduced using a sheet pile-ring. The two-dimensional analysis proves to be capable of representing the main features of the dynamic response of the three-dimensional tank-ring-soil system.