Abstract

Similar to fully saturated sand, the partially saturated sand can also liquefy under certain conditions during earthquakes. This study aims to characterize the seismic behaviour of partially saturated sand. Centrifuge shaking table tests were performed using the IWHR horizontal-vertical centrifuge shaker. The experimental results indicate that the liquefaction resistance of the partially saturated sand increases with decreasing the degree of saturation and with increasing the initial effective stress right before shaking. The boundary between the liquefied and un-liquefied sand becomes deeper and deeper during shaking.

Highlights

  • TThhee iinnccrreeaassee ooff lliiqquueeffaaccttiioonn rreessiissttaannccee wwiitthh ddeeccrreeaassiinngg tthheeddeeggrreeeeooffssaattuurraattiioonn((SSrr))iinnssaannddyyssooiill hhaassbbeeeenn wweelll-kknnoowwnn..TThheepphheennoommeennoonnhhaassbbeeeennddeemmoonnssttrraatteeddbbyymmaannyy rreesseeaarrcchheerrss tthhrroouugghh eelleemmeenntt tteessttss ssuucchh aass ttrriiaaxxiiaall ccyycclliicc sshheeaarr tteessttss ((ee..gg.., [[11]])), ccyycclliicc ssiimmppllee sshheeaarr tteessttss ((ee..gg.., [[22]])) aanndd ccyycclliicc ttoorrssiioonnaall sshheeaarr tteessttss ((ee..gg.., [[33]]))

  • The experimental results on the soil water characteristic curve of clean sands similar to the one used in this study demonstrated that the suction value, i.e., is smaller than 4 kPa when the degree of saturation is larger than 50%

  • Since the seismic behavior is mainly affected by the initial condition in terms of the initial degree of saturation and effective stresses right before shaking, the initial condition is essential for analyzing the seismic behavior during shaking

Read more

Summary

Experimental results and discussions

The experimental results on the soil water characteristic curve of clean sands similar to the one used in this study demonstrated that the suction value, i.e., (pore air pressure pa – pore water pressure pw) is smaller than 4 kPa when the degree of saturation is larger than 50%. To ease the discussion, it is assumed that the air and water pressure, i.e., pa and pw, at a given location are identical. The variation in the pore air pressure during shaking can be reflected by the measured pore water pressure as shown later. The initial condition is firstly discussed in the following text, followed by the variations in the excess pore water pressure during shaking

Initial condition right before shaking
Variations in the excess pore water pressure ratio during shaking
Concluding remarks

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.