Investigation of Soil Liquefaction Potential around Efteni Lake in Duzce Turkey: Using Empirical Relationships between Shear Wave Velocity and SPT Blow Count (N)

Ali Ateş,Ermedin Totiç,Burak Yeşil,İnan Keskin

doi:10.1155/2014/290858

Abstract

Evaluation of the liquefaction potential of a liquefaction-prone area is important for geotechnical earthquake engineering, both for assessment for site selection and for planning and new constructions. The liquefaction potential index for the city of Duzce in northwestern Turkey using the empirical relationships between the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and the Shear Wave Velocity Test (VS) was investigated in this study. After,VSvalues based on SPT blow counts (N) were obtained from the alluvial soils in the city of Duzce. The liquefaction potential indexes of the soils were determined using the empirical relationships between the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and the Shear Wave Velocity Test (VS) calculating for a probable earthquake ofMW=7.2. In the result of the study, the liquefaction potential index (LPI) values were interpreted and compared evaluating the SPTNblow count values obtained from the study area. Based on the empirical relationships assumed for the soils, it was observed that there was not a perfect agreement between the results of the two methods. The liquefaction potential index values using the SPTNblow counts were found to be lower than those of theVSmethod.

Highlights

The liquefaction resistance of soils can be evaluated using laboratory tests such as the cyclic simple shear and cyclic triaxial and cyclic torsional shear tests
The occurrence of liquefaction in soils is often evaluated using the simplified procedure originally developed and proposed by Seed and Idriss [1] based on the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) blow counts correlated with the cyclic stress ratio (CSR), a parameter representing the seismic loading on the soil
This study investigated two field methods used to evaluate the liquefaction potential of soils, the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and the Shear Wave Velocity Test (VS), based on the empirical relationships between them

Summary

Introduction

The liquefaction resistance of soils can be evaluated using laboratory tests such as the cyclic simple shear and cyclic triaxial and cyclic torsional shear tests. The occurrence of liquefaction in soils is often evaluated using the simplified procedure originally developed and proposed by Seed and Idriss [1] based on the SPT blow counts correlated with the cyclic stress ratio (CSR), a parameter representing the seismic loading on the soil. This procedure has undergone several revisions and updates [2,3,4]. The liquefaction potential indexes (LPI) for both aforementioned methods were calculated using the procedure of Iwasaki et al [23]

Study Area

17 August 200 km

Materials and Methods

Assessment of Liquefaction Potential

Assessment of the Liquefaction Potential Index

Results and Conclusions