Abstract
This paper presents parametric studies that assess the role of loading factors (i.e., number of cycles, frequency, and amplitude) on liquefaction-induced failure by performing numerical simulations. Most of the existing literature considers the effects of the soil properties on the development of excess pore pressure with few research endeavours focusing on the effects of the input motion itself. Numerical simulations are performed herein, via the advanced software platform OpenSees, to generate several finite element models that consider non-linear development of pore pressure inside the soil. Several sinusoidal inputs were considered to study the effects of the various loading factors and compare the responses. The main findings arise from evaluating the effects of several input motion parameters (number of cycles, frequency, and amplitude) on soil liquefaction through numerical simulations. This research study, based on state-of-the-art knowledge, may be applied to assess future seismic events and to update or propose new code provisions for soil liquefaction.
Highlights
Soil liquefaction is a complex phenomenon associated with pore water pressure development and the corresponding reduction in volume during undrained loading that may result in several additional failure mechanisms, such as lateral spreading, slope failure, excessive settlement, and bridge and building foundation failure, as described by several researchers [1–7].Historically, liquefaction effects have been observed and documented in many earthquakes all over the world
The main novelties of the proposed methodology consist in (1) performing parametric studies with advanced numerical simulations as an alternative to the more common approaches generally adopted in literature, (2) concentrating on the loading factors themselves while most other research endeavours focused on the effects of soil parameters on the liquefaction potential, and the liquefaction-induced damage scenarios, and (3) that the outcomes may be considered for revisions or proposals of new code provisions that may account for loading factors in the assessments of liquefaction potential
In order to discuss the results presented below, the pore pressure ratio is considered
Summary
Soil liquefaction is a complex phenomenon associated with pore water pressure development and the corresponding reduction in volume during undrained loading that may result in several additional failure mechanisms, such as lateral spreading, slope failure, excessive settlement, and bridge and building foundation failure, as described by several researchers [1–7]. [44,45] identified 16 significant parameters of soil liquefaction by considering the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the entropy method, and [46] separately used AHP and rough set theory to calculate the weights of factors for soil liquefaction In this context, liquefaction has been studied primarily through two different approaches: (1) laboratory tests, and (2) site observations of past earthquakes. The main novelties of the proposed methodology consist in (1) performing parametric studies with advanced numerical simulations as an alternative to the more common approaches (i.e., experimental investigations and site observations) generally adopted in literature, (2) concentrating on the loading factors themselves while most other research endeavours focused on the effects of soil parameters on the liquefaction potential, and the liquefaction-induced damage scenarios, and (3) that the outcomes may be considered for revisions or proposals of new code provisions that may account for loading factors in the assessments of liquefaction potential. Source platform (soilquake.net/openseespl/ accessed on 13 January 2022)
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