Physical modelling of the seismic response of well casings in liquefiable soil

Abstract

ABSTRACT Liquefaction is a catastrophic phenomenon that poses a serious threat to lifelines during an earthquake. To assess the seismic behaviour of a well casing buried in saturated sand, a series of 1-g shaking table model tests were performed. The present study aims to investigate the impacts of the relative density and groundwater level on the base case as well. The responses of the models, including accelerations, pore water pressure changes, settlements, and strains induced along the well casing at various locations, were measured during the shaking. The outcomes illustrated that the groundwater level has a significant effect on the position of maximum strain. A rise in relative density leads to a 40.7% reduction in strains and moments caused along the well casing, while the rate of strain permanence in denser soils is considerable compared to looser soils. Moreover, experimental results indicated that the maximum shear force caused at the bottom of the well casing grows about 67% with increasing groundwater table.